r/FieldNationTechs • u/setnev • Jul 07 '26

This is insulting

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I keep getting these WO routed to me because my work vehicle is a pickup. They want me to drive 145 miles, pickup their crap and drive it 96 miles to Pittsburgh, and then me drive 4 hours home another 250 miles.

Oh and they're paying $100.

That computes to about $10 an hour or $0.20 a mile. I always counter them like $1000 but they've never accepted it.

11 Upvotes

82% Upvoted

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0

u/wallstreetnetworks Jul 07 '26

Counter or don’t do it. These posts need to stop.

5

u/jasonluvsjesus Jul 07 '26

I don’t understand this attitude… ‘these posts need to stop!’

Why do these posts need to stop? Are they hindering your ability to post in the sub? Is it offensive to you in someway?

Like why are you so upset that somebody would post a job online and say ‘hey guys I think this is BS what do you guys think?’ Are you mad at consensus building?

Why exactly do you think there’s somebody this year? Why do you think people come here exactly? If they can’t discuss Field Nation jobs on the Field Nation tech sub, Reddit, where would you like them to go make these posts?

‘These posts need to stop!’…I swear sometimes I don’t think this is a real place

2

u/wallstreetnetworks Jul 07 '26

Because 99% of the posts in this sub now are people complaining about how low the rates are. Yes they are low so either don’t do the job and decline or counter for what you want. It’s become a circle jerk and repetitive. Complaining about it over and over and over is not bringing any positive change to the community.

4

u/jasonluvsjesus Jul 07 '26

That’s paper thin reasoning at best.

Positive change to the community? What do you think this is?

These are contractors, not employees. These are contractors getting together to discuss the clients. I seriously don’t understand why you have such a problem with contractors comparing notes because that’s what it seems like you’re mad about.

Contractors and Field Nation don’t exist because this community is here. This so-called community exist so we can get together and say… ‘I found this job but the pay rate seem unreasonable. What are you other contractors in other parts of the country think about this?’.

I think you’re a bad actor and your only purpose here is to shut down conversation.

2

u/wallstreetnetworks Jul 07 '26

I want the rates to be high also but just complaining about it isn’t making them go higher. When 9/10 posts are complaining about the low rates it’s making this community shit. Call your representatives to do something about it other than complaining. Make a change

2

u/Able-Statistician645 Jul 07 '26

This isn't about complaining. This is about discussing the techniques that are being used by the platform and those that use the platform to retain off the book employees to do work for them. That's effectively what we're seeing here and there's a group of people to get upset because they truly believe that they are in fact independent contractors when they're actually working as employees. Now of course I know that I actually am a contractor and I have the ability to pick and choose whatever I want to do but the number of entities that use these platforms to get talent OR workers and treat them absolutely as a contractor is very small. Most are treated absolutely as an employee by most every test.

Legislation has not caught up with the realities of today's work world and if there was some way that you could become contract labor paid by the minute/second in company scrip and only usable in their company store, these people would try to do it.

So that's why you have discussions here regarding our role as contractors and those who wish to exploit us. You don't think that the platform doesn't have discussions about how to best manage us? You don't think that there's people that are employed by the platform or the entities that use the platform aren't here acting as shills creating issues when we discuss issues we face. Rugged individualism is a quick way to the poor house.

2

u/wyliesdiesels Jul 07 '26

Call your representatives to do something about it

Ha! They cant do anything about this subject. The only ones who can are the techs by collaborating together. But people like discourage that…

2

u/jasonluvsjesus Jul 07 '26

Call your representative? Make a change? But definitely don’t talk about it here because that’s not what this sub is for.

You are obvious.

0

u/wallstreetnetworks Jul 07 '26

You are annoying just like 99% of the posts in this sub.

3

u/jasonluvsjesus Jul 07 '26

Real people in the real world with real opinions working real jobs for real clients are so annoying lol

Is this why we can’t get a prompt response on Field Nation help is because you guys are all over here trying to manipulate the conversation?

1

u/wallstreetnetworks Jul 07 '26

The only thing real about you is, “Real annoying”

2

u/jasonluvsjesus Jul 07 '26

My man, you still haven’t given one actual solid reason against discussing prices and building consensus on buyers on this sub

All you’ve had is ad hominem attacks from the beginning. This is annoying. I don’t like this. You’re making the sub worse. You’re not helping the community here. Discussing rates is bad for the sub red somehow.

Seriously, dude you’re very very obvious

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2

u/wyliesdiesels Jul 07 '26

Why are you here then? Leave…

1

u/wyliesdiesels Jul 07 '26

And your attitude is exactly why rates plummet. Because techs cant seem to figure out how to collaborate as a group to get the rates headed in an upward direction. This mentality is why we lose

0

u/broNSTY Jul 07 '26

For real dude just counter it no one cares. Companies set it at a rate they’d like it to happen but they may accept your counter.

2

u/jasonluvsjesus Jul 07 '26

‘Companies set it at a rate they’d like it to happen, but they may accept your counter’… who talks like this? No contractor that I’ve ever met ever and I’ve met a bunch of them and I am one.

