Taxi in Narva has become cheaper: who declared a price war to whom
Last week, the cost of taxi by Narva decreased from three and a half euros to three. This news seemed amazing, but turned out to be true. NG tried to figure out what forced the Narva taxi firms to reduce prices and how it would affect customers and drivers.
On the verge of common sense
The information that the taxi will become cheaper, because the leaders of the taxofirm have agreed on this among themselves, appeared in the Narva communities on Facebook and caused a stormy discussion. Opinions in the comments were divided: someone was delighted with reducing the price of travel, and someone wondered what taxi drivers could now earn. The reasons for such changes remained incomprehensible to many.
“This is a pricing war, because a powerful BOLT company came to the market. They have more opportunities, so they are engaged in dumping – they displace from the market everyone who was present on it. We tried to communicate, wrote letters, came to contact. At first they said that they needed only 15% of the market, but even then it was clear that this was not true. Now they have strengthened, gained staff and clientele and are trying to dictate the conditions. Two weeks ago, they reduced prices, held a promotion during which the Narva trip generally cost 2.70. To try to stay in the market, we also reduced prices. It’s hard for us to fight with such a giant, but we are trying, ”Stanislav Pakhomov, head of IDA Takso, told the NG journalist.
According to the entrepreneur, now for three euros by a Bolt taxi you can drive not only on Narva, but also out of town. However, from these three euros, almost half of the taxi driver is deducted: 20% of the amount of the trip takes Bolt, you still need to pay tax to the state, and taking into account gasoline and depreciation of the machine, a person works a minus. Some drivers rent the car and must pay for it. There are more investments than income, because of which, according to Stanislav Pakhomov, traffic safety may suffer, because taxi drivers will not be able to support their vehicles in proper condition.
“In IDA Takso, all drivers have FIE, we do not take a percentage of the trip, but our company pay the so -called subscription fee. So the driver has an incentive to work, because the more he works, the more he will receive, not forgetting, of course, about the rest, so that it is safe. Our situation is more profitable, Bolt also understand this. We think about our employees, many have been working with us for more than a dozen years, they can live fully, change cars. In addition, our taxi drivers underwent vocational training, went to first aid courses and know the rules of passenger transportation and customer service. And any person can register in Bolt, ”says Stanislav Pakhomov.
He hopes that the reduction of the cost will be temporary, and common sense will win.
Demand and supply balance
The NG request about the reasons for reducing prices in BOLT replied that the company operates in constantly changing market conditions, and the number of trips to Narva was reduced in comparison with the same period last year.
“We need to revive the market and balance demand and supply. Driver income directly depends on the number of trips: the more trips, the higher the hourly rates and the quality of service. At the same time, we know that for customers the most important thing is the price of the service. We made adjustments so that the cost of the trip was more attractive, the number of trips on the platform increased, and the quality of drivers’ service increased, ”said NG, head of the passenger transportation department of Bolt Oscar Mamy.
He noted that the BOLT team constantly monitors and analyzes the market situation and statistics of trips, if necessary, makes adjustments to the pricing model.
But the Narvityan Sergey, who has been working in Soprade Takso, believes that a decrease in the price of a trip does not have to increase demand, because people often use a taxi service as necessary. And this will adversely affect taxi drivers after increasing excise taxes on fuel and gas. In addition, in his opinion, the Customer Narva and Bolt taxofirs are different (ordering a taxi in the application is convenient for young people, and by phone – to the elderly), so it makes no sense to focus on each other.
In the comments on the post on the cost of a taxi cost of taxi, someone offered taxi drivers to oppose and set their tariffs, someone complained that the Comfort of the Narva taxis left much to be desired, and accordingly it costs a little money, and someone suggested that you just leave a tip as much as possible. By the way, the taxi driver Sergei also noted the trend that some Narvites, knowing about the reduction in value, still continue to pay three and a half euros from the desire to support taxi drivers.
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