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Do you tip taxi drivers in Ireland?

Koptain Liverpool

Following on from a discussion on another thread - do you tip taxi drivers in Ireland?

I don't and neither do most people I know but apparently a lot of other folk do.

In Ireland the only place I generally tip is in a restaurant.
I'd hate it if Ireland became like the states where you're expected to tip everyone from barbers to delivery men and so on. Whatever about throwing someone a few quid for providing service above and beyond the usual but I hate the idea of an institutionalized system of tipping where it essentially becomes socially compulsory.

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Realt Dearg Sec

Duck Soup wrote: »

I'll round it up if they're pleasant and they've not taken the scenic route. Or tried the 2 minutes looking for change scam.

The thing is, since the recession, scenic routes have proliferated. In the Celtic Tiger days (when you'd hail a cab just to go down the shops) it was a positive rarity that a cab driver would take you the long way round. Some of the attempts at stretching the fares since the recession hit have been hilarious including - for example - going from Merrion Square into Ballsbridge to get onto Baggot Street. Fcuk me.

And it's not the furry nationals or the out-of-towners. Invariably it's the Dublin born-and-bred types, who know every back street and trick in the book to bump up the final fare. Ultimately, it's self-defeating, I'll only take a cab if absolutely necessary now and give them directions if they're wandering. It's sad. Everyone has it tough. Not everyone tries to take the pish.

Why would you take a cab from Merrion square to Baggot st?

Gannicus

Had one Sunday night he was a right racist tosser.

He said and I quote "Black drivers should only take black fares". he also stated how they were entitled to free water etc. (a completely unfounded and untrue statement) when the charges come in. I told him just to be quiet and drive me home. This wasn't even half way into my journey. The fare came to €16.80 and I gave him a twenty. He alleged he hadn't got enough change after rummaging around for a couple minutes. So I said give me a fiver and I run in and get you the €1.80. I went in got my jar of change and gave him the €1.80 in 1 & 2 cent coins. He was none too pleased. He refused to take it so I refused to go get him larger denominations.

There was no tip for him either.

Duck Soup

Realt Dearg Sec wrote: »

Why would you take a cab from Merrion square to Baggot st?

Usually because I've got about 3 minutes to get to the bank. I make it clear as I get in - "Sorry this is a real short one, but I'm in a hurry" - that they are not going to retire on the upcoming fare.

And away we go. From Merrion Square, down Lower Mount Street. Over the canal bridge. Into Northumberland Road. Down to the Ballsbridge Hotel. Right at the coffee kiosk, up Pembroke Road. And onto Baggot Street.

If they don't want the fare, don't take it. But don't liberties [probably another stop on the route to Baggot Street] instead.

Realt Dearg Sec

Duck Soup wrote: »

Usually because I've got about 3 minutes to get to the bank. I make it clear as I get in - "Sorry this is a real short one, but I'm in a hurry" - that they are not going to retire on the upcoming fare.

And away we go. From Merrion Square, down Lower Mount Street. Over the canal bridge. Into Northumberland Road. Down to the Ballsbridge Hotel. Right at the coffee kiosk, up Pembroke Road. And onto Baggot Street.

If they don't want the fare, don't take it. But don't liberties [probably another stop on the route to Baggot Street] instead.

jaysus that's not on, I hope you told him as much when he started taking you on the little tour. I haven't found drivers too bad for that. The big one for me us where on a Friday or Saturday they bring you onto Camden st instead of literally any other route. Then sit there while the meter rattles away and you sit in grid lock with all the other taxis. I always specify to them not to go up there. To be fair most of the drivers are honest and will often suggest it themselves.

stimpson

Duck Soup wrote: »

Usually because I've got about 3 minutes to get to the bank. I make it clear as I get in - "Sorry this is a real short one, but I'm in a hurry" - that they are not going to retire on the upcoming fare.

And away we go. From Merrion Square, down Lower Mount Street. Over the canal bridge. Into Northumberland Road. Down to the Ballsbridge Hotel. Right at the coffee kiosk, up Pembroke Road. And onto Baggot Street.

If they don't want the fare, don't take it. But don't liberties [probably another stop on the route to Baggot Street] instead.

