What happens when you take a ride from one of the people walking around the taxi stands offering discounts in China?
According to some family friends who live in China, there are a number of things that can happen to you if you take a cab ride from touts: • Nothing – The cab driver may not be a part of the union, so they can pass on the savings in the form of a cheaper price than unionized cab drivers. Thus, you get a discounted cab ride. But because they are not “official,” they need someone/some way to grab the attention of potential customers, hence the touts/themselves. • Be overcharged – While not exclusive to just cabs with touts, you may be taken on a joyride. Tourists and out-of-towners are most likely to take the bait. Because these group of people do not know their way around the city, cab drivers might take a roundabout way. As a result, you’ll be overcharged in the end. Best advice to avoid being overcharged would be to ask a local approximately how much a cab ride would cost to your destination. Similarly, always be sure to ask for the meter to be turned on. If they shy away from doing s
