Comments on: A guide to getting ripped off without losing your dignity

By: Andy Jarosz

Andy Jarosz — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 16:39:25 +0000

Thank you Gwen – it’s good to laugh about these things now and I hope I remember this incident if I’m ever faced with a similar one in the future (I guess I’m bound to be!)

By: Gwen McCauley

Gwen McCauley — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 13:03:28 +0000

Hi Andy – Great story. And that’s exactly the kind of blooper I have a tendency to pull! good for you for standing your ground, however. And thanks for starting my day off with a nice chuckle.

By: Andy Jarosz

Andy Jarosz — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 20:43:57 +0000

Thanks for sharing Leila. You’re quite right, it’s a different story where safety is your no.1 concern, especially as a woman travelling alone.

By: Leila

Leila — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 16:36:24 +0000

You know, that’s not so easy when you’re alone, a woman, at night, in a totally dark street, with no clue of where you are (in Prague), and the taxi driver looks like a mobster. Of course I knew in advance I would be ripped off (it happens in my city also, unfortunately), but I that guy looked like a convicted felon, I swear. It took the next morning, the sun light and a map, and finally, my leaving town to find out how much it cost me. Of course, I love myself more, and I was glad to get rid of the mobster.

By: Andy Jarosz

Andy Jarosz — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:34:14 +0000

Thanks for sharing the story Pradeep. Must have been sweet to beat him. We’ve fallen foul of the snacks at the table trick too. I guess they expect that most people won’t kick up a fuss. Mentioning the police usually does the trick.

By: Pradeep

Pradeep — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 12:53:46 +0000

If I need to be taken to a hotel. I usually ask the driver to wait so that I get my money from the hotel room or friend or whatever. Once inside the hotel, I ask the reception what the proper bill should be. Worst case, the reception talks to the driver and mostly that’s the end of the discussion.

My Girlfriend and myself once decided to stop at a street cafe during a walking tour of Porto. The waiter put a plate of snacks on the table (without ordering) and we thought that is the standard welcome plate. We took a bit and ordered 2 Cappuccinos. As they gave us a bill of 17 Euros, we looked at each other, discussed, if we let them rip us off or decide to go ahead and make fools of ourselves. Well, we called the waiter over and asked him to explain the bill. This guy tried to impress by being impatient, so we asked him to get his boss. He said no, so I got a bit louder and asked him to get the police as we won’t be paying. Then the boss came over. Resulting bill: 4 Euros and something! When we were getting up, I grabbed afew pieces of snacks , then looked at the waiter, smiled at him politely and left him a one Euro coin .
It was a wonderful day

By: Andy Jarosz

Andy Jarosz — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 22:49:30 +0000

Many thanks Barbara and Alex. Yes, I bet he was surprised at how hardnosed my bargaining technique was: but not half as surprised as I was

By: @AlexBerger

@AlexBerger — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 21:49:22 +0000

Now that’s parganing for ya. Starting at 1 and working your way up =p

Definitely always frustrating. I try and avoid the hassle, by agreeing on the approximate price before i ever get into the cab. It’s definitely more difficult if you’re in a feeder line, but even then it can be helpful.

By: Barbara at Hole in the Donut Travels

Barbara at Hole in the Donut Travels — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 20:48:23 +0000

Ha! I think he got what he deserved – wonder how he liked having the tables turned on him. Great story. I always try to keep my cool & keep things in perspective, but when I fail, I fail spectacularly! Guess just means we’re human.