Advertisement
Help Keep Boards Alive. Support us by going ad free today. See here: https://subscriptions.boards.ie/.
https://www.boards.ie/group/1878-subscribers-forum

Private Group for paid up members of Boards.ie. Join the club.
Hi all, please see this major site announcement: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058427594/boards-ie-2026

Time to make Taxi drivers bargain against each other?

  • 28-10-2008 07:09PM
    #1
    Saskia
    Closed Accounts Posts: 255 ✭✭Saskia


    With another imminent increase due in the next week or so isnt it time we treated this sector like rival independant shops looking for our money?

    When the increase happens and it changes what it would cost you to get home how about we offer a taxi driver what we think the journey is worth? If you think Im crazy then think about it; would a driver rather sit on a rank for an hour making no money or would he rather take a fair that is worth 15 euro, with the new charges, on the metre or the flat fee of 12 euro you're offering?

    I think with enough people doing it to them they'll do the latter.
    Tagged:


«13456

Comments

  • #2
    Mark200
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,536 ✭✭✭Mark200


    Could work....but the majority of people wouldn't be bothered and just take the first taxi they can get


  • #3
    oztots
    Closed Accounts Posts: 297 ✭✭oztots


    I reckon its a decent idea, till you get sozzled and you empty your wallet and mumble bring me home.

    Wake up safe and at home, minus that 50 quid that was for food for the week.


  • #4
    connundrum
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,563 ✭✭✭connundrum


    Is there not something whereby all taxis on a meter have to have the same basic rate?

    I don't think it'd make a difference tbh, however I do think that cars which are in poor condition i.e. a worn out 1996 Nissan Almera, should charge less for the journey.

    **++** But Thats Only My Opinion **++**


  • #5
    4zn76tysfajdxp
    Closed Accounts Posts: 27,944 ✭✭✭✭4zn76tysfajdxp


    I only choose taxis after two rival drivers have a fight to the death, and then I pick the surviver. It's the only fair way I can think of.


  • #6
    Saskia
    Closed Accounts Posts: 255 ✭✭Saskia


    Ernesto Scrawny Reporter wrote: »
    I only choose taxis after two rival drivers have a fight to the death, and then I pick the surviver. It's the only fair way I can think of.

    Dont let Simon Cowell or a US Television executive near this thread.


  • Advertisement
  • #7
    4zn76tysfajdxp
    Closed Accounts Posts: 27,944 ✭✭✭✭4zn76tysfajdxp


    Saskia wrote: »
    Dont let Simon Cowell or a US Television executive near this thread.

    Why not? If that was on tv I'd watch it.


  • #8
    i71jskz5xu42pb
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,806 ✭✭✭i71jskz5xu42pb


    connundrum wrote: »
    Is there not something whereby all taxis on a meter have to have the same basic rate?
    No, the regulator only regulates the maximum fare.

    http://www.taxireg.ie/consumer/fare-information/what-is-a-maximum-fare.html
    oztots wrote: »
    I reckon its a decent idea, till you get sozzled and you empty your wallet and mumble bring me home.
    See above


  • #9
    Guy:Incognito
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 38,227 ✭✭✭✭Guy:Incognito


    If you have them competing on price you have to then get rid of the rule that says they have to take you where you want to go and not refuse a fare. They would have to be allowed refuse your business should they not want to go to where your goign or if they plain just dotn fancy moving.
    These things have to work both ways.



    Ernesto Scrawny Reporter wrote: »
    I only choose taxis after two rival drivers have a fight to the death, and then I pick the surviver. It's the only fair way I can think of.

    You'd be better off chosing the loser. That way you get a free car.


  • #10
    i71jskz5xu42pb
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,806 ✭✭✭i71jskz5xu42pb


    Stekelly wrote: »
    If you have them competing on price you have to then get rid of the rule that says they have to take you where you want to go and not refuse a fare. They would have to be allowed refuse your business should they not want to go to where your goign or if they plain just dotn fancy moving.
    These things have to work both ways.

    Within the current regulations they can compete on price? They just choose not to.


  • #11
    RobertFoster
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,532 ✭✭✭RobertFoster


    Ernesto Scrawny Reporter wrote: »
    I only choose taxis after two rival drivers have a fight to the death, and then I pick the surviver. It's the only fair way I can think of.
    Yes! Bbuuuuuurrrr AH! Bbuuuuuurrrr AH! Dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g82yZXXpxY8


  • Advertisement
  • #12
    Volvoboy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,479 ✭✭✭Volvoboy


    Really?

