I don’t disagree with your premise, just your statement. I think mine is honest and succinct, but each to their own.
Customer service isn’t instinctive to everyone. It’s starts with do unto others, but so many digress too quickly to what can I get away with.
your text is too ambiguous: “within the time noted”
Without telling them that there is a 5 minute timer, how will they know what the noted time is?
Your assertion that pax are not stupid is a half truth, some of them are and others are not informed. While driving Lyft last week, I had a pax ask me to clarify Uber’s policy on tipping. She understood Lyft’s because there was an option to tip in the app but was confused about Uber’s.
Also, your do unto others reference goes both ways. Using your assertion that pax are not stupid, THEY KNOW that they have 5 mins and that waiting is costing the driver time/money and as you say they quickly see what they can get away with.
In one sentence, you’re telling me I’m ambiguous, and in the next, you say they know. If they don’t know, they can ask.
A little humility goes a long way. Do unto others as you want them to do to you, not do unto others what they’ve already done to you, or you expect them to do to you.
We can agree to disagree. I don’t have a problem with that.
I also text my pax. If they are not there when I arrive, I send a pre-made “Hi, I’m your driver Daniel and I’m parked out front in the large blue car”. that gives a time stamp to start my 5 minutes. If they don’t come out in 5, I cancel and drive off.
As far as the arrival ping from Lyft/Uber, no. It doesn’t always work. I’ve had pax come out a few minutes after my text saying they never got the ping, then we get a half mile or so away and they get it. “OH! You finally arrived!”
You’re sitting in your car out front anyways, sending a text gives you something to do while you wait.