MEL taxi scam

[drcam]

If I arrived that late, staying a night at the Ibis Budget would be better than taking a taxi.

 

[Austman]

If I arrived that late, staying a night at the Ibis Budget would be better than taking a taxi.

I was going to my home.

 

[drcam]

I would stay a night at the Ibis Budget and THEN go home. My home is in Melbourne.

 

[Austman]

I would stay a night at the Ibis Budget and THEN go home. My home is in Melbourne.

Haha.

Even the $70.00 taxi fare was well worth it in the end.

And was cheaper (well at times) than Uber. No dynamic pricing.

 

[Happy Dude]

..... the Uber marshal went down the queue to advise that no more Ubers were expected that night. And to get a Taxi instead.

I don't understand how the marshal knows this?

 

[Aeryn]

I don't understand how the marshal knows this?

Me either and as there is no curfew at MEL what is to stop a nearby driver going to airport if they can see rides waiting.

Maybe the Marshall's shift was ending, in which case could flip the model from join a cue to allocating specific cars like they used to and still do in BNE and SYDd.

 

[Austman]

I don't understand how the marshal knows this?

I expect the Uber marshal knows the dynamics of Uber at around 00:30 to 01:00 on a Monday morning at MEL?

There are many MEL arrivals (DOM and INT) at around midnight. You can see the UberX queue in my photo.

But the last DOM departure for Sunday night is at 21:30. And the last INT departure for Monday morning (00:00 to 03:00) is at 00:30. So I'd image most INT pax would have arrived 23:00 on Sunday night at the very latest?

So who would be getting an Uber to arrive at the airport after 23:00 on a Sunday night? I think that's the problem.

The Uber marshal stated that there were no more Ubers expected that night and it would be best to get a taxi. Perhaps there would have been some more Ubers if you were prepared to wait, who knows?

I can say that the roads in the area were pretty deserted, as you would expect at that time. Even the city area was a virtual ghost town! It might have been worse simply because it was after 00:30 on a Monday morning.

 

[Q Class Plebeian]

Thread 'Taxis for Grown Ups'

Nov 3, 2019

The purpose of this thread is the open and honest recommendations of QUALITY PROFESSIONAL TAXI SERVICES in the various Australian States

If you do or have used such a service and you can post contact details please do so.

Whilst Uber, DiDi and Ola many times provide cheaper alternatives to full blown taxis and they also totally unsuitable on many occasions.

Some grown up require a quality professional service to and fro airports and other locations.

I am fortunate enough here in MEL to have access to a FABULOUS taxi service via Jimmy - Silver Service vehicles at standard taxi rates...

• Cruiser Elite
• Replies: 72
• Forum: Taxis & Ridesharing Apps

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Anyhow next week I will drive and park.I am sure I will meet the touts again. Enforcement of Taxi and carriage services is the job of the Victorian State Government,so low expectations on enforcement ,particularly after hours.
Many of the touts actually work for owners with cab or uber franchises , so just another way of keeping their business profitable , albeit at the travelling public's expense.

 

[lovestotravel]

All that stuffing around and time wasting, and you can just book a private driver for $80-$100 - Easy

Uber's are not going to drive out to the airport, and wait for a trip back to the city at that hour..

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I don’t get it either - IME 100s return journeys from MEL - Uber and DiDi are inflated prices V trips into MEL - prices are marginally below Taxi prices and in particular Jimmys Silver Service Taxi Service in spotless vehicles with totally professional drivers V the ‘questionable’ talent piloting Uber and DiDi - but as always each to their own.

 

[drcam]

Jimmy's Silver Service Taxi? Do I need to prebook in advance?
In my experience, Uber and Didi drivers and their vehicles in Melbourne are WAY better than taxi drivers I've encountered (though admittedly the latter don't set a high bar - and that's an understatement).

 

[serfty]

I don’t get it either - IME 100s return journeys from MEL - Uber and DiDi are inflated prices V trips into MEL

I guess the touts hope the people they accost don't get it either.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I guess the touts hope the people they accost don't get it either.

They ‘accost’ - I think their is a whole bunch of AFFers who need to ‘toughen up Princess’

The ‘Touts’ quietly ask you as you walk as you walk past ‘You want a taxi?’ Hardly the crime of the century and if that is all you have in your life and need to post it here then what a sad life.

What’s wrong with telling them in a stern voice ‘Go get in the line like other taxis!’ and just walk past? That’s not worth posting here either but I do it every time.

Go to Shsnghai or Beijing and hear a 1,000 people asking ‘You want taxi?’ as you walk past - happens in many many destinations but still doesn’t warrant wasting time posting on AFF

 

[serfty]

They ‘accost’ - I think their is a whole bunch of AFFers who need to ‘toughen up Princess’

The ‘Touts’ quietly ask you as you walk as you walk past ‘You want a taxi?’ Hardly the crime of the century and if that is all you have in your life and need to post it here then what a sad life.

What’s wrong with telling them in a stern voice ‘Go get in the line like other taxis!’ and just walk past? That’s not worth posting here either but I do it every time.

Go to Shsnghai or Beijing and hear a 1,000 people asking ‘You want taxi?’ as you walk past - happens in many many destinations but still doesn’t warrant wasting time posting on AFF

I suggest post one and two of this thread are relevant.

 

[borez]

It's a normal part of life in any big city. You just have to say 'no, thank you' and move on.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I suggest post one and two of this thread are relevant.

Oh there is a very applicable answer to Post 1 but discretion does not permit me

 

[drcam]

"Go to Shsnghai or Beijing and hear a 1,000 people asking ‘You want taxi?’ as you walk past - happens in many many destinations but still doesn’t warrant wasting time posting on AFF"

In Shanghai or Beijing you don't get a thousand taxi touts. You get a few and typically everyone ignores them and they don't get any business. You go to the correct line and wait for a taxi in an orderly manner. And the legitimate taxi drivers are polite and their vehicles are devoid of odour. They also don't need GPS to take you where you're going. (Although it helps to know the city so you know they're going the shortest route!)

Then again, I can pass as a native in either of those cities, so I am unable to form judgment as to whether they rip off foreigners.

 

[bam71]

It's a normal part of life in any big city. You just have to say 'no, thank you' and move on.

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