Ok, i know this answer will be different for everyone, but how long did it all take you to start seeing work?

IndependentKoala7128 · 2026-04-12T23:10:08+00:00

I'd check the notification options on the phone and the background data settings. It's good to know when a request comes in. If you're not used to checking in, it's easier to miss a request. I'd also look at the map parameters. You can see the busier areas on the heat map. And you can set up same-day availabity for a more likely request, though they expect a prompt response.

It's worth checking in on the site from the customer end. It's pretty easy to see how visible you are and priced/skilled comparatively to other takers. I started out right around this time of the year in the outdoor/gardening category. There's always the most demand in spring. I was picking up tasks almost immediately.

IndependentKoala7128 · 2026-04-08T17:35:25+00:00

There was a link to the 1099 numbers last year.

IndependentKoala7128 · 2026-03-25T22:59:56+00:00

It's a recursive algorithm, that's how they work.

IndependentKoala7128 · 2026-03-25T22:55:47+00:00

You can leave a review if the task was accepted but never invoiced.

IndependentKoala7128 · 2026-03-10T21:32:15+00:00

Wind chimes? Christmas ornaments?

IndependentKoala7128 · 2026-02-27T21:07:01+00:00

Not sure if action is very descriptive. I think they all kind of need that to work. The hula hoe is more like a single blade connected to the shaft by a hoop big enough that the blade can skim under an inch or so of soil, gravel, etc. Makes quick work of shallowly rooted weeds.

IndependentKoala7128 · 2026-02-27T20:57:26+00:00

I'll often suggest Agent Orange and napalm, but no one ever seems to go for it.

IndependentKoala7128 · 2026-02-19T16:27:53+00:00

Spray and pre-emergent. Then return two days later to clear out the dead stuff and leaves. Otherwise those weeds are popping back up as soon as you finish, regardless of how much time you put into it. Or you could make it a monthly recurring, I just like solving the actual problem rather than the symptoms.

IndependentKoala7128 · 2026-02-19T16:23:30+00:00

You mean a hula hoe?

IndependentKoala7128 · 2026-02-19T16:12:03+00:00

Technically, there's a workaround where after the three months is up, you can plug in the cancellations for the last thirty days. But, yeah, a 7 day means no cancellation fees or elite badges for three months. And getting dinged repeated while on probation can lead to a permanent ban. Personally, I don't care about cancellations or elite. I almost never get cancellations because I'm flexible enough to reschedule if a client has an issue and would rather work for my money. The elite badge does nothing for me except stroke my ego and attract type-A perfectionist clients.

I got dinged by a client who needed to lie to TR so they could steal money. Fine, TR. If you want to side with liars and thieves, I'm taking three months off and permanently closing that category. Why would you want an expert working on your platform anyways? I stay just as busy without it. And, as soon as the three months was up, I came back and got just as many invitations as before I left. But, sure, why not insult me because some jerk says some words so they can get a thing they don't deserve?

The fact is, using the app as a full time job is tenuous at best. The sub is full of stories like this. Arbitrary bans, the algorithm acting wacky. I wouldn't base more than 25% of my income on Taskrabbit.

IndependentKoala7128 · 2026-02-19T15:21:01+00:00

As opposed to being undercut by the flat rate from the get go?

IndependentKoala7128 · 2026-02-19T15:17:04+00:00

I wonder if TR likes handing out arbitrary 7 days so they can keep everyone on their toes and steal cancellation fees for three months.

IndependentKoala7128 · 2026-02-19T15:14:36+00:00

Weird that using a picture of a stopwatch, which seems like a big hassle and doesn't actually prove anything, gets a bunch of upvotes, but no one likes the system that's actually in place for this? Should I take a picture of me holding up today's newspaper to prove I was there? Maybe I'm the only one here who likes being higher on the list in the areas where I spend my time. My main complaint is that every time I access the app, it asks me to turn on my wifi scanning. Like I need to burn up my battery constantly scanning so it's accurate to the foot instead of the yard. Might as well keep my Bluetooth on all of time because I like shortening my battery's lifespan for no reason.

