The Value of Plastic

Taxi cabs now advertise the ability to take credit cards and there really is a safety factor in this practice as well as offering a great service to travelers.

In my recent travels to Orlando and NYC, the two cities offer great contrasts in practicing what they preach.

When I started out from the Orlando airport to my hotel, I asked if I could use my credit card for the fare. "Oh no" the driver replied barely speaking English. He explained the credit card machine wasn't working.

Having encountered this same excuse in Fort Lauderdale, I decided to stick to my guns and used my cell phone to call the taxi cab company's telephone # posted in the back of the cab. The manager was very sympathetic and said they could take my credit card. If the machine didn't work, my cab ride was complimentary. He called the driver and they discussed this.

When we pulled into the hotel's entrance, my driver again insisted that he couldn't use the credit card machine and needed cash countering his managers instructions.

But I stood my ground and would not relent to paying cash. The driver wrote down my credit card # and I anticipated a huge charge on my invoice with a credit card used for who would know what.

Continuing my trip to NYC, there was an entirely difference experience. In the Big Apple they are happy to take your plastic. Long or short taxi rides can be paid by a simple swipe and include a gratuity of 15-20%. For a business traveler, it's a great way to document travel without tracking receipts and for a personal trip, better to keep the cash.

My first cab driver in NYC climbed in the back of the cab to show me how to swipe the card and post the tip.

What is the message in my taxi experience? First and foremost--customer service. Making an experience easier for the customer is a win-win. Not providing the service that is advertised is a lose-lose. People have a bad taste in their mouth and tell their friends as well as their Blog.