Taxi Drivers: Tip or not

irlrobins · 31-03-2008 06:31AM #1

While I was in school and college I had a part time job in a bar, and relied on tips to boost my earnings. When I'm out these days I always tip in bars or restaurants as I know how much tips are appreciated by the servers, having done it myself. In fact I'm often over generous it would seem and worse, I get embarrassed when people in my group don't tip.

But when it comes to taxi's I feel like I'm handing over enough cash as it is, without adding another couple of euro to it as a tip. But again I feel really guilty for not doing this. Occasionally I give in to this guilt and tip, or if the driver was particularly friendly I'd tip as well.

But am I in the minority? Do many people tip taxi drivers? Or are we being too American and are now tipping everyone (I tip my barber too!)

And I'm not looking to start a taxi driver bashing thread, just a discussion on tipping them or not.

monkeyfudge · 31-03-2008 06:44AM

I think I've only ever tipped once... And that was in the early hours of New Years morning and I managed to nab a taxi way easier than I thought I would... I had resigned myself to a long walk home, so was very appreciative of getting the taxi.

Also the driver lived out my way as well so he was making it his last fare of the night.

But in general... no... I don't think I tip too much outside of bars and restaurants.

Xavi6 · 31-03-2008 06:49AM

If the taxi came to say 29 euro I'd give him 30 and go (unless he's a w*nker). No big deal.

gcgirl · 31-03-2008 07:04AM

Depends !! There should have been a 3rd option because sometimes i do tip then sometimes i don't really depends on driver!!

Overheal · 31-03-2008 07:05AM

Depends. One time i even skipped payment on a taxi driver for being on his mobile, and then nearly getting us into an accident as a result. I'll tip if they keep a good car drive safe etc.

Stargal · 31-03-2008 07:10AM

Yeah, I always tip taxi drivers. Usually I'd just round it up by a couple of euro so if it's a €13 fare then I'd give €15. I'd see it as just being polite, I guess.

irlrobins · 31-03-2008 08:17AM

Xavi6 wrote: »

If the taxi came to say 29 euro I'd give him 30 and go (unless he's a w*nker). No big deal.

Ah yes, I'd do this too, but I wouldn't call that a tip really.

Rb · 31-03-2008 08:35AM

Taxi's are a rip here, so if anything it's just a rounding up to the nearest €5.

Rabies · 31-03-2008 08:38AM

If its good service then yes.
Same with dining out.

31-03-2008 09:58AM

I've never had a taxi that I felt deserved tips.

Whilst in America we had this death-trap of a taxi. There must have been a leak in the engine/someone spilled oil inside the car, because there was this foul stench of fumes for the 30min trip we had. The driver himself was loud and obnoxious. And we still had to pay a tip on top of the fare.

Dave! · 31-03-2008 10:07AM

Yeah I tip them. Tip the barber too. And the food delivery person. And lounge staff. If you want a tip, come to Dave.

meathstevie · 31-03-2008 10:14AM

I drive a taxi myself and of course tips are much appreciated but sometimes I feel like people don't realy know whether to tip or not. Plain and simple : you're happy with what you got : tip. You're not : don't.

What I find realy unbelievable though is people going on about taxis being expensive. You must be joking. You know what's expensive ? Paying 15 euro/person to get into a club + 2 euro for the cloakroom to avail of the privilige of paying mad prices for a drink ( 10 euro for a short + mixer is not exceptional ). If you multiply only the cover charge and cloakroom cost by four you'll probably have paid more than for a taxi journey for the same people from Dublin Airport to Drogheda.

I suppose it's all down to the fact that I'm the last one you'll come accross at the end of your night out when you're allready broke and drunk and you don't want to depart with any more hard earned money:rolleyes:

starn · 31-03-2008 10:18AM

No I dont tip in taxis. I dont tip in bars or restraunts either the minimum wage in this country is high enough.

prendy · 31-03-2008 10:18AM

i dont tip them....i dont get a tip for doing my job so why should they?????

they earn a very good wage as it is.

