One rule you must learn immediately in India is to never get in a rickshaw without negotiating the price first. If we go somewhere with a rickshaw, it is typically only within a 3 kilometer / 2 mile range. I am willing to pay a little extra since I am a westerner and because if they take me to the hotel, it is hard for them to find someone that needs a ride back to the busier area. So, for our area, I am happy to pay 30-50 rupees one way (which is $1 or less than 1 euro). Benjamin loves the rickshaw, so I also see this as a form of entertainment.
Today, one of the guys from the hotel got a rickshaw for me and told him that I wanted to go to the grocery store. I asked the driver how much it would cost and he said that I could pay by the meter. Wow...this was my first chance to pay by the meter...and I always heard that it is cheaper this way. Sure enough, the total was 24 rupees...I normally pay 50 rupees to the same store, so I gave the driver 30 rupees as a thank you.
There are corners where rickshaw drivers park and wait for customers. One of these corners is outside the grocery store. This particular corner appears to have a "ring-leader" - they seem to work as a team to get a higher price. The "leader" pointed me to a driver & a rickshaw. As I was walking with the driver towards his rickshaw, I saw him and the "leader" both pull on their ear. I don't know what that means, but I had a feeling it wasn't good. Before entering the rickshaw, I asked the driver how much it would cost. He said 80 rupees!!! I gasped and said "no way!" - actually I think my response included the word "hell." I told him I paid 24 to get there. Then he said 50, which normally I am happy to pay, but since they were playing this game...I was continuing to negotiate. I said very sternly to the driver and the ring-leader: "I may be white, but I am not stupid. I live here and know how much this should cost." The driver then said somewhat apologetically, "I understand Ma'am. 40 rupees." I accepted. When the driver dropped me off at the hotel. He saw me telling the story to the hotel bellhop. I wonder what he will tell his buddies!?!?! Maybe they will remember my face next time and think twice about pulling their ear.
I love this kind of experience. The chance to show someone who is trying to take advantage of people that you know the difference between right and wrong...and that they should be careful who they mess with!
Today, one of the guys from the hotel got a rickshaw for me and told him that I wanted to go to the grocery store. I asked the driver how much it would cost and he said that I could pay by the meter. Wow...this was my first chance to pay by the meter...and I always heard that it is cheaper this way. Sure enough, the total was 24 rupees...I normally pay 50 rupees to the same store, so I gave the driver 30 rupees as a thank you.
There are corners where rickshaw drivers park and wait for customers. One of these corners is outside the grocery store. This particular corner appears to have a "ring-leader" - they seem to work as a team to get a higher price. The "leader" pointed me to a driver & a rickshaw. As I was walking with the driver towards his rickshaw, I saw him and the "leader" both pull on their ear. I don't know what that means, but I had a feeling it wasn't good. Before entering the rickshaw, I asked the driver how much it would cost. He said 80 rupees!!! I gasped and said "no way!" - actually I think my response included the word "hell." I told him I paid 24 to get there. Then he said 50, which normally I am happy to pay, but since they were playing this game...I was continuing to negotiate. I said very sternly to the driver and the ring-leader: "I may be white, but I am not stupid. I live here and know how much this should cost." The driver then said somewhat apologetically, "I understand Ma'am. 40 rupees." I accepted. When the driver dropped me off at the hotel. He saw me telling the story to the hotel bellhop. I wonder what he will tell his buddies!?!?! Maybe they will remember my face next time and think twice about pulling their ear.
I love this kind of experience. The chance to show someone who is trying to take advantage of people that you know the difference between right and wrong...and that they should be careful who they mess with!
Good for you! No ear pulling allowed! Don't they know you are my well-traveled sister????
ReplyDeleteAtta girl!! Don't let them get away with anything.
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