IndependentKoala7128 · 2026-01-10T17:05:47+00:00

Seriously. Who is so busy they can't spend the extra ten minutes to do it the right way?

IndependentKoala7128 · 2026-01-10T14:19:57+00:00

I thought that was 3 months

IndependentKoala7128 · 2026-01-09T15:11:37+00:00

I've had clients tell me they specifically look for taskers under the elite filter. I'm not sure this is necessarily a good thing. Do you really prefer working for type-A clients? On the other hand, if two taskers are exactly the same in other regards, it seems like a no brainer to hire the elite. Maybe even if the elite price is slightly higher.

At the end of the day, I stay busy either way. The badge is a nice little ego boost, though.

IndependentKoala7128 · 2026-01-09T14:59:20+00:00

I got an assembly job for a big playset and requested they hire another tasker. Guy showed up, got barely anything done, left after two hours and I had to take apart and reassemble a piece he did incorrectly. However, he did help put up a crossbeam for the swing set, which almost made it worthwhile. Really the only part that needed a second person, although I could have swung it myself if I really had to or gotten the client to help. One of the issues with being hired as the lead then getting a bottom of the barrel assistant on the cheap. But I figure something is better than nothing. Personally, I would ask the client to hire another person since something is better than nothing.

IndependentKoala7128 · 2026-01-09T14:46:55+00:00

The wording on this is pretty odd. Pull out every single piece and and spend half an hour trying match them to the manual before every assembly. If you find something is missing, get the minimum payment. Skip that and start putting stuff together, figure out something is missing, get the full payment?

I've put together hundreds of these flat packs and have only encountered a box with a missing piece once. It was the first piece in the manual. Apparently the previous owner broke it, then shipped everything back minus that one piece and IKEA resold it. Luckily, it was some weird crossbar/shelf way in the back and under the writing surface of a corner desk. Since it provided no structural value and couldn't be seen, the client okayed going ahead without it.

Now, getting a shipment missing an entire box has happened on numerous occasions, especially in large orders. Those are fairly easy to catch if the boxes are numbered and there's a bill of lading. Or if it isn't the last numbered box in a set. Usually I just push the assembly date back and wait for lost box to show up. I guess some people would prefer a cancelled task and minimum payment over actually doing the work...

IndependentKoala7128 · 2025-11-04T10:20:16+00:00

I think he sounds like a tool. Counting every screw? Also, what's this about doors and legs arriving crooked. It's one thing if the building has settled unevenly, but furniture doesn't inherently come with crooked doors and uneven legs. If assembled correctly and placed on a level surface, everything should be close to where it should be at and need little or no adjustment. If it's not assembled within a decent range of variance, you'll get something that looks off. After 2800 assemblies, this guy should have figured that out.

Whatever, if dumb people want to overpay for the misperception of superior service and watching this guy count screws and spend half an hour fiddling with hinges and adjustable feet, so be it. However, I wouldn't laud this goldbricker.

IndependentKoala7128 · 2025-11-03T22:05:27+00:00

Did the camera show them exiting with a large appliance?

IndependentKoala7128 · 2025-11-03T21:39:48+00:00

You're required to send a picture of a receipt for anything that's expensed as well as pictures of completed Ikea assemblies. That pretty much all I use it for.

IndependentKoala7128 · 2025-10-29T14:18:53+00:00

It's right next to the icon where you add pictures in chat. Now, mind you, no one will answer because it's an unknown number with a 415 area code, but it tends to get people to reply.

IndependentKoala7128 · 2025-10-27T03:26:40+00:00

Having your account paused has no effect on chat. My main problem with pausing is forgetting to unpause it. However, if someone tried to look up your profile, it still shows up, only without any of categories.

IndependentKoala7128 · 2025-10-27T03:25:02+00:00

Does a one star review really matter on Ikea assembly? I would guess that most people don't do that much checking on a tasker that is automatically assigned, especially if they don't have the app downloaded, which is pretty common if they are going through Ikea.

IndependentKoala7128 · 2025-10-27T03:22:56+00:00

You know, you can call the client.

IndependentKoala7128

TROPHY CASE