Negotiating cab fares?

[manlymatt83]

I feel bad, but I do it. Tonight, I knew the cab ride was about $25, but it wasn't worth it to me to pay $25, so I asked the cab if he would drive us to said location for $20 flat.... and he did, even though he rolled his eyes.

Is this wrong? I know they are trying to make a living, but it wasn't worth more than that to me - I would have just taken the subway instead.

 

[Saint Michael]

I'd never be a cheap bastard like that, but in the end if he agreed then I don't see a major ethical problem.

 

[BigJ]

Do the cab driver a favor and take the subway next time.

 

[Aimster]

Did you call for the cab to come to your house? If so you are in the WRONG.
If you waved him down then no it is OK. He didn't go out of his way to see you.

Cab drivers have to pay for A) Gas and B) a cab company charge - usually $150/day. plus they have to pay for their c) car insurance which is hefty since it is not a private vehicle.

 

[manlymatt83]

Originally posted by: Aimster
Did you call for the cab to come to your house? If so you are in the WRONG.
If you waved him down then no it is OK. He didn't go out of his way to see you.

Cab drivers have to pay for A) Gas and B) a cab company charge - usually $150/day. plus they have to pay for their c) car insurance which is hefty since it is not a private vehicle.

I waived him down

 

[johnjbruin]

He probably gets more of the cut that way anyway so maybe you did him a favor - although illegal

No tax to be paid on your ride and he doesn't have to split it with anybody

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: mjuszczak

Originally posted by: Aimster
Did you call for the cab to come to your house? If so you are in the WRONG.
If you waved him down then no it is OK. He didn't go out of his way to see you.

Cab drivers have to pay for A) Gas and B) a cab company charge - usually $150/day. plus they have to pay for their c) car insurance which is hefty since it is not a private vehicle.

I waived him down

don`t sweat it the cabbie needd the buisness...

 

[Mo0o]

it's probably better for him if he didnt run the meter

 

[compuwiz1]

Ya know, dude, you post some really stupid, asshat threads. You really do. isgust;

 

[Rastus]

Most places have laws that if someone besides the driver is in the cab, the flag must be down. Cops will pull a cab over and give a ticket for 'high flagging'. It's not a trivial fine either. But it still gets done a lot.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Take the subway next time.

 

[Pepsei]

nyc?

 

[Deeko]

when they do that, they act upset by it

in reality they aren't turning on the meter, aren't reporting that trip to the cab company, and ultimately, are making more money that way. Don't feel bad, you did him a favor.

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: mjuszczak

Originally posted by: Aimster
Did you call for the cab to come to your house? If so you are in the WRONG.
If you waved him down then no it is OK. He didn't go out of his way to see you.

Cab drivers have to pay for A) Gas and B) a cab company charge - usually $150/day. plus they have to pay for their c) car insurance which is hefty since it is not a private vehicle.

I waived him down

you mean your cheap ass waved him down?

 

[otispunkmeyer]

we asked once... he told us £7 or we could go off the meter

we took our chances and my mate jim said to the cabbie "we'll go off the meter... we'll risk it for a biscuit"

man that was funny at the time, especially since the cabbie then repeated this phrase over n over in his india accent

 

[yllus]

I've done it a couple of times when short on cash-on-hand. Every time they've done the trip off the meter and simply pocketed the money. Win-win (well, except for the cab company).

 

[TheNewbie]

Did you tip him? I consider a tip to be part of the fare. I get reimbursed for most of my cab rides (including tips), but even when its out of my own pocket I tip well.

 

[Aimster]

Originally posted by: yllus
I've done it a couple of times when short on cash-on-hand. Every time they've done the trip off the meter and simply pocketed the money. Win-win (well, except for the cab company).

the cab company gets a set fee from the driver.

The meter is for the driver not for the cab company.

 

[slsmnaz]

Where's the problem? You were offering what you thought the service was worth. If he thought it was too cheap he would have just driven off.

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: BigJ
Do the cab driver a favor and take the subway next time.

^^^

 

[Tiamat]

Not something I would get used to doing. The cab driver agreed to your amount, so there is no real wrongdoing here. I would say the cab drivers hate it more when people ask to be driven a few blocks only for a less than 4$ pay out.

I've gotten the mean looks a few times when I took a cab 5 blocks because I had purchased a ton of groceries. Of course, I tip them generously (50-100%) afterwards, then they turn nice and help me with my groceries.

Edit: when I was down in Florida, I negotiated with those shuttles that are run by the company that owns the timeshare condos. They were happy to drive out of their typical course, and it cost half of what a taxi would have cost.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Opportunity cost - maybe he was having a really slow night and needed anything he could get. If he wasn't, he could have turned the offer down.

 

[Deeko]

Originally posted by: Tiamat
Not something I would get used to doing. The cab driver agreed to your amount, so there is no real wrongdoing here. I would say the cab drivers hate it more when people ask to be driven a few blocks only for a less than 4$ pay out.

I've gotten the mean looks a few times when I took a cab 5 blocks because I had purchased a ton of groceries. Of course, I tip them generously (50-100%) afterwards, then they turn nice and help me with my groceries.

Edit: when I was down in Florida, I negotiated with those shuttles that are run by the company that owns the timeshare condos. They were happy to drive out of their typical course, and it cost half of what a taxi would have cost.

I don't know why, those trips are way higher profit. The flag stop alone is $2.70 (in philly anyway), so they're getting paid a much higher $/mile on a short trip like that.

 

[imported_LoKe]

Originally posted by: TheNewbie
Did you tip him? I consider a tip to be part of the fare. I get reimbursed for most of my cab rides (including tips), but even when its out of my own pocket I tip well.

Tip...the...cab...driver? WHAT THE FUCK FOR?

My mom often goes to the grocery store and cabs it back with a trunk full of groceries. If he helps unload it onto the porch or sidewalk or something I'll tip him. Otherwise...no?

 

[Aimster]

Originally posted by: LoKe

Originally posted by: TheNewbie
Did you tip him? I consider a tip to be part of the fare. I get reimbursed for most of my cab rides (including tips), but even when its out of my own pocket I tip well.

Tip...the...cab...driver? WHAT THE FUCK FOR?

My mom often goes to the grocery store and cabs it back with a trunk full of groceries. If he helps unload it onto the porch or sidewalk or something I'll tip him. Otherwise...no?

It's common knowledge that you are supposed to tip a cab driver.

Why tip a pizza delivery boy? why tip anyone at all?