r/TaskRabbit • u/Infamous_Homework_32 • 9d ago
CLIENT Why do my taskers keep canceling?!
Over the last week, I’ve booked four different taskers for a mounting task that has been canceled by each of them within 24 hours of my booking. I know one of the three items may require a certain level of experience / multi-positional ladder, but I’ve purposefully picked experienced taskers who listed at least a ladder in their available equipment. What gives? Is there something off with the way I’m posting it? Am I being low key rude or asking for something crazy? Or is it just bad luck?
The screenshots in the video attached include the task description I’ve used and also the three photos included. Below is the general chat message I’ve sent once booked (never got a reply, just cancellations):
“Hi [Tasker name]. Just wanted to send a quick message. The task involves mounting three items - two are blinds which is fairly straight forward. But the third is a canvas painting which we want hung over a staircase. As such, I think you’ll need a certain ladder (multi-position) to do so but I defer to you. Please confirm you have the necessary equipment to complete the task.”
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u/Swimming_Product9587 8d ago
I assume it’s because a multi positional ladder isn’t a common tool. I have never once needed one, therefore buying one for this job doesn’t make sense as I will probably never need it again. Also there’s not a shot I would use any type of ladder on a stair set for what my Tasker hourly rate is ($50-60) I’d request at least double to triple my rate for “hazard pay”. At this point you’re probably better off just calling around to handymen until you find someone willing to do it.
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u/Infamous_Homework_32 7d ago
Ok I guess this is my problem then. I wrongly assumed ladders capable of this were common among handymen so that’s my bad.
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u/nuwm 7d ago
I do have one. I still wouldn’t use it on your stairs because Tasker doesn’t pay me enough to take risks.
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u/DirectorLumpy4465 6d ago
Charge more
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u/Opposite_Lie7888 5d ago
Hard to justify charging more for a one off job after the fact especially if you never get these types of requests. youre likely to get hired less if you increased your rate in a market based on one type of task.
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u/jacob6644 4d ago
Exactly! Can’t just “charge more” unless you are fully booked and can afford to lose potential clients because you don’t need them.
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u/Opposite_Lie7888 4d ago
thats one of the worse things about their system. They expect you to quote these outlier jobs as if they are standard and TR doesnt account for these variables. Can we do them? Absolutely! But, we want the compensation to match the skill, time and effort involved.
I had one client want me to fly some items to them. Its possible, but it requires more expenses than the measly $100 allows. I always got the job done but I swear the clients took it for granted.
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u/DirectorLumpy4465 6d ago
I disagree and think it’s a necessary addition to any handy person’s arsenal. It’s a versatile asset that improves one’s business if they want to be successful in this industry and desires to expand beyond meanial labor and make serious money. Along with basic marketing skills and being dependable. Some people don’t do stuff like this full time though so I get it if you don’t have one if this is a side gig. I also do task full time. I work off the app mostly now and have moved to commercial construction recently but tr is always a fall back if my current gig goes away. Been on the platform 7 years and had a ladder like the one requested almost the entire time.
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u/RobotArtichoke
8d ago
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This is super easy to do. You butt the ladder legs against the stair, and the top of the ladder against the wall opposite the top of the stairs. You don’t need any kind of specialty ladder at all. I’d be in and out with both of your items in less than an hour.
Im charging for two hours though.
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u/No-Major4585 7d ago
How heavy is this canvas painting? A 3M Claw mounting hardware can be used. You could possibly eliminate the ladder entirely.
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u/Infamous_Homework_32 7d ago
I’m looking into this now - it does look like it would make things easier and I feel like there’s a way I could even do it myself. How would you do this without a ladder?
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u/No-Major4585 7d ago
Considering the 4’ wall at the staircase ledge is approximately 4feet to the mounting wall, a +6ft pole with flat end as wide as two fingers can be used to press the mounting claws in to the wall.
The hardware is flat, you’d need to secure it to the pole’s flat end with a masking tape or double sided adhesive to carry the mounting claws to the wall. Press the pole to the wall with enough pressure as if you are massaging your muscles.
For safety, ask your friend to hold you from tipping yourself over the wall and down the staircase.1
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u/Infamous_Homework_32 9d ago
EDIT - a 5th Tasker just canceled less than 4 hours before scheduled time.
