fanning wrote:I think the gringo price is more appropriate if you go to typical tourist traps, like the Inca markets, or taxis outside Larcomar.
fanning wrote:Gringo prices don't apply to me anymore. I even get remarks of my Peruvian family members that it is not fair to the taxidrivers, the price I am paying.. But well, if they accept it, I suppose it is a fair price no ?
sbaustin wrote:. I've had taxi drivers try to charge me "20........dollars" to go from Miraflores to Plaza San Miguel and others charge me S/8.
el conquistador wrote:I'll advise you to take the bus. It costs only 1 sol.
sbaustin wrote:el conquistador wrote:I'll advise you to take the bus. It costs only 1 sol.
Conquistador, I'd advise you to walk for free.
rama0929 wrote:I've been charged the gringo rates by taxistas as well. Sometimes, I'll tell them to take a hike, other times I'll pay; can't be bothered.
douglas8 wrote:hmmmm el conquistador huh?... i'd say ol euroman is back and in fine form
itsallgood wrote:douglas8 wrote:hmmmm el conquistador huh?... i'd say ol euroman is back and in fine form
Not that it matters much, I've been thinking the same thing for a while.
and now this shows up:
"I live like a millionaire and feel like a billionaire."
from:
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=14597&p=88000#p88000
renodante wrote:rama0929 wrote:I've been charged the gringo rates by taxistas as well. Sometimes, I'll tell them to take a hike, other times I'll pay; can't be bothered.
yeah if i'm in a rush sometimes i'm just like "to hell with it, what is it, 30 cents more?" if i were still living in new york the same taxi ride would be something like literally 5 times what i'm paying so whatevs.
itsallgood wrote:douglas8 wrote:hmmmm el conquistador huh?... i'd say ol euroman is back and in fine form
Not that it matters much, I've been thinking the same thing for a while.
and now this shows up:
"I live like a millionaire and feel like a billionaire."
from:
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=14597&p=88000#p88000
americorps wrote:Just a couple days ago I got on a combi and 2 other girls got on at the same stop. We all three were going to the same place, coincidentally. The combista asked them for 50 centimos and me for 1.20 soles. I gave him 50 centimos and he pointed to the sign that says 1.20 Soles. I asked him why the Peruvians paid 50 centimos and I was asked to pay more for the same ride, he just laughed and walked away.
americorps wrote:Just a couple days ago I got on a combi and 2 other girls got on at the same stop. We all three were going to the same place, coincidentally. The combista asked them for 50 centimos and me for 1.20 soles. I gave him 50 centimos and he pointed to the sign that says 1.20 Soles. I asked him why the Peruvians paid 50 centimos and I was asked to pay more for the same ride, he just laughed and walked away.
For the record, I got on the bus at Angamos about just off the via expressa in Miraflores and was going to Angamos and Marsano, Open Plaza, about 6 cuadras.
emh wrote:renodante wrote:rama0929 wrote:I've been charged the gringo rates by taxistas as well. Sometimes, I'll tell them to take a hike, other times I'll pay; can't be bothered.
yeah if i'm in a rush sometimes i'm just like "to hell with it, what is it, 30 cents more?" if i were still living in new york the same taxi ride would be something like literally 5 times what i'm paying so whatevs.
I think that's a good point. I remember watching a gringa in Thailand haggle over the price of a souvenir. She walked away cause the vendor wouldn't come down an additional 5 cents.
rubble wrote:My son's tutor told him how she and a friend were given different menus in a restuarant. A cappuchino in one menu was S/5 whilst in the other it was S/12. When they questioned the difference they were told that they'd been given an 'International' menu my mistake.
el conquistador wrote:americorps wrote:Just a couple days ago I got on a combi and 2 other girls got on at the same stop. We all three were going to the same place, coincidentally. The combista asked them for 50 centimos and me for 1.20 soles. I gave him 50 centimos and he pointed to the sign that says 1.20 Soles. I asked him why the Peruvians paid 50 centimos and I was asked to pay more for the same ride, he just laughed and walked away.
The girls could have been escolares and they are charged less.
fanning wrote:americorps wrote:Just a couple days ago I got on a combi and 2 other girls got on at the same stop. We all three were going to the same place, coincidentally. The combista asked them for 50 centimos and me for 1.20 soles. I gave him 50 centimos and he pointed to the sign that says 1.20 Soles. I asked him why the Peruvians paid 50 centimos and I was asked to pay more for the same ride, he just laughed and walked away.
For the record, I got on the bus at Angamos about just off the via expressa in Miraflores and was going to Angamos and Marsano, Open Plaza, about 6 cuadras.
This is called paying a 'chino' ( a 50 cent coin, supposedly because chinos have half the size eyes .. ), you are supposed to tell the cobrador the moment you enter the bus, and if it is busy you don't use a seat, but stand. And it is only for short rides. But tradition tells that you tell the cobrador when you enter, that you pay a chino.
renodante wrote:emh wrote:renodante wrote:rama0929 wrote:I've been charged the gringo rates by taxistas as well. Sometimes, I'll tell them to take a hike, other times I'll pay; can't be bothered.
yeah if i'm in a rush sometimes i'm just like "to hell with it, what is it, 30 cents more?" if i were still living in new york the same taxi ride would be something like literally 5 times what i'm paying so whatevs.
