Are Personal Concierge Services Worth it?

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed)
Jul 21st 2006 at 6:04PM

There is no reason to wait until the next time you're staying at a luxury hotel to enjoy outstanding concierge service. Many companies around the country offer personal concierge services and the ever-helpful Cranky Consumer column in the Wall Street Journal put a few from all over the country to the test. And with a name like "cranky," you might assume that there would be some complaints about some of the service they received, but there were really none worth making.

The upshot of their personal concierge trials was that the companies (Andrea Herbert Lifestyle, NY; Prominent Concierge, Atlanta; Gofer Girls, LA; Upon Your Request, Dallas; Envy Concierge, SF) were all very professional and very helpful. They did everything from playing with pets when the owners were out of town to locating kosher caters for an upcoming party. Having a concierge service available is an indulgence, but when life gets busy or stressful, they can accomplish a whole to-do list in just hours. And with rates ranging from $25 to $50 per hour, sometimes the tradeoff is well worth it.

Tags: assistant, Concierge, hiring a Concierge, personal Concierge, staff

Filed under: Services

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Jonathan Yantis Jul 21st 2006 8:05PM

My favorite is Mint LifeSytle. These guys can pull off anything. Its not for everyone though. But for the top 1% on the planet this is the service for you.

Adam Jul 21st 2006 8:13PM

Quintessentially consistantly surpass my expectations.

Most concierge services do little but direct you to their suppliers and advertisers. The real test is getting them to go above and beyond that and everytime Quintessentially has exceeded my requirements.

kmhtkmhtkmht Jul 22nd 2006 2:04AM

For the last poster to claim Quintessentially as effective must mean he works there cause everyone I know on it hates it - they never call you back - they are pretty useless at accomplishing things...

Of all the one's I've ever used (a lot) of them, Quintessentially is only evenly midly palatable due to their sheer size (biggest such agency in the world?) - forget personalized service, honestly, forget service at all - but I can't argue with their economies of scale.

Ida Stanley Jul 22nd 2006 8:20AM

I can add to the main message by saying I receive anywhere from 5-10 service request each day for concierges who are needed all around the country. As the work days grow longer and the lunch hours are becoming shorter, who has time to do anything? As a concierge I like to say, “Life is full. Let us handle it!”

Susan Poirier Jul 22nd 2006 10:18AM

The concierge industry is growing at a tremendous rate in order to meet the needs of the time-starved and overworked. We have become a 24/7 society, driven by career, financial needs, and the desire to "be it all to everyone, everywhere", while our personal and professional lives begin to suffer, due to lack of time, and spreading ourselves too thin.

Most concierge firms are in the business to supply desperately needed personal services, creating more time in the consumer's day, reducing their stress, and simplifying their lives. At Ace Concierge, www.aceconcierge.net, we strive to provide quality first rate service to all of our clients - knowing that we "enhance their lives, one task at a time".

Jackie Murphy, President & CEO Jul 22nd 2006 11:39AM

I am the owner of a personal assistant, concierge and errand service - EK Errands Express in Indianapolis, IN. I hate to hear that there are those that have had bad service but it doesn't mean that all are bad, it just means that you need to find another. This is an emerging industry - over 700 people across the US and Canada that are bring this type of service to the public. People just don't have enough time to do everything because of longer work hours and personal obligations. This kind of service is not for everyone, but for those that need a service to assist in their daily lives or their business, errand/concierge services are the way to go. I have over 70 extremely pleased clients who do not hesitate to call upon my service and clientel continutes to grow. There are those out there that do not take their business to a level of complete satisfaction for their clients but please know that there are 10 times better service providers out there who will make you happy! Search on the internet (maybe try the Concierges Connection, ICEA or Int'l Errand Services Portal) to find another service in your area. Please do not let one service spoil your preception because there are hundreds more out there that take our responsibility to our clients very seriously and offer dependable, reliable, and trustworthy service! Our goal is to make life simple!

Tracey Crockett Jul 22nd 2006 7:30PM

The use of a personal assistant used to be an indulgence, much like having a maid service clean one's home.

