TRAVELERS were left stranded and needing refunds after an airport shuttle service suddenly shut down.
The shuttle company announced its closure on social media, but was met with major backlash as customers called it a “scam.”
An airport shuttle service abruptly announced it was closing[/caption]
Customers are begging for refunds from Eight Black Airport Shuttle[/caption]
The company informed travelers that it was closing on the same day it actually closed, giving them little time to make alternative arrangements.
Eight Black Airport Shuttle blamed the rising insurance costs and airport fees for the closure.
“This is a hard message to write,” the shuttle company began its statement on Facebook.
“Eight Black Airport Shuttle, like Longmont Shuttle and Boulder Shuttle before it, has always been local—built from the ground up to serve our Boulder County neighbors.
“We took pride in providing reliable, shared airport rides from homes, hotels, and businesses across the region, including through our Hub in Longmont.”
The company expanded its business to include Green Ride Boulder and Longmont’s shared ride services in Colorado in 2022.
Eight Black Shuttle said expanding to those two businesses allowed the company to grow, but times have gotten tougher in recent years.
“But like many transportation companies, we’ve been hit hard by a perfect storm—a significant increase in insurance premiums, rising airport and regulatory fees, and steep capital costs,” the company continued.
“In the shared ride model, where affordability matters most, we simply can’t raise prices enough to cover those costs while still offering the frequency and schedule that our customers expect.”
The company asked the public if anyone was interested in being a “hero” and saving the shuttle.
“We’re grateful beyond words for the thousands of people who’ve ridden with us, shared feedback, and trusted us to get them to and from the airport over the years,” the post concluded.
Customers, however, were not as tearful about the announcement.
In the comments of the post, customers were furious about the sudden closure and claimed they had yet to receive a refund.
“Do the right thing! Your phone is disconnected, that’s a scammy practice,” one customer wrote.
“I’m for that class action suit.”
Another customer, who had just purchased vouchers for the company, said they plan to call their credit card company to request a refund.
Eight Black Airport Shuttle statement
Voucher Refund Information
I sincerely apologize for not including information about how we would handle vouchers in our previous email regarding the closure of our shuttle business. That was an incredibly difficult day for me professionally.
We are actively working on a system to manage the refund process, and it is my full intention to refund every single customer, no matter how long it takes. I know this situation has been a letdown for you and for the Boulder County community.
To initiate your refund, please fill out this form:
Voucher Refund Request Form
Once we cross-reference the submitted forms with our master list, we will contact you directly with details on how the actual refund process will work. We are going to start by refunding people who purchased from the most recent sale and then work our way through the list systematically. It may take up to 12 months to get everyone taken care of. If we can make it happen sooner, we will.
I am truly sorry for any inconvenience caused by the closure of the shuttle service.
Regards,
SIMON CHEN
Founder & Owner
“I just bought 4 vouchers that you advertised,” the customer wrote.
“I’ll wait until Monday and if I don’t hear what you plan to do to reimburse me I will have no choice but to call my credit card company to see if I can get my money back.”
The shuttle website states it is “actively working on a system to manage the refund process.”
“It is my full intention to refund every single customer, no matter how long it takes,” Simon Chen, the business owner wrote.
“I know this situation has been a letdown for you and for the Boulder County community.”
To receive a refund, customers can submit a voucher refund request online.
Eight Black Airport Shuttle did not immediately respond to The U.S. Sun’s request for more information.
