Time for a reality check! And when I need one, who better to check with than TWG readers? Here’s the backstory. I have a taxi service I use to go to the airport. I’ve been using the same one for a few years now because they give me a great flat rate fee, and up until recently, I haven’t had an issue with them. The company always sends different drivers and it’s always worked well. Drivers are always on time and the cars are generally in good enough shape.
Image source: http://www.universaltaxidispatch.com/blog/2015/01/dealing-with-rude-cabbie-drivers/
Last week, during the early morning hours, my taxi ride started out fine. A few minutes into the ride, the driver turned on the radio and the news came on. I don’t like listening to news, especially early in the morning. Not my preferred way to start the day. The friend I was with politely asked him to turn off the radio explaining about not liking to listen to the news. At this point, we were maybe 10 minutes away from the airport. He said no because he likes to listen to the radio when he drives. I said that we were the customers and it was only for a few minutes until we got to the airport. He didn’t offer to find a station with music. He wanted his station. He did turn off the radio, but then he started talking non-stop about politics and about how he’d been driving for 40 years and no one ever asked him to turn off the radio. Then he started talking about how taxes were so high and on and on he went. It was obvious that this was the payback for asking him to please turn off the radio.
This pissed me off. I opened my window preferring the fresh air and noise of traffic to his talking. At one point, he closed my window and I opened it again and told him I needed the air. When we got to the airport, I decided to call the taxi company and let them know what happened. Also, the driver did not wear his seatbelt, so the reminder noise was dinging. I can only imagine what would have happened if I’d asked him to put on his seatbelt.
So I need a reality check. Am I off-base here expecting that if the radio is on and as the paying customer I politely ask a driver to turn it off, the driver will turn it off? I’ve asked drivers to please turn down air conditioning or to open windows and it’s never been an issue. And as an aside, I had already paid the fare and tipped him $3. I’d like to know your thoughts on my experience. Thanks!
You should always take care of the customer, but life seems too short to let little stuff like this bother you. This guy would have been out of your life in 10 more minutes…
True enough, Larry, and I agree. I do think there’s an art to handling these situations and I’d like to be more of an artist and learn from how others would have handled things. Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment.
Agree with commenter Larry. This was poor customer service. That said, reading between the lines, it appears that what ticked you off to the point of making a blog post over this is that you were “triggered” by the driver’s politics, and likely the politics of the radio station he had on. Am I close?
Had nothing to do with his politics, Wes. It was his lack of customer courtesy and obvious obnoxiousness by talking the whole time. I open my window and he closes it…….that was a first. Also, I had paid my fare AND tipped him before the ride even started. I also think there was some gender power dynamic going on with him.
You shouldn’t have to deal with any of the driver’s weirdnesses, let alone that many. You were nicer than I would have been. The guy obviously needs employment in another field.
Since this is a company I often use and they know who I am, I did call them and request they never send me this driver again. Thanks for the reality check, Christian!
I think its important to make it clear that you are being put upon. But the ultimate way to get even is to call the company and explain your displeasure. They don’t care at all about your specific experience. But if they keep getting calls, and they will with this jerk, then they will grow weary of hearing crap about the guy and lean on him.
I did call, Alex, so I agree with what you suggest! Thanks.
i just return the favor
once a vegas cab driver bxxxched i didn’t tip enough when we arrived airport curb side, and said i can go pick up the luggage myself
so i did that, and left both the trunk and passenger doors open, and told him he can come close it himself
Wow, Henry, that is really weird. Quick thinking on your part. Maybe this guy was annoyed at my tip because I tipped ahead of time. I tipped him $3 on a 20$ fare, which I thought was fine.
I simply do not understand why you tip him when you was not satisfied and now you complain. Makes no sense.
I think you misread, Fonzi. I paid my fare and tipped BEFORE we started out to the airport. I always do that with this company to save myself time when I get to the airport.
Moral: Wait until the end of the trip before you decide to tip.
Thanks for the laugh, Gary. I just may have to change my ways :)
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When you say you had already tipped, you meant before the ride started? Well as a taxi driver myself, And that is not how it works here. The fare goes by a meter and all tips are done at the end of the ride. Which makes more sense so you can see the service you receive first. As for people who ask me to turn off the air or put on heat, I always do no problem and never complain. I even offer to change it for them when they get in, just incase they are too afraid to ask. But really you shouldnt be so pushy. Yes you are the cuatomer, but IMO when I put myself in your shoes and I am riding in someone else’s car, I dont boss them around and tell them what to do in their car. It just doesnt feel right and I have to admit I dont like it when people do that to me either, although as I said I always do what they ask and I dont complain. But one reason I dont like it when that happens is because usually these pushy type people end up beign cheap or not tipping at all. So that really pisses me off when I do everything they ask and then they stiff me. The nerve of some people. Our company keeps 100% of the fare so literally I am like a slave driving them around and douing what they ask. When I am at work trying to make a living. I consider those who dont tip to be no more than theives, as they are taking up your valuable time at work while you could be getting real customers who actually pay the driver for thirir time, work and for their service. You mentioned you left a 3 dollar tip upfront I assume? In thise case , as a driver a $3 tip is considered cheap and you should never boss anyone around if you only tipped $3. Again for me just the principle. But everyone is different and has their own personality so I am not knocking you ar all or trying to change you as a person. Just saying IMO I dont think it’s right to do that to someone. The minimum tip should be $4 in my opinion, especially now with uber around taxi drvers are making less than minimum wage without tips. And its LONG hours. It’s not easy work like you thjink and its the most dangerous job in the country. Also I feel its a bit narcisssitic to ask someone to turn off the radio in their own car. Or like you’re entited to control whatever you want for just $3. But thats just my thoughts as a driver. Had it been me though I’d of still turned it off for you, even knowiing you only tipped $3 and I’d be slightly annoyed by it but wouldnt say anything as that is not professional. .
