The totally off-topic thread

[Quickstatus]

Victoria government considering adding $10 to the fare for Taxi's in peak hour to encourage drivers... Because not enough drivers want to be Taxi drivers. I feel we need to add a rating system to taxi drivers like they do for Uber.

Surge pricing

 

[Moindardt]

If the SA taxi industry is like ours, bring on the competition. Ours is woeful - overpriced, drivers who have no idea, dodgy taxis and only one company so no incentive to be better. There are several different taxi names but all owned by the same mob.
When Uber started, we were on a bus back from Sydney and when it pulled into the Jolimont Centre there were wall to wall taxis trying to freeze out any Uber parking. Never ever seen a taxi at the bus before.

Most taxis drivers in Brisbane are so fat their seats are up against the rear seat, the cabs reek of smoke, sweat and disgusting foods, the seats are dodgy, half the seatbelts don't work and you certainly don't want a lady in a nice dress getting into one. Twice recently I have used Uber select, both times excellent cars and drivers, comparable to a limo service, but cheaper than a normal taxi. They just need to work out they need to give Labor big bags of cash, not emails, not that I am suggesting the couple of families that own most of the taxis in Brisbane and decide what the policies to taxis are (and have done for 20 years) do that.. hmm

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Apparently when they moved me to monthly billing they still do the meter reading quarterly and estimate it the other 2 months.

What's even worse is the meter I checked this morning doesn't correspond to the readings they are reporting.

Back on quarterly billing until we sort out this mess. And then I think I am moving to Dodo who are offering a $50 credit to send me out the bills instead of AGL.

Not to worry. If they have overestimated, you get it all back as a credit when they finally do a meter reading. You only ever pay what the meter says, not the estimate.

 

[Bundy Bear]

Never good when you are still at work past 10:00pm.
2nd time this week, my average going home time since Christmas has been 7:00pm and this is with an 8:00am start, not even sure what the good TV shows are.

After losing money for 3 months finally made a profit this month, not that the profit this month is going to offset the losses from the past few months.
Having 2 staff retire didn't help and a 3rd one resigning in the past 2 weeks wasn't the best.
Staff leaving can obviously save you money but if the staff you have left don't make money it is not the best.

Good thing I was able to get away at Easter and I am taking 2 days off at the end of May.
The credit card companies have taken all the fun out of paying the ATO.
Just waiting for the computer to back up before I run end of month.

Also what is with the Fremantle Dockers gone from world beaters to cellar dwellers.

 

[Flashback]

Well for those who gamble. US powerball now $400mil

Maybe I should put some of my mother's luck to good use. When walking home from dinner last night, she found a $20 USD note on the ground. The taxi I caught from the airport was $20 USD so that worked out nicely - I was told to take the money even though I already paid, fair enough! A win's a win Sounds like I should have suggested putting that lucky 20 on the powerball while we're here....

 

[JohnK]

Victoria government considering adding $10 to the fare for Taxi's in peak hour to encourage drivers... Because not enough drivers want to be Taxi drivers. I feel we need to add a rating system to taxi drivers like they do for Uber.

Taxis are already overpriced.

It costs ~$15 to go from Queen Street mall to Milton Station. :shock: It is a 20m-25m walk. Guess what I do?

 

[marki]

I did not realise that the trip from the NYC to JFK I was suppose to tip another 15-20 for the guy! I paid the meter price plus one dollar tip. To bad it went thru he was not happy is this every body else's experience?
I find the tipping side of things a drag everywhere everybody expects it. I paid 60USD for the taxi ride was this cheapest fare ever?

 

[cove]

Bundy Bear stay the course with the Fremantle Dockers. We could get better player picks at the end of this year. The Dockers back line is in trouble and the forward line is in trouble too. Not a good time to abandon ship Bundy!

 

[Pushka]

Add 18- 20% to service bills in the USA.

 

[medhead]

The problem with the taxi industry is that most punters won't pay the cost for high service levels and won't wait for taxis in peak time. The lack of security for both the driver and the pax is the other big issue. It's highly doubtful uber drivers can make a decent living if they're undercutting taxis. My old man ran his taxi from a brand new car, fully serviced every 3 to 4 weeks. He had trouble getting decent drivers, certainly not the 5 to 7 regular drivers that are required per car. He had to work crazy hours to make it pay. The punters see the long lines on Friday and Saturday night and think taxis rake in the cash. They don't think about 3am Tuesday morning. Anyway, I can spot an owner car a mile away, I bet most can't.

Against that dad was competing against someone who chucked on a $18000 car from a government or corporate auction and who got whatever drivers they could via a fleet manager to make sure it was on the road 24 hours. You want to know why cars smell of BO, because that driver has probably been sitting in it for upto 24 hours to earn enough to feed the family.

Anyway, if you want change, cutting costs are not the way. They is plenty of room for taxi industry changes. But you pay peanuts, you'll get monkeys.

Most taxis drivers in Brisbane are so fat their seats are up against the rear seat, the cabs reek of smoke, sweat and disgusting foods, the seats are dodgy, half the seatbelts don't work and you certainly don't want a lady in a nice dress getting into one. Twice recently I have used Uber select, both times excellent cars and drivers, comparable to a limo service, but cheaper than a normal taxi. They just need to work out they need to give Labor big bags of cash, not emails, not that I am suggesting the couple of families that own most of the taxis in Brisbane and decide what the policies to taxis are (and have done for 20 years) do that.. hmm

Couple of families? Against the fact that no one can own more than 5 taxi licences in Queensland.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

I did not realise that the trip from the NYC to JFK I was suppose to tip another 15-20 for the guy! I paid the meter price plus one dollar tip. To bad it went thru he was not happy is this every body else's experience?
I find the tipping side of things a drag everywhere everybody expects it. I paid 60USD for the taxi ride was this cheapest fare ever?

