Cab driver conversation !!

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by Muta

If it was so lucrative, more people would be driving cabs. They're not.

I do not doubt for a second that lots of that cash they earn is pocketed, taken tax-free.

Also, I hate cabbies that talk your ear off. I know it's always important to have a good conversation and be cordial, but the ones that brag about themselves and want you to hear the problems and situations in their life is just brutally annoying. I don't care about your problems, so please spare me the drama... you don't even know me, and you won't ever again when I get out of this car.

Amen. I remember a couple LV trips ago this guy talked non-stop about hanging out with strippers, and how he married the one whore with a heart of gold, and all their fataing marital issues, and blah-blah-blah...

[amorak]

Cab drivers are generally new canadians, as this guy mentioned. They hardly have secret knowledge of Canadian tax law. As Locke can certainly point out, the CRA has long been on top of cash-based businesses such as serving (cash tips) and cabs. They have algorithms looking at tax returns and your associated T4s and where your SIN shows up.

IE: If you have a T4 from earls and report your income as only the minimum wage earls paid you, they will come after you. They'll want to see at least X as additional untaxed income to represent a tip %, or else you'll get flagged in the system. Whether they come after you or not, is just paying russian roulette.

I am sure the same thing exists for those who's names and SINs end up associated with a cab company - the CRA, contrary to popular belief isn't stupid... In fact, my rule of thumb is:

The government is very good at taking your money and accounting for every cent you owe them, but pretty crappy at spending and account for every dollar they spend.

[ynwa03]

Originally Posted by TurnedTheCorner

Report him to US Homeland Security and see how Gitmo impacts his sense of humor.

Last i check we are not Americans.

[albertGQ]

Originally Posted by ynwa03

Last i check we are not Americans.

Exactly.

Report him to the IRS!!!

[Misterpants]

This guy sounds an awful lot like the cab driver who was telling us how much sweet poon he gets from hot drunk chicks. Apparently it is a huge fantasy of incredibly hot women to get nasty with the cab driver.

[Clarkey]

I don't mind when cab drivers are talkative, whether they're bs-ing or not.

[RougeUnderoos]

If a cabbie is clearing 90 grand a year, good for him, but he's still driving a cab, and that part has to suck.

They must make pretty good dough, otherwise there wouldn't be any cabbies in Calgary.

[Champion]

A lot of cabbie's do stuff like that. I have a few in my family, but I have never asked them about anything they do with their finances.

My uncle in BC was clearing $8000-$10000 a month driving a cab. It's gone down now, but he still makes good money.

[Hemi-Cuda]

on a related note, it doesn't matter what city i've driven in, cab drivers are consistently the worst drivers on the road. it's gotten to the point where if i'm driving and i know i'm about to make a dick move, i look for a cab to do it in front of so then i don't even feel guilty

[Champion]

I haven't really noticed cab drivers being really bad drivers. Most of the cabbies in my family were cab drivers, worked a sh** load, opened a business. The only one left is the BC one I'm talking about, but they got into a business as well. Just driving a little more to see how much the business makes.

I'm not the type to put a cab occupation down. A job is a job. Most of those guys work LOTS of hours to support a family or work towards something else.

[Bertuzzied]

Did he say how many times he's been punched in the head by hockey players?

[Champion]

I know some people say, 'Well if it is so lucrative, everybody would be doing it", but that's not true.

Not everybody wants to drive a cab all day or night long. A lot of businesses are lucrative as well, but not everybody wants to do it, wants to risk theirs and others money, or has the drive to do it.

Just because a certain type of job, etc is lucrative doesn't mean everybody would be doing it.

[TylerSVT]

Nothing is more pretigious than driving a cab... LOL

Seriously who the F would want to work 4pm-4am...

[bizaro86]

I bought my house just after the family who lives across the street from me, so I know what they paid. (It was one of the comps my realtor pulled). The guy who lives there is a cab driver, and he must be making a decent income, since the house was above-average price for Calgary. No way he could afford that house if his sole source of income was anything like the 20-30k numbers getting thrown around in this thread.

[Champion]

Originally Posted by TylerSVT

Nothing is more pretigious than driving a cab... LOL

Seriously who the F would want to work 4pm-4am...

Maybe somebody who is willing to work hard and maybe wants a lot more in the future?

Or maybe some people just enjoy it.....

[Kybosh]

Based on this thread I've decided to no longer tip cabbies.

[Champion]

I would honestly be embarrassed to not tip a cabbie. If my friends or somebody said we are not tipping, I'd make sure to get out first or give the guy a quick tip if I was the last guy out.

That's just me.

[flamesfever]

Almost all of the cab drivers I've driven with have been polite, friendly and helpful. If I have shown an interest in striking up a conversation, they usually accomodate, and if not, they usually remain quiet.

When I leave a tip they are usually quite appreciative, and go out of their way to help with the baggage.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Pfft, that cabbie from the OP has nothing on cabbies in Washington D.C.
Those guys have one hell of a sweet deal, the extra charges are ridiculous.

We were there for a Flames game last year, and when we went to leave it was something like this:

Extra passengers $1.50 each
Airport fee: $2.50
Large bags: $1.00 each

So for 4 of us to go the the airport with a big bag each it was something like $11 just to get in the damn taxi, let alone go somewhere. (I can't remeber if those are the exact numbers but it was something crazy liek $10 just so sit down).

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Kybosh

Based on this thread I've decided to no longer tip cabbies.

It's funny how someone's BS has unintended consequences for them (and all the other cabbies out there)