The Merrill Dubrow Blog

I am sure every one of the readers has heard of Uber and most likely, at this point, has used the service. I am not sure I know anyone who doesn’t have the App.

Without question, the service is great and works for so many reasons. Most people I know don’t like much about a cab experience and complain more often than not. For many, the car was small, dirty, and the drivers don’t always provide a nice & comfortable ride.

As we know Uber has exploded, everyone is using it, and the revenue is skyrocketing. No one will argue what I just said, but here is a different angle.

• Did you ever stop and think about where the business is coming from?
• Who does it directly effect?
• How much are cab medallions worth now compared to a few years ago?

I must admit I am a little nervous.

Without question there will be fewer cabs, or at least the same number, but they will make a lot less.

I would suggest that the unemployment rate will go up because of the explosion of Uber, and the value of Cab medallions will be so negatively affected it will have a dramatic hit on business owners.

• Am I wrong to look at it this way?
• What am I missing?
• Is that just how business works?

Please help me sort thru this.

I look forward to reading your comments.

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Over the years I have been hearing about something call Buc-ees but I really didn’t know much about it. Recently I have been asking some friends about it and they all say the same thing – it’s wonderful, we love it, it’s huge and cool! I know with that description I am not telling you much but it is kind of hard to describe. Picture a highway that off an exit ramp has a huge gas station (80+ pumps) and a massive retail store, maybe 1/3 of the size of a Walmart, that has some interesting and different food that it makes, has 75 bathrooms that are the cleanest you have ever seen, and customer service staff that is the friendliest you have ever met!

That is Buc-ees. Having now been to one it is pretty cool. The store is very well lite, off the charts clean, and they give away free samples of fudge and jerky. It’s an interesting concept and my understanding is all 32 of their stores are based in the great state of Texas!

So I say to you – please come to Texas and go to Buc-ees!

• For those of you who have visited one, how was my description?
• Do you have something in your state that sounds like a Buc–ees?

I look forward to reading your comments.

Posted in Business, Travel | Comments Off on Coming to Texas? You need to go to Buc-ee’s!

I am sure during the day all of us say thanks many times. For me, it could be a big thank you for waking up my kids and not having it take a long time or perhaps thanking a stranger for holding the door or thanking a cashier, waiter, or thousands of other examples.

Today’s thank you is very different. Not sure I have ever done this. But here goes.

I want to thank DFW airport! I know you are probably saying to yourself why? What’s wrong with him? If you were saying that I wouldn’t disagree with you but hear me out for a minute.

I want to thank DFW Airport for a number of reasons:

1. For being smart enough to make it the most efficient airport I have ever traveled thru. Most airports are deep and you need to walk forever. Miami, Las Vegas to name a few. DFW is wide, has a ton of security checkouts, and typically the walk to your gate is less than 30 seconds.
2. The concourses are huge. Terminal D is so big and has to be 10 times wider than Logan Airport or any of the airports in the Northeast.
3. They are always looking to add relevant stores and restaurants. In the last six months they have opened a number of decent restaurants and the first ever 7 Eleven opened in an airport location.
4. And a huge thank you for somehow adding Coke as a beverage choice in vending machines, restaurants, and other stores. For as far back as I can remember the only place you could buy a Coke was at McDonalds and it was a fountain drink. That has all changed and I am really excited about that!
5. They are always looking for ways to make it an easier and nicer experience for their customers. Over the past few years they have renovated terminals and enhanced the parking experience with red/green lights about parking spots. If you see a green light there is a spot for you which really cuts down the wasted time to look for a spot and keeps the frustration level at a minimum.

So DFW Airport thank you on a job well down! Keep up the great work.

• Would you like to take a moment and send out a non-traditional thank you?
• What do you think about my thank you?

I look forward to reading your comments.

Posted in Business, Travel | Post Comments (2) »

Let me know if this sounds familiar. You are getting off a plane, excited to arrive and as you get off the jet bridge the line comes to a complete halt because someone just stops! Almost forgets where they are, who is behind them, and proceeds to almost have a 5 car pileup with people. Sound familiar?

I did a test last week. Of the 50 people who passed by me at DFW airport, 39 of them were on their phone. Making a call, sending an email, texting or reading an email. Think about that 78%! A large percentage of them are bumping into people, aren’t able to multitask and in some ways being extremely rude.

I understand that when many people get off a plane they don’t know where they are going. They need to take a minute to get their barring’s straight. Perhaps those individuals can move over to the right/left and not force everyone else to almost slam into them.

So I ask you – is walking in today’s society easy? I would suggest that with all the technology, distractions, and ADD in the world, it is challenging and probably going to get worse before it gets better, especially with wearable and drone technology on the horizon.

What do you think?

• Have you noticed the same thing I have?
• Does it bother you?
• Is there anything we can do about it or is this just the way life is?

I look forward to reading your comments.

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A few weeks ago after checking into a Marriott property I noticed a tag in the bathroom that said, “LIKE WE CARE FOR YOU, WE CARE FOR OUR PLANET”. I liked the message which basically means hang up your towel and use it a second time which saves energy.

I have seen this many times before but for whatever reason this time it struck a nerve and I complied and hung up my towel and didn’t need new ones for later or the next day.

Not sure why I don’t do it every time since at home I don’t wash towels after one use.

I wonder how many people really do this and save energy. My sense is most people feel that they are paying for the room and amenities and want clean towels every day.

What do you think?

• What % of people do you think really do this?
• Do you hang out your towels if there is a sign?
• Why do you think more people don’t do it?

I look forward to reading your comments.

Posted in Business, Travel | Post Comments (3) »