$100 Taxi ride!!!

[Eddie]

Just got to the Hotel for the Pinball 08 expo in Illinois and the taxi from O'Hare cost $100 dollars. What a rip off. If I knew it would cost more than a MillionGod I would have walked! Beware travelers abroad Beware

[Banzaitrooper]

ohhh keep us up to date on the expo with many pics

[luckydog]

its a long drive from O'hare to Wheeling, IL

take the free bus back

Pinball Expo: Bus Schedule


ps. you can take the elevated train from O'hars to downdown chicago!!

Ground Transportation To Chicago O'Hare Airport By Train

[johntofva]

Ouch... "Expect to spend approximately $35 to $40 for a taxicab ride to downtown Chicago."

http://www.flychicago.com/ohare/grou...cabsohare.shtm



"Continental Airport Express<FONT face=Verdana color=black size=2> Airport Express offers daily, door-to-door service to/from O'Hare Airport and most city and suburban neighborhoods. Their hours of operation are from 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., departing approximately every 5 to 10 minutes outside the baggage claim areas of the Lower Level of the Domestic and International Terminals. The fare to the city is approximately $25.00. Lift-equipped vehicles are available on request for passengers with disabilities. Advanced notice is strongly urged.
To contact Continental Airport Express, call (737)247-1200 or 888-284-3826

[luckydog]

a cab driver will never take the shortest route if they know you don't know your way around the area.

read a map before you go and act like you know the area when you get in the cab.

The Westin Chicago North Shore | Wheeling IL

$100.00 for 16 miles

complain to the cab company about your charges!!!

[Eddie]

ohhh keep us up to date on the expo with many pics

Will do and tomorrow morning Im going on the Stern Pinball factory tour!!!

Its the next best thing to a Pachinko Factory.

[BigBearSteve]

Will do and tomorrow morning Im going on the Stern Pinball factory tour!!!

Its the next best thing to a Pachinko Factory.

Stern tour sounds like fun!

Be sure to take a big suitcase with you to smuggle out a couple pins!

[daverob]

Not sure about how different it is in the States compared to over here, but if you ever think you have been overcharged by a taxi driver...

... get a receipt, preferably one that shows the start and end of the journey...
... note down the drivers badge/license number or the name from the badge ...
... note down the car license number and the number on the taxi plate (if there is one)...
... also note down the name/phone number of the firm (if it is not an independent)...

... contact the firm and firstly ask for a price for the journey you've just taken, and ask if that's a special price or the normal meter rate. If the price is significantly lower (allow a 10-20% margin as there could have been unpredictable delays or diversions on your journey), then ask them about making a formal complaint and give them the details of your journey ...

... if you do not get a satisfactory response, then find out the details of the licensing authority and make a complaint to them, they usually take them seriously.


In my area a 16 mile journey would cost about $60 but there would also be a $5-$10 airport charge as most airports round here charge a fee to the driver for non-pre-booked pick ups (or parking charges for pre-booked pick ups, so you can't win either way!).

Now I'm assuming that should sound quite expensive to an American, as they're often found complaining about the high cost of cabs over here!



BTW, I've only once knowingly overcharged a customer, and that was when I pulled up to a rank with a long queue of people waiting for a cab (around 4am Saturday night/Sunday morning in the main nightclub street in town, and this was on a night when there had been a big event so the town was absolutely packed with people all wanting to get home) and a big bloke barged his way past the queue and got straight in. He was acting all big and bold and refused to get out when I explained that he'd have to wait his turn like everyone else. Seeing as there was no-one around who was willing to take the risk in helping me evict him from the cab, I started the meter with all the extra tariffs available (about half again on top of the normal fare which is already pretty high at that time of night!) and took him home.

On his way back he got a call from his other half, who from the sound of the conversation was obviously highly displeased with the fact that he had not returned home at the time that he had originally promised. He explained this away to her by complaining about how busy it was in town and having to wait ages for a taxi, even though I had seen him walk straight out of the club and into my cab.

When we finally got to our destination he queried the fare as it was obviously higher than he normally paid, so I told him that he got the 'queue jumper special' rate and that the doors were remaining locked until he either pays up here, or until we finish this conversation at the local police station. At this point he appears to decide that he's right outside his own home (which was in a decent area of town as well !) and it's probably not worth kicking up a fuss over it while the missus is indoors with the curtains twitching and sheepishly hands me some notes saying 'keep the change'.

[Meathead]

What a rip off. If I knew it would cost more than a MillionGod I would have walked! Beware travelers abroad Beware

Eddie, a gallon of gas in CA costs more than a Million God!

[bfree]

Welcome to Crook County Illinois!!!

[beachcat]

I just checked prices from ohare airport to boot camp in north Chicago. one way courtesy ride to the hotel is $50.

[hanabi]

Will do and tomorrow morning Im going on the Stern Pinball factory tour!!!

Its the next best thing to a Pachinko Factory.

Hope you remembered to take the camera Eddie, looking forward to seeing some pics

[Eddie]

Hope you remembered to take the camera Eddie, looking forward to seeing some pics

I took many pics and some video that will be posted on Youtube. Unfortunatly I caught a bad cold Yesterday which really knocked me out. Thats how it goes.
The show is wrapping up and Ill be in another Taxi tomorrow back to the airport. If I get see that Im going to be hit for another $100 tab Im jumping out before the driver gets a chance to catch me.

[luckydog]

call the cab company and get an estimate first, if its too high call another one!!

[Tulsa]

For that kind of money Eddie, rent a car.

[Eddie]

Just got home and the price from the hotel to the Airport? $35 bucks thats right $35 I got ripped off big time and am really... you know what. Anyway the expo was a fantastic place with the most amazingly friendly people that you can meet. Wish they would become Pachitalk members, who knows in time with me talking Pachinko and Pachislo to so many they just might come around.