> Goodbye reimbursement from the train company because he's also not printing a receipt.
He can write a receipt. Did you ask him to?
Re:Silicon Valley’s business model is a scam
by commandlinefan on Tuesday July 18, 2023 @12:00PM
(#36774602)
Back in my traveling consultant days, I would always ask the taxi driver for a receipt. They would (always, predictably) angrily hand me a post it pad and say "write it down yourself".
I have no sympathy for any taxi drivers anywhere.
Re:Silicon Valley’s business model is a scam
by 89vision on Tuesday July 18, 2023 @11:45AM
(#36774372)
is there no Uber in Amsterdam?
Re:Silicon Valley’s business model is a scam
by apexalpha on Tuesday July 18, 2023 @11:48AM
(#36774401)
There is but my phone was out. Plus I thought: the taxis are right here, how hard can it be?
Turns out it was pretty hard.
Re:Silicon Valley’s business model is a scam
by pixelpoet on Tuesday July 18, 2023 @12:14PM
(#36774855)
It's below sea level, they only have Unter.
Re:Silicon Valley’s business model is a scam
by nborwankar on Tuesday July 18, 2023 @04:36PM
(#36778724)
<clap emoji> * 3
Re:Silicon Valley’s business model is a scam
by edgyquant on Tuesday July 18, 2023 @12:57PM
(#36775624)
This seems like a cartoonish example. I regularly take taxis from the airport in cities and I’ve never had anything close to a problem or bad experience.
Re:Silicon Valley’s business model is a scam
by phailhaus on Tuesday July 18, 2023 @02:23PM
(#36777078)
The point is that there is absolutely nothing in the taxi system to enforce transparency or accountability. Every time you take a taxi, you are crossing your fingers and hoping that you get a good experience.
> absolutely nothing in the taxi system to enforce transparency or accountability.
Not sure about the jurisdiction GP took the taxi in, but in most places I’ve taken a cab there is a large plaque identifying the cab and driver, including contact data of the regulator to whom you can trivially submit complaints.
Re:Silicon Valley’s business model is a scam
by jstarfish on Tuesday July 18, 2023 @03:45PM
(#36778175)
Ha, no way. I had similar experiences in Italy, near-melee and all.
Japan is the only place I've ever been with a consistently-sane and above-board taxi experience.
Re:Silicon Valley’s business model is a scam
by contingencies on Tuesday July 18, 2023 @05:05PM
(#36779096)
I had a Japanese taxi driver assault me with his auto-door.
Re:Silicon Valley’s business model is a scam
by ymolodtsov on Wednesday July 19, 2023 @04:27AM
(#36783477)
Applies to all service industries in Japan, I imagine.
Had to take a taxi for the first time in years.
I went out to the taxi spot next to the train station and asked how much € to Amsterdam etc.. Immediately another taxi driver runs up and tells me I shouldn't take this driver because he is not from the right area, apparently. Then they start shouting at each other while I, a potential customer was there. Eventually more drivers take sides and almost start fighting.
I walk away for a bit and ask another driver. I ask how much to Amsterdam he says: "how much are you willing to pay"?
What kind of question is that, ffs. It's 23:00 and I want to go home, just give me your price. He refuses a few more times and I walk away. Then he suddenly says €100. I say too much, he counters with €80. I say €60 so we agree on €70.
When we're on the highway he says his machine is broken so we have to pay cash... Goodbye reimbursement from the train company because he's also not printing a receipt.
Finally home I lay in bed thinking how god awful the entire taxi experience is when you're not using Uber.