I feel that regardless of what, the onus is on the taxi drivers
to find the change for the fare without the pax being shortchanged.
But often, the very notion of customer service just fly over the
head .Honestly, it irks me that some taxi drivers think that their
time is money and therefore take it as their divine right that
everyone should make concessions for them. Its that sort of me-only
attitude, profits as the be all and end all as they drive like
maniacs without due care for other motorists that make them perfect
fodders for ST Stomp, and quite possibly add to the unfair
perception that most are just unruly and uncivilized. Then again,
it’s easy for me to criticize.
For the most part, there is little emphasis or incentives for
drivers to be customer-oriented (beyond greeting you) except when
coming from their own heart or they are in the business of taking
regular bookings. Whether u’ve had a good or bad experience, the
chance of taking the same cab is remote. As a job, driving a taxi
is pretty much self-governing. Without any supervison and fear of
reprisal, sometimes it’s easy to lapse into moments where you would
take the option which gives you the most benefits, even at the
expense of others. No excuses, however i do empathize with drivers
who constantly have to deal with difficult paxs.It’s not easy to be
all happy and smiling. Alongside that, I’ll take the assumption
that the stress of paying rental, maximizing their earnings during
peak hours and often being the sole breadwinner to be the reason
for them tipping over.
So where customer satisfaction is concerned, i set a very low
threshold for myself when taking a cab.
And it’s probably only right that you should hand over your
IC/traceable identity or something of value to put the cabby at
ease when you need to return back to pay the fare since in the
first place one should have enough cash. Unless you inside got
ghost.
Ah-Bickle, i think the perception of the uncivilised taxi driver
is passé. one outcome of the economic crisis is that the number
of highly educated sgp'reans taking up taxi driving has
increased significantly. throw a stone and you're likely to hit 2
or 3 drivers who have been retrenched from their PMET jobs. even
among the older generation, many cabbies with 10 or more years of
experience do provide very good service. granted, there will always
be black sheep, young or old. but they should be in the
minority.
a common failing of us asians is that while we frequently
criticise sub-standard work or service, we do not praise or
show our appreciation when we get good work done or receive good
service. so the reports of errant cabbies in stomp,ST, or any other
media far out number that of cabbies providing good service. or any
other service staff for that matter. Singaporeans and FTs EXPECT
good service without realising it takes 2 hands to clap. a real
life example...a few months back..it was raining cats and dogs when
i saw a lady frantically flagging my taxi from a sheltered
walkway. there was no shelter that i could pick her up from and a
grass patch ran parallel to the walkway. my only umbrella was in
the back of my cab, so i stopped my taxi, got out and retrieved the
brolly from the back seat and then sheltered the lady to my cab.
PTW! rite? by then i was drenched. back in the cab...not a word of
thanks, instead..Taxi Driver, send me to xxx. CB rite? i'm not
desperate to earn that few dollars, but because it was raining
heavily, and she look to be in desperate need of a taxi, i obliged.
talk about graciousness. not abnn hor, poolie, sgp chinese.
it is ok to expect good service, but be nice in the first
place and i dare say excellent service will be forthcoming. Will we
even ask ourselves..do i deserve good service?