Taxi Driver 2 – The Rip Off!!!
Let it be said that I am not one to quickly judge, label or stereotype, but all taxi drivers are the same slimey, rip off merchants, bent on squeezing what hard earned shekels you have into their clammy paws. This is true of all taxi drivers….except my friend Michael Erlbaum. He is the only decent one out there.
My experience of late happened on Friday when I purchased a pot plant to give to Cocka. Standing at a height of about 1 .2 metres, with lovely big green leaves and bright red flowers it was at a weight that prompted me to hail a cab to travel the 3 blocks from the plant shop to Cockas apartment. Getting in to the taxi that stopped for me I told the driver the address and put the plant in the backseat of the car.
I then noticed that the driver hadn’t started the meter. They sometimes do that and offer a fixed rate, trying to make a few extra shekels from naive tourists. About a block down the road the taxi driver mentioned it will be an extra 25 shekels for the plant. Why? I asked. Because it was big. But where did it say that on his rates?
Confusion and arguing ensued and I got a little pissed off, thinking I was being taken for “a ride”. Gee I’m funny clever. I said I’d get out if he was going to rip me and my plant off. I got out, told him he was an asshole (yes, I did say that), and hailed another cab. Lo and behold he tried to do the same thing! I asked to see where it said he could charge 25 shekels for a plant. He looked to his rate card and showed me where it said it…..for luggage!
I asked how a plant could be luggage. You cant carry anything in it. Angry at this charade I got out of taxi number 2 and proceeded to walk back with the plant perched on my shoulder. It wasn’t that heavy and I felt I was getting a good workout.
Finally bck at Cockas apartment I happily delivered her bloody pot plant and recounted my story!
Moral of the story – Don’t buy big pot plants as gifts. Stick to chocolates. Unless taxi drivers charge extra for that too!
Cocka with her not so little pot plant. Now I know how Jesus felt carrying that cross!
