Since when do taxi drivers get to pick and choose their fares?

fedor.2. · 29-03-2014 08:37AM

William F wrote: »

I had a taxi driver charge me 7.50 from Dorset Street to Gardiner Street. Had it been me and not my girlfriend who had paid, I wouldn't of given to the guy.

I waited at the airport bus stop twice in one week and a taxi driver pulled up each time and solicited fairs from me and the others waiting.
I asked the second time whether or not the guy new it was illegal to do that and he said ''You had your hand up didn't you?''

Taxi drivers in the countryside are just as bad. I had a taxi driver charge me 10 euros for a 1 mile fare.
The same location, I had a taxi driver try to give me a British pound coin as change and him telling me ''I new it was in there somewhere''. :rolleyes:

The neck of some taxi drivers in this country, you'd swear it was Norway we were living in. They have a ridiculous sense entitlement.

Did you ever think that maybe you're the problem???

Merkin · 29-03-2014 10:15AM

To be honest OP I lost interest the moment you said you wanted to get the taxi from the rank in Dawson Street to Pearce Street which is JUST around the corner.

Have you ever seen the film The Jerk with Steve Martin? In it he hitches a lift from a randomer to the end of his house picket fence. Your story reminds me of that.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3ohBUYQJflU

Chazz Michael Michaels · 29-03-2014 10:18AM

riveratom wrote: »

The answer is probably 'since forever'.

Got into a taxi on the rank half way up Dawson Street earlier. Specifically didn't hail one passing on the street or further up the rank since I figured it was the one to go for (I know you can choose any technically).

Get in and once the driver hears I only want to go to Pearse St station, he tells me (barely made out his unbelievably thick accent), that it is too close and that he has been waiting to get to the front of the queue (the usual rubbish you hear about).

When I tell him he has to bring me to where I want to go and that I am in a rush to make the train, he's like 'no, no'. Tell him I am making a complaint and the a*rsehole is like 'feel free, feel free'. Get out, call out his plate number to him and walk off. Pretty sure I see him grinning back at me when I look back.

End up sprinting to the station and making it with two minutes to spare.

So, has anyone ever made a complaint to the regulator and what happened when you did?

'Public service vehicle' - good one!!

A taxi to pearse from Dawson St? Jesus wept...

anncoates · 29-03-2014 10:19AM

Pain in the hole but there are thousands of taxis in the city. Just get another one.

gallag · 29-03-2014 10:25AM

Chazz Michael Michaels wrote: »

A taxi to pearse from Dawson St? Jesus wept...

Don't know the area myself, how far exactly is it?

29-03-2014 10:27AM

Specifically going to the top of the rank for a *one minute* journey? You're obviously someone who doesn't take other people into consideration very often. And then you say, 'you have to take me'? Jesus.

Chazz Michael Michaels · 29-03-2014 10:30AM

gallag wrote: »

Don't know the area myself, how far exactly is it?

Literally around the corner. Max 10 min walk. Cutting through Trinity helps.

Oranage2 · 29-03-2014 10:37AM

Would go from the airport to santry the odd time, I usually just walk to departures and get one there, tell the guy no one will take me, they usually give an 'OK, quick jump in' and they're always happy about the fair none of this 'I have to pay extra and waited there a few hours ' bull that you get from the rank.

The Backwards Man · 29-03-2014 10:40AM

Doesn't make a difference if it's 100m or 100km. There is no minimum distance for a hire, you can take a taxi to cross the road if you want.

Chazz Michael Michaels · 29-03-2014 10:43AM

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Doesn't make a difference if it's 100m or 100km. There is no minimum distance for a hire, you can take a taxi to cross the road if you want.

That may be the case, but is it fair to a driver sitting in a rank for 45 mins?

I don't think it is.

The Backwards Man · 29-03-2014 10:46AM

Chazz Michael Michaels wrote: »

That may be the case, but is it fair to a driver sitting in a rank for 45 mins?

I don't think it is.

If the driver, supposedly a self employed businessman, hasn't the cop on to realise which fares are most profitable, then I'd agree, let him sit where he is.

Chazz Michael Michaels · 29-03-2014 10:50AM

The Backwards Man wrote: »

If the driver, supposedly a self employed businessman, hasn't the cop on to realise which fares are most profitable, then I'd agree, let him sit where he is.

I'm not sure I follow.