Hogmeister B · 31-03-2008 10:27AM

meathstevie wrote: »

What I find realy unbelievable though is people going on about taxis being expensive. You must be joking. You know what's expensive ? Paying 15 euro/person to get into a club + 2 euro for the cloakroom to avail of the privilige of paying mad prices for a drink ( 10 euro for a short + mixer is not exceptional ). If you multiply only the cover charge and cloakroom cost by four you'll probably have paid more than for a taxi journey for the same people from Dublin Airport to Drogheda.

I suppose it's all down to the fact that I'm the last one you'll come accross at the end of your night out when you're allready broke and drunk and you don't want to depart with any more hard earned money:rolleyes:

As a student i would never pay fifteen euros into a nightclub, nor pay for a cloakroom, and usually have my fill of booze before i get in. Taxis are expensive. On short runs, i find the additional euro per person infuriating.

Hogmeister B · 31-03-2008 10:27AM

prendy wrote: »

i dont tip them....i dont get a tip for doing my job so why should they?????

they earn a very good wage as it is.

Indeed.

Krieg · 31-03-2008 10:57AM

Yeah I think they are a rip off so no tip from me
Its not like they can spit in my drink the next time I go for service

Boggles · 31-03-2008 11:11AM

I find with the new meters, there are 2 type of taxi drivers. If the fair is lets say €8.13 and the taxi driver says €8, I'd give him the tenner to keep. If he says €8.13, I will wait as long as it takes until he counts out that €1.87.

What i do hate is when you step into a taxi with a couple of mates, the taxi driver spends the first 60 seconds pressing buttons, you know then that it is going to be a big one.

I have revised my tipping lately, I used tip everything. Went out for a meal some months ago, service was terrible, People have seen the Yeti more times than I saw our waitress that night, I still tipped. From then on thou, you have to make me feel special to get that 10%.

Maybe give service people a bit of incentive, if they do a good job, pay them, if they don't they pay you.

Dun laoire · 31-03-2008 11:22AM

Depends on the driver alright. A pleasent chatty driver will always get a tip

kenco · 31-03-2008 11:24AM

Totally depends on the quality of the service provided.

For Taxis I would not normally tip apart from a small round up unless I feel the driver has done anything to deserve it (e.g. consult on the route, offer to turn off the radio, etc)

Same really with meals, etc, I have no problem what so ever with not tipping if I dont feel the service warrants it. My better half differs on this but after spending a bit of time in the States and comparing the general level of service quality with that provided here there is no comparison. Tipping is expected in the States as their level of service is in general of a high standard and therefore you feel the extra is worthwhile.

Afraid to say this is not the norm here and when you do come across it then a generous tip is warranted.

Run_to_da_hills · 31-03-2008 11:29AM

It depends entirely on the driver. Some drivers are courtious, some go by the book and charge you every extra they can fine ie excess baggage etc, I generally dont bother tipping these guys.

Chips Lovell · 31-03-2008 11:35AM

meathstevie wrote: »

Plain and simple : you're happy with what you got : tip. You're not : don't.

Come off it. I pay the agreed price of the service and that now indicates that I'm unhappy with it?

meathstevie wrote: »

What I find realy unbelievable though is people going on about taxis being expensive. You must be joking. You know what's expensive ? Paying 15 euro/person to get into a club....

Citing something that is even more expensive doesn't necessarily prove that the service is cheap.

Boom_Bap · 31-03-2008 11:37AM

kenco wrote: »

Totally depends on the quality of the service provided.

For Taxis I would not normally tip apart from a small round up unless I feel the driver has done anything to deserve it (e.g. consult on the route, offer to turn off the radio, etc)

I would not normally tip at all. Consultation of the route, asking if you want the radio to be turned off etc are supposed to be part of the service. When you sit in a taxi and the meter is turned on it is up to the taxi driver to provide the best and most comfortable service possible to you to get you to your destination.
The problem is that we are used to a mediocre service and when we are presented with these 'additional' services from the driver, we feel priviledged and think the driver is doing an exceptional job. He is just doing his job properly and up to standard.

nice1franko · 31-03-2008 11:52AM

When I was in college I used to always tip them - and tip them well. Then I did a stint in McDonalds parttime. A fair few people would tip a little bit even though tipping in McD's is definitely not req'd. Anyway, taxi drivers would *always* wait for their 5p change or whatever and never tip.