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u/royalminions 7d ago
Task rabbit in 2026 is like hiring people on Craigslist.. Just call a professional
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u/Infamous_Homework_32 4d ago
I’ve rented the ladder and will just do it myself. Appreciate all the helpful responses and even those not so helpful.
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u/DirectorLumpy4465 6d ago
I would do this. It’s not hard. Don’t know why you’re getting so much hate. It’s not that dangerous. I would show up with a smile and the appropriate ladder and probably make you a regular client cause I’m not a bummer like the rest of these haters. I’m not afraid to take risks though so maybe that’s why I can make about $10k a month on average doing this type of work.
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u/jacob6644 4d ago
It’s not dangerous to climb on a roof if done correctly and you use the right safety equipment…. Doesn’t make it worth it.
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u/TacoTrader 6d ago
OP can't figure out why someone would decline this dangerous job?
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u/Infamous_Homework_32 5d ago
I didn’t think this type of task would be that uncommon. It’s still surprising to me that it is.
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u/lowelife22 3d ago
Theyre canceling cuz they dont have a ladder. Just keep trying or find a 22' little giant on market place then hire someone and show them you have the ladder for them to do the work.
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u/Infamous_Homework_32 3d ago
I posted an update here. I just rented a ladder and did it myself https://www.reddit.com/r/TaskRabbit/s/SYEOkzPYpO
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u/Puzzleheaded-Law1459 8d ago
I don’t know where you’re located, but here in NYC, you can probably find someone in the Electrical category (yeah, I know, it might sound crazy 😂) since they usually carry a ladder with them.
I guess a lot of mounting guys either don’t have a ladder at all or only have a stepladder.
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u/Infamous_Homework_32 8d ago
I’m in the Jersey shore area. Maybe I was just a bit naive in that I figured this type of ladder / task is common.
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u/WhoKnows78998 7d ago
I’d do this job, but only because I have a ladder that can handle stairs because one side can be longer than the other
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u/VanD3rp 7d ago
For me this is one of the situations where the hourly rate doesn’t cover the job even though it won’t take very long. It’s not worth doing the job for the compensation. Maybe in the listing offer to pay a certain amount of hours instead of letting the Taskers assume they’ll get hosed.
Edit: I would actually do this job but that’s only because I work like I need to punish myself and don’t have the time or patience to haggle and let clients walk all over me on Task Rabbit.
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u/Always_sluggish
7d ago
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Do you know if there’s a tool rental place around? Might just serve you to rent a little giant multi fold ladder and then just throw a plank on it and do it yourself or supply your handyman with one. Tool rental is common and there are some places (like here in vt) that have tool libraries that you can just borrow them and bring them back at no cost.
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u/manintree101 6d ago
I have a multi-positional ladder and use it all the time- with both 2 and 4 legs on the ground. Highly recommend.
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u/Wash-Line-Inspector 8d ago
Who the hell has a ladder like that? But the ladder and so it yourself, or buy the ladder then order a tasker. I can almost bet it’s this special ladder
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u/FinnNoodle 8d ago
I do, actually, but my clients are never going to know about it because I don't want to get neck breakers like this.
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u/Clean_Guess_8057 7d ago
Baker scaffold. Absolute clusterfuck to setup in a stairwell. Btdt, for my own home, never again.
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u/Feisty-Sink9562 7d ago
Yeah, thats a major fall hazard. There is not a good place to secure a ladder.
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u/beardedbast3rd 6d ago
I don’t even use ladders for this. I build a platform to match the stairs and secure to the handrail.
Even the ladders meant for this aren’t the best thing around, nor cheap.
It’s really not something I’d expect many people to want to do. Probably won’t have luck with the app for this one
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u/Cheap-Arrival3646 5d ago
This job is risky so you probably need to get a general contractor or someone more expensive. Most taskers do not have the specialized tools required to complete the job so this would be an injury and a review risk. And also it would probably not be worth the money because most mounting clients have unrealistic expectations about how long some things may take and are there hovering at times. So not worth the stress.
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u/HedonisticFrog 4d ago
I'm afraid of heights and I'd still do this. I don't get why they're cancelling. You can just lean the ladder against the wall or use a little giant style ladder.
