I've started some "play work" driving a taxi ( in Australia )
so I earn less than the minimum wage,
and technically I am not a wage earner, I act as a contractor.
(so I am technically a small business operator )
Approx 70% of cash paying customers tip me
Less than 5% of customers who use a card & eftpos to pay tip me
doesn't appear to matter what type of card, credit savings or debit
.... so far. I do keep stats on tips and who is tipping.
let me give this advice to punters who want to use a card to pay:
use the card to pay the meter'd fare, and give a small (or large) tip in coins / cash
if you include the tip on the card payment it has to be declared to the Taxman, but it also complicates the "split" of the shift takings with the taxi owner.
I'm definitely not doing it for the remuneration level,
taxi driving is typically an entry level job for male emigrants to a country
& I can make far more money in a far more demanding form of employment.
I'm trying it out for other reasons & regard it as "play work"
At least I know what I'm talking about in the "Minimum wage" threads unlike those polemical ponces who prescribe for others what they will not do themselves.
It's fun and my Punjabi and Sikh brothers behind the steering wheels of taxis are a somewhat colourful crowd & at times some, but not all, have an interesting approach to ethics and the accepted behaviours at taxi ranks
For example, How do I know when the Taxi Cops, like the ever present Angel of Death are about to descend upon a taxi rank ?
When I see 6 to 8 taxis, driven by my Punjabi & Sikh brothers suddenly depart the rank without customers.
Is it racist of me to exploit the racism of some of my customers ?
The convention is for customers to choose the first taxi in the line up at a taxi rank, but it is actually the customers choice, they can pick any taxi in the line up.
I've found that by having the map reading lights on at night whilst waiting in a taxi rank means potential customers can see I am an old white fart ( found this out one night as I was waiting at a taxi rank and doing paperwork with map lights on )
Customers choose my taxi despite me being well back in the line up because the other drivers are not white chaps & they tell me this.
Now I cannot refuse a fare or customer because I might think they are racist.
I can only refuse a fare or customer if:
1 the customer behaves in a way that is threatening or offensive
2 the customer is so dirty they will soil the taxi eg cover'd in vomit /grease & dirt
3 they refuse to show "proof of payment" when requested
4 the customer is so grossly affected by drugs or alcohol that they are incapable
of properly using the taxi ( ie they cannot get into the taxi, put on a safety belt, give coherent instructions to the driver )
I cannot under the Law refuse a customer because of their political or religious opinions or beliefs, their sex, race, age etc ( sexual orientation )
Some drivers were refusing homosexual men, because the religious beliefs of the drivers perpetuated the ignorant myth that homosexual men were an abomination in their God's eyes, and as dutiful subjects to this ignorance they figured that taking these customers was against a certain type of religious laws hint, think Islamic extreme conservative, and were worried they might "catch the sickness that is homosexuality"
not from a toilet seat but from the "homo germs" left on the taxi seat.
I cannot refuse a customer because I might think their beliefs/attitudes are racist
If I pander to the prejudices of my customers I earn more in tips
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The Charge of Anti-Intellectualism
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