[MAY07]

I have been taking a ride between Ottawa and Toronto for more than 6 months so far, but the last weekend trip was a bad experince.

The ride provider was one of my acquaintances, I took his ride many times before. I called him to book a seat for back trip on wednesday(April30) after I checked his posting on CFC which was asking $25 for one way $45 for two way. on sunday (may4), I met him at gas station as i was supposed to, when i got on the car,he started to complain the gas price,then he told me the riding price has been rised to $30 for one way $55 for round trip. I was shocked at that time, why he didn't mention in advance, how come he just played the price trick to me, there was only me to take one way trip, the other two took the round trip, I saw one of them paid the oroginal price.

Anyway i paid $30 to him when i got off, I felt uncomfortable to argue for only $5. but i think this is a cheating, now i still can find his psoting on yahoo, the bad feeling bothered me for a while, that is why i want to say something here. I don't mind if peoeple want to rise the price,but in this way is definitely improper,there is chinese saying " people love money, but the gentleman earn money in a proper way", perhaps it was my fault that i think people usually are all gentleman.

[newer]

The driver obviously did not do the right thing. You basically could complaint about it. However, business is business. Cheating is part of it. Take it easy since it is still not bad to pay $30 to go to Toronto. If you can find another car, simply switch to it. Do not trust anyone in Northamerica. BTW, you even do not know this guy well.

[PATLAI]

I like what newer said, business is business, that is exactly their mind set.
Maybe comefromchina should have one category titled "Business Carpool" and change the original to "Real Carpool". 8-))
There are people considering providing carpool is a money making business. They try every means to maximize their profit, using the name carpooling. Carpooling is different from Grey hound, which has office, many employees, overheads. Carpooling means the driver finds someone to share the cost. If there is NO passengers, the driver still has to pay gas price, cost of tire, car. That is the original idea of carpooling. Unfortunately, people won't think it that way.
It is quite common now they have FOUR customers. If the round trip has gone up to 55 (from 45), that means the driver will collect 40 dollars more for round trip. I doubt the driver has to pay 40 dollars more on gas. I just drove back myself alone this Monday morning, and because my old (15 years old) car is very good on gas, I spent 28 litres for one way. You do the mathematics.
I would recommend, for every 10 cents increase in gas price (let $1.20 as starting point, and 25 as standard one way price), add one dollar as gas surcharge per one way trip. All airliners use gas surcharge now. It is ridiculous the increase is in multiple of five dollars. I don't think Grey hound has increased the fare by that percentage. Remember, Grey Hound is a company. Do you think when gas price drops below one dollar, they will reduce that back to 45? Someone of them will, but by what percentage?? I bet.
Chinese should help each other in North America. There are caucasians using carpool here, and what do you think when they read this??
Good luck MAY to your future search for carpool.

[jfuaugustin]

i can't imagine he could do that to you, just for 5$!

that's why i look down upon some chinese guys, they are good on saving each penny, worse than women...

[言者]

作者: MAY07

I have been taking a ride between Ottawa and Toronto for more than 6 months so far, but the last weekend trip was a bad experince.
....

May07,

Putting your complain here may not solve much.

You may understand that it is very typical for our oriental folks not to raise our voice when confronted, which is not wise to solve the issue. The best time to solve an issue is at its up front.

To my personal opinion at this time, you may call the driver about your bad feeling. If you still feel that he was cheating, a small token let you see a true person. He will be not that kind of person you want to ride with (never ride with an un-trusted driver). Well, on the other way, he may just have a smile; say that he thought you knew it already as being discussed in this group.

To the driver who looked like in this incident, please call your riders around, and refund the five dollars. This would helpful for your own as well.

I would like to suggest people in this group limit the use of the harmful language. This is a small group. People help each other and save the environment. There are neither many drivers, nor the riders. People would bump together often and build their own credit.

My concern is that I could not find a ride when I need it (not a few bucks more). I used to have to take the bus and took me two hours more than the carpool and cost me close to a hundred dollars for a single trip.

Let's continue to help each other. If we could not do well here in this small group, we should not complain many political groups blocking the Beijing Olympics.

[PATLAI]

Hello 言者

From what you wrote, I would like to say you are a wonderful person. Our national pride (Chinese) doesn't build on superficial things like hosting Olympics, it is on how we treat others (Chinese and non Chinese).

I have many African co-workers, they praised Chairman Mao, they considered Chinese as their friends. We all know the reasons why.

