I really feel bad for taxi drivers. It’s almost as if the ones that work in the US are really getting unfairly treated. Today, I went to Las Vegas for business and took the taxi twice. Here are my two experiences.
From the convention center to the airport – When I asked for a receipt after I paid my fare and tip, the taxi driver said I needed to pay another $5 to get it. The reason he claimed was because he gave me good service, and also because he did not go the long route. I’m not sure if demanding an additional $5 tip when asked for a receipt equals good service, and I’m also not quite sure why going the normal route means a good service. Is it standard for them to take the long route so they can make more money off us? I can understand if he’s upset that I didn’t pay tip or something, but I actually already gave him 22% tip on top of the fare.
From the airport to the convention center – Was it funny that the other taxi driver asked me for a bigger tip just because he went the “normal” route? Well, I actually went the long route in the morning. It would seem appropriate for the morning ride from the airport to the convention center to be similar in price to the afternoon ride back to the airport. However, my morning fare turned out to be $23 because he went a different route (next time I’ll know when they try to go on the freeway).
I’m sure not every taxi driver is like this but I certainly met two of the ones that really needed money today. Can you imagine what foreigners will feel about the United States if they come for vacation and have the experiences I just had? Is it really hard to make a living as a taxi driver? Are they being treated unfairly that they have to try to get every cent out of the customer? What do you think and what have your experience with taxis been?
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{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Actually, you were the one who was treated unfairly by the drivers.
Those drivers are just hurting themselves and other drivers in the long run.
If they continue to give bad service, they will eventually get reported to the city and they could lose their license.
They could be hurting other drivers because cities are now considering allowing drivers to add surcharges in weeks when gas prices are over a certain threshold.
Too many bad reports about drivers could make the city council think twice about passing it.
Praveen, you must be a real treat to hang around with. A little sense of humor will go a long way.
” little sense of humor will go a long way.”
I like this attitude
I can’t believe he told you to give him an extra $5! That is ridiculous. How rude!
I almost always use a flat rate service like a shuttle or coach to get to the airport. I can’t remember the last time I used a cab, must have been over 5 years ago on New Year’s Eve.
Hmmm, seems to me there are laws against this BS. The Taxi driver choose to be a Taxi driver. If they don’t like being a Taxi driver then change jobs.
Don’t we all have to work hard for our money? I bet many that read this blog don’t do it by being a crook?
It all comes down to the decisions one has to make. With each one you have to live with it.
Greg
Its not happening only at US. Maybe those taxi driver just need an increase.With the hiking gasoline price today,their earnings are affected.
They do it because by definition they don’t expect to see you ever again. There’s no reason for them not to extract from you as much as they can. Usually a business gives good service because it wants repeat customers. Taxi drivers only have this one shot with you. It’s actually pretty rational (for them) if you think about it.
I sometimes take cabs when I travel for business. I don’t think I ever had a bad experience. They take me to my destination, I pay the fare plus a tip, and that’s the end of it.
Hope your got these guys’ taxicab numbers and reported them to the company. These are clear violations of the rules and probably of the law.
Also, you do not need to be poor to be greedy, you only need to be …err… greedy to be greedy