On several occasions in the last year or so, I have had to take a cab somewhere. Since I have a bus pass, most often I have to call a taxi when I am running a little late, but it’s never planned. Therefore, I usually don’t have any cash on me, and I always request debit when this is the case so the car coming for me knows I’ll need them to have a machine.
So why is it that I always get bitched at for using debit? I understand that it takes them longer to get the money from it, but it’s still coming to them. I get that there is a fee, but since it’s usually when I’m in a rush I don’t mind paying for the convenience. I just don’t want to be lectured on how I am ruining someone’s day or that, thanks to me, they won’t get paid my $8 for a week. Most comment that I’m “like, the 30th person to use debit” that day, so aren’t they getting used to it? 30×8 is $240, but wouldn’t you be getting the money of the 30 people that used debit last Tuesday?
If you are in a business, and you have the ability to take the payment, and it’s not like it’s Monopoly money, then why are you bitching at me? Provide the service, accept the fare the way I am paying it, and I’ll gladly tip you and use your cab company again. I can’t be the only person that gets hassled by drivers about this!
This article appears in May 1-7, 2008.
TTFN, I”m pretty sure that he did have darker hair, because i can recall being really grossed out by his dandruff..Besides that, all i really remember is that he had a thick accent, (arabic), and reeked of copius amounts of garlic which he tried to mask with air freshner.
have you seen the minivan in dartmouth that calls itself a cab? This guy has a tv monitor, a lap top that plays videos, and is hooked upto the stereo, has the debit machine and is the happiest guy in the world you even got in his bad and doesnt care what method of payment you used?This guy sets an example of customer service.
What I love is when cabbies say…..Sorry I don’t have debit! And I say “Well I requested a cab with debit and I don’t have cash.” Suddenly the debit machine apears out of nowhere and I get a grunt, OH and FYI, I talked to Casino all cab drivers for them now have debit machines, so if they tell you they don’t, there lying!!!
I’ve never had to use debit for a cab ride, but i’m sure it would only add to the all around pleasant-ness that i experience each time i’m left with no other choice BUT to call one of those companies. My personal favorite experience had to be the time that i got a cab from the Superstore on Young St. to my place. AFTER i tipped the guy for only a few blocks of driving, he watched me struggle getting the bags out of the trunk, pick up my stuff from the sidewalk after a bag broke, and make 3 trips up the front stairs of the building and back to the sidewalk where my groceries lay. (I’m about 125 lbs, and not much of that is muscle.) -Oh, but he was kind enough to idle by the curb until i was safe inside the building! What a saint.
I especially love when you hand the cabbie a 20 and he turns around and says “Do you have anything smaller?”….
Hey, poop, did the guy have dark curly hair and a mustache?