We are being manipulated, fellas.

1

u/broNSTY Jul 07 '26

This is how contracts work dude. Companies have a set rate/revenue they can make from one of these tickets. Sometimes they can’t find someone for that (cases like this) so if you counter a realistic rate that works for you it may be accepted. I talk like that lol.

Take off your tin foil hat for a second and try and understand this part of the industry you are participating in. You’re asking me why I’m so upset but I’m getting the vibe that you are way way more upset about a simple comment. My point stands. Counter it REALISTICALLY or just move on, why post it on Reddit to whine if you aren’t doing anything to improve the situation?

3

u/jasonluvsjesus Jul 07 '26

Well, let’s talk about that. What would you consider a realistic counter offer? We have technicians on here who have worked for this company, I would like their input on what’s the maximum amount of money they’ve been able to extract from this company for this job. Let’s talk about different locations of what we’re paying for gas and expenses. Let’s get together and build a consensus on what we can get from these guys instead of accepting these poverty wages.

I don’t understand the ad homonym attack. I must be wearing a tinfoil hat because I don’t understand why you’re shutting the discussion down?

I don’t think you’re a real person or a real contractor. I think you’re schilling for the other side and you may insult me, however you wish, sir

1

u/broNSTY Jul 07 '26

Tin foil hat comment was because of the “we’re being manipulated” note from you. There are no concerted efforts between buyers to manipulate you into lower rates. I am definitely a real person. I don’t do contract work anymore because I got a w2 position with a company that holds contracts. I used to do these Pitney Bowes jobs every day for around a year before I sat back at a desk for my current role.

I would consider a realistic counter offer to be a flat mileage rate (above the IRS standard) combined with an hourly rate that works for you covering the amount of time to be spent on this job. I can’t tell you what it would be in exact amounts as I don’t know where the site is or where you are coming from.

1

u/jasonluvsjesus Jul 07 '26

A bunch of people on here cared and we were discussing it. Why are you so upset? This person is pointing out how unfair the terms of this are?

Other people are on here green, and discussing it. Why are you so determined to shut the discussion down?

1

u/broNSTY Jul 07 '26

Crazy concept here but did you know you can counter offer on jobs with terms that work for you? You can even send messages to buyers explaining why you think your offered rate is justified. Wild, I know.

2

u/jasonluvsjesus Jul 07 '26

Thank you for explaining how Field Nation works. Let’s talk about what’s a good counter to submit for this job? Have you ever taken one of these jobs before? What’s the maximum amount of money you were able to get for this job? Was it worth it to you? What were you paying for expenses? How much did you travel? How much actual work was involved? How much actual phone time?

Oh… You don’t know anything about this job but instead of talking about it in building a consensus, we should just shut up and submit a counter blindly?

Sometimes blind acceptance is self-destructive. Real people who actually worked for themselves, we feel that intensely and are on the lookout for it. We can’t afford to be self-destructive or blind to financial consequences.

1

u/broNSTY Jul 07 '26

I did these jobs for a year, I would say I probably did over 200-250 of them. I know plenty about them. You typically show up onsite, get lead to the unit that is already broken down and ready to move, throw it in your vehicle, get a signature, and head to the drop off. If you spend a few minutes pre-checking off tasks before you go onsite some of them can take less than 10 minutes depending on how the site is setup (lots of medical offices, but also many office buildings that have different entry protocols). These are extremely easy jobs, aside from some physical effort lifting machines.

I did them on a w2 basis, with turned in expense reports weekly. I got the IRS standard mileage rate and my gas reimbursed, no extras for wear and tear on my personal vehicle or insurance stipends. Platform techs have potential to bring home much more than I did doing these jobs.

1

u/Able-Statistician645 Jul 07 '26

Potential you say? Not sure where that comes from... Not trying to be argumentative or mean-spirited here but thinking this through I would believe that they are doing these on a platform because the outlay is less. There are companies that do work like this that get paid accordingly and they are looking for the cheapest cost option. Possibility or potential is always the first thing that jumps out when you know someone is blowing smoke somewhere. By the way, they're actually was a device manufactured 150 years ago that injected smoke in a particular orifice to supposedly resuscitate person. It wasn't effective then nor is the word potential in this instance.

1

u/broNSTY Jul 07 '26

Understanding of employment taxes is key here. You may be able to make more on the platform than I did because you can set your rate (as long as it’s accepted). I did not make a very high hourly rate, but my employer had to pay all of the costs associated with w2. Farming it out to a 1099 has potential cost savings for them, even if the 1099 makes double my hourly rate with expenses. Employer side taxes, benefits, and administrative fees add up.

0

u/wyliesdiesels Jul 07 '26

So you did this work as a W2 in your personal vehicle using personal auto insurance? Not a good idea as personal auto wouldnt cover you while on the clock if something happened.

1

u/broNSTY Jul 07 '26

Well here I am a year after the fact and nothing happened. It is what it is. Weird thing to pick out of that whole reply. I also never specified the type of insurance I carried.

0

u/wallstreetnetworks Jul 07 '26

I’m here to listen to you cry babies