"up and down is different, ma'am."

luckybug

Hi, not sure where to put this one.....

Please can someone shed wome light on the phrase "up and down is different" - here's the context which I am sure is familiar to many:

me: How much to GK1 (from def col)
auto driver: 60
me: really! I paid 40 this morning (which I had done)
auto driver: 60 only. up and down is different, mam

at which point, melting in the heat, I gave in just to get home before collapsing in a heap on the road!!


Why is 'up and down' different?

Baba

Sometimes going there is really different to coming back, because of one-way traffic, no possibility to make a U-turn or turn right....
But of course Delhi auto drivers also take any chance to squeeze more money out of you and will give you the most ludicrous explanation for this.

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Baba

silversurfer

What he is saying is "That from GK1 I will have to come back to Def. Colony (for whatever reason: no fares in GK1, he has to come to Def. Col. for some other reason etc.) so he is charging you a two way fare. This is common when going to a remote area from which they do not expect another fare, however for GK1 it is unusual.

Aishah

I just wish they would all use their meters as they are meant to do. Most don't and always get away with it - it's very annoying. They take one look at you, and if you don't look like a local, will give a price out of their head bearing no relation to the real price. This is why I love the Metro! You don't have to go through all that haggling process.
Up - down - roundabout there's always some reason or other why they quote higher prices. I can understand if where they are taking you, they have no chance of a fare back to where they came from, if that's their 'territory'.

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"Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards."

Nick-H

Oh, "One-way system, sir!" is a favourite cry of Chennai drivers, even if there isn't one.

But they are becoming popular in the city now: I expect the auto drivers love them!

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Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

steven_ber

I'm an ex courier and can tell you there can be many tiny reasons why the cost can be different in opposite directions, and I can imagine this would be the case for auto (and taxi) drivers as well.

The main reason will always be the chance of getting a return fare, though there are many other reasons.

Mods, please ban me for a week if I defend auto drivers again.

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Aishah

No Steven, we're not about to do that!! Read my last sentence in previous post. As for auto drivers, while I get annoyed when the price is outrageous, I will give extra and not haggle over it when asking for a 'reasonable' amount more, because i know how difficult it can be for them at times. Hot weather and out in it all day, tends to make me feel overly generous in this regard. We are not all hard-hearted in this respect!

Nick-H

Some of us are!

Actually, we have an excellent auto driver. He even collects stuff from the shops and brings it to the house for us sometimes, if he is in the are ---and refuses to take any money for those trips