Anyone Do Deliveroo?

manx_cat

Hi,

Just wondering if theres any Deliveroo riders in here?

I'd like to do it myself but it does look kinda dangerous to be honest.

i see guys doing it and they are sharing the road with lorries and buses, looks like fun job but the danger factor also looks pretty high.

Anyone like to tell me what they think?

thx.

Garry H

Don't we all share roads with lorries and buses? They just do it with a stupid big box on their backs.

jb72

Try this http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/anybody-ridden-for-deliveroo

bobmcstuff

Garry H wrote:

Don't we all share roads with lorries and buses? They just do it with a stupid big box on their backs.

At least all the kit they get you to wear is ridiculously reflective.

Garry H

bobmcstuff wrote:

Garry H wrote:

Don't we all share roads with lorries and buses? They just do it with a stupid big box on their backs.

At least all the kit they get you to wear is ridiculously reflective.

True. Pedestrians can see them a mile away

Bobbinogs

I regularly order a w/e curry from Deliveroo if that helps?

Funny thing is, many of the young lads in my club are Deliveroo riders and they upload the rides to Strava...not sure if the kudos I then give is for the ride, the prompt service or the curry!

fenix

Yeah I've done the strava flyby and found Deliveroo cyclists on there occasionally.

You could do the similar and chat with them on Strava for local experience ?

Matthewfalle

manx_cat wrote:

Hi,

Just wondering if theres any Deliveroo riders in here?

I'd like to do it myself but it does look kinda dangerous to be honest.

i see guys doing it and they are sharing the road with lorries and buses, looks like fun job but the danger factor also looks pretty high.

Anyone like to tell me what they think?

thx.

Not sure if it's a fun job when it's dark, you're tired, wet, cold, getting paid bugger all and nearly getting killed 20 times a day imbetween getting grief off people because their order isn't right/you're 7 minutes late.

Not to mention that doing your hobby as a job soon takes all the fun out of your hobby: I stopped scuba diving recreationally after doing it for as a job for a while.

I looked at being a cycle courier years ago but then decided against it - generally for the above reasons.

debeli

I have a son who is currently working as a 'Roo - as I believe they may refer to themselves.

He is young and fit and enjoys cycling. He seems to enjoy what he does.

Indeed, as I believe he occasionally searches these forum pages for solutions to bike problems, he may well bump into this post.

He seems to enjoy it and manages to make a living. As a former motorcycle courier I take some parental pride in having offspring in similar lines of work.

I think he is surprised by the wear and tear it causes on his bikes. I remember being surprised the same way when I was a courier. A courier mile seems to grind about twice the mileage into a machine as a leisure or racing mile. Tyres, brakes, wheels, driveline.... everything gets hammered.

Bobbinogs

The other main thing is not to overlook security, even it that is just a cafe lock. A few guys in the club have lost bikes after "just popping inside" a pickup only to be delayed for 5-10 mins and then coming back to an empty space where the bike was. There are a lot of drunks as well as bike thieves on an evening out in town and a nice bike sat there with lights and everything can be just to tempting to have a 'bit of a laff' or free transport home.

Ben6899

Slave labour?

No thanks.

Matthewfalle

Debeli wrote:

I have a son who is currently working as a 'Roo - as I believe they may refer to themselves.

He is young and fit and enjoys cycling. He seems to enjoy what he does.

Indeed, as I believe he occasionally searches these forum pages for solutions to bike problems, he may well bump into this post.

He seems to enjoy it and manages to make a living. As a former motorcycle courier I take some parental pride in having offspring in similar lines of work.

I think he is surprised by the wear and tear it causes on his bikes. I remember being surprised the same way when I was a courier. A courier mile seems to grind about twice the mileage into a machine as a leisure or racing mile. Tyres, brakes, wheels, driveline.... everything gets hammered.

Bottom para of this: you may think it's easy money but remember that replacing chains, cassettes, brake pads, tyres, tubes, etc all adds up plus the time off the road is costing you money.

