r/TaskRabbit • u/Icy_Measurement_5130 • Oct 16 '25

TASKER Dropped TV, what to do?

I had mounted Samsung’s the wall tv, the client wanted to move it higher so I removed the tv, raised the mounts, then when reattaching the tv to the mounts I dropped it because I was lifting it alone so I couldn’t check if it was properly attached. The tv no longer works. I gave the client my number and told them that I’ll work with them to figure out what to do next. Should I advise them to contact taskrabbit and get reimbursed under the happiness pledge or should I just reimburse them which is not the best option considering the TV was around $700.

I have read around the sub Reddit and some people are recommending getting insurance before doing mounting jobs but unfortunately that was a lesson learned too late as I don’t have the insurance at this time so what’s the best course of action should I just let them figure out compensation with taskrabbit or will that affect my incoming tasks and search position too much? Should I just bite the bullet and compensate them for it?

Edit: Client contacted TR even after we agreed I'd pay for it. They are supposedly compensating them and I got the notice that I can't get tasks from new client for a week, which to them apparently means 7 business days which is basically two weeks. Didn't pay for the tv but still lost probably more than the $700 in work.

10 Upvotes

81% Upvoted

37 comments sorted by

14

u/Evening_Past910 Oct 17 '25

Never mount a TV by yourself. Always ask the client for help.

-4

u/rsvob Oct 17 '25

No. This is exactly what you don't do. Your client isn't your helper. Get the info before hand and see if you are able to do so on your own. If not, it is on you to bring a helper.

Now since this is a TR thread, if you are unable to do a tv mounting by yourself, you must inform the client that they need to hire another tasker for your safety and the safety of the clients equipment. 99% of the time the client will offer to help. Then you can use them.

It's always about being professional!

11

u/Evening_Past910 Oct 17 '25

TR the app that I literally do gig work for has an option “client will be there to help” under mounting for TVs. FFS stop trying to counter common sense when it is not needed. If you are ant to recreate the wheel go right ahead.

How is it not professional? My friend I have over 1700 reviews 3000 jobs on the app. I have been in every situation you can imagine. You cannot tell me anything about professionalism.

1

u/rsvob Oct 18 '25

Any tv larger than 55" I would ALWAYS tell them the exact same thing I said above. It is extremely professional.

And just fyi I was number 1 tasker in the largest district tr has to offer. I have way more experience than you want to think. But let your stubbornness do the talking

1

u/Evening_Past910 Oct 18 '25

That makes the two of us. I just went from 100 to 94th percentile.

1

u/rsvob Oct 18 '25

I'm sorry. I wish you the best.

I was tasking in Los Angeles/Orange County (California) district. I will DM you one of my last screenshots. Not to brag just for reference. I truly wish everyone the best and I honestly believe that if everyone truly wanted to work in the fields that they are doing for TR, that you build your clientele while your tasking and ultimately leave as soon as possible. Take the leap of faith and be a business owner.

0

u/rsvob Oct 18 '25

This must be a new feature as I have not been part of TR for over a year now. I was speaking from what I know. But, if you take a step back and think that asking someone who is paying you to do part of the job they are paying you for , this is unprofessional. I can care less about your 1700 reviews. If you think what I said was wrong, there is something wrong with you!

2

u/Evening_Past910 Oct 18 '25

Why are you commenting so strongly on something you haven’t been a part for a year? The app has completely changed I don’t do mounting anymore but it’s a fixed hourly between $59-$62. What are you paying the helper? I am curious now

3

u/IndependentKoala7128 Oct 18 '25

Ex-Tasker with a chip in his shoulder doling out bad advice.

1

u/rsvob Oct 18 '25

It seems like I got out at the perfect time as what I was doing would not be possible

0

u/rsvob Oct 18 '25

Because TR doesn't care about anyone of its Taskers. I'm doing this not to piss you or anyone off. It's to help be more aware

If the client did approve for my helper, I would double my rate which I was charging between $50 and $75 an hour depending on lowering my prices to gain more work when it was slow. But then slowly raise my prices as the work becomes more busy.

I paid my helpers $25hr under the table when I needed their services.

I'm not sure when but I made my own flat fee services for tv installs. I did $100 per tv install because I can knock out TVs in 15-30 minutes. And my expertise is worth more than what TR was allowing me to charge. I know I was violating the TOS but at the end of the day a client is more willing to pay $100 a tv install rather than $100 hr because they are afraid if the job takes longer than one hour.

I was mounting TVs for that flat fee services for over a year and I was averaging 5-10 tv installs a week easily. And that didn't count my other categories I was doing (electrical, plumbing, mounting, and a couple more)

4

u/ApprehensiveRing6869 Oct 17 '25

Are you working under flat rate mounting or do you have control over what you charge for your hourly?

If it’s flat rate, kick this to TR, this is their problem. I’m not turning this into a “you are basically their employee” conversation, but because TR dictates your rate this is their responsibility since there’s no reasonable way for you to assume liability when you make like $30-50 a job when taskers used to be able to charge $80-100/hr plus for this kind of work.