Thanks for taking the time to both read the post and add your comments. I appreciate that this is a complicated topic and comes with many differing viewpoints. It’s good to hearing a taxi driver’s viewpoint, so thanks again.
If you don’t like being a taxi driver and having people “boss” you around, find another profession. $3 tip is more than enough. Don’t like your pay? Find another job! You’re easily replaceable. You are merely an employee driving a car that is not even your own. If I ask you to turn off the radio or A/C, you better do it or zero tip. I have reported many rude taxi drivers and made sure they knew I was not leaving them a tip for their bad service. Tip is for good service only, not mediocre or average service.
You make good points, Steve. I use taxi services all over the world and for the most part the experience is fine. Every so often though, it’s really unpleasant. Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment.
It is not narcissistic to ask a driver to turn off the radio.
Once you have another human being in the car- it is no longer “I”, it is “we”.
The other person in the vehicle’s comfort matters as well, not just yours as the driver.
Also, the customer is paying you to drive them somewhere, which means they have the right to a peaceful and comfortable ride–
Just because you, as the driver, like to listen to a certain type of music or talk show doesn’t mean the passenger’s comfort and ease do not matter.
Depending on the content, it can be very stressful and upsetting for a passenger.
In fact, this boils down to the taxi driver, not caring about the passenger, which is selfish and unkind, as well as unprofessional.
Thinking of passengers and treating them with kindness and respect is important.
It is not hard to try and find a station that would work for both people, or just be quiet, or perhaps ask the passenger if they would like instrumental music or something soothing in the background.
So, if anyone is being Narcissistic it is taxi drivers– who do not think about or care about others. Especially, when they dismiss and disregard requests by people who are asking for something to help them feel comfortable and treated with respect.
Take Care.
Thanks Ann for adding to the conversation. It’s a tricky topic, so I appreciate your thoughts. Safe and happy travels!
By reading your post, we can conclude the ride was at least 13 minutes long. For that long of a ride you should tip at least $5 I would guess. Then the driver may not have been as rude about it. I can’t say for sure though as it would depend on the person. But I know I am always GREATFUL for $5 tips because the majority of people are cheap and only tip $2 to $3. Thats why we need a minimum mandatory gratuity law. lol
My boyfriend used the Chiz cab company around New Years Eve. He had to go to work. They told him 20minuts. That came and went and my boyfriend calls back to check to see how much longer because he had to go to work. The lady got rude and said they will get there when they get there. I new they wasn’t that busy because most people don’t use their services because of the waiting period or the rudeness of the drivers. Then after we found a friend to give Brian a ride I called him to see if the cab company called him about the ride and he said they didn’t call and they didn’t show up over here were I live. This is very unprofessional shouldn’t be rude to people. I saw a lot of complaints online about this company and nobody seems to do anything about it. They keep on like they are they will lose their business very quickly because they won’t get any because people arent going to want to call them because of the long waiting time or the rudeness.
I’m sorry you had a bad experience with that taxi company. It’s amazing that taxi companies still exist with their rude drivers and long wait times for pickups.
It is not narcissistic to ask a driver to turn off the radio.
Once you have another human being in the car- it is no longer “I”, it is “we”.
The other person in the vehicle’s comfort matters as well, not just yours as the driver.
Also, the customer is paying you to drive them somewhere, which means they have the right to a peaceful and comfortable ride–
Just because you, as the driver, like to listen to a certain type of music or talk show doesn’t mean the passenger’s comfort and ease do not matter.
Depending on the content, it can be very stressful and upsetting for a passenger.
In fact, this boils down to the taxi driver, not caring about the passenger, which is selfish and unkind, as well as unprofessional.
Thinking of passengers and treating them with kindness and respect is important.
It is not hard to try and find a station that would work for both people, or just be quiet, or perhaps ask the passenger if they would like instrumental music or something soothing in the background.
So, if anyone is being Narcissistic it is taxi drivers– who do not think about or care about others. Especially, when they dismiss and disregard requests by people who are asking for something to help them feel comfortable and treated with respect.
Take Care.
Thanks Ann for adding to the conversation. It’s a tricky topic, so I appreciate your thoughts. Safe and happy travels!