But I'll just change them at night I hear you call. Oh no you won't say I as you'll be working or sleeping or seeing the family or doing whatever people do in the vending. Or, God forbid, riding your bike with your mates.

manx_cat

Matthewfalle wrote:

manx_cat wrote:

Hi,

Just wondering if theres any Deliveroo riders in here?

I'd like to do it myself but it does look kinda dangerous to be honest.

i see guys doing it and they are sharing the road with lorries and buses, looks like fun job but the danger factor also looks pretty high.

Anyone like to tell me what they think?

thx.

Not sure if it's a fun job when it's dark, you're tired, wet, cold, getting paid bugger all and nearly getting killed 20 times a day imbetween getting grief off people because their order isn't right/you're 7 minutes late.

Not to mention that doing your hobby as a job soon takes all the fun out of your hobby: I stopped scuba diving recreationally after doing it for as a job for a while.

I looked at being a cycle courier years ago but then decided against it - generally for the above reasons.

Its not the getting killed bit that bothers me if its quick, its ending up with something like my legs crushed that bothers me.

Man Of Lard

Personally, I'd much rather go & get the takeaway myself. (Mind you, 4 miles to the nearest chippy, 14 to the Chinese, 21 to the Indian - we usually talk ourselves out of it)

whitleytravels

I’ve been cycling for Deliveroo for a few weeks now and it’s got it’s highs and lows. It’s great on sunny days when you’re cruising through the city and know you’re being paid descent. Also the tips do come during through on friday nights. The main bad thing is just the rider support, I found www.deliveroorider.com was pretty helpful but the actual deliveroo service is shit. They signed me up for my first week of orders, and then didn’t tell me how to apply for new ones, so I spent the next week sending like a thousand emails trying to get some shifts. They say it’s flexible but it’s really not. You even have to pay £100 of your own money when you start for the huge box and jacket, they’re literally earning money from their riders. The danger is an aspect, especially at night and when it’s raining, and I’ve definitely had some crazy scary moments with lorries in london. Overall though it’s a good temporary job to have, but I definitely wouldn’t recommend you do it full time.

lakesluddite

I suspect the life of cycle courier can seem quite fun and even romantic to us cyclists - after all it's been paid to do something we love.

Read this before you make your mind up:

https://wordery.com/what-goes-around-em ... ZTQyOTc%3D

Very honest account of what to expect, even though the set up is different to Deliveroo I suspect.

Personally, I wouldn't touch the gig economy with a barge pole.

mouth

bobmcstuff wrote:

Garry H wrote:

Don't we all share roads with lorries and buses? They just do it with a stupid big box on their backs.

At least all the kit they get you to wear is ridiculously reflective.

No amount of reflective kit, or indeed any helmet or other safety gear will save a rider from making a bad decision. I see several very near misses with both other vehicles and pedestrians on a weekly basis.

Riding standards in my town are truly hideous, same goes for Uber Eats who've also just set up here. Although there's only one person choosing to make that bad decision on the road.

As for the bike bits etc that need replacing constantly, as someone who's self employed all these can be tax relief with a creative accountant (you can claim that cost back too).

FWIW I don't - and never will - order from Deliveroo or Uber on the basis that if he/she gets taken out on the way to mine it'd be on my conscience. One thing I will say is that none of them seem to be fat.

ben@31

Mouth wrote:

No amount of reflective kit, or indeed any helmet or other safety gear will save a rider from making a bad decision. I see several very near misses with both other vehicles and pedestrians on a weekly basis.

Riding standards in my town are truly hideous, same goes for Uber Eats who've also just set up here.

I have the same experiences
Deliveroo couriers in my city are an embarrassment and are what's giving cyclists a bad name. It's pretty poor when they jump red lights and pelican crossings as pedestrians are halfway across the road, or cycle on the pavement or the wrong way on a one way street.
I condemn reckless cycling just the same as I condemn dangerous driving. Maybe more, as I don't want my sport to be associated with that.

jgsi

ben@31 wrote:

Mouth wrote:

No amount of reflective kit, or indeed any helmet or other safety gear will save a rider from making a bad decision. I see several very near misses with both other vehicles and pedestrians on a weekly basis.

