Delhi Travel Answers

The access to cottage industries is not blocked. Where he dropped you is about 100 yars from where the real storie is. I smell scam.

Just because taxi drivers say they 'know' where something is, it most certainly doesn't mean they actually know. He simply may have brought you to the closest thing he knew/was given directions to.

Well, the shop he took you to did have a sign that said Cottage Industries. :-) There are similar shops in Mumbai - the "real" one and fakes. It doesn't sound to me that this was a scam. Of course....you never know. I would certainly mention it to the host company.

It's not quite a scam, but a pretty common practice by Indian taxi drivers. They get kickbacks from some shops for delivering tourists to them (naturally, these are private shops, not the state-owned ones), and they will do everything short of handcuffing you and dragging you down the street to bring you to those shops. If you have no other choice or don't know the difference between the shop you wanted and the one you've been brought to, you may get sucked into the store you don't want to visit, but you're certainly not obligated to buy anything. This has happened to me once or twice--it's aggravating, but you're not actually out any money (except the cab fare to the wrong place, I suppose). For that reason I resist using the word "scam."

The reason I used word "scam" is because some tour guides/taxi drivers prefer to drop people where they get a 10% fee. . . . I hope this was a genuine mistake by the driver.

I would dearly like to get a photo of that shop next to the Deutsche Bank, to see how their sign duped us. Pity that Google Street View doesn't cover Delhi.

Maybe an e-mail to the real shop will get their response regarding their "copy" from further up the road. . . . . . . .

No Gerald, it was not a mistake. Like it or not this is a huge part of the worldwide tourist industry, that involves taking tourists to places that provide an incentive. It is difficult to criticize people that are eeking out a living, for trying to supplement their income.

I was no different, although, I had a personal code/rule, that dictated that whereever I lead them had to be to quality merchandise/services. EVERYONE everywhere on the planet does this. It is a part of the process. My rule basically was that, - I will seperate them from their last dollar, - but when they get home, they will feel that they got their money's worth. Simple, but to the point.

Where it differs is in people's personal integrity. I made less money, because of my rule, but greed is not high on my list of personal traits. I did not like the idea of a person who trusted my judgement, finding out three months after returning home that I recommended a place that sold them a piece of sh*t, so I did not do that. I wanted them to think three months down the line, - that my word was indeed a good one.

My various "10%" throughout the world, were a main reason I was able to do the job, and have a decent life doing it. It simply is. Anytime someone starts the "but you get paid for your job, why should I add to that....", they can take a long flying leap off a short pier.

I understand when a person realizes that they may have been bamboozeled, by a cab driver, tour guide, or similar, - you want to strike back. But as it is with so many other situations, - if one is taken for a ride, - it is almost always due to lack of diligence on the part of the tourist.

Tourists are always the fish out of water. Most of them however refuse to believe that their judgement is impared because of it. And therein lies the ease with which some folks get seperated from their money. As such, they look for assurance and re-assurance. It is my job to see to it that their assurance needs are not an issue. It is also my job to make them so happy and satisfied with my services, that they go home and tell their friends. My success was reflected in the number of those "friends" that specifically chose a tour where I was the leader.

Don't get me wrong Gerald, I understand the frustration, but it is one of those situations where one simply steps back, reflects, and then moves on. Place this experience next to all the times where other taxi drivers, guides and such people that make a trip memorable, that have had a positive impact on your travels. Surely there miust be plenty of them, and if there are not, - then you are simply in the extreme minority who finds fault with everything other people do. For that kind of person, there is no help. But you ain't one of those Gerald, - is you...?...........d:o)

Donna_in_India wrote:

Well, the shop he took you to did have a sign that said Cottage Industries. :-) There are similar shops in Mumbai - the "real" one and fakes. It doesn't sound to me that this was a scam. Of course....you never know. I would certainly mention it to the host company.I agree with Donna......probably an honest misunderstanding

I agree with Donna........probably an honest mistake.
Maybe the directions given by the host were 'lost on translation'

It is normal to be scammed by taxi drivers, particularly in larger cities where new guest houses open up with same names as well established ones to attract misinformed customers. It happened to me more than once.

It happens, sure. Is it common? Possibly. But I don't think I'd say it's "normal".

David I have been to India 7 times, oftem on my own. I have not once been 'scammed' by a taxi driver. Very often they SAY that they know where I want to go, and then have to ask for directions from other taxi or autorickshaw drivers- however, I do not consider that to be a scam.

Odinnthor wrote:

No Gerald, it was not a mistake. Like it or not this is a huge part of the worldwide tourist industry, that involves taking tourists to places that provide an incentive. It is difficult to criticize people that are eeking out a living, for trying to supplement their income.

I was no different, although, I had a personal code/rule, that dictated that whereever I lead them had to be to quality merchandise/services. EVERYONE everywhere on the planet does this. It is a part of the process. My rule basically was that, - I will seperate them from their last dollar, - but when they get home, they will feel that they got their money's worth. Simple, but to the point.

