This is hilarious!Little Falls (which used to be my home on weekdays in the first year of my service while I worked at ACS-Xerox), had unfortunately only 1 cab company that provided the local service in and around the area. All other companies, as I called and was told, do only NJ-Airport or NJ-NY.
This lady I called everyday to send me a 8:50 A.M. cab had been getting me late by half an hour for 2 days.
1st Day:
She politely said in her Mexican accent, "Honey, I don't have no cab for you before 9:30A.M."
This was when I had called at 7:50 A.M. That got me stirring, up and awake google-ing for other cab companies in the area. I started dialing numbers for the only few but different companies I saw enlisted.
Dial 1: "We don't do locals."
Dial 2: "Honey, you called me again. I don't have any cab available before 9:30 A.M."
Dial 3: "Sorry, We are a limo service to the airports. Call West Patterson cab service."
Dial 4: "Honey, its me again!" (me:Ou! am very sorry!)
Message 5: Hey Scott, coming to office? I need a ride. Thanks.
Dial 6: "Haanniii, you calling the wrong number again and again. Its mee! I told you no cab before 9:30 A.M. You understand?"
I: "eh..I do. Can I get a cab for 9:30 A.M. atleast...eh....please?"
(Just so that you all know I wasn't dialing the same number again and again. Google had this company with 4 different names and each one had even-distinctive-to-a-blind-eye phone numbers!)
And so I got a cab at 9:30 A.M.
2nd Day:
I called at 7:30 A.M to get a cab for 8:50 A.M.
And she said, "OK honey. But the cab might be running 10 minute late. OK?"And I think to myself-'Not bad' and say 'OK'.
I am all set to leave the house at 9:00 A.M but no sign of the cab. So I dial again.
Lady: "Honey, he be there in 20 minutes, OK?"I (very politely): 'OK! ......err..but I just want to know why is it that suddenly and recently I don't get a cab on time anymore?'Lady: "..because my cab drivers all busy with other customers."I : 'Alright, but I called at 7:30 A.M. to book a cab. When do you think I should call, at 6:00?'Lady: "Haaaniiiii, I can't help you even if you call at 6:00 or a day before. I can't lose business of a customer going to the airport paying $50 for your local 12 bucks. If that customer calls, I can't leave him for you. You understand?"I: "But..err.. I am regul-"
Lady: "I know haaaniii, I send cab for you all the time. Next time, I tell you at 7:30 itself that the cab will be late! Ok? or I will straight away tell you we have no cab. OK?"
I: "Hmnn..that's not fair!.. I think the cab is here. Can I call you later?"
Lady: "OK" (and hung up abruptly)
--
So you can understand how frustrated I would have been as the cab pulled away from my doorsteps after picking me up. This cab driver had often picked/dropped me earlier and had always seemed distinguishably decent as compared to his peers. Almost 40-45 year old, salt and pepper hair, well ironed shirt, good English and good air about him. I might seem partial but I liked him for he would never ask for that extra $5 for one mid-way stop that I usually took forATM to get some cash (How I dislike 'Cash-only' systems!). As I sat and settled my stuff in the car:
Driver: "Good morning."
I: "It isn't that good a morning for me but thanks." (I mumbled..)
Driver: --
I (mumbling mostly): " I would again be late in my meeting today. I don't know why you guys suddenly have no cabs for me."
Driver (confused): "Was there a problem?"
I (pouncing on a chance to vent out): "Since two days, there have been no cabs available for 9:00 AM or before. This is when I call at 7:30 A.M. I can't even get another cab as your company has monopolized Little Falls!"
Driver: " Maybe if you call a day in advance to book a cab- that might help."
I: "..which I'm ready to! But this lady on phone tells me even that wouldn't help. Because she said 'I can't lose business of a customer going to the airport....bla bla yada yada..'!!
Driver (blankly) : hmnn
I: " I think this lady is not calculating right. I am a regular customer you know. You have picked me up every other day right? Everyday I pay almost $25 and if she would sum that up over a month's time, its much more than $50 from a random airport going customer she gets once in a while. She's just not being unfair to me but to her own business as well!"
Driver : 'Well, I will try and talk to her.'
and while he said this, I thought to myself, 'Ya right! I bet she would hate me more and I will never get another cab if she hears that I've been venting to random drivers about her!'
So I say, 'Thanks!.. but no need! I think I will be fine. Just pull over on the 3rd level parking."
--
In the evening, I call the same cab company at 3:00PM to have someone pick me up at 5:00PM. I got a cherry Chevy cab with this another nice cab driver that I knew. Like always he asked me how my day was and I just started telling him how it started off with a hitch but went by all fine. He then asked if I was the one who complained in the morning about the receptionist. Well right, what a network amongst drivers too. News travels faster than light! I quipped that I just happened to mention about it to this morning cab driver. My cabbie smirked at me in the rear view mirror and said, 'Ya, that's our cab company owner you spoke to!'
I: !!!.. 'What?' (imagine my expressions!)
Cabbie: 'Yes, that lady got a warning after you complained to be nice to customers and to send you a cab without delay if you call!'
LOL!
I(resisting hard to hide my smile and surprise): 'Oh, I didn't know he was the company owner....'
Cabbie: 'Yes, he started as a driver. Then he buy big cars in good deals and start his own company. Very nice guy and his company is so big you know, he still drives. I have been with him for 17 years and tell him always to relax but he doesn't stop. Very hardworking and he loves his job. If somebody tell him something, he makes sure customer like the company.'
On a li'l serious note: However cracked up his English might seem, he conveyed more in his message than he knew. I thankfully learnt that the lady wasn't fired; honeyyy.. she was just warned (How satisfying that news was!). I found out who the company owner was and made sure I stored his number when he next drove me to my office. I never got a delayed cab afterwards and however small this guy's success story is, it inspired me. Its not everyday that you come to admiring a cab company owner or a cabbie. But whatever motivation I could derive from this small business owner who-as was revealed- was hardworking and earned money pursuing his passion, I did. Not everyday you meet people who have found their dream jobs! :)
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