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How valuable is your time? Is it worth finding someone to essentially be you?
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Hear us out.
It’s summer in Toronto and with the season comes not only unbeatable weather but also big events to attend, from concerts, festivals, Blue Jays games, pop-ups and the fast-approaching World Cup and corresponding fan zones.
Taskrabbit — the online and mobile marketplace best known for connecting people needing help with things like daily chores, moving and handywork with “Taskers” who are ready to take on any job — is now ready to help those who would rather do anything else with their time than stand in line.
“Literally, anyone can benefit from this service,” Pashv Shah, general manager of Taskrabbit Canada, told the Toronto Sun .
“You can probably quickly recall the last time you walked away from a line because it was too long.”
According to Taskrabbit’s findings, nearly three-quarters (73%) of Canadians have done just that, while 30% said they have missed an important appointment or event entirely because they were stuck waiting in line.
Convenience is priceless
Nearly half (45%) of Canadians said they have waited over an hour in a single queue, with only about one-quarter (27%) of respondents admitting that long waits are actually worth waiting in.
In fact, nearly half (43%) of Canadians say the 20-minute mark is when their patience runs out.
But are people to pay for convenience? Well, all you have to do is ask anyone who has hopped on Hwy. 407 to avoid sitting in traffic.
The data found that more than one-quarter (28%) said they would pay to skip a line during a major event.
“With the FIFA World Cup, festival season and limited-edition merch drops all on the horizon this summer, there’s no shortage of Canadians who can get their spot held for them while they go about and enjoy their day or focus on other to-dos,” Shah noted.
He even cites using Taskrabbit’s Wait in Line service on Victoria Day, hiring a Tasker to wait at Pizzeria Badiali while he and his family strolled around the Trinity Bellwoods neighbourhood.
So, how does it work?
Open the Taskrabbit app or website, describe the task — like where the line is, when you need someone there, how long you expect the wait to be — and those in the area who area available, along with their rates and reviews, will come up, Shah explained.
“From there, you pick the Tasker you want, confirm the details and they show up,” he said. “When you’re ready to take your spot, you head over and make the swap. It’s that easy.”
Part-time possibilities?
As for those who possess that patience of a saint, perhaps this is a good side-hustle option.
Wannabe Taskers go through a registration process, which always includes a background check.
Once that’s completed, Taskers set up their own profiles, choose the categories of work they want to take on and set their own rates.
“We know waiting in lines requires a specific kind of patience but for the right Tasker, it’s an appealing way to work with flexible hours when you have some time to spare and are looking to earn money at the same time,” Shah said.
“On average, Canadian Taskers earn an average of $46 an hour across all types of tasks and they take home 100% of what they earn, including tips.”
He added: “That’s a meaningful income opportunity while having the freedom to be your own boss.”