Richard Wright replies to Callum Brown.

Richard Wright replies to Callum Brown

Callum Brown from Green Cabs New Zealand stands his ground.
September 21, 2008 — nztaxiblog

Callum,
Several taxi drivers have rung me to express their dismay at the extraordinarily malevolent comments you posted on the NZTaxi Blog website attacking me. Your comments and allegations are clearly aimed at me. They are false and misleading, slanderous, and offensive.

I reject your assertion that I am the ‘Boss’ who has posted comments on that blog criticising Green Cabs. That person is not me.

Your comments are the mark of a misguided man who is crumbling under the pressure. I regard these comments as beneath contempt.

However, as you have chosen to post them in the internet where they will last forever I am obliged to rebut them point by point, as set out below:

CB
Make no mistake Green Cabs is only just getting started despite what anyone says including and especially so called ‘boss’ is it?

RW
Good luck to you. I hope you grow and prosper.

CB
You come on here bagging Green Cabs, spreading false information about the company and the management team.

RW
Not true. The ‘Boss’ comments are nothing to do with me.
I have never had any involvement in the Green Cabs company or management and so have no idea what goes on behind the scenes.

It is would be clear to a blind five-year-old that the comments come from one of your disgruntled former employees.

CB
Well that makes you no different to anyone else on these blogs. You say you ordered a Green Cab and a Regency turned up. Clearly you have never ordered a Green Cab ever.

RW
Not true. I have called Green Cabs several times, both in Wellington and Auckland. I have always given my correct name to the dispatcher. Those details are recorded in your system. I have always had a Green Cab turn up.
I have always found them to be a superior service. I have told people that I approve of the: innovation of the marketing; suitability of the cars; standard of calltaking; and the calibre of the drivers.

CB
You try to bag the management team and say that it has too much corporate cabs mentality.

RW
Not true. I have never said that. Personally, I think what holds the industry back is the marked lack of professionalism at a senior management level. Corporate Cabs is a fine example of what can be developed with professional business owners at the helm. You should take a leaf out of their book.

CB
You try to spread malicious misinformation about one of the Managing Directors of Green Cabs.

RW
Not true. I have never said such things.

CB
In our view we have taken the best things from the corporate cabs model (consistency of product and service) a concept the majority of other cab companies don’t seem to get.

You would do better if you modeled Green Cabs on the Corporate Cabs systems and taken advice from people with extensive industry experience.

CB
Then you disrespect my close personal friend and one of the few people I trust 110% in this very interesting industry – Dave Jordan. Dave is Managing Director and probably the most key person in putting Green Cabs together and getting it to where it is today. He has made some great sacrifices to do so too and definitely doesn’t deserve the false and defamatory information you posted on here about him.

RW
Not true. I have not posted any comments about Dave Jordan, defamatory or otherwise. I have never met the man and have no basis for any view on his abilities.

CB
Then you try to elude (sic) to the fact that we don’t offset the emissions from our vehicles.

RW
Not me. As above

CB
When we first started Green Cabs I had had reports from drivers saying that you said that GC would never get off the ground.

RW
Not true. I was approached by a number of drivers for an opinion on your start-up proposal. I told them that you had a great marketing hook that was a fresh new image and tapped into current Government legislation around environmental issues.

I predicted that the hook would help you start with a lot of radio work. However, I though you would struggle to service the work due to insufficient cars and inexperienced dispatchers.

I also said that the deals you were offering (for both franchise holders and employee drivers) were a bad commercial model.

I stand by that view. You might not like it but we are all entitled to our opinion.

I predicted that the drivers would not make any money. Your deals are structured to generate revenue for the company owners.

I said the net result would be the franchise owners would be getting locked into a deal with a startup company, committed to paying off expensive cars, and would have no certainty of income.

I recommended to the enquirers that they hold off and see how the company developed before making a decision to join.

I stand by that view. You might not like it but we are all entitled to our opinion.

CB
Then I get reports that say you were trying to say you were involved in Green Cabs.

RW
Not true. I have never said that I was involved in Green Cabs. People see me using your cabs and leap to conclusions. I have in fact been asked that question and have vigorously denied it.

This industry is dogged by rumours, half-baked opinions, lies, slander and gossip. Being a tall poppy in this industry attracts bullshit like moths to a flame. Get used to it.

CB
I had to get your number, ring you directly to call you up on what I was hearing ensure that it didn’t continue, at which time you backed down very quickly.

RW
Not true. You did ring me some time last year when those prospective drivers walked away from your proposal, citing concerns about your flawed commercial model.

I did not ‘back down quickly’. I told you my opinion and also said everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

You then asked me to consider delivering taxi training services to your drivers. I told you I was shutting down the taxi side of my operation as I had more profitable things to do with my time.

CB
You were also involved for a number of years in WCT surprise, surprise, surprise, although from what I understand you have little to no respect over there anymore either.

RW
Not true. I enjoy considerable respect across the industry for my achievements at Wellington Combined Taxis.

I am highly regarded for my work in rescuing the company from political turmoil, infrastructural collapse and near-bankruptcy. Share values doubled as a result of my work there.

I routinely (and as recently as last week) decline invitations from influential Combined shareholders to take up the leadership role there again.

I doubt you will get the same offers after your company folds.

CB
With information I have heard about you recently and with what you have posted, pretty much all of which has been completely false.

RW
Every tall poppy attracts criticism. Every large operation contains its share of knuckleheads and malcontents. Get used to it. Don’t waste your energy gossiping with knuckleheads. You’ve got a business to rescue.

CB
In my personal opinion you have not a shred of credibility left.

So Boss (or R.W.) I hope the rest of your weekend improves (No doubt readers will be able figure out those initials as it is predominantly only people in the industry who read these blogs)

RW
I don’t give a toss about your personal opinion. It is a poorly worked out and misguided.

However, you have chosen to post these slanderous comments on a blog where they will remain forever.

Your last sentence shows that you are deliberately setting out to slander me to my peers.

Your misguided outburst reveals the true nature of the beast hiding under the thin veil of green-washing.

I can only assume that that well-known commercial pressures you are under may have caused you to start drinking heavily.

Probably better if you knock that off.

Have a nice day,

RW