Interesting responses so far.
The concierge is for cab calling, security is for security. If it is security, it is out of line for you to treat them like a valet or concierge. That's not what they are for.
If I were to ask them where the restrooms were, or on which floor a particular tenant was one, would you expect them to say "Sorry, I'm here to provide security, not give directions." It seems to me that those sort of functions are obviously within the realm of what someone at a security podium in an office building is expected to do, even though they're not strictly speaking "security." I had assumed that calling a taxi for a tenant visitor would fall into a similar category.
I normally pre-arrange for a pickup if I'm taking a cab/limo to the client. If it's in a city where we have agreements with a car service, my admin can handle this easily. If not, I will ask the client contact if his admin or other staff can take care of that for me
I must be doing something wrong. I don't have a car service or an "admin." And, I think it would be presumptuous for me to expect a customer or prospect (or their "admin") to handle this for me. That's primarily why I ask downstairs in the lobby, as it doesn't involve the client or prospect at all.
Think of a "Rentacop" qual level slightly below that of a night watchman for a storage yard for prestressed concrete overpass beams. I wouldn't expect them to know what a taxi was, much less the telephone # for summoning one.
That's not very useful at all. The security people in an office building are interacting with people all day long - hardly slightly below a concrete yard night watchman. And I'm sure they know what a taxi is.
I call a cab myself - can't recall ever asking someone to call one.
If I'm in my own city, of course that's what I'd do. But if I'm in an unfamiliar city, I have no idea who the best company to call is. I could make a guess, call 411, and ask for Yellow Cab and that would probably work, but it may not be the best option. And, asking the cab you take from the airport isn't always the best option, for any of several reasons: In some cities, one company has an exclusive contract to pick up passengers at the airport, and either cannot or is just not set up to take people TO the airport. Sometimes, when coming from the airport, you may get a cab company that has just a few cars, or concentrates on the other side of the city. If you ask the cab driver, he's likely to give you his card or recommend a friend. In any of those cases, when you call them, you may very well get a "yes sir!" and then have to wait an extended amount of time because you called the "wrong" company. I would have thought that this would be a common occurrence and that the building people would know who best to call.
But from the reactions here so far, I guess it may very well be an uncommon request. Going forward, I'll remember to keep my options open rather than just assume that the building person will know.