Chiang Mai’s red cars boiling mad at Grab

[jany123]

17 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Korn Karnganokporn, representing the Chiang Mai public carrier rights advocacy association,

Interesting name for the mafia cabbie association.... I get the “Chiangmai” and “association” parts, but I’m not too sure about the rest, ????

[Galactus]

16 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Grab is an excellent service...  the industry needs to evolve. 

 

But, the outstanding issue is that of licensing - Taxi Drivers and 'Red Car' drivers have to pay for a license to operate - it is this which make the competition unfair. 

 

IF Grab Drivers had to also pay for a license to operate the playing field would be even. 

Or, even better so, eradicate the Graf - why charge people to pay for a license to operate Taxi or Red car, but then also take measures to ensure the Taxi's and Red Cars are fully insured to carry passengers.

 

I can see how this is a little unfair for the Red Car drivers, but I have little sympathy given their aggressive and gang-like behavior, also doubt they are fully legal themselves. 

 

grab is a half Singaporean company damaging the lives of locals.

It offers illegal services too and basically this is illegal both to offer and also to use.

I always wonder how all those law abiding farang supporting illegal services provided by a foreign found and based company!

Those red trucks or taxis pay lots of money for registration, plate, car and more.

Not like a grab car guy who only needs a 5 years old car and start this illegal service without any investment.

 

On top of this, Grab is expensive and believe me, once they create a monopoly by bankrupting and damaging other legit transport systems, they will increase their prices harder!

Then you all farang will start to cry and moan and b///ch but there will be no solution.

In many countries, such illegal services like grab car are banned. and for a reason.

Same happened with hotel booking sites like agoda.com. i was criticizing agoda and all farang was finding their services so convenient and cheap.

But now? all hotel prices in asia and around the world have risen bc of those hotel booking websites!

 

Just wake up you morons and dont support a capitalist foreign owned and founded company and support locals instead.

 

I am hoping the authorities start to go for a crackdown on grab car and also start to fine people using them.

I am sure easy to get the records of people and also driver from grab by police, with a simple court order.

 

 

[ThomasThBKK]

1 hour ago, catch104 said:

YEs, exactly, Taxi should have application that give the same convenience as Grab. I was discussing this point with a taxi driver during my last ride home from Donmuang Airport. Convinience is the key. Fair competition also should be. And frankly speaking, meter rate in Thailand is way too low. This is one of the main reasons taxi will try to cheat. HOw can they make a living especially with the drop arrival in Thailand. My taxi driver told me that arrival is so low than now he has to wait minimum 3 hours to get client at airport...

they have, it's called grabtaxi: https://www.grab.com/th/en/transport/taxi/

and they even have it for the red cars too lol it's called GrabRodDaeng, so no idea what those brainiacs are whining about except that they cant ripoff customers that way

 

You can choose it, then u get a normal real taxi or red car. u pay 30 baht i think booking fee (for normal taxi) and the rest is using the meter of the taxi.

[malibukid]

little boys, half the time they will not stop for you and the other half they will take you in a impromptu tour of the city before delivering you to your destination, if they can understand you in the first place

[malibukid]

16 hours ago, mok199 said:

Bring back the rickshaw..

ban cars and bring back the rickshaws

[ThomasThBKK]

12 minutes ago, Galactus said:

 

grab is a half Singaporean company damaging the lives of locals.

It offers illegal services too and basically this is illegal both to offer and also to use.

I always wonder how all those law abiding farang supporting illegal services provided by a foreign found and based company!

Those red trucks or taxis pay lots of money for registration, plate, car and more.

Not like a grab car guy who only needs a 5 years old car and start this illegal service without any investment.

 

On top of this, Grab is expensive and believe me, once they create a monopoly by bankrupting and damaging other legit transport systems, they will increase their prices harder!

Then you all farang will start to cry and moan and b///ch but there will be no solution.

In many countries, such illegal services like grab car are banned. and for a reason.

Same happened with hotel booking sites like agoda.com. i was criticizing agoda and all farang was finding their services so convenient and cheap.

But now? all hotel prices in asia and around the world have risen bc of those hotel booking websites!

 

Just wake up you morons and dont support a capitalist foreign owned and founded company and support locals instead.

 

I am hoping the authorities start to go for a crackdown on grab car and also start to fine people using them.

I am sure easy to get the records of people and also driver from grab by police, with a simple court order.

 

 

 

LOL.

 

Boycot the foreigners or what? Like boycotting the jews in 1940?

 

Stop driving any car here then, they are all from foreign companies. And stop using the internet.

Why would i give a shat if a company is owned by a foreigner or a thai, what a load of <deleted>.