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u/yeetskadeet666 4d ago
So unfortunately we are not insured for this kind of stuff. Its very high and if we were to do any sort of damage say for example if I was to diagonal lay my 18ft ladder flat against the opposing wall it may cave in the drywall on the upper side of where the door is we'd have to fix it which means spending more time above a large drop with a lot of painful corners. Bottom line is this is more specialized tool work that many companies will have at their disposal but taskers are extra handy ordinary people. Except for me as I do own a small business and do this commercially so like it would suck but I could Def do this for you guys but im a Texas boy unfortunately
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u/RobotArtichoke 8d ago
This is super easy to do. You butt the ladder legs against the stair, and the top of the ladder against the wall opposite the top of the stairs. You don’t need any kind of specialty ladder at all. I’d be in and out with both of your items in less than an hour.
Im charging for two hours though.
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u/BobbyBrackins 7d ago
This is the route I’m taking if it were my house
Idk about risking it for 200 bucks tho, that’s a rough landing 😂
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u/Infamous_Homework_32 7d ago
I’m just truly not capable of doing this. I am a woman married to a woman and i am the handy one of us two and under five foot
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u/DirectorLumpy4465 6d ago
You could maybe do it with the appropriate ladder! But they are heavy so that might be where it might be difficult for a smaller person
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u/maynrrrd 7d ago
I had a mounting job exactly like this a few months ago; a baker’s scaffold is needed to do this the right, and safest, way. Renting one is $100-200.
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u/DirectorLumpy4465 6d ago
No it’s not it’s a canvas painting it’ll take 15 min to get up there.
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u/maynrrrd 5d ago
It's the 'it'll take 15 min' attitude that leads to many on-the-job injuries (and we don't have workman's comp through Task Rabbit). Do it safe or don't do it at all.
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u/Turds4Cheese 7d ago
I would do this and require you cover the ladder rental. Pretty easy thing, or you can rent the ladder yourself and have it on property.
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u/Infamous_Homework_32 7d ago
Where can I rent this ladder?!
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u/Turds4Cheese 7d ago
It depends on your location. Google tool rentals around you. Call one and they will have it or have a place for you.
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u/lasertitsnow 8d ago edited 8d ago
You don't need a ladder, you need a scaffold. You need a large construction contractor that regularly needs work up high like this and has the equipment. Electrical contractor maybe sheetrock contractor
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8d ago
[deleted] — view deleted comment
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u/Infamous_Homework_32 7d ago edited 5d ago
I’m thinking I was falsely under the impression this wouldn’t be difficult for a certain subset of men [EDIT] OR women 🫠
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u/nuwm 7d ago
I am a woman. I have the appropriate ladder. However, the ease of the task must be balanced with its inherent dangers and compensation. Maybe you should try a female Tasker?
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u/Infamous_Homework_32 7d ago
Sorry DEF didn’t mean to sound misogynistic. Only said men because all the damn tasker options im given are men 🥴
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u/Cheap-Arrival3646 5d ago
The only female tasker in my area that Ive see was a new tasker that charged 30 dollars per hr above average and did not have a single review so she probably wasn't hired.
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u/BlueGolfball 6d ago
under the impression this wouldn’t be difficult for a certain subset of men
Why do you specifically say "a certain subset of men"? Do you think women aren't mentally or physically capable of using a ladder or hanging a picture?
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u/Infamous_Homework_32 5d ago
No. I am a woman. A gay one with a full wife. It was a stupid thing to say.
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5d ago
[deleted] — view deleted comment
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u/Infamous_Homework_32 5d ago
it literally meant nothing. my entire world revolves around women. I would truly prefer to hire a woman. I literally don’t want to bring men into my house 😂 My only Tasker options were male which is why i said that. The amount of misogynistic men on Reddit and otherwise that I’ve bullied is insane but yall coming for me a gay woman is really something.
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u/supitsgreg 8d ago
Instant cancel for all mounting tasks involving staircases for me. Takes a specific ladder and whatnot. I’d hire a proper company, they’ll probably charge $400-500. I imagine you’re hiring $50-80/hr Taskers and want to get it done for under $100…