Minicab firm slashes prices but not all drivers are happy

captain cab · **Posted:** Thu Apr 25, 2013 2:57 pm

Minicab firm slashes prices but not all drivers are happy

A minicab firm director says his company has had to slash its prices “due to the climate we live in.”

George Robinson, one of four directors at C Cabs, says the firm has made the decision to compete with its rivals.

Around 190 drivers for the company were called into a depot off Talbot Road on Monday to have their meters replaced.

As a result, the starting fare for a journey with the company will begin at £2 – that’s 60p lower than before.

Mr Robinson said: “All people are bothered about now is what’s on the start of the meter and what’s on the end of the meter. We’ve got to compete with our competitors.

“It’s the climate we live in now. It’s cheaper than it used to be and we’ve got to try to get people in.”

The move was voted in by the company’s shareholders following an extraordinary general meeting.

Mr Robinson admits the move could be risky, but hopes drivers will receive more work because of the lower prices.

He said: “What was a £5.20 job is now a £4 or £4.20 job so it’s a big saving, but we’re hoping to get more work to compensate for it.

“I’d imagine when it all kicks into play we’ll get a great response from the drivers.”

“All we can do is see how it progresses from here.”

But one C Cabs driver, who did not want to be named, said: “I’m not happy about it and from what I understand most of the drivers are against it. The town is struggling as it is and taxi drivers are not making a living.”

source: http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/ ... -1-5617400

captain cab · **Posted:** Thu Apr 25, 2013 3:01 pm

Of course - they could actually be a taxi firm :roll:

http://www.ccabs.net/fleet.html

Nidge2 · **Posted:** Thu Apr 25, 2013 3:58 pm

captain cab wrote:

Minicab firm slashes prices but not all drivers are happy

A minicab firm director says his company has had to slash its prices “due to the climate we live in.”

George Robinson, one of four directors at C Cabs, says the firm has made the decision to compete with its rivals.

Around 190 drivers for the company were called into a depot off Talbot Road on Monday to have their meters replaced.

As a result, the starting fare for a journey with the company will begin at £2 – that’s 60p lower than before.

Mr Robinson said: “All people are bothered about now is what’s on the start of the meter and what’s on the end of the meter. We’ve got to compete with our competitors.

“It’s the climate we live in now. It’s cheaper than it used to be and we’ve got to try to get people in.”

The move was voted in by the company’s shareholders following an extraordinary general meeting.

Mr Robinson admits the move could be risky, but hopes drivers will receive more work because of the lower prices.

He said: “What was a £5.20 job is now a £4 or £4.20 job so it’s a big saving, but we’re hoping to get more work to compensate for it.

“I’d imagine when it all kicks into play we’ll get a great response from the drivers.”

“All we can do is see how it progresses from here.”

But one C Cabs driver, who did not want to be named, said: “I’m not happy about it and from what I understand most of the drivers are against it. The town is struggling as it is and taxi drivers are not making a living.”

source: http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/ ... -1-5617400

Willl they be dropping the drivers radio rent? Thought not. :roll:

Nighthawk · **Posted:** Thu Apr 25, 2013 4:01 pm

See this topic: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=21783

blackpool · **Joined:** Wed Sep 30, 2009 10:37 pm **Posts:** 2406

Not just the start rate but the yardage aswell ! Plus leaflets through door for two pounds off fares,as ive said numerous times its a race to the bottom. :roll:

Nighthawk · **Posted:** Thu Apr 25, 2013 4:27 pm

blackpool wrote:

Not just the start rate but the yardage aswell ! Plus leaflets through door for two pounds off fares,as ive said numerous times its a race to the bottom. :roll:

Yep, spoke to a night driver yesterday who's worked out that the 2AM-6AM jobs cost 32% - 39% less than the council fare. He's given up his drive and gone on a street cab, better to do a little work for a little money than lots of work for none.

blackpool · **Joined:** Wed Sep 30, 2009 10:37 pm **Posts:** 2406

Nighthawk wrote:

blackpool wrote:

Not just the start rate but the yardage aswell ! Plus leaflets through door for two pounds off fares,as ive said numerous times its a race to the bottom. :roll:

Yep, spoke to a night driver yesterday who's worked out that the 2AM-6AM jobs cost 32% - 39% less than the council fare. He's given up his drive and gone on a street cab, better to do a little work for a little money than lots of work for none.

