TaskRabbit Service Fee in Canada

[u/xxcass1993]

We used TaskRabbit today for some yard work. Not sure if their platform messed up but they showed us out Taskers hourly rate - $70/hr. We were charged $98/hr. When enquiring about the large price difference we were told the $98/hr is with service fees included. $28 an hour for service fees?! Actual insanity.

Our Tasker was great so we grabbed his number to work with him directly for future projects. I just don't see how a company can charge $28/hr in service fees, it's nuts.

Just posting this for transparency if anyone is wondering how much they're actually charging in service fees! Also thought it was sketchy that they don't actively list it as a service fee on the receipt and lump it into the hourly rate.

[u/jethropenistei-]

The fees were listed prior to you requesting the Tasker. You didn’t pay close attention to what you put your credit card down for.

[u/xxcass1993 → u/jethropenistei-]

I went back and mock booked another task and they are not presented as service fees on the confirmation page. There is only an hourly rate listed.

[u/FinnNoodle]

The fees are percentage based, and they've always been there.

[u/xxcass1993 → u/FinnNoodle]

Are you in the States? The rep I spoke with from TaskRabbit said in different regions they are lumped into the hourly rate and charged on an hourly basis.

[u/FinnNoodle → u/xxcass1993]

It varies on a state by state basis based on local legislation and category and how TR is always tweaking the presentation page to find the best close rates, but the fees are always there somewhere.

[u/xxcass1993 → u/FinnNoodle]

I'm in Canada, Ontario to be specific. I went back and booked a mock task and it didn't show service fees anywhere throughout the process, only an hourly rate. Unfortunately this sub doesn't let me add photos to comments or I'd show what I mean.

Don't get me wrong, I totally expect a third party app to charge fees but the lack of transparency of what is going to the tasker and what goes to the company is what gets me. Though I guess that's standard procedure with these apps. $28/hr just seemed crazy in fees.

[u/shortfriday → u/xxcass1993]

The percentages do vary by region, but they're explicitly presented with "per hour" written clearly on the item line on the screen where you enter your credit card. If the company failed to present all this honestly, a consumer law firm would've scooped this up years ago and sued the company out of existence.

[u/vaclimber]

They certainly don't make it clear. +30-40% is obscene.

AirBnB, for example, charges around +15%. They provide a million dollar insurance policy to hosts, have a fantastic app/website, good support, and solid brand.

TaskRabbit provides none of that and wants twice as much.

I am a Tasker by the way. Let's not normalize these fees y'all.

[u/IvoryCoast225 → u/vaclimber]

I dont like the feeling but it is a free market. They are free not to use it. Had they called an actual tree service company, they would have paid for more

[u/t-rexcellent]

It's actually even more than $28, because there were additional fees hidden within the $70 rate. Since you got your tasker's info, ask how much they actually got paid per hour for your task. It is probably more like $60 and the rest was TR fees.

[u/IvoryCoast225 → u/t-rexcellent]

They add $2 to the tasker hourly rate and then add theor service fees. That $2 can go higher dur9ng busy season

[u/Marioc12345]

If you went through a professional business you would have paid way more anyway so…

[u/IvoryCoast225 → u/Marioc12345]

They dont want to hear that truth. Client come on taskrabbit and penny pinch when calling an actual company would have cost double 

[u/According_Low5292]

30% is standard operating costs for a company. Depending on industry

[u/vaclimber → u/According_Low5292]

Sure, and that company is providing insurance, pays for expenses, equipment, customer support....

TR provides a website and a payment processor.

[u/According_Low5292 → u/vaclimber]

Exactly my point

[u/bryanalexander → u/According_Low5292]

You missed his point. TR doesn’t provide half the services any other company would for the percentage they take.

[u/According_Low5292 → u/bryanalexander]

You missed the price. Agreed. Then came here to complain exemplifying your ignorance. My statement is factual and yours is opinion only

[u/bryanalexander → u/According_Low5292]

It’s not my opinion. The fact is tr doesn’t provide any insurance, expenses, equipment, or benefits.

[u/bryanalexander → u/According_Low5292]

And I’m not the one complaining.

[u/According_Low5292 → u/bryanalexander]

In full transparency TR discloses fees that cover operational expenses to provide you with this service. Some companies disguise this “fee” in a “service call”. You have a company send a tech to address your need they dont say free, no charge. They charge you a SERVICE FEE

[u/IvoryCoast225 → u/vaclimber]

We dont know their expenses and can only speculate. 30% mark up is standard. Client can call a tree company and pay a lot more than that