    There will be murder on the ranks.


  • #13
    Biggins
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 34,567 ✭✭✭✭Biggins


    Sooner or later with price hikes, the number of times anyone will consider getting a taxi in any one month, will decline for sure.
    Some are shooting themselves in the foot to a certain extent if they over do price hikes - that said, they are stuck between a rock and a hard place. On one side you have the big oil companies charging high despite the price of oil dropping, the cost of public liability insurance has sky rocketed, and then the tax hikes, etc.
    So where does that leave the driver? Pulling his hair out in stress as far as I can see.


  • #14
    BLITZ_Molloy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,947 ✭✭✭BLITZ_Molloy


    There are waaay too many taxi drivers on the roads in most of the country. I'd say they'll do discounts. I'm about a mile and a half out of town and they often only charge me a fiver.


  • #15
    meathstevie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,778 ✭✭✭meathstevie


    Let's not forget that the current pricing structure is over 2 years old. A hell of a lot of prices for other goods and services have increased quite substantially over that period.

    Btw, why don't you go and haggle with the ESB and Bord Gais as well ? They have regulated prices as well. The only difference between the taxi regulator and the energy regulator is that one asks how high when the service providers say jump.


  • #16
    Guy:Incognito
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 38,227 ✭✭✭✭Guy:Incognito


    meathstevie wrote: »
    The only difference between the taxi regulator and the energy regulator is that one asks how high when the service providers say jump.

    and what way does the enrgy regulator work?










    :)


  • #17
    shenanigans1982
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,467 ✭✭✭shenanigans1982


    meathstevie wrote: »
    The only difference between the taxi regulator and the energy regulator is that one asks how high when the service providers say jump.

    Do you provide your passengers with this comedy as a standard when they get in your taxi?


  • #18
    meathstevie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,778 ✭✭✭meathstevie


    No, I just assault them, rob their money and than drop them at least 5 mile away from their destination....

    Seriously now, why do you accept price increases from the likes of the ESB, Bord Gais, Sky, Pat the Baker, Texaco, etc, etc and does there always have to be a whinging session when one particular service gets a price increase ?


  • #19
    shenanigans1982
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,467 ✭✭✭shenanigans1982


    meathstevie wrote: »
    No, I just assault them, rob their money and than drop them at least 5 mile away from their destination....

    Seriously now, why do you accept price increases from the likes of the ESB, Bord Gais, Sky, Pat the Baker, Texaco, etc, etc and does there always have to be a whinging session when one particular service gets a price increase ?

    Because they all probably provide a better service than Taxi Drivers.....Taxi's are probably in a battle with NTL when it comes to the title of worst service provider in the country.


  • #20
    arse..biscuits
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,878 ✭✭✭arse..biscuits


    meathstevie wrote: »
    No, I just assault them, rob their money and than drop them at least 5 mile away from their destination....

    Seriously now, why do you accept price increases from the likes of the ESB, Bord Gais, Sky, Pat the Baker, Texaco, etc, etc and does there always have to be a whinging session when one particular service gets a price increase ?

    No whinging when ESB or Bord Gáis put up there prices? Of course there is.
    My sky package hasn't increased since I got it 3 years ago.


  • #21
    Biggins
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 34,567 ✭✭✭✭Biggins


    shenanigans1982 wrote: »
    Because they all probably provide a better service than Taxi Drivers.....Taxi's are probably in a battle with NTL when it comes to the title of worst service provider in the country.

    Now, now... Perlico I'm told has that title.


  • Advertisement
  • #22
    Saskia
    Closed Accounts Posts: 255 ✭✭Saskia


    shenanigans1982 wrote: »
    Taxi's are probably in a battle with NTL when it comes to the title of worst service provider in the country.

    +1

    But unlike NTL there's thousands of the f*ckers to let them bargain against each other :)

    Taxi Gladiators on Sky FTW.


  • #23
    Ruu_Old
    Closed Accounts Posts: 36,634 ✭✭✭✭Ruu_Old


    How much to the city centre?
    10 euros
    WHHHHHHHAAT?!?! Yer man behind you is doing the same route for half that!:eek:

    Haggling would be great fun altogether.


  • #24
    Saskia
    Closed Accounts Posts: 255 ✭✭Saskia


    Ruu wrote: »
    How much to the city centre?
    10 euros
    WHHHHHHHAAT?!?! Yer man behind you is doing the same route for half that!:eek:

    :)

    I really think its do-able if enough of us start, er, doing it.

