I am evil enough that this felt good.

[barbarienne]

The situation: I have to go to a meeting approximately 3/4 mile away. It is a zillion degrees out and sunny and humid. I get 20' from my office and have an asthma attack (the third I've ever had in my life. Yes, I carry an emergency inhaler). I decide to take a cab

Comments

[barbarienne]

30% on such a short trip was only $1.80. My usual minimum tip, regardless of distance/time, is $2 + change--so if the charge is $7.50, I'll tip $2.50. When the base rate passes $8, then I put another $1 in, and add another $1 each $3 of base after that. I leaven it with "how likely do I think the driver is to get a return fare?" So in midtown Manhattan, I tip 30-40%; but if I've taken a cab out to the burbs, I'll add at least 50-60%.

(On today's fare, I was going to tip 66%--$4--until he wrecked that.)

My sis and I once got a cab from Newark airport. It was livery cab, so you negotiate the rate, not use a meter. We said there was one drop off in Manhattan, and one drop off in Queens. He said $55. Both sis and I were like, "Oh, dude, you are so undercharging," but didn't say anything to him directly.

He was very pleasant and professional, the ride was extremely comfortable. When sis got out in Manhattan, she gave me $85 and whispered, "Make sure to give him more."

Going to my place on the far side of Queens, the only thing he said that could possibly be taken amiss was, "I didn't know Queens was so big." He said that in a very mild, gentle way, like it was just an observation, a new thing he was learning.

When I got out of the car, I handed him $110, double his asked fee. He was so surprised. I said, "This is what you should charge to go from Newark to Queens." He thanked me profusely, both for not screwing him over, and for telling him what he should charge.