Stop supporting capitalist companies?

What are we in communism here, i might have missed that briefing... 

[johnnysunshine]

What about banning the red trucks because they are adding more pollution to an over-polluted city already!

[friend of siam]

15 hours ago, Inn Between said:

As usual, the sword is double-sided.  In a population with so much poverty, opportunities for people to casually improve their financial situation by doing things like driving for Grab should be welcome by the gov't. At the same time, if the transportation industry is glutted with so many people offering their services, nobody can make a decent living, that won't work either. 

 

I wouldn't want to be the ones trying to regulate and sort this all out. Either way, a LOT of people are going to be unhappy. 

so much poverty ???? do u speak about thailand 2019??? the thailand i know most people have two houses, latest iphones and two cars I wouldn't like to effort.... kids in private schools, top restaurants ,and on every corner a luxury shopping mall...etc...

yes there is some poverty but in the last twenty years situation approved dramaticaly...wanna talk about so much poverty talk about europe ... greek....england....germany...1 euro jobs....but dont talk about thailand..spore...hk...japan...s.korea...

 

 

yes europe ( on the maximal decline quickly and cerain ) africa or bangladesch..but sure not thailand...the thailand 1980/1990 agree but not Thailand 2019

[spidermike007]

Older, antiquated, overpriced, and traditional forms of transportation, and businesses hate competition. Especially when their in house mafias have ensured them a monopoly for decades. No more. Things are changing, and you cannot hold back progress. Away with the turtles and the traditionalists, and in with the progressives. Live with it! 

[Jack P]

16 hours ago, genobkk said:

They are supposed to be used more like buses on routes for that they are fine, but early on they learnt how to rip off tourists.  Grab is very over priced in places like Pattaya and Phuket and certainly needs some regulations but why on earth would someone want to way 400 THB to ride 1 KlM in the back of a pickup truck?  This is 2019, not 1949

If it’s “over priced”, then people either won’t use it or a competitor will offer the service for less. But if people are using the service and it’s a well functioning business, then it can’t really be said to be over priced.

[Totoandlilly]

4 hours ago, cmsally said:

Isn't there a choice of GRAB and GRAB ROT DAENG on the app?

So some red truck drivers do go through GRAB I presume.

The songtaews are licensed as they all have yellow plates. It seems that GRAB cars are not licensed to take passengers and therefore paying passengers would not be covered under their insurance if they got into an accident.

If you are in a accident with grab the insurance cover the passenger, when my gf applied to be a grab driver she had to prove she had a drivers and the car is insured, the whole process with the training, documentation etc took well over 2 weeks, grabcars have to be in a decent standard, and of the money the driver make 25% goes to the grab company.

 

grab is legal all over asean and it seems to be that people prefer grab because of convenience and safety.

 

Let people choose what they want to use.

[SS1]

Those <deleted>ty red cars belong to the junkyard. 

[malibukid]

5 hours ago, hotchilli said:

In some cases it's Thais doing the only job they're capable of doing (just) driving a pick-up.

it's the only way they can generate an income, along comes a new generation of up-to date Grab taxis, that you can pre-order on the internet and you have competition... something we all know Thais detest.

Some say it's taxi mafia protecting it's monopoly, others say it's operators too lazy to up-date to the modern requirements of customer service... it's a bit of both.

Let the customer choose.... and then let the taxis evolve or stay the same.. some like a cheap ride up the road, others want the extra's  lets keep a service for both !

i use Grab and still use Songthews occasionally out of sympathy.  i feel sorry for them and understand that they have fallen on hard times.

[bronzedude]

I used Grab in Phnom Penh recently and found it to be an excellent, reliable, quick service. They were always 50% less than street tuk tuks. Although whenever I said that I would just get a grab, the street tuk tuk always relented for the half price charge. I just tested my Grab app to see how much a 2k ride would be in Jomtien. It came out 190bt. The same ride I took in a pickup taxi recently for 200bt. A 5% discount is still a discount. I hope Grab catches on here in Thailand, the competition will weed out the lazy, unscrupulous taxi mob that already exists.

[Steve Mepham]

1 hour ago, Totoandlilly said:

If you are in a accident with grab the insurance cover the passenger, when my gf applied to be a grab driver she had to prove she had a drivers and the car is insured, the whole process with the training, documentation etc took well over 2 weeks, grabcars have to be in a decent standard, and of the money the driver make 25% goes to the grab company.

 

grab is legal all over asean and it seems to be that people prefer grab because of convenience and safety.

 

Let people choose what they want to use.

I used Grab a few times in Pattaya, in talking to the Drivers, mostly female, they are not licensed in any way and informed me they were caught in road blocks from time to time and fined. therefore unless Insurance Companies in Thailand are completely different to the rest of the world then they are uninsured. 

