Reply With QuoteIt is a kamikaze job you need a rather special attitude for.Originally Posted by Skool
I tried it over 40 years ago in Amsterdam and nope. Today´s traffic has not improved to put it positively.
Think Deliveroo / Ubereats etc.
A relative is thinking of trying it, they have a bike and whilst I wouldn't try it myself has anyone given it a go? I'm not exactly sure how much money can be made for a few hours work but my relative thinks he can make £20 an hour if not more. I'm not sure the risks outweigh the reward as I've seen some crazy riding by some of the scooter/bike delivery drivers.
Not even sure what the start up costs would be if he was to try it out. I've said it doesn't sound like a good idea or could it be a viable way of making a little cash when it suits, what do you think?
It is a kamikaze job you need a rather special attitude for.
I tried it over 40 years ago in Amsterdam and nope. Today´s traffic has not improved to put it positively.
£20 p/h!? You will be around the minimum wage and likely under not over. I have a few friends who were cycle couriers ‘back in the day’ when documents and packages were being wizzed all over London, the numbers of cycle couriers have dwindled since then and it’s hardly a good living. They all had a good laugh while they were on the road as there was a drinking/weed smoking culture that went with it.
The low paid hipster job of choice that has a ‘scene’ is now being a barista. Better working conditions, better pay and you do not get rained on.
It’s not that difficult to find out about Uber/deliveroo cycling delivery as plenty of people have written about it recently and how the hours and demand for better paid slots works.
My son does that for a local Sushi bar and uses the trips as a 'hitt' training for his sport. He's rather quick. Payment (legal youth minimum wage): € 4.10 /hr + € 0.50 per delivery and on an average night: € 10.00 tips during a 3 hr. shift. In short: almost € 25.00 for three hours.
Menno
My son used to do it for Deliveroo when at school until rules changed so he had to be 18 (he was 17).
Money ok for a youngster, probably averaged £8/hour with tips. Occasionally lazy and signed in from bedroom (spoofing location) and just received the hourly rate. Someone he knew was sacked after spending weeks getting paid for sitting in McDonalds as they can choose whether to accept the calls.
Think you'd have to go some to make £20/hour though (assuming OP means push-bike). Start-up costs aren't much, think he paid ~£50 for uniform and box which think are supposed to be refundable though box gets quite sh##ty after a few spillages inside!
You must be joking with £20 ph! They pay between £3-5 per delivery (extremely lucky if you get more than that!) and no tips as the orders are paid through the app.
If you do 4 deliveries ph...you're a very fast courier. Plus the waiting time in the restaurants to collect the order.
Not as good as you might think.
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Some people do still tip.
That’s exactly the video I think sums it up.
Pros : as I believe them
As you get to know where places are you can optimise routes
Work when you like
Cons:
Some of the flats with concierge service or no service
Riding in diesel fumes all day long!
I genuinely can’t imagine not tipping. I always make sure I’ve got at least a couple of quid to give them.
Think you can also tip in app.
I did some Deliveroo for a laugh (always had dreams of being a bike messenger) and where I was it was relatively busy.
If I rode at full pelt I could get £11 an hour, if memory serves it was £7 per hour with £1 per drop, so if I did 4 drops in an hour I'd make the 11. This was based on me growing up in the area and knowing every address without needing to look at a map and also being in good shape riding fast.
You have to bear in mind you'll need to register for self assessment and the gear is also an additional cost.
Most don’t know that/ don’t do that. And electronic payment is só big overhere that most people do not have cash anymore.
I must admit I did think if it was possible to get paid for riding and doing a few deliveries when the hours suit then my cousin could be onto something. However it sounds like the risks outweigh the relatively poor returns. It's been a bit of an eye opener to hear how little some of the couriers make including ubering.
The diesel fumes inhalation whilst breathing hard would give pause for thought especially for such low return.
My son's experience here (as OP) is that he did okay with tips (both cash and app).
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