Greg wasn't in the line this morning. So, I had to settle for another driver.
The 'line' is the line of taxi cabs outside of the hotel each morning so it's pure happenstance that I get Greg's cab regularly. But, it usually depends on what train I take that day. If I take the 7:15 a.m. train, I have to be curbside by 7:00 or, 7:02 at the latest. If I take the 7:40, train then I leave the hotel at about 7:20. Greg is usually in line if I take the 7:15 train. It's purely timing. Then again, the concierge told me that some customers have such a repoire with a certain cab driver that they take the cab driver's name and number down and call them when they need a ride. Jim said, "I guess they really trust 'em."
I'm not sure that I want to do that yet. Greg is extremely likeable, but I still question the fact that he NEVER has change. It's definitely a hint at a tip. But, what's the tip for?... I do tip $.40-.60 each time I get in and out of the cab (I don't get my change back from him if I hand him a $10 and the fare is $9.40); I open and close the door; provide half of the conversation...
There is one cabbie that I've taken regularly. Greg would insist that I was cheating on him. An Indian cabbie. An older gentleman who says hello when I get in the cab, asks me where I'm going before I tell him, asks me how my new year was, he always has change, his door isn't broken. In fact, he told me how to get out of his cab - he's got a mini-van and you have to push the top lever to get out of the cab - very polite. If there was a bumper sticker on his cab it would say, "I appreciate your business", oh yeah, it'd have the smiley face too.
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A few weeks ago, Jim cautioned me about cabbie's taking advantage of her riders. Some drivers "milk it". They drive below the speed limit so that the fare is a few dollars more. Really?
Yes, really. It's happened to me.
After a few weeks in the "game" I've figured out who they are the moment I sit in their cab. They usually ask me three times where I'm going (you've driven the cab long enough to know where the hotel is!). Take seconds longer to make the right turn out of the station -when the light is green - and drive ten miles below the speed limit. I get it. You want to squeeze the most money that you possibly can out of the rider. More money, more nice things for your wife, more things to give your children, more time you can spend with your family, the less likely it'll be that your cab becomes your office, a better shot at leaving the cab gig. Just like everyone else, we want more, better, best.
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