Where it differs is in people's personal integrity. I made less money, because of my rule, but greed is not high on my list of personal traits. I did not like the idea of a person who trusted my judgement, finding out three months after returning home that I recommended a place that sold them a piece of sh*t, so I did not do that. I wanted them to think three months down the line, - that my word was indeed a good one.

My various "10%" throughout the world, were a main reason I was able to do the job, and have a decent life doing it. It simply is. Anytime someone starts the "but you get paid for your job, why should I add to that....", they can take a long flying leap off a short pier.

I understand when a person realizes that they may have been bamboozeled, by a cab driver, tour guide, or similar, - you want to strike back. But as it is with so many other situations, - if one is taken for a ride, - it is almost always due to lack of diligence on the part of the tourist.

Tourists are always the fish out of water. Most of them however refuse to believe that their judgement is impared because of it. And therein lies the ease with which some folks get seperated from their money. As such, they look for assurance and re-assurance. It is my job to see to it that their assurance needs are not an issue. It is also my job to make them so happy and satisfied with my services, that they go home and tell their friends. My success was reflected in the number of those "friends" that specifically chose a tour where I was the leader.

Don't get me wrong Gerald, I understand the frustration, but it is one of those situations where one simply steps back, reflects, and then moves on. Place this experience next to all the times where other taxi drivers, guides and such people that make a trip memorable, that have had a positive impact on your travels. Surely there miust be plenty of them, and if there are not, - then you are simply in the extreme minority who finds fault with everything other people do. For that kind of person, there is no help. But you ain't one of those Gerald, - is you...?...........d:o)

@Lynnehanamman, i was talking about taxi drivers throughout the world, not just India. I was never scammed by an Indian taxi driver, but once i was scammed by the tuk tuk r[driver. We arrived at Vanarasi and wanted to go to Shanti Lodge and we told him that it was near the Golden Temple but he took us to another one of the same name.!!!---that was the incident i was actually referring to. Perhaps i should not use the word 'normal' but it does happen.

Of course Lynne it entirely possible if not most likely, that this instance was an honest mistake on the driver's part. And yes of course i have had many a taxi driver tell me he knew what I meant, when I knew he didn't. That is about level of competence as a taxi driver.

If a taxi driver works his trade in a city where tourist "steering" is commonplace, then the mistakes like described above are made by the less competent drivers. Make no mistake in such a city one better get with the program or the family does not eat.

I of course see nothing wriong with steering, if it is done in a spirit of win win, whereas the client gets exactly what he wants, and I make a bit on the side. Problem is, not everyone is willing to play by that code. Self respect is cheap these days.

..........and that is too bad.

I have always operated with the intent of fulfilling the fantasies of far off places garnered in childhood.....and making sure that those clients are not scammed or taken for a ride in any way along the way. So when I make sure that they get what they wanted at a fair price, no one should fault me for getting paid for it. If everyone is satisfied, I don't see a problem?

As far as the location in question (India), frankly, I have found less corrupt driver/guides there than most other places. Further, I am of the opinion, that India's private/driver/guides and taxi/driver/guides in general are some of the very best in the world, - overall. That does not mean I did not come across some eh unpleasant situations from time to time, but not enough for me to point a finger at the country itself.

After returning home to a decent PC and Google, I tried to figure why my colleague recommended the Cottage Industries in Jan Path so highly. He had written the name and address on a note for us, and we showed this to the driver who said that he knew it and took us to the building directly. Now, with the benefit of Google, I can see that we should have gone to Central Cottage Industries Emporium, a semi-government outfit, with a high reputation on Tripadvisor, etc. http://www.cottageemporium.in/

We were certainly duped by the similar name of another shop in the same road nearer to Connaught Place. I believe that this smallish shop is guilty of intentionally misleading the public who are walking down Jan Path from Connaught, looking for Cottage Industries on the left side. (I lean towards the taxi driver being innocent)

On Tripadvisor, etc. I couldn't find any warning of the "fake" shop, and I suspect a number of reviewers did not reach the real Central Cottage Industries Emporium.

I have put an e-mail to the real shop, telling of our experience. But I reckon they are quite aware that they have a copy outfit up the road and they don't need to hear it from me.

Yes Erik- I agree.

Arrived late on this discussion but want to add my two-penny bit.
Cottage Industries in Delhi is a very well known address. Nobody who lives in Delhi, esp. taxi drivers, would be ignorant about the EXACT location of the REAL Cottage Industries, esp. if the person who wants to go there is obviously a foreigner/not a resident of Delhi. The Cottage Industries shifted to its mutli-storied location more than a decade ago. Earlier, it was in a cavernous building nearer to Connaught Circus (CP) on the left side of the street as you face CP.

Hi Anil, thanks for the feedback.

You're welcome, Gerald!

In Delhi, not only at Jan Path (the shops will be close 'Jeevan Bharati' building--a red colored (14 storeyed!)), but also you could find many emporiums organized by many states in India near Shivaji Bus-stand Stadium, and Gurudwara, and also many places. u can find help from tourist offices too.

i too agree with you. As me too experienced to get cheating with Delhi Taxi. Being a Indian also they try to steal money , not comfort taxies. The place where you mentioned is local Bazar , helps to steal at easiest way for vallets and mobiles.