Being ripped off

[dilmah]

In case you're unaware -- credit card transactions are not free for a merchant or taxi driver.
Many merchants just choose to swallow these fees (instead of passing onto customers) because accepting credit cards boosts sales and reduces burden of handling cash

 

[Silvie]

You should have asked me where the taxi stand is ay the airport or should have simply followed the big “ground transportation/taxi stop” signs before exiting the airport

 

[Iznogud]

If you haven't been ripped off here or there at some point in your life it only means eithwr you haven't been on this planet long enough or you are missing some of the fun.

It is said "live and learn" for a reason.

Awareness is important and now information flows in many new ways, like this board, for example.
There's also a difference between a local, born and raised, a transplanted with many degrees of environment familiarization and finally the FNG, the tourist with an aura much different from anything else around. The Ultimate Sucker.
We've all been there and realized that with each category there's always a price to pay. Some things are unavoidable, even if you are beforewarned and prepared.

So, stop whinning and complaining, enjoy and learn from the experience and move on.
There's a long line of schmucks behind you waiting for their turn.

Iz

 

[Traveler]

If you haven't been ripped off here or there at some point in your life it only means eithwr you haven't been on this planet long enough or you are missing some of the fun.

It is said "live and learn" for a reason.

Awareness is important and now information flows in many new ways, like this board, for example.
There's also a difference between a local, born and raised, a transplanted with many degrees of environment familiarization and finally the FNG, the tourist with an aura much different from anything else around. The Ultimate Sucker.
We've all been there and realized that with each category there's always a price to pay. Some things are unavoidable, even if you are beforewarned and prepared.

So, stop whinning and complaining, enjoy and learn from the experience and move on.
There's a long line of schmucks behind you waiting for their turn.

Iz

A fool and his money are soon parted. Real soon.

 

[mmoon]

Take the subway within NYC. Good maps show you how to get around and you just need to keep a hand on your belongings. It's usually faster too.

 

[jeff1234]

Take the subway within NYC. Good maps show you how to get around and you just need to keep a hand on your belongings. It's usually faster too.

Also keep one hand on your butt (personal experience speaking here) and one hand on your crotch and one hand on your wallet. If you are with your wife, use one hand to hold on to her too. Also hold on to poles so you don't lose your balance and fall on a homeless person or pervert.

Don't look anyone in the eye!

Ignore the preachers and singers and beggars.

Don't say anything to the obese poor women who are feeding their children potato chips for breakfast.

Do all this and you'll get to your destination very quickly and safely.

 

[mmoon]

Also keep one hand on your butt (personal experience speaking here) and one hand on your crotch and one hand on your wallet. If you are with your wife, use one hand to hold on to her too. Also hold on to poles so you don't lose your balance and fall on a homeless person or pervert.

Don't look anyone in the eye!

Ignore the preachers and singers and beggars.

Don't say anything to the obese poor women who are feeding their children potato chips for breakfast.

Do all this and you'll get to your destination very quickly and safely.

Personally never had a bad experience on the NYC subway, after dozens of trips there for work and vacation. Just be smart, and maybe a little lucky. Then again, I took the train daily in BA and also never had a problem.

I would suggest...always look people in the eye and make it clear they shouldn't mess with you.

 

[jeff1234]

Personally never had a bad experience on the NYC subway, after dozens of trips there for work and vacation. Just be smart, and maybe a little lucky. Then again, I took the train daily in BA and also never had a problem.

I would suggest...always look people in the eye and make it clear they shouldn't mess with you.

I'm a lifelong New Yorker, I took the subway everyday to high school, college and work.

As a young man, during rush hour, I had my butt grabbed in the crowd many times.

Mmoon, I guess it depends on how attractive your butt is. And if you think that looking a crazy person or gang member or drunk in the eye will show them how tough you are, you should go right ahead, if you can film it for us.

 

[mmoon]

I'm a lifelong New Yorker, I took the subway everyday to high school, college and work.

As a young man, during rush hour, I had my butt grabbed in the crowd many times.

Mmoon, I guess it depends on how attractive your butt is. And if you think that looking a crazy person or gang member or drunk in the eye will show them how tough you are, you should go right ahead, if you can film it for us.

Any inferences about the quality of my butt's attractiveness aside (you NEVER FAIL to surprise me with the digressions BaExpats), you are a man and I am a woman. Therefore, our reasons for looking someone in the eye have different intentions and most likely, different responses. Maybe a gang member being eyeballed by you means that you are looking for a fight. For me, it means, I'm not going to cower in the corner and be seen as an easy target. If I am walking down a street by myself, and someone creepy is coming towards me, I am going to look at them so they are aware I could identify them if I needed to. I didn't grow up in New York, but I did grow up in a large and dangerous city. Everyone has their personal experiences. Maybe you need to wear looser pants...