So I thought: "here's me bustin me bollox for a few schillings to buy a) pints and b) taxi fare plus a tip ... and the very same fukers wouldn't give you the steam off their piss" and so ended (more-or-less*) franko's tipping of taxi drivers.

* although, if the service is good and fare happens to be a squid or two under a modulus of five, I wouldn't wait for change.

axer · 31-03-2008 12:08PM

irlrobins wrote: »

But am I in the minority? Do many people tip taxi drivers? Or are we being too American and are now tipping everyone (I tip my barber too!)

And I'm not looking to start a taxi driver bashing thread, just a discussion on tipping them or not.

You think taxi's are too expensive but not eating and drinking out???!!!:eek:

el tonto wrote: »

Come off it. I pay the agreed price of the service and that now indicates that I'm unhappy with it?

+1 Paying them the agreed price is what indicates you are happy with the service because if you were not then you shouldnt pay them or should only pay part.

When I get in a tax I get in for one sole purpose and that is to get from A to B safetly and in a timely manner. I could not care less if the driver tells me the secret of life or anything else. So why should I tip him/her if they do their job?

I very rarely tip unless someone has really gone out of their way and did something that benefits me and that I actually wanted. I will not pay someone extra to do their job. I will not pay extra if someone goes out of their way to do something that does not really benefit me or something I did not want or need.

How can people complain about the rip-off Ireland when not only are they paying the rip off prices but are giving an extra bit on top of that.

Down with unnecessary tippers I say!!

irlrobins · 31-03-2008 12:16PM

axer wrote: »

You think taxi's are too expensive but not eating and drinking out???!!!:eek:

Well a good meal that might be "expensive" often has a better value for money than a taxi. For example, a taxi driver taking me to the airport at 7am on a weekday is hardly working "unsocialable hours" in my book. But yet I'm charged the higher fare rate for that trip.

axer · 31-03-2008 12:28PM

irlrobins wrote: »

Well a good meal that might be "expensive" often has a better value for money than a taxi.

Value is subjective. I think both are completely overcharged for in Ireland.

irlrobins wrote: »

For example, a taxi driver taking me to the airport at 7am on a weekday is hardly working "unsocialable hours" in my book. But yet I'm charged the higher fare rate for that trip.

I agree - taxi's are overcharging for things such as that.

I think eating out is overly expensive too so I would tip neither as said above unless they give me something extra that I was not expected to get that I actually want.

I hate when people tip just for service and I hate even more when people look down on you if you do not tip (as you said you do).

Dave! · 31-03-2008 12:29PM

I occassionally got tips when working in a well known toy store

If I brought something out to someone's car, or whatever... Made me feel good

Now I don't get tips, I just get hostility :mad:

Canaboid · 31-03-2008 12:37PM

Of the last 6 taxis I've used 3 of them have attempted to tip themselves using the super secret tip button (labeled extras I think) on their meters.
Just me, hailed on the street, extras button get pushed 2 or 3 times at end of trip at a euro a go. First guy got me, second and third guy had their extra charge reversed by me paying that amount under the correct fair and a suggestion of a trip to the Police station with reciept if they are unhappy.

Perhaps I'm unlucky but somehow I doubt it. Watch out for this and you may be suprised. Always ask for a printed reciept and check it.
Details of tarrifs and non-imaginary extras can be found here http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/3601/dublintaxifarescg2.jpg

I tipped the 3 honest drivers.

axer · 31-03-2008 12:40PM

Canaboid wrote: »

I tipped the 3 honest drivers.

for not trying to rip you off?

bill_ashmount · 31-03-2008 12:41PM

I used to tip them before, let them have whatever change was left from a 10 or 20 note.

Now I never tip, I make a point of getting the exact change, I don't care how much groaning goes on while they look for the 5 cent they owe me. I've had too many experiences where they tried to round up the price or take longer routes etc.

Taxi Drivers: Tip or not

Do you tip taxi drivers? 44 votes

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