The Backwards Man · 29-03-2014 10:56AM

Chazz Michael Michaels wrote: »

I'm not sure I follow.

Trip round the corner with the minimum fare on the meter is way more cost effective than a 15 euro trip some drivers seem to think is more beneficial. They'll have to spend the same amount of time back on the rank after both.

Not confined to taxi drivers, it's a common reason why many businesses fail, they can't get their head around what they take in is NOT what they take home.

Chazz Michael Michaels · 29-03-2014 11:02AM

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Trip round the corner with the minimum fare on the meter is way more cost effective than a 15 euro trip some drivers seem to think is more beneficial. They'll have to spend the same amount of time back on the rank after both.

Not confined to taxi drivers, it's a common reason why many businesses fail, they can't get their head around what they take in is NOT what they take home.

Ok, help me on this. Let's say the average time spent on the rank is one hour, in this example. You say all fares are equal, in a ten hour day?

The Backwards Man · 29-03-2014 11:09AM

Chazz Michael Michaels wrote: »

Ok, help me on this. Let's say the average time spent on the rank is one hour, in this example. You say all fares are equal, in a ten hour day?

I'm saying the opposite.

Ten runs around the corner for a fiver each are more profitable than five runs a few miles up the road for fifteen euros each.

Chazz Michael Michaels · 29-03-2014 11:15AM

The Backwards Man wrote: »

I'm saying the opposite.

Ten runs around the corner for a fiver each are more profitable than five runs a few miles up the road for fifteen euros each.

Ok, we're not talking about the same thing. I'm saying, it might take a driver up to an hour to get a fare, so he's better off getting a fifteen euro job. In an ideal world he would get ten fiver jobs in two hours, but that's not reality because he can't get that many fares. Have you seen the amount of taxis in Dublin? Its ridiculous.

The Backwards Man · 29-03-2014 11:23AM

Chazz Michael Michaels wrote: »

Ok, we're not talking about the same thing. I'm saying, it might take a driver up to an hour to get a fare, so he's better off getting a fifteen euro job. In an ideal world he would get ten fiver jobs in two hours, but that's not reality because he can't get that many fares. Have you seen the amount of taxis in Dublin? Its ridiculous.

We are talking about the same thing.

Why is he better taking the fifteen euro job when the margin is better in the fiver one?

gallag · 29-03-2014 11:40AM

The Backwards Man wrote: »

We are talking about the same thing.

Why is he better taking the fifteen euro job when the margin is better in the fiver one?

Because 15 is a bigger number! If you only get one job every 60-90mins you will have more money in your pocket at the end of the shift doing a higher value job every time!

29-03-2014 11:43AM

Wont you get back to the rank quicker if you make a 5 minute minimum of a fiver fare?

The Backwards Man · 29-03-2014 11:44AM

gallag wrote: »

Because 15 is a bigger number! If you only get one job every 60-90mins you will have more money in your pocket at the end of the shift doing a higher value job every time!

Not sure if serious.

I'll leave yous til it.

goz83 · 29-03-2014 11:52AM

I'm sure sitting at a rank for an hour is a soul sucking experience. I would hit the emergency eject button if I was a taxi driver and a passenger wanted me to drive a minute around the corner.

Menas · 29-03-2014 12:32PM

Talk about throwing your toys out of the pram OP.
Taxi won't take you 400 yards so you stand beside him reciting his plate number.
But you dont have time to ask the second driver in the queue?
And you then come on here to tell your tale?

The lad was perfectly entitled to refuse your fare, same as he is entitled to refuse to take a drunk, a skanger or someone he thinks is a prick.
Airport rules are different in that the driver must take the fare offered unless very good reason not to.

Chazz Michael Michaels · 29-03-2014 12:38PM

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Not sure if serious.

I'll leave yous til it.

Six hour shift, one fare per hour. Six times fifteen or six times five? The margins game only works if you can increase volume. Use your business brain.

Freddie Dodge · 29-03-2014 01:02PM

William F wrote: »

I had a taxi driver charge me 7.50 from Dorset Street to Gardiner Street. Had it been me and not my girlfriend who had paid, I wouldn't of given to the guy.

I waited at the airport bus stop twice in one week and a taxi driver pulled up each time and solicited fairs from me and the others waiting.
I asked the second time whether or not the guy new it was illegal to do that and he said ''You had your hand up didn't you?''