    If you have a long rank of taxis are they really going to stay loyal to their "mates" in the current economic climate? Most will, but there's always the few.


  • #25
    meathstevie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,778 ✭✭✭meathstevie


    shenanigans1982 wrote: »
    Because they all probably provide a better service than Taxi Drivers.....Taxi's are probably in a battle with NTL when it comes to the title of worst service provider in the country.

    Can you back that up with any evidence, even anecdotal ?
    For example : when was the last time you felt like you had to make a complaint to either the Taxi Regulator or the Gardai ?

    Or like many people you get in the car they tell their stories about bad experiences and when asked whether they done anything about it without exception the answer is : No.

    How do people expect a service they deem to be below standard to improve if they don't even bother following a simple complaint procedure. You don't even have to use an internal so called "customer service" department like you would have to do with the likes of Perlico and NTL. There's an independent government agency out there to handle the complaint for you. The only thing you have to do is go through the trouble of contacting them.


  • #26
    4zn76tysfajdxp
    Closed Accounts Posts: 27,944 ✭✭✭✭4zn76tysfajdxp


    meathstevie wrote: »
    Can you back that up with any evidence, even anecdotal ?

    Here are some from a recent thread, with the exception of the first one which is from a different, even more recent thread:

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=57719692&postcount=1

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=57670428&postcount=30

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=57672968&postcount=43 = This one is from somebody DEFENDING taxi drivers!

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=57680092&postcount=86

    I don't mind taxis btw, they're lovely for getting me home when I really need it/am drunk. I'm just presenting what other people have said.


  • #27
    anonymous_joe
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,255 ✭✭✭anonymous_joe


    Their profits have been eroded massively and their costs are increasing constantly. Taxis won't get cheaper. Deal with it.


  • #28
    Gumbo
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 42,586 Mod ✭✭✭✭Gumbo


    Saskia wrote: »
    With another imminent increase due in the next week or so isnt it time we treated this sector like rival independant shops looking for our money?

    When the increase happens and it changes what it would cost you to get home how about we offer a taxi driver what we think the journey is worth? If you think Im crazy then think about it; would a driver rather sit on a rank for an hour making no money or would he rather take a fair that is worth 15 euro, with the new charges, on the metre or the flat fee of 12 euro you're offering?

    I think with enough people doing it to them they'll do the latter.

    what do you mean another increase? the fares havent been increased in 2years! can you say that about the bottle of milk you bought yesterday??


  • #29
    EamonnKeane
    Closed Accounts Posts: 950 ✭✭✭EamonnKeane


    MICHAEL O'LEARY BRINGS YOU ... RYANCAB!

    ONLY 10 CENTS A KILOMETRE!

    small print:
    -service charge of €2 per km
    -€5 per bag
    -€10 per extra passenger
    -cab will drop you within 500 m of your house, closer if you're lucky
    -driver charges 40c per boring anecdote
    -50c per comment on government
    -€1 for a rant about fordiners
    -€10 to shut the hell up


  • #30
    the_syco
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 37,310 ✭✭✭✭the_syco


    Meh. I use taxi's when I'm drunk. I know a few who use them when they're drunk.

    Taxi's work out cheaper than not being able to drive for 10 years cos a copper caught you 3 times over the limit...:pac:


  • Advertisement
  • #31
    arybvtcw0eolkf
    Closed Accounts Posts: 24,608 ✭✭✭✭arybvtcw0eolkf


    Saskia wrote: »
    With another imminent increase due in the next week or so isnt it time we treated this sector like rival independant shops looking for our money?

    When the increase happens and it changes what it would cost you to get home how about we offer a taxi driver what we think the journey is worth? If you think Im crazy then think about it; would a driver rather sit on a rank for an hour making no money or would he rather take a fair that is worth 15 euro, with the new charges, on the metre or the flat fee of 12 euro you're offering?

    I think with enough people doing it to them they'll do the latter.


    You seem to think Taxi drivers work in that industry for a hobby. It doesn't occure to you that their providing a living for themselves and a family?.

    The Taxi Regular ran an extensive advertisement campaign asking for the publics input into taxi fares, should they be increased, descreased or stay the same. Did you make contact with their office?, and if so what happened. If not, why not?.

    Taxi threads get tiring, mostly because they originate from ignorance of an industry.

    Taxi regulators contact details.


Advertisement
Advertisement