6 ms·

I have ZERO sympathy for San Francisco cabs. Even with credit card swipers in the back, the cab drivers typically pressure you to pay cash. I know there's a dif

I have ZERO sympathy for San Francisco cabs. Even with credit card swipers in the back, the cab drivers typically pressure you to pay cash. I know there's a difference between pressuring a customer and kindly asking them to use cash if possible. It was certainly the former. I've had cases where the cab driver told me upfront he wouldn't drive me if I paid with credit card, going so far as driving me to an ATM so I can get him cash as though I OWED them a tip. Uber/lyft disrupted an industry infected with laziness and bad attitudes.

pavel_lishin 12y ago
In New York, if the credit card reader in a cab is broken, by law the driver has to tell you before you get in. None of this "Oh, yeah, BY THE WAY, I have to drive you to an ATM now, and you guess whether the meter stays on while I do this."
doxcf434 12y ago
Couldn't agree more. They often don't answer the phone, when you do get through to some Danny DeVito at the other end, you then have to explain where you are exactly (vs. GPS). ETAs for the drivers are normally wrong, they don't txt you are. I lived in Marin, and a cabbie required me to tip him 100% of the ride cost coming from SFO otherwise he wouldn't take me. Frequently getting back to Marin, from SF is a pain with cabs, they often won't take you. Yeah, so screw'em... they can work for uber/lyft, I tip them generously with cash in addition to the fare, much better that way.
- forgotpasswd3x 12y ago
  > when you do get through to some Danny DeVito at the other end What does this mean?
  - eggnet 12y ago
    He's referring to this character played by Danny DeVito http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0027129/ http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0027129/
mmanfrin 12y ago
I called a cab in SF in the middle of the day (Luxor, I think). They said it would be about 15 minutes. 20 minutes later I see the cab pull in to the parking lot I was waiting in, get flagged by someone else, and drive off with them. I waited another 15 minutes in case that wasn't my cab that just drove off, but no cab came. I welcome the death of the SF cab companies. Long Live Uber/Lyft/Sidecar.
judk 12y ago
It's not complicated. Uber charges more, so drivers are happy. If you offerd a cabbie a big tip, he would happily accept credit. Uber gives the benefit of pre-setting the higher rate without negotiating. But many people prefer to pay less.

pavel_lishin 12y ago

In New York, if the credit card reader in a cab is broken, by law the driver has to tell you before you get in. None of this "Oh, yeah, BY THE WAY, I have to drive you to an ATM now, and you guess whether the meter stays on while I do this."

doxcf434 12y ago

Couldn't agree more. They often don't answer the phone, when you do get through to some Danny DeVito at the other end, you then have to explain where you are exactly (vs. GPS). ETAs for the drivers are normally wrong, they don't txt you are. I lived in Marin, and a cabbie required me to tip him 100% of the ride cost coming from SFO otherwise he wouldn't take me. Frequently getting back to Marin, from SF is a pain with cabs, they often won't take you. Yeah, so screw'em... they can work for uber/lyft, I tip them generously with cash in addition to the fare, much better that way.

forgotpasswd3x 12y ago
> when you do get through to some Danny DeVito at the other end What does this mean?
- eggnet 12y ago
  He's referring to this character played by Danny DeVito http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0027129/ http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0027129/

mmanfrin 12y ago

I called a cab in SF in the middle of the day (Luxor, I think). They said it would be about 15 minutes. 20 minutes later I see the cab pull in to the parking lot I was waiting in, get flagged by someone else, and drive off with them. I waited another 15 minutes in case that wasn't my cab that just drove off, but no cab came. I welcome the death of the SF cab companies. Long Live Uber/Lyft/Sidecar.

judk 12y ago

It's not complicated. Uber charges more, so drivers are happy. If you offerd a cabbie a big tip, he would happily accept credit. Uber gives the benefit of pre-setting the higher rate without negotiating. But many people prefer to pay less.