OK, can you “slam” a car door?

[clifffaith]

Lyft driver cost himself a buck or so by not only chastising me for slamming his car door as I got in, but also opening his door and demonstrating how to properly close a car door without “slamming” it after I said all I did was close the door to his Hyundai. This occurred when he picked us up to take Cliff home from the hospital (I can’t see to drive at night so I took Lyft at 1pm for the three mile drive in case he was discharged after sunset and they didn’t let him go until 8pm). I close all car doors with the same strength, and a slam would certainly have to include flouncing off in a snit fit to make evident that I was slamming the door. Maybe growing up being driven around in big Fords and Buicks, and my first car was a two door Cougar, has warped me. All car doors get yanked closed as I get in, or pushed closed with the same effort as I disembark. I hope his “door open” light went on when I left the vehicle and as lightly as I could closed the door. “That’s better!” were his parting words!

 

[CO skier]

Maybe growing up being driven around in big Fords and Buicks, and my first car was a two door Cougar, has warped me.

Yes, that sums it up for those of that age.

It is not just that. It must be Human nature to unnecessarily just S-L-L-A-A-A-AM! a car door, and I corrected my wife and children over years whenever it happened. "You do not need Heave-Ho to close a car door" and then I demonstrated the minimal force necessary.

Sorry, I side with the Lyft driver. You should have tipped him extra for the education in shared-ride etiquitte.

 

[CO skier]

Some hints from Uber:

"The actions you take while using the Uber Marketplace Platform can have a big impact on the safety and comfort of others. Courtesy matters. For example, always try to be on time for your ride or to pick up your delivery. It’s also common courtesy not to shout, swear, or slam doors. And by tidying up after yourself—whether it’s taking your trash home or cleaning up a spilled drink—you’ll help ensure that everyone has a pleasant ride."

 

[PigsDad]

If you slammed the door of my car with the same force you did w/ your 70's 2-door Cougar, I'd be very pissed. And if you did that in cold weather when the plastic parts in the door assembly are more brittle, I'd be even more pissed! There is absolutely zero reason to slam a car door with such force; they all close just fine with little force.

I bet you would be the first person to complain if I was in your house and slammed one of your interior doors shut like that. Have some common sense.

Kurt

 

[Patri]

I’m on your side, Faith. If no one has complained that you have been slamming doors since the 70s, you probably aren’t. The driver made a big deal to someone he will likely never see again. Especially for a hospital pickup, when he has no idea what the passengers are going through.

 

[noreenkate]

Lyft driver cost himself a buck or so by not only chastising me for slamming his car door as I got in, but also opening his door and demonstrating how to properly close a car door without “slamming” it after I said all I did was close the door to his Hyundai. This occurred when he picked us up to take Cliff home from the hospital (I can’t see to drive at night so I took Lyft at 1pm for the three mile drive in case he was discharged after sunset and they didn’t let him go until 8pm). I close all car doors with the same strength, and a slam would certainly have to include flouncing off in a snit fit to make evident that I was slamming the door. Maybe growing up being driven around in big Fords and Buicks, and my first car was a two door Cougar, has warped me. All car doors get yanked closed as I get in, or pushed closed with the same effort as I disembark. I hope his “door open” light went on when I left the vehicle and as lightly as I could closed the door. “That’s better!” were his parting words!

You’re a better person than I am- i probably would have left the door ajar when exiting on purpose.
I stay clear of ride shares for completely different reasons, I just don’t trust them- whenever possible I take an old school taxi service.

 

[Sandi Bo]

Perhaps my father has come back reincarnated as a lyft driver? In all serious, if it's that important to the lyft driver, he should have gotten the door for you (especially given the circumstances).

@noreenkate, we had a scary ride in Paris. It was uber or lyft, but the guy turned the meter off. I had strong vibes not to go with him. My husband is a big guy (was a boxer) but also has no sense of caution. I was texting my son - just in case - this is what's going on. My son is texting back in caps 'do not get kidnapped'. It's almost funny now. No, I do not care for ubers or taxis, etc. I've done plenty due to work and travel, but I sure don't like 'em.

 

[rickandcindy23]

He may have also been upset that it was only a 3 mile ride. We had an Uber driver who was trying to get out of taking us to a hotel near the airport by telling us there is a hotel shuttle. He was quite disgruntled at the short ride, when he usually had better fares at that time of night. The hotel shuttle stopped about an hour before we arrived, our plane was late, and all we wanted was a ride to the hotel.

 

[klpca]

He may have also been upset that it was only a 3 mile ride. We had an Uber driver who was trying to get out of taking us to a hotel near the airport by telling us there is a hotel shuttle. He was quite disgruntled at the short ride, when he usually had better fares at that time of night. The hotel shuttle stopped about an hour before we arrived, our plane was late, and all we wanted was a ride to the hotel.

I get the issue with the short ride. I used to park at my office in downtown San Diego which was a short ride to the airport. I knew that the Uber drivers had to wait in a long queue at the airport, so I always increased the tip accordingly - unless the attitude came into play, then sadly for them they got a normal tip. It only happened a few times though.

As far as "slamming" the door if I slammed a door, we would all know it because as a woman I would have to work at it to slam a door - my strength comes into play and my upper body strength is not what it used to be. So unless you are really giving it a shove with all of your weight, I think that you had someone who is very sensitive about their car.

 

[letsgobobby]

You’re a better person than I am- i probably would have left the door ajar when exiting on purpose.
I stay clear of ride shares for completely different reasons, I just don’t trust them- whenever possible I take an old school taxi service.

exactly. don't like the way i close your car door? close it yourself.

option B I slam the heck out of it on the way out.