Riding standards in my town are truly hideous, same goes for Uber Eats who've also just set up here.

I have the same experiences
Deliveroo couriers in my city are an embarrassment and are what's giving cyclists a bad name. It's pretty poor when they jump red lights and pelican crossings as pedestrians are halfway across the road, or cycle on the pavement or the wrong way on a one way street.
I condemn reckless cycling just the same as I condemn dangerous driving. Maybe more, as I don't want my sport to be associated with that.

I cant see the correlation between your 'sport' and a geezer trying not to be screwed over a company whose business model is dubious to say the least. .. standards may be sh it , but the general public may have their qualms allayed as their takaways get to them through all weathers.

ben@31

Have you even read my comment? It's their reckless cycling that gives us a bad name. "Trying not to be screwed over by the company" Is not an excuse to cycle through red lights at pedestrian crossings.

How dare I condemn dangerous / reckless cycling

Moonbiker

How much do they get paid approx?

Man Of Lard

From the Telegraph (May 31)

"The company is offering 3,000 of the riders the option of taking payment per delivery which will amount to between £3.75 and £4 per trip depending on the location in the country.

It told riders that in tests so far the workers who have chosen this option earn an average of £12 per hour worked, compared with £9.50 for those who use the current system which pays them on an hourly basis plus £1 per delivery."

ddraver

It's the sort of job that would be perfect for me at the moment with only 6 weeks or so to spare but having been ripped off working for working for working for amazon (sic) - had I got paid I would have been paid something like 3.50/hr - I find it very hard to trust these sorts of things any more.

That payment by delivery option above just screams !! SCAM !! to me.

rick_chasey

ddraver wrote:

It's the sort of job that would be perfect for me at the moment with only 6 weeks or so to spare but having been ripped off working for working for working for amazon (sic) - had I got paid I would have been paid something like 3.50/hr - I find it very hard to trust these sorts of things any more.

That payment by delivery option above just screams !! SCAM !! to me.

I can assure you that working for Deliveroo in the Hague is rather different to London, having seen both.

ddraver

Well I can imagine but introducing some worker rights would reduce Britain to apocalyptic socialist rubble don't you know!

Moonbiker

Seems that in each city location there is different pay/earning potential depending on how many riders are chasing jobs etc/ & the time of day & the day of the week.

deliveroowanted

whitleytravels wrote:

I’ve been cycling for Deliveroo for a few weeks now and it’s got it’s highs and lows. It’s great on sunny days when you’re cruising through the city and know you’re being paid descent. Also the tips do come during through on friday nights. The main bad thing is just the rider support, I found http://www.deliveroorider.com was pretty helpful but the actual deliveroo service is shoot. They signed me up for my first week of orders, and then didn’t tell me how to apply for new ones, so I spent the next week sending like a thousand emails trying to get some shifts. They say it’s flexible but it’s really not. You even have to pay £100 of your own money when you start for the huge box and jacket, they’re literally earning money from their riders. The danger is an aspect, especially at night and when it’s raining, and I’ve definitely had some crazy scary moments with lorries in london. Overall though it’s a good temporary job to have, but I definitely wouldn’t recommend you do it full time.

Hello, I am doing my dissertation on Deliveroo as a company for my final year project, it has been a struggle trying to track them down one by one to interview them. I started to look on forums for deliveroo drivers so I can ask them a few questions, about 6 questions. I was wondering whether I can interview you for my dissertation? It would be extremely beneficial for final year project and degree!! It will not take long. I hope to hear back from you soon.

cooldad

Guy hasn't logged in since he made his single post. You might have a long wait.

shiznit76

Is it no pretty top heavy cycling around with that massive box on your back?

Like others have said, the wear and tear costs aren't really taken in to account. I was in a cycle shop on Sunday when a "Roo" came in for a new inner tube, it was his third that week! Pothole central at the moment in towns, all adds up and comes out your pay

Moonbiker

Didn't he know how to patch a tube?

bobmcstuff

Buying 3 new tubes a week one at a time from a bike shop will ruin his margins...