These Two are great for Trade, some might say what Trade? But keeping these two ideas in mind can only be good, can’t do any harm can it?
Rank Discipline
Keeping a rank running smoothly by not leaving any gaps in the line, always having cars at the very front (our shop doorway if you like) shows preparedness, a potential customer comes off a train seeking a Taxi and sees a line of Taxis waiting just for them.
If the Taxis are maybe two spaces back, drivers nowhere to be seen, the customer may assume we are on our break and go elsewhere in search of a Taxi. Don’t tell me you haven’t seen this happen.
There should always be a driver at the first car, that first car is responsible to all the cars behind it. The longer it takes that car to get a fare the longer the rest have to wait, Time is Money! You should be ready to go, at the wheel or beside your car.
People use taxis to get them somewhere quick, they are not getting a good service if they have to stand beside the car wondering where the driver is or waiting till you finish your conversation, drinking your coffee or eating a bag full of pies!
Rank Discipline=Good Service=Good Business
Good Manners
10 well mannered drivers are a bonus
1 Bad mannered driver can lose customers for the rest of us .
We had a driver for some years, who everyone at our Rank will know. He was short, rotund with an attitude and no one could understand a word he said, no jocks mentioned,
He couldn’t get on with anyone including the customers, he lost us many customers. Customers learnt his licence plate number, as soon as they saw it they went elsewhere. After several years his attitude finally caught up with him and his badge was revoked. Farewell we said with a sigh of relief.
That particular driver was an extreme example of bad manners. Another example would be the fare we have all had. The one where the prospective passenger greets us with the words “Just a short one you’ll be back in no time†now the way to approach this one is to smile outwardly and say “ no bother, I’m here to take you wherever you want long or short†Inside you can grit your teeth and swear. Some drivers may take the other tack which begins with a snarl, a slamming of the door or boot lid and giving the customer a long lecture on the cost of living, how many hours you have waited and so on and so forth. Not Good! It’s possible the little old lady sitting beside you will never take a Taxi again! If you keep it nice and make them happy you may even get a Tip.
Some drivers want and expect nothing but long fares; well you will wait even longer if you scare all the little ones away.
10 short fares on the flag fall adds up to more than 1 ten mile fare.
Be Nice!!
Â
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Nice site. There’s some good information on here. I’ll be checking back regularly.
AFTER READING UP FRONT MAGAZINE YESTERDAY,I NOTE THAT “MOUTH OF THE TYNE”STILL USES HIS COLUMN TO SLATE THE LOCAL HACK TRADE.WE ALL KNOW WHAT HIS ULTIMATE GOAL IS.BUT IF THIS HAPPENS IT WILL BE THE FINAL NAIL IN THE COFFIN FOR THE TRADE.
CAN I ALSO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THANKS TO “THE KEEPER” FOR HIS COMMENTS REGARDING THE LAW AND PUTTING US ALL IN THE PICTURE.
Firstly, well done. This seems to be a well thought out website. Well presented and of use to the people who visit.
I have read quite a few references to Upfront Magazine, and on this point, I welcome any of you to submit articles or letters for the various columnists to answer.
Upfront Magazine is there as a ‘sounding post’ and includes articles from all sides of our trade. Indeed the magazine was founded on the principle of not letting local authorities get away with some of their strange and hurtful policies. A way for us to fight back at them. On quite a few points this has worked.
So get scribling, and send letters, ideas for regular columns;anything! Send to me, paul@upfrontmag.co.uk
Keep up the good work.
Thanks, Paul.