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January 12, 2009
Car service tipping
What is the consensus regarding tipping car service and livery cab drivers. I do it, but am always unsure about it. A friend of mine never tips them claiming that they get a much higher cut from the fare and name there own price and therefore the purpose for the extra money is nullified.
Thoughts...?
Comments
$1 min for a local ride <$10 -- up to $10 for a ride to or from the airport.
Posted by: BH76 at January 12, 2009 11:12 AM
wow a trip to the vet would mean a $10 tip on an $8 ride? i try to tip 20%, with more or less depending on the quality of the service. i don't think what the business pays them is of issue when it comes to tipping.
Posted by: Jimmy Legs at January 12, 2009 11:21 AM
I think BH76 meant minimum, not per minute.
Welcome to New York; we tip everybody. And remember, the cheap should be shunned and ostracized.
Posted by: Bklyn Fire Alarm Guy at January 12, 2009 11:33 AM
I tip 20%. In fact in a Dial 7 car I took once, there was a notice requesting that drivers be tipped 20%. I add it to the credit card slip.
Posted by: bohuma at January 12, 2009 12:12 PM
Just yesterday I took a car. The charge was $10. Upon giving the driver a $2 tip, he handed me back the money and said “Thank you, but I prefer not to be tipped for a very short ride”. That was a first!.
Posted by: Giovanna at January 12, 2009 12:25 PM
What car service was that, Giovanna? That's pretty awesome.
Posted by: tybur6 at January 12, 2009 12:28 PM
Definitely tip. Your friend sounds like she/he is just using an excuse to get out of shelling out a few extra bucks.
At least 20% on a longer ride, min $2 on even the most brief trip.
$1 a minute? That seems extra generous.
Posted by: Mrs. Limestone at January 12, 2009 12:33 PM
I usually tip the same as with a yellow cab. On my trips to the airports this week I noticed that the 777-7777 guys both added on much more in tolls than what was necessary. I normally tip 10$ on airport trips but not when they try to rip me off.
Posted by: megunski at January 12, 2009 12:48 PM
thanks, Fire Alarm, that does make a lot more sense!
the OPs friend does have one very valid point: it often seems livery cab drivers determine their price arbitrarily depending on mood. that uncertainty complicates the tip-giving.
Posted by: Jimmy Legs at January 12, 2009 12:57 PM
Jimmy's right. I frequently take a car from Atlantic Ave to my home at night and always use Arecibo. The rate has ranged from $9 to $13. That determines whether there's any tip.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at January 12, 2009 1:02 PM
I wouldn't tip more than $1 for a short ride of 10 minutes or less. Longer trips $2 or $3 depending on the length. I usually tip about $5 on a 30 minute trip to the airport. If I make them wait for whatever reason, then I tip a little bit more.
Also agree with daveinbedstuy... If I take a car to the same place once a week and I get in and the driver quotes a higher price, say $8 rather than the normal $6, well then, that's their tip.
Posted by: SJ at January 12, 2009 1:12 PM
I meant $1 minimum tip for a short ride. And when you call, you can ask -- if they do not tell you -- what the cost will be. It is not at all aribitrary. But some services and drivers do try to rip you off.
Posted by: BH76 at January 12, 2009 1:37 PM
Hey Henrystreet, is your friend's name Mr. Pink by any chance.
Posted by: Bklyn Fire Alarm Guy at January 12, 2009 2:19 PM
Basically, you use your discretion. If the driver is friendly and doesn't give you whiplash, then tip. If they are rude or surly, don't. The longer the ride, the higher the tip. Ask the dispatch what the cost is before they send the car too.
Posted by: marcy at January 12, 2009 2:40 PM
Those cabs are a rip off. Try to avoid them, they are overpriced and most of the time take an advantage of people. Their cars aren't special so the ride shouldn't be twice as much....and it sure is with the livery cabs
Posted by: karo25 at January 12, 2009 3:14 PM
20% or minimum $1.00
Posted by: superstooper at January 12, 2009 3:26 PM
15-20%, same as a yellow cab. Higher range if the guy knows what he's doing.
Posted by: denton at January 12, 2009 3:27 PM
When I first moved to new york someone told me "$1 in tip for each $7 in fare, or part thereof". That's what I've done ever since.
Posted by: phripley at January 13, 2009 1:09 PM
If I happen to know how much the ride will cost in a metered cab, I negotiate in advance and then tip the same as I would in a cab, which is as phripley says, $1 on every $7 in fare. If you use a car service that knows the area, they're usually cheaper than a cab. If you get one who's unfamiliar, it's a mess.
Posted by: mopar at January 15, 2009 4:51 PM
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