Talking about finding car pool, I notice that for some unknown reasons, there are less people offering carpool now, either they have moved back to Toronto/Ottawa that they no longer need to travel, I congratulate them, or, drivers and passengers have formed a regular group that they no longer need to post here. Only when one person goes for vacation that the driver will post here.

BTW, if you have driver license, and do not own a car, you can rent a car and post here, (e.g. Chevy Cobalt), and if you have three passengers, the fares you collected can cover at least 90% of the cost, remember you don't have to spend 90 dollars on Grey Hound (if you buy that 14 days ahead), plus you can save two hours, and you can use the car in Toronto/Ottawa with your family during weekend (It is unlimited mileage). That is my suggestion to you. Above all, you can help others, as what you have said here.

If you want to know where and how to rent a car, I can tell you where to get the best deal (Or you know that already).

Good luck, 言者,

[Howell]

You don't have to be upset about $5 more. But the way the driver of asking $5 dollars is not a maner of gentleman and not a practice of business. Anyway $30 is a good bargin from Ottawa to Toronto and you should feel lucky. The rider can not simply count how much gas costs for one more person added to the car. If $5 is enough for one more person from Ottawa to Toronto, Would you like give me carpool every week at $5 dollars? If everybody want to take carpool from others, who would like drive a car. Please don't forget the cost of devaluation of the car is 0.15$x400km=60$ min for any car. It is not fair to think about taking advatage of ride offer saying taht anyway the driver has to run the road. If you care more on safty and convenienience than price you would be more happy and thanksful . Mutual understanding and respect will benefit both carpool rider and provider.

[MAY07]

Thanks everyone here for your comments.

The whole thing seems to be a money issue,but i do think it is something about respecting and honesty, i think both of us should treat the posting as sort of agreement,and respect each other,if the drivers want to rise the the price, just say it on the post,everything will be transparent,let the client dicide if they accept it or not.I noticed there is a lot of discussion on the price standard on carpool section, actually it is not neccessary, everything follows the marketing rule.
I fully agree with Howell "mutual understanding and respect will benefit both carpool rider and provider",and 言者 "I'd like to suggest people in this group limit the use of the harmful language".

let's respect each other,hope the thing go on the right track.

[black_head]

have to pay the cost for something like car maintainance, oil change, mileage, even for car rental which cost you did not see with your current ride, not just for gas? I believe most providers here are not for profits.

[allen992003]

As a carpool provider and taker from time to time, I have to say that please DO the judgment carefully my friend.
Are you sure all cons you mentioned are assure? Anything that may against your will is unavailable?
Misunderstanding is a terrible pity since you and your carpooler know each other somewhat more or less.

You all are right that 5 dollars is not a big deal while you have proper reason to take carpool.

Look forward and positively.
Do something to maintain this cozy community, if applicable.

by the way, I am pretty sure the provider you ran into have read this post already. So, the good track will be set up as you wish: taker will be aware of this changing price issue and provider will consider worth or not against the norm. good work May07 and responsers.

[tiantim]

What a mistaken the driver made!

Next time, take my car, I give you $5 discount.

[tiantim]

作者: PATLAI

Hello 言者

From what you wrote, I would like to say you are a wonderful person. Our national pride (Chinese) doesn't build on superficial things like hosting Olympics, it is on how we treat others (Chinese and non Chinese).

I have many African co-workers, they praised Chairman Mao, they considered Chinese as their friends. We all know the reasons why.

Talking about finding car pool, I notice that for some unknown reasons, there are less people offering carpool now, either they have moved back to Toronto/Ottawa that they no longer need to travel, I congratulate them, or, drivers and passengers have formed a regular group that they no longer need to post here. Only when one person goes for vacation that the driver will post here.

BTW, if you have driver license, and do not own a car, you can rent a car and post here, (e.g. Chevy Cobalt), and if you have three passengers, the fares you collected can cover at least 90% of the cost, remember you don't have to spend 90 dollars on Grey Hound (if you buy that 14 days ahead), plus you can save two hours, and you can use the car in Toronto/Ottawa with your family during weekend (It is unlimited mileage). That is my suggestion to you. Above all, you can help others, as what you have said here.

If you want to know where and how to rent a car, I can tell you where to get the best deal (Or you know that already).

Good luck, 言者,

Could you rent a car? so I can carpool yours all the time. Thanks a lots.