Taxi drivers in the countryside are just as bad. I had a taxi driver charge me 10 euros for a 1 mile fare.
The same location, I had a taxi driver try to give me a British pound coin as change and him telling me ''I new it was in there somewhere''. :rolleyes:

The neck of some taxi drivers in this country, you'd swear it was Norway we were living in. They have a ridiculous sense entitlement.

basic charge is 4.70 plus 2 for extra passenger plus 80 cent time on the meter.

Problem is what exactly ?

Im not even s taxi driver and I don't see what you're on about.

29-03-2014 01:06PM

I should be doing accounts but i worked out the following instead

......

Two taxis(A & in side by side ranks at Dublin Airport
Taxi A only takes trips to Swords and Taxi B to Trinity College.
They both get first fare at 00:00 and have until 09:00 to get fares.
There is a one hour wait before they can get the next fare.
Source for fares & distance - http://www.transportforireland.ie/taxi/taxi-fare-estimator/
Source for fuel consumption - http://www.theaa.ie/routes/#
Minimum charge and driving time (no traffic) used for both.

Taxi A
8 journeys made @ €7.80 each = €64.20
Fuel - 4.5km e/w @ €0.80 = €12.80 (16 x €0.80)

Net Profit = €49.60

Taxi B
6 journeys made @ €17.20 each = €103.20
Fuel - 13.6km e/w @ €2.00 = €24.00 (12 x €2.00)

Net Profit = €79.20

Sorry, BM, the longer distance journeys made the most profit.

The Backwards Man · 29-03-2014 01:06PM

Chazz Michael Michaels wrote: »

Six hour shift, one fare per hour. Six times fifteen or six times five? The margins game only works if you can increase volume. Use your business brain.

I'd play the margins game no matter what the volume. It's better to be idle than work idle.

Chazz Michael Michaels · 29-03-2014 01:16PM

The Backwards Man wrote: »

I'd play the margins game no matter what the volume. It's better to be idle than work idle.

Dude, youre just applying the wrong model to the data. Happens all the time.

The Backwards Man · 29-03-2014 01:18PM

Strawberry Milkshake wrote: »

I should be doing accounts but i worked out the following instead ......
Two taxis(A & in side by side ranks at Dublin Airport

Taxi A only takes trips to Swords and Taxi B to Trinity College.

They both get first fare at 00:00 and have until 09:00 to get fares.

There is a one hour wait before they can get the next fare.

Source for fares & distance - http://www.transportforireland.ie/taxi/taxi-fare-estimator/

Source for fuel consumption - http://www.theaa.ie/routes/#

Minimum charge and driving time (no traffic) used for both.

Taxi A
8 journeys made @ €7.20 each = €64.20
Fuel - 4.5km e/w @ €0.80 = €12.80 (16 x €0.80)

Net Profit = €49.60

Taxi B
6 journeys made @ €17.20 each = €103.20
Fuel - 13.6km e/w @ €2.00 = €24.00 (12 x €2.00)

Net Profit = €79.20

Sorry, BM, the longer distance journeys made the most profit.

Longer journeys took in more money.

Shorter journeys made most profit.

Chazz Michael Michaels · 29-03-2014 01:19PM

Strawberry Milkshake wrote: »

I should be doing accounts but i worked out the following instead ......
Two taxis(A & in side by side ranks at Dublin Airport

Taxi A only takes trips to Swords and Taxi B to Trinity College.

They both get first fare at 00:00 and have until 09:00 to get fares.

There is a one hour wait before they can get the next fare.

Source for fares & distance - http://www.transportforireland.ie/taxi/taxi-fare-estimator/

Source for fuel consumption - http://www.theaa.ie/routes/#

Minimum charge and driving time (no traffic) used for both.

Taxi A
8 journeys made @ €7.20 each = €64.20
Fuel - 4.5km e/w @ €0.80 = €12.80 (16 x €0.80)

Net Profit = €49.60

Taxi B
6 journeys made @ €17.20 each = €103.20
Fuel - 13.6km e/w @ €2.00 = €24.00 (12 x €2.00)

Net Profit = €79.20

Sorry, BM, the longer distance journeys made the most profit.

I think that cars are more fuel efficient over longer journeys too. I might be wrong.

Chazz Michael Michaels · 29-03-2014 01:20PM

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Longer journeys took in more money.

Shorter journeys made most profit.

Ok, now you're just being silly.

Since when do taxi drivers get to pick and choose their fares?

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