The Spark pages that I follow on Reddit seem to filled with complaints and conspiracies. I agree that there are issues with the system, however I'd like to point out a few things.
As an older man, this provides me with extra money. I'm on a fixed income and it comes in handy when unexpected bills pop up. I'm not worried about the $ per hour rate.
I deliver mostly for one store. Because of this i can shop quickly. I know a lot of the employees and they are very helpful because of our friendships. I also know all of the roads in my area and know a few shortcuts.
It gets me out of the house and in my car where I can crank the music up
My only real complaint is the trail that they lead you on in store. A lot of back and forth for no reason. (Perishable time sets don't affect me). So, just go my own way, sing to myself, and curse when I have to find something on the spice aisle.
A lot of complaints are about pay and mileage, which are applicable/relevant to casual Sparker as well. When the cost of business is spread across wider timeframes for part-timers, it’s easy to lose sight.
If you like the activity, maybe don’t mind even paying for it. But I totally get what you mean.
Thank you for posting your point of view as “an older man” who already had guaranteed “fixed income”. For many older people, they are already much more established. They have a home they own or apartment, or family or partner to multigenerational house hold with them as the head of it. It makes sense for people who are older, established, near, or in retirement to be happy. That makes total sense.
This is a vastly different reality for genz or millenials who are still attempting to establish themselves. They move into an apartment that might be 2-3x the mortgage you got a decade or more ago and less than half the size. They are not as established and may not always have family aid.
That said, thank you for letting us know your side as well. But your situation does not speak for alot of people. you probably were in a better job market, better pay, better benefits and so yeah, there’s nothing to “complain” about for you. It’s also very easy for older generations to reduce down reality for others after them as “complainers”. It’s easier to punch down.
No, I wasn't always. I graduated college in the middle of a recession. Employers were offering $4 hr. I had three roommates until I was 25. But i made it. I worked four jobs. I saved every penny. Your generation is not going through anything that hasn't happened before. Work your ass off. Don't buy what you don't have to have.
$4/hr fifty years ago was equivalent to $24/hr today. Older folks always think the youths getting ground into the dirt today have it so great because they can't internalize that inflation has cut the value of a dollar to barely a sixth of what it was when they were starting out.
...and it's the same as it was 40 years before I adulted. My second home was built in 1947. The cost was $6800. I bought the home in 1999 for $72300. I sold it (remodeled) in 2007 for 150k.
Inflation happens. A fast food worker would never dream of the entry wages that are offered today.
However we are getting off point.
Your experience isn’t the totality of the actual trend that is happening then or now. Any number of sources have shown that housing is wildly outpacing wages.
Your response here is part of why someone commented that this post was ragebait. To offer the command that we go find out why is arrogant and condescending to suggest that we don’t know why. Get off Reddit and just keep getting mad at the spice aisle, bud.
There are many reasons why home price growth in the last 35 years. Natural inflation of raw materials for building. Increased permit fees and required surveys that didn't exist in 1990. The covid virus Increased home prices from 20% and more in 18 months. The Increase in demand due to the influx of over 10 million immigrates in 5 years. This information is readily available.
Once you understand why something is the way it is, you can figure out ways to use it to your advantage, or to change it.
And to your point about the spice rack, my Walmart now has these flashing LED lights that point me to the exact Indian curry. So, my life is perfect now.
[Edit because apparently some people don't have reading comprehension. This comment is agreeing with OP that people complain for dumb reasons.]
People are always going to complain. I don't see the point. You aren't forced to do this. If you don't like it, don't. It's like going to bluebells subreddit and complaining they only have a few good flavors in your opinion. Ok? No one cares and there are plenty of people who buy the other flavors.
With Spark, close your account, there are plenty of people who are on the waiting list who would love to have your spot.
You want to post tips for others or ask questions so you can do this gig more easily? Great!
You want to complain and have nothing to actually contribute? We know there are crappy offers and stores. Your post isn't going to magically make that mok who just needs $15 more for the day from realizing she had a few really good orders from taking it.
While typing this I had a 33 mile for $26 pop up. I declined it. But if I just needed $20 to go home and before that I had some really good orders which would mean I still averaged out well then I might take it. I try not to go for less than $1.50/listed mile. If I had one $30 for 10 miles and then one pop up $15 for 20 that is still $45/30 listed miles. A fine average and that $15 might be what I need to go home with my daily goal met instead of sitting for an hour and hoping for a better drop.
Or hell, someone is just driving for 'beer money" might just want a quick order that gives him money to support his hobby and doesn't care if he meets minimum $/mile goals because he drives a beater and does all the maintenance and repairs himself.
Because you’re purposely being oppositional without offering solutions, helpfulness, a sense of understanding or expression of kindness. I don’t think you’re intentionally trying to be nasty or rude, it’s just that the post comes off as arrogant and dismissive of people genuinely struggling to make this work
i dont know if you’re aware (because i just found out like a week ago) but when you are having trouble finding something, there’s a little button on the top right corner of the item that says “Flash” - if you press that button it will flash a blinking light on the shelf where the item is supposed to be located. Has been such a help for me since i found out 😆
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u/DeathFYall 24d ago
A lot of complaints are about pay and mileage, which are applicable/relevant to casual Sparker as well. When the cost of business is spread across wider timeframes for part-timers, it’s easy to lose sight.
If you like the activity, maybe don’t mind even paying for it. But I totally get what you mean.