What do you look for in a taxi service?

Question

So many taxis, the competition is big...how can one differentiate.

Answer 1

one with a few dents, you know this guy is willing to get there!

Answer 2

Taxi service for personal use or for a corporate account?

For our own personal use, I kept going back to taxi services that I knew would arrive on time, whose drivers would know how to get places, like the airport, and who knew how long the trip would take. I very much appreciated it when I would call for a taxi to the airport and the dispatcher could say, "At that time of day, there's a lot of traffic, we should pick you up at such and such a time."

I wanted to be loyal to a taxi company. When I found one I liked, we used it again and again. It was nice when I knew the drivers and they knew us. I liked personal touches, like waiting at the curb to see that I got into the building OK, if it was late at night.

Extra services you might consider:
having the cars equipped with global positioning systems, like Tom Toms, so the drivers don't get lost even if the customer couldn't give directions
and
if you have many young families as customers, being able to install their car seat or even having car seats available, say if they call ahead and say they'll need one
and
perhaps being able to book a trip online. Not sure what's involved with that. Super Shuttle, a van service that drives people to and from airports in serveral US cities, has a website you might look at.

I worked for a large bank once. The drivers of the taxi service it used kept notebooks listing all the information for the executives they drove home regularly, listing their addresses, phone numbers, wives' names, secretaries' phone numbers.

Hope that helps.

Answer 3

Regrettably I find cab drivers very maligned. Here, where I live , they are most courteous, helpful with luggage, groceries and walking aids. They are put through a rigorous location test and ALL have government accreditation. That's what I call a decent taxi service.

Answer 4

I only look about twenty feet away when considering a taxi. If there's not one there, that's what makes up my mind to look twenty feet in another direction.

Answer 5

know all the shortcuts, know your area like the back of your hand, be a good driver, be courteous but don't talk to much either, don't get a rep for doing stuff like driving by places more than once to over charge tourists. don't turn ANYONE down for a ride. good luck and peace!

Answer 6

Getting there in one piece is fundamental.

Answer 7

cash cab!! as seen on tv