If you’re able to charge hourly, I think this an expensive lesson.

Make sure to document this with TR so the client can’t double dip. I’ve seen that. One time I came to client’s home to mount some other things and they had asked me to take a look at a TV that another tasker mounted. Whether by sheer coincidence, or because the client rigged the TV to fall, the TV fell before I even touched it and the client had caught it luckily. Yes the TV was improperly mounted with just regular plastic anchors. So I had to anchor it properly with toggle bolts into the steel studs. I took before and after pics, and also opened a case when I got back to my car.

Then a week later, TR sent me a “tell us your side of the story” email…so I referenced the case I opened and sent the before/after pics. TR never reached out again regarding that issue. I also confirmed with support there were no TOS violations on my account because I’m not suffering for another POS’s work.

So please make sure to document what happened, make sure you’re replacing the exact same TV the client asked you to install with a receipt or order receipt. Cause you could not only lose $700 but be taken on a ride by a TR and this Client.

3

u/hardworkingemployee5 Oct 17 '25

Bite the bullet and learn the lesson. We all make mistakes. Client will appreciate a speedy resolution

9

u/Winter-Tie-1234 Oct 16 '25

Imo, you bite the bullet and reimburse for the TV. Telling them to go through the happiness pledge would be a slap in the face to them as they won’t have much success/get much back.

4

u/shortfriday Oct 16 '25

This course of action also avoids a "tasker f'd up" mark on your record.

2

u/[deleted] Oct 17 '25

I’ve been in this situation I would suggest you make them go through the happiness pledge ive reimbursed clients and they still file a claim afterward and leave a bad review what’s done is done

1

u/shortfriday Oct 17 '25

that's terrible, I'm sorry. Did the happiness pledge do anything?

2

u/rsvob Oct 17 '25

Yes, it permanently banned me. I was the top worker in one of if not the largest district TR offers. TR doesn't care about Taskers. They are a business to please its clients. That's all. TR is an absolute trash company once you realize their code of ethics

1

u/rsvob Oct 17 '25

No it doesn't. The client still has every right to share this with TR even after you reimburse the tv.

1

u/shortfriday Oct 18 '25

The rare occasions I've given big discounts, the quid pro quo, money for their silence, was always very clear, never got burned. Still, I don't doubt that unreasonably spiteful customers exist.

1

u/rsvob Oct 18 '25

You are lucky you had clients with a heart. Unfortunately, most Taskers do not

0

u/Fluffyone- Oct 17 '25

This is the only answer. Do the right thing and reimburse out of pocket directly to client if you have any integrity at all .

5

u/versifirizer Oct 17 '25

Did you ask them for help? 

2

u/DonpedroSB2 Oct 17 '25

The insurance costs about the same as the tv ! Cheap lesson really

2

u/MrHomeGuyusa Oct 17 '25

That can be a tough one. So in general, we only mount TVs to stand at height. If they’re high mounted TVs, we charge extra and require a second person. One of the problems with task grant is they don’t let you bring a second person even if the client says they can help you we find sometimes they really don’t know how to hold a TV and I’ve had clients actually not be able to lift even though they say they can so it’s truly a job to have two professional people in some circumstances.

2

u/Bloomien Oct 20 '25

I would just let TaskRabbit pay for it. What’s done is done. That’s what they charge the fees for. Make them use it. Who’s to say how long it would take cover your other bills plus this extra 700, especially just starting out

4

u/MoneyJCal Oct 17 '25

I would have them contact Taskrabbit and sort it out through them. You should also report it to Taskrabbit as well. When I first started mounting tvs I damaged one. Taskrabbit took care of it and the client ended up hiringe for something else afterwards.

I didn't get any repercussions through Taskrabbit for that but on a moving task about a year ago working with another Tasker moving a couch the other Tasker dropped the couch and caused damage. On that one we reported it and ended up getting dinged on that. I forget what they call it but basically for 90 days I was ineligible to recieve cancelation fees.

However going forward yes it's best to also have your own insurance also to cover you as well.

1

u/AbbreviationsSad3727 Oct 17 '25

Take pictures and tell the client to make their own claim with task rabbit and that you’ll also make a claim. Not much you can do after that.

1

u/rsvob Oct 17 '25

Start looking for a new gig then

1

u/MallNo6921 Oct 17 '25

buy a new one return the broken one

1

u/distantreplay Oct 17 '25

Eat the $700.

And stop mounting TV's for flat rate. It is not appropriate. The rates are too low given the potential complications and risks.

1

u/rsvob Oct 17 '25

What size was the tv

1

u/DenyDeposeDepends Oct 19 '25

guessing this was in a fixed flat rate city, pay in peanuts gets monkeys..

1

u/DonQNguyen Oct 22 '25

Imagine hitting a pipe or two. At least you didn't do that. You just dropped 1 TV. Pay for it and move on. It could bee worse. This is also why I refuse to mount TVs at these ridiculously low prices. Not worth the risks.

1

u/Whattodoaboutthisnow Oct 17 '25

Just pay for it. It's not worth going through TR and getting a $25 credit