Our son lived in NYC for 5 years so I visited a lot - he thought I was a bad tipper - but you take the prize !!

 

[marki]

Our son lived in NYC for 5 years so I visited a lot - he thought I was a bad tipper - but you take the prize !!

Well Thank you and i got away with it ( )

 

[Moindardt]

The problem with the taxi industry is that most punters won't pay the cost for high service levels and won't wait for taxis in peak time. The lack of security for both the driver and the pax is the other big issue. It's highly doubtful uber drivers can make a decent living if they're undercutting taxis. My old man ran his taxi from a brand new car, fully serviced every 3 to 4 weeks. He had trouble getting decent drivers, certainly not the 5 to 7 regular drivers that are required per car. He had to work crazy hours to make it pay. The punters see the long lines on Friday and Saturday night and think taxis rake in the cash. They don't think about 3am Tuesday morning. Anyway, I can spot an owner car a mile away, I bet most can't.

Against that dad was competing against someone who chucked on a $18000 car from a government or corporate auction and who got whatever drivers they could via a fleet manager to make sure it was on the road 24 hours. You want to know why cars smell of BO, because that driver has probably been sitting in it for upto 24 hours to earn enough to feed the family.

Anyway, if you want change, cutting costs are not the way. They is plenty of room for taxi industry changes. But you pay peanuts, you'll get monkeys.

Couple of families? Against the fact that no one can own more than 5 taxi licences in Queensland.

I always pay the extra for a silver service car and never had a bad one. Unfortunately you have to be ready when you call and they can be 15-30mins in non-peak to 2-3 hours on a Friday night.

I always talk to the drivers when I am travelling by myself and many times I have had owners of the cars and you can normally pick it because the car is better quality and better maintained. The uber drivers are surprising earning well and I assumed it was because many forgot to take into account costs like interest and depreciation, but the ones I spoke to had and were very aware of all their costs.

There are a number of families that used to own a large portion of cabs, predominantly through extended family, trusts, super, companies etc. Everyone know the one that has a name like the brand name that races at Bathurst (and I don't mean Holden). Those players have always run Government policy and have tens of millions worth of licenses. Given the value of those would significantly fall (think they are $600k if you can get one when released by government and a lot more on the open market), you can understand why they lobbying so hard.

 

[JohnK]

After a lean week last week I have lost ~2kgs this week as every day I have had less than 1,500 calories/day. That makes it ~11kgs in 5 weeks.

Can I keep it up with dieting alone? Will need a new wardrobe soon.

 

[RAM]

Not a fan of gas. I tried iSelect. Are there others?

Just search "electricity comparison qld" and you will see a number come up. Probably the first 4 you see will be adverts (click on those and the search engine gets a fee) or just scroll down and have a look at all the different sites that come up.

At least 4 seemingly.

 

[JohnK]

Here we go. Assume 90kw/h usage/month.

Compare the market offers Origin at $59/month and Energy Australia at $59/month.

Switchwise offers Energh Australia at $57/month, Origin at $59/month 12 month contract or $61/month no fixed contract and Dodo at $60/month but no mention of up front discount.

Energy Watch offers Dodo at $59/month and $100 credit for new customers, Powerdirect at $59/month, AGL at $59/month, Flexi Saver Home at $60/month and Origin at $60/month but discounted only first 12 months.

iSelect offers Dodo at $59/month and $100 credit for new customers, PowerDirect $59/month with 24 month contract, AGL at $60/month with 12 month contract and Flexi Saver Home at $60/month with 12 month contract.

Think Dodo is clear winner?

 

[Moindardt]

Never good when you are still at work past 10:00pm.
2nd time this week, my average going home time since Christmas has been 7:00pm and this is with an 8:00am start, not even sure what the good TV shows are.

After losing money for 3 months finally made a profit this month, not that the profit this month is going to offset the losses from the past few months.
Having 2 staff retire didn't help and a 3rd one resigning in the past 2 weeks wasn't the best.
Staff leaving can obviously save you money but if the staff you have left don't make money it is not the best.

Good thing I was able to get away at Easter and I am taking 2 days off at the end of May.
The credit card companies have taken all the fun out of paying the ATO.
Just waiting for the computer to back up before I run end of month.

Also what is with the Fremantle Dockers gone from world beaters to cellar dwellers.

Do you have remote access to your computer so you can go home and work from there? Makes it a little easier when you can set of the backup while you have dinner. Gives a little more flexibility in life.

 

[Foreigner]

Do you have remote access to your computer so you can go home and work from there? Makes it a little easier when you can set of the backup while you have dinner. Gives a little more flexibility in life.

I'm enjoying my Surface Pro 4 when travelling and at home, using Remote desktop connection. Need to spend time with pen and OneNote to get more out of the device.

 

[JohnK]

Do you have remote access to your computer so you can go home and work from there? Makes it a little easier when you can set of the backup while you have dinner. Gives a little more flexibility in life.

The company has to agree to giving you remote access to network. Only some people have that privilege working from home.

P.S. I asked for remote access a few years ago so that I could work form home occasionally which meant I could be in Sydney a little more often. Access was denied. A few months back I was asked if I wanted to go on the dayend/monthend roster as some of the leads were not interested. I am not a lead. I refused even though that meant I would have had remote access. LOL.

 

[whatmeworry]

I know some Uber drivers that easily make 4-5 hundred a week driving part time.