So I got in the back of a cab today and I saw... (Chicago: credit card, cost of)

[Drover]

... a credit card terminal! Right there in the back so that you don't have to hand your credit card to the driver only to discover that "my machine is broken" and then have that machine magically and promptly fix itself when you threaten to stiff the driver, who meanwhile is giving you a dirty look like you just called his wife an a-hole.

So is the day arriving when Chicago cabbies finally catch up to the late 20th century and implement technology that's been available in other cities for over a decade now?

[long101]

I heard a while back that so many cabs were getting it, have yet to witness it though. Out of curiosity how do you add the tip? Do you punch it in or have to tell the driver?

[Drover]

You punch it in.

[ajolotl]

Hallelujah. I recently started to avoid cabs whenever I didn't have cash since I'm sick of the whole broken credit card machine/threat/retraction dance. It drains my mental energy.

[rsdplaya]

i always wondered why some cabs didn't have this already...just like i wondered why you HAVE to pay with quarters for the bus system in NY.

[jdiddy]

I've been in a couple of cabs with that in the past 3 weeks. It's great.

Although, I will say, even the cabs withouth the credit card terminal in the backseat appear to have finally given in. It's been a long time since I've had to go through the 'your machine isn't broken, if you don't take my card, you're not getting paid' routine.

[FlyiMetro]

Originally Posted by Drover

... a credit card terminal! Right there in the back so that you don't have to hand your credit card to the driver only to discover that "my machine is broken" and then have that machine magically and promptly fix itself when you threaten to stiff the driver, who meanwhile is giving you a dirty look like you just called his wife an a-hole.

So is the day arriving when Chicago cabbies finally catch up to the late 20th century and implement technology that's been available in other cities for over a decade now?

I used to drive cabs so I have a take. When I drove cabs back in 2006, We had card printers that basically made an imprint of the card and then the rider signed off on the amount. CC are a big hassle for cabbies, because most agencies take 5 to 10 percent of that fare to pay for CC fees. Cash was quicker, it was money in the bank. and gave you the ability to catch the next fare. Now if I had a fare that was lower than 50 bux and they pulled out a cc it would irritated me a lil because not only do I have to wait to see the money, but 10 percent came off before I can even touch it. Then you have people that dont have money on their card (insufficient fund) and say our card reader must be broken. Its like eating at a resturant and not leaving a tip. Cabbies are not rich people so when a fare goes out of its way to make life more difficult, a dirty look may be the result. Its business nothing personal. I know as a self center rider one may think "hey if they dont like it get a better job" which is ok in my opinion. If a fare is 50 bux and you pay cash, the driver is getting full payment for service, if you pay by cc the driver is getting gipped by the agency. One good thing about business class fares they ALWAYS tipped so taking a cc from them was never a problem...It the 8 dollar far to the bar down the street paid with a cc that was lame.

Hope that helps.

[FlyiMetro]

Originally Posted by jdiddy

I've been in a couple of cabs with that in the past 3 weeks. It's great.

Although, I will say, even the cabs withouth the credit card terminal in the backseat appear to have finally given in. It's been a long time since I've had to go through the 'your machine isn't broken, if you don't take my card, you're not getting paid' routine.

Ive never told anyone the card reader was broken. Id often offer a free trip to the closet ATM.

"Hello sir I can take you to an ATM prior to starting the meter if you like?"

If they said no thanks the meter went on asap, no yellow lights ran. Complete stops at every sign. It was the only way to re coup the lose.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by FlyiMetro

I used to drive cabs so I have a take. When I drove cabs back in 2006, We had card printers that basically made an imprint of the card and then the rider signed off on the amount. CC are a big hassle for cabbies, because most agencies take 5 to 10 percent of that fare to pay for CC fees. Cash was quicker, it was money in the bank. and gave you the ability to catch the next fare. Now if I had a fare that was lower than 50 bux and they pulled out a cc it would irritated me a lil because not only do I have to wait to see the money, but 10 percent came off before I can even touch it. Then you have people that dont have money on their card (insufficient fund) and say our card reader must be broken. Its like eating at a resturant and not leaving a tip. Cabbies are not rich people so when a fare goes out of its way to make life more difficult, a dirty look may be the result. Its business nothing personal. I know as a self center rider one may think "hey if they dont like it get a better job" which is ok in my opinion. If a fare is 50 bux and you pay cash, the driver is getting full payment for service, if you pay by cc the driver is getting gipped by the agency. One good thing about business class fares they ALWAYS tipped so taking a cc from them was never a problem...It the 8 dollar far to the bar down the street paid with a cc that was lame.

Hope that helps.

The issue is not that I don't understand why they don't like taking credit cards. The issue is, I don't care. First, it does not cost 10% to process a credit card transaction. I've managed merchant accounts and I used to be in the credit card industry so I know what the fee structure is like. Second, taking credit cards is a cost of doing business these days -- a cost most merchants are willing to pay because it increases their business volume and for those who don't use ancient machines is often quicker to process than cash. Third, cabbies are given special protection from competition in this city (and most others). In exchange for this protection, they have to abide by certain rules, one of which is you take credit cards. If you want the king's protection, then you pay the king his due and you follow the king's rules. Is that basically another way of saying "get a better (or different) job"? Yeah, it is. And it's perfectly reasonable.

And as for tipping, the surest way to get a crappy tip from me is to play the "my machine is broken" game or to act like you're doing me a favor by taking credit cards like you're supposed to.

[JustinHaugens]

About the 10% thing Metro mentioned, I think he's possibly talking about who he works for taking 10%.

Who knows, but this credit card bit is only going to get cheaper for the driver if they stop fighting it. If it's accepted more, then companies fight the system and say we'll let people use it more if we make more money from the service we provide.

Do you think all these fast food joints started allowing credit cards because it was convenient to you? Only because they were able to bargain a cheaper transaction fee in the long run.