New taxi thread

[Brah]

I haven't tried Uber yet but am keen to hear more, a friend has and had good things to say.

Another taxi-related topic or rant I have is something that doesn't happen often, but happened recently.

Coming back from the airport, luggage in car, the driver stood there as if it was going to load itself. I always help the driver but wait for him to make the first move, otherwise quite often they will let you do it. I always tip per bag.

When he watched me waiting for him to help and just stood there, I said something like "whose job is this anyway", and he said that they weren't supposed to load the luggage.

So I'd like to hear what others have to say about that. Then I'll tell you what kind of tip they get for this approach.

I have never had a taxi uncle not help me load the trunk at the airport, but it wouldn't bother me if they didn't. I don't consider it the taxi driver's job, but it seems to be their preference at Changi IME. I have occasionally had help from a driver after a large grocery shopping trip as well, but I also don't consider that their responsibility.

I've never had a driver in any other country not either completely load the luggage or assist or at the very least offer to help.

Again, I am not saying it's their responsibility, I'm saying it is not an unheard of aspect of their role, and as a fellow human, for them to at least offer to help. And of course I always tip according to the amount of luggage and their degree of help.

[movingtospore]

The title is a bit of a pun

New in that it's Yet Another Taxi Rant thread, new in that it relates to new taxis.

Now there is such a variety of types of cars and prices it's become a bit ridiculous.

There are still Crowns at $3.00, Sonatas at $3.20, Chevys at $3.40 or $3.60, Mercedes at I have no idea as I don't take those, and Peugeot or some other car at $3.70, and another car at $3.90 (!!!). The Chryslers are something like $5.00.

Note at the airport how the guys managing the queue see a Westerner and try to pawn off the Chryslers, Mercedes and other expensive ones, and when they do, they hear it from me about being racist.

I prefer the Crowns, as they're the most roomy and easy to get in and out, and good trunk space if needed. I am ok with Sonatas. I refuse to take the others unless I'm in dire need.

Am I stingy? Maybe. But maybe I just don't like being taken advantage of - having said that, this appears to be a ploy to get riders used to the climbing prices, somehow trying to justify that with different types of cars. For that reason I think it won't be long before the Sonatas go the way of the Crowns.

Only in Singapore do you have 10 different kinds of taxis with 10 different prices in addition to different prices at different times of day.

My DH has a theory that the "system" her is set up to keep the population deliberately confused about all things at all times.

[nakatago]

My DH has a theory that the "system" her is set up to keep the population deliberately confused about all things at all times.

Hogwash.

We all know it doesn't take much to do that--confusing the population

[ecureilx]

My DH has a theory that the "system" her is set up to keep the population deliberately confused about all things at all times.

Hogwash.

We all know it doesn't take much to do that--confusing the population

Years ago there was only SMRT/TIBS, NTUC and black top

then in the interest of the general public Govt allowed new operators and now you guys are complaining

[JR8]

Years ago there was only SMRT/TIBS, NTUC and black top
then in the interest of the general public Govt allowed new operators and now you guys are complaining

Oh I thought the taxi companies were all owned by the government, you know like the media and supermarkets.

[ innocent face ]


--- I wonder why SMRT have subsidiary companies in the Cayman Islands...

[ecureilx]

Years ago there was only SMRT/TIBS, NTUC and black top
then in the interest of the general public Govt allowed new operators and now you guys are complaining

Oh I thought the taxi companies were all owned by the government, you know like the media and supermarkets.

[ innocent face ]

formerly black top (or was it yellow top??) was owner operator kind of thing

as of now, the 'competition' like Prime, Transcab and Premier are truly private (as I understand) and fighting a loosing battle with the BIG guy!!

the way Smart taxi went

[Primrose Hill]

Has anyone tried uber singapore, This summer holidays I was introduced to it by a chum in London and was very impressed, I noticed Singapore also has uber, All I can say any "outside" competition to the local market might kick it into shape?

