Taxi Driver Online

Alas Mac, in my opinion the trade will never be united all the time we have the haves and the have nots.

When you have some sections that want more drivers and less cars, and others that want more cars but less drivers, it cause a lot of friction and a lot of posts on TDO.

You have some who say they want 'free and open' access, yet many of their members hate the idea of others sharing the spoils.

Some drivers who have been lumbered with WAVs, say because they have to pay for them, everyone else should as well.

But one day it will be more united. Then all drivers will be treated the same, and afforded the same opportunities. They will all have to buy the same standard of vehicle, and everything will be open access to all.

It may well be a while, but hey, many of us have waited a while.

In our our town in High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire HC saloon cars T reg are sell for £60k there only 50 HC in the district which 10 of them are black cabs

So that would imply a plate value in excess of £50K.

I was surprised that the OFT said that the highest values were around £50k (Worthing, for example) whereas I thought there would be a few a bit higher than that.

However, I think one of the Annexes mentions Calderdale at £65k, which it seems to claim is inexplicably high (although I haven't read the Annex fully yet).

Anyone know any others above £50k?

Dusty

I would like to know if these high prices are just for independent plates or buying into an association as there is a great deal of difference.

To me, an independent hack is not worth a penny. However, buying a plate that is part of a well organized, high tech re-investing, dedicated member association is worth paying the privilege to join. Just like buying into any franchise.

I suppose any plate isn't worth a penny to those in the know, alas it is too the many who are not.

If you are a shareholder of your circuit, then you will benefit if that circuit does well. And quite right too.

However the plate premium is not a benefit of hard work, in my opinion, it's the benefit of having a closed shop.

Alex

But how many times have you heard about all the hard work that has gone into making the plate premium so high.

All that sucking up to, and all that back door dealing, that is all part and parcel of keeping quotas.

Not a great believer in quotas then sussex?

Quote Sussex
"But how many times have you heard about all the hard work that has gone into making the plate premium so high.

All that sucking up to, and all that back door dealing, that is all part and parcel of keeping quotas. "

So you dont think that an association / co-operative style franchised membership is right either? Or did I read it wrong?

I think a well run business has got nothing to do with the plate premium.

If your business is a group of drivers that have got together, and is doing well, then good luck to you. You have made that business in a free and open market.

The opposite to the plate premium market.

In that market, those with the premiums expect customers to adapt to their needs and demands. Which is why the PH market has increases vastly in the last tens years or so.

a look at many buisnesses for sale in the market place will proove you wrong.

if a private hire has a slot in a restricted agency doing well will have a premium and so of course will taxis.

busses in companies well underpinned with contracts are worth millions as we have seen.

on this point scanner must be correct.

Wharfie

If Mr Scanner is saying the business, of which he is a shareholder, has done well just on the back of the plate premium, then that's a weak one and will struggle in a future opened market.

However I don't think that's what he is saying.

His association/circuit operate in a free market, because it's open to anyone to bid for their phone work.

Yes... thats exactly what I think. But that is not to say that my my fellow sharholders think the same way.

I base what my share is worth on the usual turnover formular. As it so happens the plate goes with it, but I have always advised people not to bother with an independent. And by independent I mean one that either works strictly via the ranks or one that rents a radio off a circuit.

Knowing pretty much what the outcome of the OFT report would state I was recently approached by a prospective new member who is was an exisiting journeyman, who wanted to buy in on my association. I told him exactly what the position would be but also told him that he would be buying into a very well established association. After taking everything into consideration, which of course included the radio job ratio and general average turnover he was quite happy to pay the asking price.

ts just the same as buying any business. The price is determined by turnover.

Are you saying then, that your circuit's turnover is based on the plate value of the member's vehicles, as well as the turnover in terms of customer profit?

If that is so, then surely if that gent waited, he could have joined your firm for whatever the price is now, less the plate value.

And will your circuit have to be re-valued by whoever, if the plate value becomes nil?

Sorry to be so nosey, but it's looks like we are talking a lot of money.

Scanner has got to be right, he is selling a buisness (when the time comes to do so) in an agency that he calls an accosiation underpinned with good work a full scale buisness, Sussex you are showing predjudice here

when tesco bought hillards all thier customers could have gone elsewhere to other supermarkets but tesco still paid millions.

can anybody just get a brighton plate and join? only if the shareholders aggree, this is the weekness in private hire they just take any tom dick or harry.
whether there is work or not.
Wharfie

I think everyone's correct really, obviously the plate has an inherent value at the moment which has nothing to do with any business.

But in Mr Scanner's case there's also a business interest, and the two can be easily seperated if any bona fides sale was done.

Dusty