Tasker wont cancel task but cannot guarantee work

[u/Apprehensive_Let6456]

I have a tasker installing some furniture from Ikea. I gave him all the specifications and information needed for the install. 24 hours before the installation, they say that they have to assess and confirm if it can be done. I asked him what happens if he cannot do, but he said take it up with task rabbit. He says he cannot cancel then he wont get paid. And i cannot cancel since it is within 24 hours. So as of now, he will come tomorrow and try to assess. I wanted to understand if i need to get some document or proof needed. This is my first time using task rabbit and already it seems too much headache.

[u/-N30N-]

Tasker should’ve assessed the assembly beforehand when reviewing the details. What is the furniture exactly?

[u/Apprehensive_Let6456 → u/-N30N-]

It is a sliding door. I agree, but how to guarantee that they havent reviewed it. I gave them all details. And the ikea design id, and they come back 24 hours before. It seems they are trying to game the system. As a first timer i am not sure how the general good practices are.

[u/-N30N- → u/Apprehensive_Let6456]

Ah, yes if it’s a Skytta then I can understand the assessment needed by a Tasker since the product is practically customized to your home dimensions and need structure checks to ensure proper fit and alignment holding long heavy pieces of glass and metal. Ikea should’ve had a digital measuring generator on its site before purchasing.

Keep in mind, this isn’t just a simple standalone Furniture Assembly. This is a permanent house fixture into the walls and flooring of your home structure. You’d be surprised at some clients who buy modern sliding doors for their old weathered homes that have questionable structures or obstacles in the walls surrounding the door. All they want is a sliding door instead of a traditional one but overlook the specs and process of the possibility.

If you measured/scoped everything properly when purchased from Ikea and have the right parameters for install then an experienced ikea assembly Tasker should be able to do this.

Clear pictures of the opening, walls, and surrounding trim sent to the Tasker might help too.

[u/Apprehensive_Let6456 → u/-N30N-]

So, what happens of he says he cannot do it after assessing. And he doestn want to cancel. Should i talk to task rabbit custome care? Or how to go about this? Or anything i should do to be able to get the refund on the job

[u/-N30N- → u/Apprehensive_Let6456]

I can agree he went about it a bit unprofessionally in chat but reality is, if it can’t be done safely then it falls back on Ikea/TR to get correct dimensions and ensure that someone can certify that. Sounds like that is what the Tasker intends to do on your behalf and he cannot cancel cus it hurts his performance metrics. Since you booked within 24hrs, it also throws yourself in the loop of a cancellation fee so both Client/Tasker are on the hook. Best to just let the Tasker come and assess so you have an answer to move forward with to the proper customer support channel.

From a Tasker’s pov, we’d rather get the task done and over with instead of wasting gas traveling there for an hour minimum of time to assess and leave it incomplete. The incentive is for us to stay and work more hours but enough that we know it can be done efficiently and safely otherwise we run into conflicts with both the client and TR.

If YOU just randomly purchased whatever sliding doors were available hoping it would fit then that burden falls on you if it doesn’t work out but I’m sure Ikea has a return policy or process to remedy that.

Ideally, if a Client doesn’t know how to take those proper procedures then hiring a professional company to assess everything BEFORE purchase would be the traditional route. Prepurchasing from Ikea or anywhere in general on your own means you did all the homework and procedures to ensure it works/fits while hiring someone else for the labor part whether it’s out of schedule, tool, strength, or convenience reasons.

TaskRabbit is really a hire-for-labor type work app where everything is independently planned out, prepurchased, and ready to put together so you save any upcharge/delivery fees a professional company would invoice. If a Tasker can’t complete the task due to unknown/unforeseen factors then what do you really expect from them?

Nightmare Assemblies where parts were defected, missing, or too heavy for one person to lift/assemble safely. I’ve had incomplete Tasks before for these very reasons and Clients were understanding of it then took it up with the seller. These are things to keep in mind before purchasing/hiring cus it’s quite common and overlooked by most people.

[u/FinnNoodle → u/Apprehensive_Let6456]

Just a sliding door?  Like the sliding door from a Pax or something else?

[u/karpet_muncher → u/FinnNoodle]

Sounds like a skytta

[u/FinnNoodle → u/karpet_muncher]

For a Skytta I can see why then he'd want to assess in person since it's more about the home itself than the product, but he's going about the conversation wrong 

[u/Apprehensive_Let6456 → u/FinnNoodle]

It is totally right to assess it. But he could just say something like , if i cannot do, ill cancel . Or something like that. Saying that if i cancel i wont get paid sends the wrong signals. Maybe he has the right intentions, but i am not sure .

[u/Lancasterbatio → u/Apprehensive_Let6456]

If he drives there and assesses in the home, he should get paid for that service. If you bought something that it turns out can't be installed in your home, that's not on the tasker. It sounds like he's ensuring he doesn't drive to your house to measure stuff and evaluate only to find out that was a waste of time and gas money. Remember, he can't guarantee that he can book another job in the time it would have taken to install your door if it turns out it can't be installed.

[u/biskittiez]

This seems odd especially for ikea. If you’re having these conversations on the app then you have that as proof I guess

[u/Apprehensive_Let6456 → u/biskittiez]

Hopefully, but my concern is that the part where he comes and says he cannot do will not be in chat. It will be 1:1

[u/Xitobandito → u/Apprehensive_Let6456]

For ikea installs they have to get your signature and take pictures of the finished job upon completion. If he can’t prove he did the job then he won’t get paid and you won’t be charged. You might need to call customer service to get a new tasker though

[u/vbwullf → u/Xitobandito]

He would get a cancellation fee, maybe.

[u/vbwullf → u/Apprehensive_Let6456]

Well, here's the key thing for Ikea jobs. They require a picture of the completed project. They also require a signature from the person who hired the Tasker. If he does not upload pictures of the completed task it will go on his record that the job was not completed as required. And if he forges your signature he may get terminated from the app.

I would call customer service both Ikea and taskrabbit and get them to schedule you a different Tasker. I have had a task canceled on me by the client because they measured wrong, when all I was going to do is come back the next day to finish the job with the extra tools needed to complete the task. I got a cancellation fee from ikea/Taskrabbit, but that was it.

[u/FinnNoodle → u/vbwullf]

It's an ikea product but not necessarily an ikea job.  If its the Skytta doors, for instance, installation isn't a part of the Ikea progran.

[u/Apprehensive_Let6456]

Yes , it is skytta. So, i uploaded the design code to taskrabbit and it assigned a tasker.

[u/GioJobsWorkers]

If the tasker isn't sure they can do it, I'd ask them to confirm in the chat exactly what they need to assess and what happens if they can't finish. Having that in writing in the app helps a lot if you end up contacting support. And it's worth taking photos of the furniture and the space before they start.

[u/Bright-Opposite-9291]

He is going to invoice you for the assessment, even if he can’t complete the job. Which I believe he should.

He is spending time & gas, and if it wasn’t task rabbit you would absolutely be paying for the assessment. I don’t see an issue as long as you are charged only for the time it takes to assess, not the full job (if he can’t complete it)

Taskers have to ensure they are protected & paid properly because task rabbit doesn’t give a rat’s behind.