rickshaw drivers payment- what to do???

aoifeanderson

i've been in india for a few weeks now and after reading all of the rickshaw driver and touts advice etc, i seem to have encountered a newish sort of problem in terms of payment...
quite a few times now i have tried to arrange a price before getting a ride in a rickshaw only to have the driver tell me to pay him what i think is appropriate, which to me seems a bit strange yet despite insisting that we agree a price they never will. i have even had a driver tell me that if i dont pay him enough then its his problem and not mine...
not only is it frustrating because i just want the fare to be fair all round, but also ive noticed even when i pay them over the odds they act all sulky about the payment!!!
im starting to think they are basically hoping that i will resort to the logic that i should pretty much double the initial price that comes to mind because they have offered me a seemingly scamless ride!
any thoughts?

Haylo

That is a very common approach, mostly because what tourists think is an appropriate fare is WAY more than the correct one.

The advice given on on here is to ask around locally what a fair price should be and base your payment on that. Knowing that gives you a level of "scam-proofing", I haven't used autos much, but I've had the "What you think?" line and was able to hand him what I knew was a generous fare. He still asked for more but I just said "Sorry no change" and walked away.

shashank.aggarwal

Approach 1. Let the guy go and hire another one.

Approach 2. Ask him to quote a price, or go by meter, if it doesn't work then let him go and hire another one.

Approach 3. When he says whatever is suitable, tell him that you feel Rs.20 would be good, obviously that is the bare minimum you can pay, and will immediately get a reaction from the guy. If he doesn't react, leave him and go to another one.

All these things have to be carried out in light and non aggressive manner.

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PeakXV

Don't be scared be prepared. The onus is on you to know the approximate cost of the ride to any location you are travelling to. Hotel employees, Indian colleagues, shop owners, or any average person on the street will help you build a reference fare database. With that information loosely sunk in under your turban (if you will) , you can now play his 'as you like' game or play your own 'higgle/haggle, walk-away & hail another if you don't get a good price' game. Either way you will feel more comfortable by having privy to this not-so-insider knowledge.

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mayajaya

The advice you have gotten from the previous posters is good advice. In addition, be aware that:
1. Even if you get the "normal" rate from locals, the auto-rickshaw drivers will usually want to charge a foreigner more. In numerous areas throughout India, we were sure about the usual rate but the drivers didn't want to accept that amount from us!
Unless you can speak enough Hindi to convince them to treat you like a local, expect to pay a bit more.

2 Don't mind if they get sulky...its just part of an overall sales tactic that works amazing well on westerners. Just be friendly and stick to the agreed upon rate. If the fellow was extra nice/helpful then feel free to give a tip; as you like.

3. As previously suggested, be prepared to walk away from one driver and try another. If you don't have time/energy to hassle with bargaining for a better rate, sometimes its easier just to pay what is asked to get where you want to go. As you have already experienced, the "as you like" line is just bait, to get you to suggest an overinflated rate, but it is not a serious offer to accept whatever you want to pay, if you want to pay a very low rate! (we've tried this early on and major arguments followed!!

Best of luck!

altmtl

This is such a useful tip - thanks

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mayajaya

Koi Baat nahin (sp?) (No problem, don't mention it!)

(another useful phrase to use almost everywhere in India!)

Brisso

"As you like" is the oldest scam in the book - some drivers will refuse to nominate a fare to a foreigner - you are expected to pitch an inflated amount - so many times i have walked away and found alternatives - a driver a few blocks away that does not normally service the tourist trade or even the bus ...

kristinm

I got so sick of having that argument 'as you like' 'no you tell me please' 'no no as you like'.. I did exactly as suggested above - 'OK 20r then'...'no madam 120' '30' '40' and so on.. JUST TELL ME THE PRICE IN THE FIRST PLACE - it is exhausting! (fun when you're in the mood though).

Hal

The worst is when they want you to just get in and they'll figure out the price later. Yeah, sure.

But even the locals have trouble. I've seen them get refused a trip to an unpopular area, where there's little chance of a return fare, or get quoted 50% more than the meter rate.

In two weeks in Hyderabad taking 2-3 rickshaws a day I had only one driver who turned on the meter without a fuss. Then he took me on a magical mystery tour of the city

PeakXV

There are so many tricks & annoying scenerios that those bandits can attempt to pull off and you really have got to give them credit for their multi-angled methods of seperating you from an extra bill or five. Better not mentioned them here and scare off the newbies ..... oh WTF:

You negotiate a price and get in unbeknownst that little higgle/haggle was only round 1. Ding, Ding, Round 2 - 1/4 of the way there he turns around and exclaims 'I am waiting and bringing you back - is fine?'

No I have a three hour meeting and you might as well just leave and continue your daily business.

'Sir, very bad location I am not getting a return fare so the cost is now 2x. fine!'

Alright you can wait and drive me back for the 2x.

'Sir, I am needing extra for waiting.'

Well you won't get it from me Rukko! stop here and let me out right now please.....

Taxi la!

Brisso

Or on your way and "usual route is closed for festival/ road works/ bombing, must go longer way" and the fare doubles - step out and walk away.

PeakXV

For that one I say: " Eff it pal, I'm very late so we gotta go the usual route( you should be very familiar & clear as to what that is) now anyway and if there is problem, as you say, I will pay you double but if there is no problem ride is free .... okay fine? Where upon he'll often take a dramatic pause & staged moment of thought and say ' Sir, festival is now finished.

felonious_monk

I would like to reiterate one of Shashank's suggestions. In Mumbai and Pune at least, you should insist that he runs the meter("meter chalao" in Hindi). I am pretty sure it is illegal to not have the meter running( I'll check with the local police station and get back).

Have the change with you if possible so that he can't pocket the change. Give him what you owe him according to the meter(9x -1 in Mumbai and 8X+2 in Pune if I remember right). Any on the way negotiation is then meaningless and you can just play along. Be mentally prepared to insist on only meter fare when you reach the destination. Toss the money in his lap and walk away if he tries to pull a fast one.

I am an NRI back in India on sabbatical. I had taken hundreds of rickshaw rides in Mumbai before I left India but never scammed once, so I was a little puzzled by all the rickshaw scam posts on IM. A few weeks back I was scammed in Pune, even after insisting on running the meter. The guy took my money, got another fare, and was off without returning the change before my brain caught up . My mistake was not having the change. Haven't had a problem since.

crvlvr

That would be my advice too. Instead of offering a random low amount, find out from a local what a reasonable fare is. And mention this to the driver BEFORE you get into the auto. If he agrees, you are all good. If not, then you can begin negotiation.