TaskRabbit Sounds Like A Win / Win To Me!

TaskRabbit does sound like a good idea. Basically it helps out those who need a job and have time on their hands and it helps out the people who need help with chores and are willing to pay for it. So what is the writer of this article complaining about?

June

-----------------------

TaskRabbit: The US Economy Really is in the Pooper
by Drea of Business Pundit, Aug 5, 2010

I ran across TaskRabbit, which matches you with people who can run your errands for you–or hooks you up with people who need errands run–while reading this excellent Wall St. Journal article on work-at-homers. With TaskRabbit, you put up a task, price it, and a “runner” (errand runner, rabbit, person who does your errands) picks it up, usually within 30 minutes. Once the task is complete, you pay and rate your runner.

There are currently around 300 runners, most of whom earn around $15 per errand, according to the WSJ. Most runners are self-employed, unemployed, or work-at-home parents. TaskRabbit currently operates in Boston and San Francisco, but is looking to expand.

Recent tasks on the website include:

$10 – give me + a few things a ride
$25 – Pick up Jacket left at Fillmore Theatre
$15 – pick up rent check in downtown SF, drop off on Piedmont Ave. in Oakland

I understand that a service like TaskRabbit is helping create jobs and all, but let me rant for a moment. In many less-developed countries, it’s really easy to find someone nearby to get something done for you–whatever you need, really. When I lived in Ghana, we had a lady come to our door and sell us bread; we had our laundry done whenever we wanted by a nearby man; if we wanted something fixed in our rooms, we just had to put word out and a guy would arrive with a hammer and toolbox and take care of it. We’d pay them cash in return. It was convenient and effective.


Read More

----------------------------------

Would you sign up to do some of those jobs? For that matter would you post jobs there?
Leave a comment


June