Taxi Driver Online

Down here it's not brill, but if it's the same down your way what's to blame?

1) Time of year

2) Credit Crunch

3) Fuel prices

4) Pot-less punters

5) Smoking ban

Or a combination of all the above?

_________________
IDFIMH

I think in general people are just not using taxis so much but at the same time the supermarket car parks are busier than i've ever seen them at this time of year

people are having home parties/entertainment instead of nights out

1, 2, 4 and 5 I reckon.

I did mention number 5 in the smoking ban post, and how it would affect trade in England, and I am sad to say it will not get any better, as pubs start closing like they have in Scotland and Ireland, no pubs equals no trade, no trade no taxis required, except at weekends

Of course pubs weren't being closed down before the smoking ban, were they?

I personally have operated a "NO SMOKING" policy since 1985.

_________________
Former taxi driver

I'm busy.

But hopefuly quiet compared to next month.

You should come out after it gets dark Sussex.

Did that for quite a while thank you.

Loads of money, but other folks were spending it.

_________________
IDFIMH

We have had three quiet Saturday nights.

Just hope it is folks saving money for Christmas.

Another theory is that X Factor and Strictly Ballroom are keeping folks in.

The corporate's are still busy during the week.

_________________
A member of the Hire or Reward Industry

November is never fill your boots time.
But its been ok.
Loads of private work helps.

well here theres one word for it DEAD,the only half decent night is a saturday,as for the pubs there closing at a rapid rate here,who the hell wants to sit outside when its 0 degrees

The main factor will be the thought of xmas around the corner = pressies money, as you say the credit factor 5 x 0.25% rises = sucking money out of pockets, and no quality jobs in great numbers around, so there is no spend,spend, spend .

Look in the jobs in the papers, and quite frankly there are not many jobs/salaries that I could comfortably live off, we live in a very financialy suppressed country.I am afraid that is is the way that it is, you can almost draw a graph on trading patterns.

Also down here in the last two years approx 270 extra hackney plates are on the road

_________________
if you cannot be yourself, then who can you be.

Had my badge for 3 years now and apart from December being a particularly good month I don't notice any seasonal differences, trade is pretty steady year round.

_________________
There's no excuse for animal abuse. If you ain't vegan you are an animal abuser.

A wuckfit in an "N" reg mondeo has knackered my time of the year.

_________________
Former taxi driver

Me too, Sunday morning 3.18 a.m rearside side of my hackney taken out

_________________
if you cannot be yourself, then who can you be.

Time of Year I think but.... People have spent money over the summer and are saving it for xmas!

I HOPE!!

Fuel prices up!... Interest rates up!.... Confidence down!

People are staying in, went into ASDA & Sainsbury's and was shocked!

3 cases of beer for £20. Not so long ago 1 case was £12.

Why bother going out during the week?

I think we are all in for a bad time, this time last year was almost twice as busy, revenue is way down. We keep stats on weekly business and it is not looking good compared to last year.

I don't think you can point to anything specific, all different kinds of businesses are suffering.

I hope I am wrong but I think we are in for a bump in the economy.

Sorry, this is not Happy Talk!

_________________
Talking, talking, happy talk!