 

I have no time for the Taxi Mafia that operates in Pattaya, wanting only to work for Farangs off the meter, but being carried in an uninsured unlicensed vehicle is very risky. I also find it hard to believe that Grab can run an all singing all dancing insurance policy that covers ALL RISKS for anybody being carried in a vehicle ordered on their App, the costs would be astronomical.

 

 

[ThomasThBKK]

8 minutes ago, Steve Mepham said:

I also find it hard to believe that Grab can run an all singing all dancing insurance policy that covers ALL RISKS for anybody being carried in a vehicle ordered on their App, the costs would be astronomical.

 

Why would they, in the real world it works like this:

 

You get your personal transport license, passing a test at a government facility, takes no more than a day

You get your business vehicle insurance, like every other limousine driver - AOT comes to mind

 

Now you are allowed to transport people from A to B - every chauffeur has to do this, best example an AOT driver or one of the other 1000 minivan companies.

 

Grab and co can easily check this paperwork, it's a non issue in a functioning country.

 

[shocky2012]

I think some people confuse red cars with tuk-tuk.

Ive been in CNX since 2012 and never had any problems with the red songtaew. Usually you pay around 20-30 bahts to go around the moat. I actually took one yesterday at 20:00 from Central Festival to Loi Kroh for 120 bahts (he initially charged me 30 bahts but i couldnt wait so he let me go 1 person for 120b). Another instance was a ride from Arcade Bus Station to Business Park THEN to Loi Kroh for 200 bahts (for 1 person) which is quite reasonable IMO. I dont think they have the best civilized approach in terms of getting customers but i wouldnt go as far as saying that theyre ripping people (at least from my experience).

Tuk-tuk on the other hand have been trying to scam people left and right for years. I remember two years ago a tuk-tuk offered me to go from Zoe Yellow to Central Festival for 800 bahts lmao. However, they did reduce their prices recently (probably because of the pressure theyre getting from competition such as Grab) and now to go from Arcade bus station to Nimman would be around 150 bahts while a Grab (depending on the time of the day) would be around 110 bahts. 

My best advice for people visiting would be to try to learn some thais words (dont need a whole lot, just a few that you can speak with confidence) and when you actually get a tuk-tuk/red car just tell them in thai where you want to go (that way it will show them that youre not a complete clueless of Thailand and that you have some knowledge/experience) and that way they wont try to charge you as high.

With that being said, i use Grab everyday though and never had any problems. Very fast, friendly (overall), convenient and cheap. 

[Redline]

All Grab drivers should have a background check, a reasonable license fee, and proper insurance~problem solved

[Alex2554]

 

GrabCar is the standard unlicensed car service offered by Grab.

Now everyone can be a taxi driver and everyone can be a "hotel" owner using airbnb.

Incompetent people do a job they fail to deliver.

What next - onine surgery or maybe selfmade online policemen?

 

[AAArdvark]

I live in CM and use Grab at least 10 time a week.  I have never paid over ฿100 for a trip and the prices are always consistent with the same trip being the same price.  The other night I was waiting to get a Grab and I could not locate it.  I was surprised to find the car was actually a Taxi Meter car.  Grab in CM has always been cheaper than the back breaking Tuk Tuks.  I also use the ฿20 city bus in CM if I am not in a hurry.  At 3 AM or so in the rain, Grab is always the better way to go.  The other advantage is that if you choose to, you don't have to have cash. It can just be charged to your preferred payment method. 

[shocky2012]

50 minutes ago, Alex2554 said:

 

GrabCar is the standard unlicensed car service offered by Grab.

Now everyone can be a taxi driver and everyone can be a "hotel" owner using airbnb.

Incompetent people do a job they fail to deliver.

What next - onine surgery or maybe selfmade online policemen?

 

How is Grab failing to deliver?
Looking at their growth over the last year or so, it seems like theyre definitely doing something right.
Dont u think? 

[kaneko86]

Of course Grab drivers can offer cheaper prices. They operate without a licence which has a cost to get and as they are illegal anyway they also don't have to pay taxes. 

I am curious what would happen in case you have an accident in one of those cars...

I am not against Grab, it is basically a good idea and it's just natural evolution of the job but they have to comply with rules and regulations and therefore employ cars and taxis that have a licence. 

They can offer their price and I am sure they will find taxis working for them as they are actually more expensive than the normal price (if the red car doesn't rip you off).

Taxis in Bangkok and Chiang Mai are actually ridiculously cheap (Pattaya and Phuket not but that's another issue) and it's funny how people don't complain to pay a 1000 baht bill in a bar but than complain to pay the taxi driver who has to wait around until 2 am just to bring drunken people home for mere 60 baht. 

