In Reply to: What to pay driver posted by Pumpkinella on Saturday, 2. February 2008 at 06:13 Bali Time:
it has been discussed several times before.
I think usually around the driver stating his rate up front though.
Not as in your case. I would probably rectify this.
350-450,000Rp appears the going rate for a full day. ( 8 hours perhaps )
I pay 70k for an airport pick up to Legian for eg. Ill pay more if I need to go via a supermarket to the hotel. Or tip a bit extra if there has been a long Airport wait for him. (Plus he has to hear my 20 thousand excited words in the car enroute.)
If a driver quotes say 200,250, you may think you have a bargain but he is more likely to look for "commissions" enroute to make up costs as fuel as risen in Bali many are not owner/drivers and there is the normal vehicle costs to cover. Others I have read are asking the very high prices but not necessarily providing the service you require.
400k equates to around $50AUS and any variances of 50k is $5. So its a good idea to keep the cost in prospective.
Always have room to tip a driver if you receive good service, or just pay the agreed or basic price if the service was average.
Our first driver we were recommended to by a fellow hotel guest. We learnt we had paid a real minimum, including the fact that we got side tracked to "commissionable" places, the air con never worked at all. We soon learnt you get what you pay for at times.
Lastly I feel sorry in part as to what drivers have to put up with.
Mine told me that one customer he had for a week booking - but after 3 days he cancelled the agreement. The full day rate booking had turned into something else - 8am pick up - all day - then wait for them to have dinner and bar nightlife - after 12pm he was getting home to bed. No extra tip, customer just whinged the whole time about anything and everything.