Taxis
Not sure if this makes me a customer from Hell, but it must annoy them.

I make regular use of a particularly taxi service in Leeds as they're reliable, fairly cheap and are there in five minutes usually. If you happen to be in Leeds, they're called Highways. I highly recommend them.

Anyway, whenever I phone them, they answer, 'Hello, Highways'.
And I say, 'Hello, can I book a taxi please?'

What the fuck else would I be phoning a taxi company for?

I'm sure this must really piss them off, but I've thought about this for ages and I just can't come up with an alternative opening gambit that doesn't involve my need to use their taxis. I know I need a taxi, they know if I've phoned them I will be booking a taxi.

I just can't think what else to say.

May well have spent too much time worrying about this.
( Boss Keloid Got your mother's maiden name tattooed on my arm, Sat 6 Sep 2008, 10:25, 13 replies)

alternative
append your origin and destination, to save them asking. But all in all, if you're polite, it's probably favourable to the usual drunken idiots.
It probably leaves no impression upon their minds what so ever, like I always wonder about the check out staff in the supermarket analysing my shopping. Maybe those on their first day think about it, but after a week, it all turns into a blur. Same for the cab booker, I imagine...
(pins, Sat 6 Sep 2008, 10:55, closed)

It's like ordering a chinese
I phone up and say, "can I order a takeaway please?"

The chinese doesn't have a sit down area, it's only a takeaway.
(Bazongaloid, Sat 6 Sep 2008, 11:25, closed)

so whats the alternative?
ring ring...

right! spring roll, crispy duck, chicken kung po, fried rice. now!

you know where i live you caaaaaaant

slam


?


or


ring ring...

24 Acacia Avenue, Randomtown

now you caaaaaant


?
( spimf ™ is whoever you want him to be, Sat 6 Sep 2008, 11:41, closed)

i do exactly the same
I'm not sure if it pisses them off, but it does worry me they might. What else can I say though?

I'm giving them the opportunity to say "no, we've not got any taxi's for x amount of time."

i think.
(stapleface, Sat 6 Sep 2008, 14:15, closed)

my local company is automated
if you want a taxi there and then, you press 1. if you want a taxi for later, press 2. if you want a taxi to pick you up from somewhere other than where you're phoning from, they'll put you through to an actual person.
so much easier!
( Smash Monkey lowering the tone of the whole internet, Sat 6 Sep 2008, 14:45, closed)

Considering the ammount of people
that drunkenly shout down the phone, I imagine that your polite opening gambit may be a breath of fresh air to them
( willenium Fist bump for verification, Sat 6 Sep 2008, 15:51, closed)

Old student flatmate
would always ask for food with the phrase "Hi, I'd like to order some food for delivery please." in the exact same manner. Every time.

So often was this said that I could imitate him precisely and would do so when I made such calls with him present, then talk normally for the rest of the call.

Our accents aren't even remotely similar.
( Iki I think my camel is dead., Sun 7 Sep 2008, 0:27, closed)

...
having worked as a bartender/phone answerer in a pizza place that dealt mainly in deliveries, I'd say that is a nice, polite way to begin a call.

I always liked the people who'd ring up and say 'can I make a delivery?'

To which I'd answer, 'No, WE make the deliveries, you may order one.'
(little fawn, Sun 7 Sep 2008, 3:31, closed)

The original line seems good to me...
It just confirms exactly what you are calling about and starts the conversation in a pleasant and factual manner.

To say 'they are a taxi company, what else would I call about' seems silly to me. Yes the majority of people will be after a taxi, but there will still be other phoning to see how much fares cost or with other questions.

In the end, if you are pleasant and polite on the phone I can't see them being annoyed (even if it was an irritating phrase) compared to the drunken loud who phone for a taxi after a night in the pub...
(442, Sun 7 Sep 2008, 19:45, closed)

how's about
adding that you want one now, as opposed to an advance booking. It adds some purpose to your gambit while still keeping it short.

Also, I usually point out that I want a delivery when ordering food - you can pick up food from a lot of places, and they sometimes give deals to people who do so. :-)
(perfectrhys come find me on PS3., Mon 8 Sep 2008, 12:18, closed)

I've worried about this too!
Well, not really worried but it has crossed my mind.

I now use one of the following two:

1. "Hi there, could I order a taxi for (location) please?"

2. "Hi there, do you have a taxi available now?" (if it's fri/sat night and taxi company could be busy)
(gin'll fix it, Mon 8 Sep 2008, 14:47, closed)

Really don't think it's that big a deal!
Also, as far as the takeaway line goes, that makes perfect sense too. Sometimes I place an order "for collection", and trundle on down to the local Chinese 15 minutes later rather than have it delivered.

Cheers for the Leeds Taxi tip too!
(slotbadger, Tue 9 Sep 2008, 10:24, closed)

Probably the same as most....
My taxi order method goes pretty much like this.

*ringring*

"Good afternoon, [insertnamehere] taxis?"

"Hi, can I have a car to [myaddresshere] please?"

"Sure, where's it going?"

"[Destination]"

"Okay, send it round/It'll be about 5/10/20/etc minutes."

That said, it's one of those things where, despite best efforts, you'll always sound a little patronising. Kinda like calling a takeout place and asking if you can place an order.
(HomeWithTheDownies A towering inferno of penisy pleasure, Wed 10 Sep 2008, 8:04, closed)