Yellow Cab Co-op San Francisco

I'm giving mad props to cab No. 1000 because it got me out of a jam on a traffic-packed Wednesday after a mini BART meltdown. (Why has BART had so many problems recently?) It took me quite a while to hail a cab, which I found puzzling because it was rush hour in the Financial District, but when my driver came, he was no nonsense and awesome.\r \r I always want cab drivers to be like Alex Rieger or Elaine Nardo or even Louie De Palma picking up a random shift but definitely not like Bobby Wheeler or Reverend Jim. Tony Banta? I don't know whether I could handle him. Anyway, they're never like any of those awesome characters. SF cabbies are much better than their other-city counterparts, but there are still louses among them.\r \r The guy driving No 1000? Not a louse at all, and when I asked him to drive to Potrero Hill in a particular way, he did so. He asked about a couple of different alternatives while we were going (because there was a lot of traffic), but he didn't ask after he had made a move, and I could tell he actually did want to get me there quickly rather than just keep the meter running. A nice tip for him, and a nice review for Yellow Cab--at least until the next John Burns gets lost. But even if he did, he'd probably let me stay at his apartment? He's just too nice, that John Burns, for a cabbie and for a character on a TV show that already had two nice guys more

This review is for my experience today with yellow cab. From start to finish my experience was stellar. more

I use Yellow Cab at least once a week. The majority of the time, they are at my apartment with 10 minutes, and, their drivers are expedient and courteous. more

my wife and I went to a party and needed a taxi to get back to a friends place. My wife mistakenly left her phone in the taxi... so we called the phone and the driver picked up and he indicated that he would bring the phone to our residence. So he came to the building, but my phone was inaudible and I missed his call. \r \r So the next day I called his phone, (i had it in my missed calls list) and he told me that he gave the phone to the lost and found! I thanked him and also apologized for making him come out of his way again... I just thought that was above and beyond the call of duty, especially since it was us who were at fault.\r \r Rockin customer service Yellow Cab of SF! When I need a taxi in the city, you guys will be the first ones I consider!\r more

I called for a cab in Potrero Hill yesterday, and it was ready for me inside of a minute. The guy on the phone was professional and friendly. The driver went an address I know well, and he took the absolute shortest path. more

Francoise should give lessons to all other drivers out there. She was pleasant, engaging, had a wonderful French accent (despite living in the States for longer than I've been alive), and didn't mind when we verbally assaulted her with our horrible recollection of French words and phrases. more

love that they call you right before they arrive to prepare u. more

Good service. Prompt and polite. \r \r Called 24 hours in advance for a 6am pick up from Jones St & California St. To SFO Airport. A good, hassle free cab experience. A) Dispatch were swift to take the call and professional throughout. B) Cab arrived as requested at 6am. \r \r Note: as I was staying at a private residence and not a hotel/hostel and also did not have a local contact number they advised I wait outside just prior to the pick up time so that the driver wouldn't miss the address. Simple and effective. more

I've had 3 early appointments in the last two weeks that I required/indulged in taxis for. Yellow Cab was 3/3 in on-time pickups, and I appreciated that they call as they approach. The last driver, a female (1 of 2 I know they employ), even came to the door when I didn't answer. In some cities such consistent service might be standard operations, in San Francisco it's a downright miracle. \r more

Professional automated phone message to start with. Picked up by cab driver Basem. If it's just me, I always hop in the front & talk to my cab drivers like they're my friends. :) After chit-chatting with him, I learned how Yellow Cab Co has a really great system, every cab has a GPS tracker on it so the dispatchers can send the nearest cab to pickup spots. Basem had just dropped someone off at SFO so I was on the way for him to pick me up. The company also gives a 5 minute warning phone call before the cab driver arrives. Anyway, I'm a firm believer in this company now, in stark contrast to the * service from other cab companies, and how Basem said after working for 20 years he would never work for any other company bc he thinks Yellow Cab has the best system. Credit cards accepted btw.\r more