 

[jp10558]

Without knowing what a "slam" is I can't really comment. But I usually have to fight the doors on my Pilot to not close into me more than I have to slam them. I wouldn't worry though, those doors are HEAVY. My Subaru's OTOH and much much lighter doors, and especially the old ones that had no metal frame around the glass (it just pressed into the rubber on the car side) I'd be a little worried about slamming it hard.

I tend to just close the door enough to latch it, and I guess the best I can figure over the internet is - if I left my leg in the way it'd hurt, but not bruise or break a bone. I suppose if your closing force would break a bone, that's too hard FWIW.

 

[Sandi Bo]

And seriously, he took the time to get out and show you the proper way to shut the door - but he didn't get the door for you in the first place! Jerk!

 

[WaikikiFirst]

Lyft driver cost himself a buck or so by not only chastising me for slamming his car door as I got in

Ha. I had a minor league version of that on my last Lyft to SFO. No chastising. Car door had label that said "Do Not Slam Door" applied. I got out at SFO. Looked at the label. Thought about it. Remembered what Confucius said
"He who is so damned concerned about "slamming" of his precious car door can close his own precious car door."
So, I said "Not sure if there is something special about this door. You better get it." grabbed the bags, thanked him and walked away.

 

[clifffaith]

And seriously, he took the time to get out and show you the proper way to shut the door - but he didn't get the door for you in the first place! Jerk!

Thank you for being indignant for me! I also got charged a late fee because apparently he’s never been to the hospital before. He “arrived” out of sight way across the parking lot at the ticket gate and took 5 minutes to figure out he needed to push the button and come in through the large lot during the 15 minute free grace period. So it counted ME as a whopping 30 seconds late and charged me an extra 10 cents! BTW my 1pm driver was a lovely woman and we chatted like old friends during the twenty minute drive.

 

[WaikikiFirst]

usually have to fight the doors on my Pilot to not close into me more than I have to slam

depends greatly on whether the car is perfectly horizontal or not and the length of the doors. Longer doors have more "swing" so depending on levelness, they can want to close more or resist closing more. Driver's door tends to want to close if car is parked on a street with a crown, but passenger will resist closing in that case.
One of my cars has very long doors and it most def is not safe to assume the door closed and walk away

 

[WaikikiFirst]

complain if I was in your house and slammed one of your interior doors shut like that

LMAO. "Common sense"? That is one of the most nonsensical analogies I have ever read. Many of the interior doors in most homes seldom if ever get closed. Nobody but an idiot drives around in a car with the doors ajar. No. Comparison. Whatever.
People close a car door harder because the downside is greater. Maybe you don't get that? Risk? Effort? Reward? Never mind.

 

[letsgobobby]

Thank you for being indignant for me! I also got charged a late fee because apparently he’s never been to the hospital before. He “arrived” out of sight way across the parking lot at the ticket gate and took 5 minutes to figure out he needed to push the button and come in through the large lot during the 15 minute free grace period. So it counted ME as a whopping 30 seconds late and charged me an extra 10 cents! BTW my 1pm driver was a lovely woman and we chatted like old friends during the twenty minute drive.

i was once charged a bs ten cent late fee and i protested through Lyft. I got my ten cent refund.

 

[WaikikiFirst]

counted ME as a whopping 30 seconds late and charged me an extra 10 cents

I'm ROFL that they even have a $0.10 late fee. Talk about trying to piss-off the customer. Oh Boy!

 

[noreenkate]

Just curious- if they charge late fees to customers - do they discount late & no show drivers.

my one and only experience was in WDW and we had a problem with drivers refusing to pick us up…pulling up seeing us and canceling. After the 3 rd one bell services grabbed us a taxi.

 

[jeffox]

we had a problem with drivers refusing to pick us up…pulling up seeing us and canceling.

How bad did you look?

 

[clifffaith]

Just curious- if they charge late fees to customers - do they discount late & no show drivers.

my one and only experience was in WDW and we had a problem with drivers refusing to pick us up…pulling up seeing us and canceling. After the 3 rd one bell services grabbed us a taxi.

Ford dealer sent Lyft to pick us up after a repair. 4:30 on a Friday, maybe 2.5 miles. We watched as the drivers name/car kept updating as drivers rejected us. I guess because Ortega Highway is bumper to bumper from 3-6. Finally it looked like the fifth driver was on the way because they were already on our side of town and would only have to deal with the jam going one way. Nope. After the fifth driver bailed Lyft cancelled us altogether.

 

[noreenkate]

How bad did you look?

I use mobility aides- so typical theme park attire plus a collapsible walker

 

[First Class]

Driver was out of line, and you were patient with him considering his condescending attitude. I wonder if he treats all his customers like that. If he's that concerned with his precious car, he should find a new line of work. I've never used Lyft or Uber, and this doesn't inspire me to try them.

 

[moonstone]

We have been using our DD's little KIA while we are at home this week and quite a few times DH has called me to go back and close the door tight because it wouldn't lock. I gently pushed the door closed when exiting, which I do with our Nissan, but I guess it wasnt enough force. I've been putting a bit more muscle into closing the door in the last couple of days but not anywhere near slamming, just firmly closing it.


~Diane

 

[Passepartout]

@cliffaith you could've simply deposited a negative review on the driver's profile. That would've had a more lasting effect on him than stiffing him on the tip.

OTOH, some people just close (car) doors harder than necessary. My grandson, when he gets into my Tundra slams the door. I've mentioned that it just isn't necessary. The doors are heavy, but they close easily and securely- but he slams them every time like it's some kind of jalopy with doors that don't fit.

My wife's car, if you try to close the rear hatch with a key fob inside (like in a pocket or inside a bag) won't latch. It keeps popping open. I slammed it down a few times until I knew it was just keeping me from locking my key inside. (dope-slap here)