 Guidelines, Procedures and Rules.
Always be polite to customers.
Members should wear their club badge at all times.
If you lose your badge a new one can be obtained for $1 in the club room of the Patrician's Palace. Syntax: replace insignia for taxi Donations to club funds can also be made here. It is recommended that you always check taxi history upon logging in, to see if there are any clients waiting for transport. When you get a request from someone for a taxi there are some things you should do and some things you should not.
Below is a list of what to do in different situations.
If you can do the request: Be polite and try to be quick about it; no one likes waiting. If, for some reason, you get delayed extensively (these things happen) it might affect the club's reputation and a good way of conduct is to give the taxi for free as compensation for the wait. This will most likely make the customer look more kindly on the delay and might actually make the customer prefer you for his/her taxi needs. If you are too busy for a request: Tell the customer that you're busy and can't do it, but that you will pass it on to the others in the club (see below). You should not just tell the customer no, forcing him/her to ask another member. Under no circumstances should you ignore a request hoping that the person will ask someone else! When you are unable to answer a request you should first inform the client that you are unable to take them, but you will refer them to the club channel. Then inform the channel, stating the client's name, location and destination. Aliases can be useful here, though they are not necessary. Direct contact with the client is good etiquette, but if you are in a hurry an aliased reply can be used. For example: alias taxi-ref tell $*$ I am terribly sorry, but I am unable to transport you at the moment due to being busy with other matters. I shall, however, refer your request on the club channel. Please be patient and wait for a reply. If no one takes the request after a few minutes, please repeat the referral. If you don't have the location asked for: If you have a location nearby, you could ask the customer if a taxi to there is okay instead. If it's not okay or if you don't have a nearby location, pass on the request. If a request comes across the channel which you desire to take: Immediately inform the channel of your wish to do so. It is largely a case of "First in best dressed", although whoever answered first may decide to let you take it. Once you have informed the channel, you may then contact the client. Some examples of real taxi requests are available via this link. They should give you an indication of how to handle things. If a person shouts for a Taxi.
Send them a tell informing them that it is better to use tells in order to avoid confusion. In addition to the fact that shouts can only be heard in a limited area in any case. Also inform the channel that you are taking them in case someone else also heard them, or refer them if you are busy. If a person asks several members at once in a multi-tell. Ask them to kindly ask only one person at a time so that confusion can be avoided. Inform the channel if you intend to take the client. If a failed portal spell results in a misportal, a burning door or a rumbling door. Push the door over and recast at no extra charge. The same goes for any other fail, be it the blorple forgetting the location or divine hand not working. If a player asks to be recruited into Taxi. If you are not a recruiter, direct them to this website, ask on the channel if any recruiters are on and inform the client that they will need to contact a recruiter. The recruiters are listed in the club refer. If a customer does not pay you.
Stay calm.
Scroll back and check your recent logs. You may have missed seeing the payment due to spam. The next step is to politely ask the customer whether they payed. Chances are they simply forgot and will gladly pay once reminded. If a customer flatly refuses to pay, mud-mail the club president and the vice-president informing them of the events. Logs are useful to help clarify. Repeated offences can result in a player being blacklisted from the club. Blacklisted players are banned from all taxi services. Regarding "off-duty"
Off-duty status is legal and frequently used.
Over-used in my opinion.
Generally set by means of a title changer, which can be purchased in Hillshire for A$75, off-duty means you are not taking any requests at all.
Preferably it should not be used when there are hardly any other members on and never when you are the only member on.
Preferably it should only be used when you are geunuinely unable to take a request.
Remember, if the perception is that Taxis are always off-duty, we lose customers across the board as people lose confidence in the club.
So please try and make sure that you spent at least two thirds of your time available.
Remember, being on duty does not mean you have to take every request sent your way, if you are busy you can still refer any and all requests to the channel.
Regarding grouping.
Before grouping, please consider how many other members are online and if they are already grouped. It is important to try and make sure that at least one member if available to take requests at any given time. You should also consider grouping in areas which you can portal/passage/fly to, just in case of emergencies. Grouping means you are effectively unavailable for transport, the status being akin to off-duty, but not quite so dire. Note: These grouping guidelines may be considered recommendations rather than binding law, however, you are strongly urged to follow the procedure. Too many members being unavailable has a detrimental effect on the reputation of the guild. The Guild of Taxis has no compulsory membership fee, or any other required payment.
We encourage voluntary donations to support the upkeep of the club, the clubrooms and projects such as employee of the month fees.
$20 a year from every member adds up quickly and is an easy way to give something back to the club.
It is however, entirely up to you.
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Ancient Elanor the Wise
Vice-President
19/06/09 |