I have used UBER in London and here in SG. London wise it is much cheaper than black cabs and I was impressed. I have used it in SG twice - once from Changi back home and the other time when it was torrential rain and I need to get into work. Both times UBER SG was impressive but really expensive. From Changi it was over a PH, the taxi queues were ultra long, the queue for limos and big cars were out to the door. So used UBER, where limo would have cost $50/55, UBER cost $85 or something like that. Good service but will only use it when it is absolutely necessary

[JR8]

as of now, the 'competition' like Prime

>> A fleet of 100 cabs, 0.4% of national fleet. Part of Cheng Young Group. Who owns them, the webs turns up nothing.

Transcab

>> A fleet of 1314 cabs, 5.3% of total.
Owner Union Energy Pte Ltd.
Who are they?

and Premier are truly private (as I understand) and fighting a loosing battle with the BIG guy!!

>> 2436 cabs, 9.8% of total
Owner Premiere Rent-a-car
Who are they?

About 15.5% of the national fleet that isn't directly government owned*. You would have thought that if they are truly independent operators they would have the pricing power to influence overall fares. Are any of them known as a budget taxi operator? Or do they all charge about the same?



* But on the flipside since the government has an interest in the other c84.5% then surely they could just dictate pricing? Same way they do MRT fares, ERP and COE charges ... same same how the exchange rate is managed!

[zzm9980]

Has anyone tried uber singapore, This summer holidays I was introduced to it by a chum in London and was very impressed, I noticed Singapore also has uber, All I can say any "outside" competition to the local market might kick it into shape?

I have used UBER in London and here in SG. London wise it is much cheaper than black cabs and I was impressed. I have used it in SG twice - once from Changi back home and the other time when it was torrential rain and I need to get into work. Both times UBER SG was impressive but really expensive. From Changi it was over a PH, the taxi queues were ultra long, the queue for limos and big cars were out to the door. So used UBER, where limo would have cost $50/55, UBER cost $85 or something like that. Good service but will only use it when it is absolutely necessary

Sounds like their "surge" pricing. It's been quite controversial in the US as some fairs have gone up by 5-10x and people don't realize it. Their own fault IMO, but given everything else shady Uber has been doing in the US I'm not surprised.

[singapore eagle]

* But on the flipside since the government has an interest in the other c84.5% then surely they could just dictate pricing? Same way they do MRT fares, ERP and COE charges ... same same how the exchange rate is managed!

If you have a spare 5 minutes, the SMRT and Comfort financial results are an interesting read.

In a nutshell, the bus and rail business is either losing money or barely breaking even because the government doesn't have the guts to raise fares when it should.

The taxi business on the other hand is a very nice little earner.

[JR8]

It's like a wealth redistribution. 'Wealthy' people taking taxis almost directly subsidise 'poor' people on the MRT/buses.

[x9200]

as of now, the 'competition' like Prime

>> A fleet of 100 cabs, 0.4% of national fleet. Part of Cheng Young Group. Who owns them, the webs turns up nothing.

With their attitude hope they will be out of the market soon. First and only time in all my time in Singapore where I questioned the amount invoiced to me by their driver, called the company, was asked to contact them via email (did it twice) and never received any response. Not sure if a few dollars is worth to escalate it to LTA but surely I will not use them again.

[QRM]

Just tried uber here and all worked well, a nice bwm 5 series came, but not cheap, though it all charged to my uk uber account, I just read uber has been declared illegal in Malaysia obviously they didn't pay the right people. Though it seems like that story is not entirely correct, ( being malaysia nothing surprises me)

I also tried grab taxi app.which worked very efficiently.

[ecureilx]

Just tried uber here and all worked well, a nice bwm 5 series came, but not cheap, though it all charged to my uk uber account, I just read uber has been declared illegal in Malaysia obviously they didn't pay the right people. Though it seems like that story is not entirely correct, ( being malaysia nothing surprises me)

I also tried grab taxi app.which worked very efficiently.

a private BMW in SG?

lol, pirate taxi

[JR8]

a private BMW in SG?
lol, pirate taxi

Can't say I've seen a BMW taxi here before.

p.s. Many years ago in London I had a colleague who had a BMW 3 series as a company car. One day HR called him in and asked him he'd clocked up 100k miles in a year and how at it's annual service the car appeared half-thrashed.

Turns out he'd leased it on privately to a minicab company!! lol