[Postmaster]

Aren't these Songteaws ?  Why call them 'Red Cars' ?  They are buses not cars.

[ThomasThBKK]

1 hour ago, kaneko86 said:

Of course Grab drivers can offer cheaper prices. They operate without a licence which has a cost to get and as they are illegal anyway they also don't have to pay taxes. 

I am curious what would happen in case you have an accident in one of those cars...

I am not against Grab, it is basically a good idea and it's just natural evolution of the job but they have to comply with rules and regulations and therefore employ cars and taxis that have a licence. 

They can offer their price and I am sure they will find taxis working for them as they are actually more expensive than the normal price (if the red car doesn't rip you off).

Taxis in Bangkok and Chiang Mai are actually ridiculously cheap (Pattaya and Phuket not but that's another issue) and it's funny how people don't complain to pay a 1000 baht bill in a bar but than complain to pay the taxi driver who has to wait around until 2 am just to bring drunken people home for mere 60 baht. 

1) grab isn't cheaper

2) of course they need to pay taxes, like everyone else who earns money. ???? What do you think how much taxes am average taxi driver pays here ????

2) licenses cost nothing, this isn't new york

3) normal taxis drive too on grab 

4) if u have an accident in a red car or tuktuk ur brain gets prolly scattered all over the street, that's what happens. Lol what do u think happens if u hire a tuktuk and it crashes in a car? U win thr lottery? 

5) what are you even talking about, people LOVE grab because they don't get ripped off, that's it

6) couldn't be bothered to hire a taxi at night, they don't want to drive one anyway in bangkok 

[bristolgeoff]

grab provides a better cheaper service even some smart thais are changing to those jobs for driving jobs instead of the red songtow.they were a mafia of transport for a long time along with tuk tuks in cm.now they don,t like it and a fair price is charged.

[jackdd]

2 hours ago, kaneko86 said:

I am curious what would happen in case you have an accident in one of those cars...

- Most of these cars used by Grab drivers are quite new, which means most of them will have class 1 insurance. This would of course not be valid because it was used commercially, but if you and the driver just say that you are friends, they will pay.

- When driving with Grab you are insured through Grab: https://www.grab.com/th/en/press/others/english-grab-provides-free-personal-accident-insurance-for-passengers-and-drivers/

I'm quite sure both of these insurances have more coverage than any insurance which a "rod daeng" or a tuktuk would have, a car is obviously also way safer. So if i should ever be involved in an accident i hope i will be sitting in a Grab car.

[Alex2554]

Those who defend their job opportunity from unfair competitors are taxi mafia.

Those who defend $15/hr minimal wage are trade union.

Double standards

 

[ThomasThBKK]

14 minutes ago, Alex2554 said:

Those who defend their job opportunity from unfair competitors are taxi mafia.

Those who defend $15/hr minimal wage are trade union.

Double standards

 

That's like complaining that pizza deliveries on foodpanda are unfair to the local restaurant who refuses to sign up there.

[ZeVonderBearz]

Ok, say I live close to central festival and want to go Nimman. How do I do that with a red car? It will take a long time and a lot of hassle. Ok, sample question with grab. Answer, I book the taxi on the app, they turn up, I hop in and away we go. 15 minutes after I'm at my destination. If there's no grab I'm not suddenly going to start to using tuk tuks and red cars.

[kaneko86]

1 hour ago, ThomasThBKK said:

1) grab isn't cheaper

They can offer their price and I am sure they will find taxis working for them as they are actually more expensive than the normal price - copied from my first comment

1 hour ago, ThomasThBKK said:

2) of course they need to pay taxes, like everyone else who earns money. ???? What do you think how much taxes am average taxi driver pays here ????

Hahaha is this sarcastic?

Surely the average taxi pays more than a grabcar who works completely in black and could be charged for that if he pays 1 satang as tax

 

1 hour ago, ThomasThBKK said:

 

2) licenses cost nothing, this isn't new york

 

Prove please. Well than what's the problem for the grab car drivers to get one. 

 

1 hour ago, ThomasThBKK said:

3) normal taxis drive too on grab 

 

Yes it's called grab taxi but the problem is grabcar.

 

1 hour ago, ThomasThBKK said:

5) what are you even talking about, people LOVE grab because they don't get ripped off, that's it

If you ask the fare in advance and agree or use meter than where is the rip off? 

 

1 hour ago, ThomasThBKK said:

6) couldn't be bothered to hire a taxi at night, they don't want to drive one anyway in bangkok 

? Plenty around