Apparently, we're still riding the Yellow Cab lucky streak because in less than five minutes after we called, there was a cab waiting for us out front. Before I had a chance to panic about traffic, our driver explained that he would be taking the street a block over to get us through quickly. I'm so ashamed that I didn't get his name. He was a real sweetheart. \r \r Previously, we'd had all sorts of drivers who were friendly and got us to our destination quickly and safely. They set the standard for what I expected from a cab. I guess I'd never taken notice of how good we'd had it until we used another cab company to get home- beyond the gas fumes, cursing, and driving, I was never more glad to be out of a vehicle in one piece. more

ETA: SantaCon-Polk Street! The Taxi Cab Driver is too cool for words and very friendly, too! NICE!\r more

I must be lucky because I've never had issues with Yellow Cab. Granted I don't call for cabs very often but they are the only cab company I will call for a pick-up. I love their automatic phone system that calls you to let you know your cab is minutes away. I was out in the sunset and needed a cab late at night and was very skeptical I'd ever get one so I called much earlier than I intended to leave and shockingly a cab picked me up 20 minutes later. I had to leave the party early but couldn't be mad since I actually got a cab. more

I called for a cab, and after 20 minutes, I got the automated call that my cab would be arriving in 1 minute. Great. Except that when I went outside, there was NO CAB. I waited for 5 minutes before calling the company to see what the deal was, but was put on hold for 15 minutes before I finally hung up. All this time I was still waiting outside hoping my cab had just gotten held up, but no such luck. more

On sunday night, a rainy one, I called to have yellowcab pick me up for an important meeting. 20 minutes later, I called for a simple update and was greeted by one of the most deplorable phone operators I have ever met in my entire life. more

Yellow cab is a leasing company, and as far as I know drivers can refuse work. However I have worked for three cab companies. The first one I was an independent contractor, but they had a special bidding system. Each "area" was assigned a 2 digit number, and when the dispatcher had calls, she would start calling them out like "31,35,36,42,44,48,52W". If you were in one of those areas you would bid the call "unit 35 bids on the 44 from 70 and Springdale", and other cabs will do the same. Then a road manager (one of the owners) would call out "35 gets the 44", and then the address is given to you. At that point you are obligated to take the call or you can get bumped (told to check out and go home). The other companies I was (am still) an employee, I have to go where they tell me, charge what they tell me, etc). It all depends on the company. You should call different companies and ask "are you a leasing company?". You will find one that isn't, and usually they are smaller outfits, but much more pleasant to deal with, good customer service, etc. Those companies hold their drivers to standards (I have to follow a dress code, shave, be showered, etc), and more and more of them are utilizing advanced gps systems to facilitate their dispatching and increase efficiency (means you dont wait as long). more

1. Most people who call for a cab don't understand how a cab order works. The cab is not "sent", but the order is offered to the cabbies on duty. The order will be filled only , and ONLY if a cabbie decides to pick it up. In reality, a cab may never come to the call. The cabbie's are independent contractors and are their own bosses. They are , in essence, not employees of the cab company, but only lease the cab from the cab company. 2.When people call two cab companies to pick them up, they need to realize how selfish that is. That is the equivalent of calling two pizza parlors to deliver a pizza and giving the business to the first pizza delivery person that gets there first. . 3. Just as bad is calling in a cab order by phone while at the same time flagging down a cab. How would you like to be the cab driver responding to the phone order just to find out the fare had already flagged down a cab and is gone. More selfish behavior. Pros: Cabs are a convenience. Cons: Cabbies are cutthroats-Its the nature of the business. more

Hi, I am looking for a long long lost friend. His name is Sia. He is a Persian. He was a yellow cab driver before i left S.F in 1984. If anyone knows him please let him know that Hui (Indonesian friend) is looking for him. Really appreciate for the help. more

If I could give less than one star I would --- it is clear this company cares nothing for their customers! Pros: nothing Cons: tried to cheat me more

Overall, the drivers are always good people. I however don't find this service reliable for anything important. They sometimes tell you the wait is 5-10 minutes. Meanwhile an hour goes by, and you still waiting for a taxi. Pros: nice drivers overall Cons: unreliable more