I'd well believe this. An English friend of mine (complete with Sarrf Lahdan accent) used to get the scenic route home all the time - especially if he had his American girlfriend with him. He'd just sit back and enjoy the ride. Once he got home he'd throw them a tenner and tell them that's the usual fare and they were "'avin a laugh". If they didn't like it he pointed them to the Garda Station around the corner.

Jawgap

Not if they add the fee for the bags and don't load the bags, that's for sure.

Regardless, I rarely tip them - too many have tried to kill me over the years on my bike

Plus taxi fares in Dublin are expensive enough already, and they make enough from ripping off the tourists and drunk people.

cloud493

Only if it's exceptional service. Not paying someone extra for doing a job I'm already paying him for.

Drummer1967

I'm a Taxi driver licensed for D, WW, WX. apart from hello & where are u going, I don't speak.
I don't blame people for disliking Taxi drivers because the caliber of drivers is a disgrace.
You just need to take a look at the rank outside the Gresham the filthy mouths and the way most of them dress and conduct themselves would put anyone off. There are hundreds of illegal drivers floating around Dublin city every weekend.They don't have a clue where they are going but are quite prepaired to charge the public to direct them. If you get into a nice clean car and the driver is polite and dressed neatly and knows where he is going, round up to the nearest euro.I never expect a cent tip from anyone, and I always offer the change before it's mentioned.If the fare is say 8:54/65 I always leave it at 8 most people appreciate this and give 9/10 anyway.

[Deleted User]

I have on occasion where we've had really nice chats and I'm happy to tip for that
Generally though I don't

I think a few have tried to pull the rooting around for change thing on me though I didn't quite cop it at the time - I'm quite happy to sit there all day waiting for it, it's my change
One guy did take the piss rooting around in 3 difference places for it though. lol

jezzer

Drummer1967 wrote: »

I'm a Taxi driver licensed for D, WW, WX. apart from hello & where are u going, I don't speak.
I don't blame people for disliking Taxi drivers because the caliber of drivers is a disgrace.
You just need to take a look at the rank outside the Gresham the filthy mouths and the way most of them dress and conduct themselves would put anyone off. There are hundreds of illegal drivers floating around Dublin city every weekend.They don't have a clue where they are going but are quite prepaired to charge the public to direct them. If you get into a nice clean car and the driver is polite and dressed neatly and knows where he is going, round up to the nearest euro.I never expect a cent tip from anyone, and I always offer the change before it's mentioned.If the fare is say 8:54/65 I always leave it at 8 most people appreciate this and give 9/10 anyway.

I fully agree with you, if a taxi driver is smartly dressed and has a clean car and doesnt take the p*ss then i certainly would have no issue in tipping but as you mention the absolute scum that drive some of the taxis is disgusting, they stand outside the cars smoking fags and wear tracksuit bottoms hanging off them, a lot of the time when you get into the car there is an overwhelming smell of fart and they try and pass it off by saying the previous passenger was drunk, and i do not blame taxi drivers for being racist, i'm no fan of taxi drivers but it is unacceptable that they have all the black and foreign drivers coming in and not having a clue where they are going, imagine in any other job where people can come in willy nilly and do what you are doing for a living. i've been in taxis where the driver was black and he looks nothing like the picture on the dash, and of course if you mention it (like i did one time) your a racist, a lot of them drive multiple taxis on the one licence, another time i was in a taxi with a black driver and he just didnt know where he was going after a while i got fed up and asked him to let me out and he tried to charge me and i do not blame women for not wanting to get into a taxi with a black driver, i've seen on ranks where women dont want to get in with them and the drivers roar out the window at them "get into my taxi now" that kind of behaviour is not on. Of course not all black drivers are like that. Unfortunately well turned out decent professional drivers seem to be a thing of the past.

Jawgap

I love the way taxi drivers try to make out that drivers with poor hygiene, sub-standard vehicles, a penchant for ripping punter off are a recent phenomenon!

It's like we're expected to believe that before all the 'furriners' arrived Irish drivers never took the pi$$, had scrupulous personal grooming and provided a first rate public service!!

Mr_Muffin

Black taxi drivers can be pretty clueless from my experience so i just try to avoid them.