I think that's a good point. I remember watching a gringa in Thailand haggle over the price of a souvenir. She walked away cause the vendor wouldn't come down an additional 5 cents.
considering what i make sitting in front of my computer, and considering what he makes busting his a*% stressed out driving around the crazy streets of lima, i often accept a little tax. but when they go way over the normal price i laugh at them and wave them to move along.
americorps wrote:fanning wrote:americorps wrote:Just a couple days ago I got on a combi and 2 other girls got on at the same stop. We all three were going to the same place, coincidentally. The combista asked them for 50 centimos and me for 1.20 soles. I gave him 50 centimos and he pointed to the sign that says 1.20 Soles. I asked him why the Peruvians paid 50 centimos and I was asked to pay more for the same ride, he just laughed and walked away.
For the record, I got on the bus at Angamos about just off the via expressa in Miraflores and was going to Angamos and Marsano, Open Plaza, about 6 cuadras.
This is called paying a 'chino' ( a 50 cent coin, supposedly because chinos have half the size eyes .. ), you are supposed to tell the cobrador the moment you enter the bus, and if it is busy you don't use a seat, but stand. And it is only for short rides. But tradition tells that you tell the cobrador when you enter, that you pay a chino.
After 5 years of combi riding, that is a lesson you learn very quickly. You are right. The driver asked me where I was going just as he did the girls, I answered and he said one Sole before I did anything else.
I assure you, it was the gringo price, not an amature mistake nor were they students as we got on together, they showed no IDs and were, like me, in their 40's
emh wrote:I have a regular route that I ride that's about 20 blocks. The first time I rode it, I gave the driver one sole, assuming that was the price. I was shocked when he gave me 50 centimos in change. Every time since, I've only paid 50 centimos for that route (with one exception). Sometimes I have the exact change myself, other times, the drivers have given me the change for my one sole. So far I haven't done anything special...I don't do any of the stuff that Fanning says you're supposed to do...I don't tell the driver immediately where I'm going, I don't stand, etc.
curlyguy18 wrote:emh wrote:I have a regular route that I ride that's about 20 blocks. The first time I rode it, I gave the driver one sole, assuming that was the price. I was shocked when he gave me 50 centimos in change. Every time since, I've only paid 50 centimos for that route (with one exception). Sometimes I have the exact change myself, other times, the drivers have given me the change for my one sole. So far I haven't done anything special...I don't do any of the stuff that Fanning says you're supposed to do...I don't tell the driver immediately where I'm going, I don't stand, etc.
May I ask what the route is? 20 blocks for 50 cents is a good deal. Like you, I'd expect to pay 1 sol. The thing about these combis is that they charge according to how far you're travelling but they don't really have fixed fares. From Av. venezuela to Plaza San Miguel they charge 50 cents but then it's 1 sole on the way back.
teamoperu wrote:Here is the game theory. Say the fare should be 6. Taxi driver offers you 6, you accept 6, it is win-win. He gets the fare and you get the correct price.
But he could say gringo 8. If you negociate with 6 and he to 7 then win-lose. He gets the increased fare and you get the incorrect price. Even if he goes down to 6, then it reverts to win-win, but he had the opportunity to maybe get more. He still wins whether he starts at 6 or 8, if you negotiate. Only does he lose if you walk away when he says 8. It becomes lose-lose, he lost the fare and you never got the correct price... but that taxi behind saw you walk away so he knows that there is a risk.
Only by doing as the Peruvians do, that is, walk away, does it make it dangerous for the driver to offer a too high fare, he needs to know there is more than win options, there is also lose... without the lose, he always wins. And by negotiating, it only encourages exactly the headache we want to avoid. So shake your head, smile, and walk to the taxi waiting behind.
So shake your head, smile, and walk to the taxi waiting behind.
emh wrote:One other thing re: combis: I've seen locals refuse to pay the amount requested. The driver and the customer will argue for a while and eventually the driver gives up and moves on to the next person. Obviously that strategy only works if you have exact change for what you think the price should be.
renodante wrote:So shake your head, smile, and walk to the taxi waiting behind.
i usually do this but only when the jack it up 3 soles or more, should probably do it more often but i'm lazy.
And by having us gringos, who hate to bicker over a couple of soles, accept 3 soles too high only just encourages the taxis to quote a higher than correct price, exacerbating the problem for us.
teamoperu wrote:And a taxi driver friend of mine in Piura charges more if it is raining. He tells customers it is because he has to get an lube job afterward operating in the rain. He doesn't, just a scam. But then it doesn't rain much in Piura jeje
teamoperu wrote:I have seen Peruvians walk when the fare is 2.5 and the driver says 3. But 0.5 means something to them.
Not to criticize, but 3 is $1. I take many taxis so that adds up quickly.
And by having us gringos, who hate to bicker over a couple of soles, accept 3 soles too high only just encourages the taxis to quote a higher than correct price, exacerbating the problem for us.