Most people, men and women, who have maids today were the very ones who thought they could handle "bringing home the bacon and frying it up in a pan". As their work hours increased, the commute got longer, and the dishes continued to pile up, they realized that delegation at home is as important as delegating at work. Hence, they learned that a maid service was a vital part of maintaining a healthy balance in their life.

The use of personal errand / concierge services is simply one's realization that they can do it all, but not alone. Everyone wants what they want now, but consumers, and businesses, are realizing that the most effective way to get what they want now is to find a service provider they can depend on to make it happen.

As the Chief Lifestyle Manager of Chores, Errands 'N More, Upstate South Carolina's premier lifestyle management company, our staff works with both blue collar and white collar clients. Our clients not only rely on us to handle their personal and/or business needs, but they also expect 100% professionalism, superior quality and workmanship, and spectacular customer service. That's what they deserve, and that's what they get.

I'm saddened to hear that others have worked with errand / concierge services that provided poor service and less than average customer service and professionalism. I encourage others who are considering the use of personal errand services to do their homework. Ask for recent testimonials and references, comb the Internet to learn about the provider, and more. If the provider isn't willing to provide a potential client with recent testimonials and verifiable references, that's a red light. Don't entrust your personal and/or business needs to someone who can't prove they value integrity, service, and complete client satisfaction.

Are personal concierge services worth it? You bet they are if you want to lead a healthly, balanced, productive, and meaningful lifestyle.

Eric Green Jul 24th 2006 2:27AM

The problem with Concierge / Personal Assistant type services are that they bill hourly. Makes me think of my attorney overbilling for every second they can. I switched to a company that offers an easy fixed monthly fee less than 20 bucks a month... with 3 levels to suit your needs. You get a membership card that gets you discounts at local bars and restaurants too. They're only providing services in los angeles but I think I saw on their site that they were headed to newyork, san diego, las vegas ... Check them out http://www.labutler.com

Caroline Aug 1st 2006 10:49AM

I couldn't agree more that a concierge service is really an incredible service. My life has been so much easier and more comfortable since I began subscribing to a concierge membership. I first used Quintessentially and although their name is impeccable, I did not receive the service I would have expected. They promise more than they can deliver. I have recently openned a membership with JD Concierge Services and I have never experienced better service. They are prompt and very communicable. They confirm everything they do and offer me the most luxurious of service options. I could not be happier!

Anne McGovern Sep 11th 2006 9:43PM

All Around Town is designed for clients with busy lives. Our services enable people to lead more fulfilling existences by taking care of mundane tasks that take time away from their families, careers and passions. As one of the Owners of All Around Town I know that running your errands is time consuming and that time is a precious commodity we could all use a little more of. All Around Town is a lifestyle management company dedicated to solving problems, saving time, and making life a little easier.

The growing need for personal services can be attributed to longer work hours and less time for personal tasks. With increasingly busy schedules, there are never enough hours in the day to get everything done. Our business is about giving people the extra set of hands they need to juggle everything life throws at them. concierge Service was once thought of as purely a perk for celebrities or elite hotel guests, this is no longer the case. All Around Town offers a personalized service that can organize and streamline as many aspects of your home and personal life that you need. With All Around Town you will have, more time in your day, no waiting in long lines, and errand free weekends.
Just like finding a plumber or cleaning person, you have to research the company you are hiring. We at All Around Town pride ourselves on our service and satisfaction of our clients.
Anne McGovern
Owner

mobile phones expert Oct 14th 2006 3:45PM

I like Mint LifeSytle.

Stephen Ratner Oct 16th 2006 3:33PM

I think they're worth it if you use the services. Like a gym membership, it aint any good unless you get your butt to work. I get concierge services through my building, although it is a personal service rather than a person downstairs. So wherever I go, I can call them up and they'll take care of me. They're called redbutler.com, I wonder if they're related to that other company Eric is talking about. So yes, they are extremely helpful, if you utilize it to the fullest extent, calls, reservations, ideas, that sort of thing. Stephen -