[Deleted User]

they've all been lovely and knew their stuff IME

chrissb8

I don't mind tipping them if they're quiet and quick. One thing though is when they take the money and don't give the change back. Annoys me to no end. Assuming it's their tip. No friend that is MY money and don't assume you can do with it what you please. I gladly wait in those situations for my money. Got in a debate with a couple of friends who are waiters/waitresses before about tipping. They just expect it and think it rude not to get tipped even when they're on a wage. Definitely a sense of entitlement and social pressure for tipping already in Ireland.

Gannicus

I have been to the states a few times and the cabs are clean the drivers are lovely and they help with the bags when you're getting in and out of the cab. I have made exceptions to my rule have tipped those lads. The same when I was in Madrid this year.

[Deleted User]

I have started noticing people tipping in Barbers for a hair cut :eek:

jezzer

again with the barbers, its their job and they charge more than enough for it and i'm sure if the only work there they get paid accordingly, why tip them? do you tip the guy who changes your flat tyre? do you tip the bus driver? do you tip the teller in the bank?

jezzer

This is the typical Dublin Taxi Driver

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xX3JIpUQ4k

Mint Sauce

Usually just round up to the nearest euro for local journeys. Occasionally if at home if on a night out, the taxi can cost €15/16, that cast i might give them an extra 2.

One such occasion though the driver missed two possible turns for my house, a local journey, and fair enough he switched off the meter after i pointed this out and questioned which way he was going. He let him self down though when he did get me home, by asking for €2 more than it usally cost. I only paid what it usually roughly cost and waited on the change.

LoonyLovegood

My da was a taxi driver for years, I'll always round up to the nearest euro. I've seen how difficult it is surviving on a taxi driver's wage, so I'll do what I can to give them a hand.

jezzer

CTYIgirl wrote: »

My da was a taxi driver for years, I'll always round up to the nearest euro. I've seen how difficult it is surviving on a taxi driver's wage, so I'll do what I can to give them a hand.

Surely a fri/sat night brings in a weeks wage?

Mint Sauce

Just seen the comment re drivers not knowing the way to an address, surely if you want to taxi somewhere like Dublin, or any of Ireland so called cities, surely you have to pass some kind of test. Not talking about on the scale of The Knowledge in London, but at least show you have some idea.

jezzer

Mint Sauce wrote: »

Just seen the comment re drivers not knowing the way to an address, surely if you want to taxi somewhere like Dublin, or any of Ireland so called cities, surely you have to pass some kind of test. Not talking about on the scale of The Knowledge in London, but at least show you have some idea.

the problem is, one guy does the test then brings over all his mates and they all use the same ID, if you say they look different to the pic on the dash your racist

FunLover18

yeh but only if there's change left over. Say I give him a 20 for 18 euro fair, I'll just say keep the change or whatever

Sh1tbag OToole

Taxis are an absolute fcuking rip off. I try to avoid needing them as much as i can nevermind tip them.

jezzer

Sh1tbag OToole wrote: »

Taxis are an absolute fcuking rip off. I try to avoid needing them as much as i can nevermind tip them.

Say a ten euro trip, it would have cost the taxi man no more than 2 euro, thats some profit

Sq001

No don't tip. Why tip them? For doin they're job? I don't get tips for my job

JP Liz V1

No as they over charge as it is

Beefy78

I tip quite generously if the taxi driver takes me the right way. If they do what most drivers in Dublin do when I get in and ask for where I want to get to in my English Home Counties accent and take me in completely the wrong direction (what I like to call the 800 Years Tax) then they're lucky to get the fare let along extra on top.

Jawgap

Beefy78 wrote: »

I tip quite generously if the taxi driver takes me the right way. If they do what most drivers in Dublin do when I get in and ask for where I want to get to in my English Home Counties accent and take me in completely the wrong direction (what I like to call the 800 Years Tax) then they're lucky to get the fare let along extra on top.

A few years ago while working abroad I had to come to Dublin on a business trip.

Four of us arrived piled into a taxi at the airport to go to a city centre hotel. The other three were chatting away in their English accents. When we got to the hotel the driver - chirpy, Dublin accent - says the fare will be IR£20 each!!! (pre-Euro)

I told the lads I'd get it and yer man went a bit pale when heard my accent - I threw him 20 quid and told him I'd meet him in the Carriage Office if he wanted to discuss the rest!