And they think this is going to get the phones ringing :roll:

Adress work means running to the job,then a short run for 2 pounds or 2,60 its less than the start rate,and how much is diesel ?

bloodnock · **Joined:** Thu May 03, 2007 8:15 pm **Posts:** 9170

Be better doing fewer runs for the higher rate than more runs at the lower rate as fewer runs incur lower running costs. Let some other numpty go burst their gut for less. #-o

Sussex · **Posted:** Thu Apr 25, 2013 7:29 pm

What happens when the competition follow suit?

Do they knock another £1?

Nighthawk · **Posted:** Thu Apr 25, 2013 7:50 pm

Sussex wrote:

What happens when the competition follow suit?

Do they knock another £1?

Drivers for both companies are at breaking point as is, any further reductions would completely wipe out their earnings. To give you an idea how bad it's got, a driver on the red company told me today that he'd earned £5.60 after fuel for an 8 hours shift, and that isn't a one-off bad day - that is now the norm for PH day drivers. Nights can't be much better as the night drivers have taken a massive cut to bring their fares down to 30p above the day level.

tangarinearmy · **Joined:** Thu Nov 24, 2011 12:00 am **Posts:** 507

Nighthawk wrote:

Sussex wrote:

What happens when the competition follow suit?

Do they knock another £1?

Drivers for both companies are at breaking point as is, any further reductions would completely wipe out their earnings. To give you an idea how bad it's got, a driver on the red company told me today that he'd earned £5.60 after fuel for an 8 hours shift, and that isn't a one-off bad day - that is now the norm for PH day drivers. Nights can't be much better as the night drivers have taken a massive cut to bring their fares down to 30p above the day level.

he s talking out of his arris mate where was he plotted preston?

Nighthawk · **Posted:** Thu Apr 25, 2013 11:47 pm

tangarinearmy wrote:

Nighthawk wrote:

Sussex wrote:

What happens when the competition follow suit?

Do they knock another £1?

Drivers for both companies are at breaking point as is, any further reductions would completely wipe out their earnings. To give you an idea how bad it's got, a driver on the red company told me today that he'd earned £5.60 after fuel for an 8 hours shift, and that isn't a one-off bad day - that is now the norm for PH day drivers. Nights can't be much better as the night drivers have taken a massive cut to bring their fares down to 30p above the day level.

he s talking out of his arris mate where was he plotted preston?

If he is so are many others commenting on the Gazette article. There's a PH that sits on the end of our street from time to time and he sat a good 90 minutes between jobs today, so at the new average of £3.40 per job it's highly believable.

skippy41 · **Posted:** Fri Apr 26, 2013 1:06 am

Cheaper fares equals more money and work yes it does
Since I knocked up to a pound off all fares over £3.00, my work rate has improved and takings are up 30% above what I normally took, at normal fares, most of the time I can get a return booking from around the corner, but I do not discount after 10 PM

Tico · **Joined:** Sat Sep 29, 2012 5:02 pm **Posts:** 605

sound like mass walkout is the way unles the firm boss lower radio as well

something else i read a man say nobody get cab cos 30p cheaper that is right people get cab to go somewhere they dont think oh lets go for a ride cos it cheaper now i hope firm go skint cos greedy over supply is why driver no earn enough to live now

Sussex · **Posted:** Fri Apr 26, 2013 7:31 am

skippy41 wrote:

Cheaper fares equals more money and work yes it does

But only if no-one else follows suit.

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