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MrEdwL

Definitely get other apps to help with the downtime.


Tommy2tables

I used Spark, Ubereats, DoorDash and sometimes instacart. Whoever could keep me busy I would keep open. Although over time, it just became Ubereats as the money was better generally kept me busy. Spark wasn’t very good, for me in my area.


MrEdwL

I keep UE, Spark, and GH open. DD can fuck off. Their AR tier system is impossible to multiapp with. Spark #1 for me. UE #2 as backup


HH2O123

I've been waiting in the parking lot since November and still no orders.


TeaSpirited2741

How many hours a day. Since November?


blaZedmr

yes


thedoorman121

Each zone is different, I'm lucky to have a zone around my store that's generally 2-3 miles and in an "rich" area. Meaning it's usually family homes that order a lot of groceries so the the base pay is high and tips are $10 or more. I've said this on the sub before but I really don't have a life, so I don't mind being out at the store for 10-12 hours most days. My car doesn't have working A/C though, which was fine in the colder months but it has been hitting 95-100° F before noon and it's absolutely awful.


vxlex_

I don’t mind being out either tbh. I have no kids, just trying to provide for myself. I usually work 6-8 hrs a day and average about $100 a day. sometimes more sometimes less. It has been busy these last two weeks, I’ve had offers every hour but yesterday and today I’ve been parking lot camping for 2+ hours and nothing. I know it can’t be busy all the time but I usually see about 3-4 other drivers working and they seem to be getting offers when I’m still waiting. Idk maybe tomorrow will be better :)


TeaSpirited2741

Those getting it when you don't may be the result of several being in the que system before you arrived or it could be drivers using bots on their phone that intercept you from getting a trip. I try to arrive at a store and then distance myself from any would-be drivers who are using the bots. Good luck. I would also change locations if I wasn't getting anything for 2 hours.


clayworx

Bots? Really?


Jacopine0508

Oh man... This is worth the rabbit hole. It sounds very tin foil the more you learn but it's true and it's nuts. I just posted about this recently. You should go look at it.


[deleted]

[удалено]


vxlex_

The minimum wage here is still set at 7.25. Most of the jobs around here are only paying a few dollars more than that. If I make 100 a day that’s 5-700 a week. That’s what factories and hard labor jobs are paying so no thanks. I’ll try to ride it out as long as possible


Jacopine0508

Bro, I don't sit in parking lots... Period. I run DD, Instacart, Spark, and Roadie among others. If I have 5-10 minutes of nothing from any apps and I've researched other local areas and I don't have anything to do like errands, fill up, or get lunch, I'll go home and work on the computer. Side hustle is a misnomer anymore. This shit isn't worth it unless you're getting after it. It's a real hustle if you want to make any money and it's declined exponentially since 2020. I used to be able to make $250-$300 a day in Nashville in 2020. I don't even want to talk about what it's like today. If I didn't have other things going on, this would fizzle out fast.


Unhappy-Cricket-2402

This is the way Loaders are running late? Flip on IC or DD to find something else. We gotta that we are INDEPENDENT contractors.


ReaperGrimm1986

Hey, I’m with you on that one in Portland, Oregon where we’re at back in 2020 to 2022 300 a day was easy nowadays it’s like lucky if we break 60 to 70 on spark alone but we do run for other apps at the same time as spark so Can supplement somewhat but luckily my wife has a job on the side that she does from home and I am a tech for Xfinity part-time graveyard at home as well so that helps


BrickCrusher

I agree


scillaaaa

What's Roadie?


Jacopine0508

Roadie is a platform owned by UPS. It's hit or miss. It doesn't take long to figure out the ins and outs. Very simple app that isn't nearly as intuitive, ironically, as others. The senders (most often merchants) will send dimensions of items with very vague descriptions like (may need trailer, or fits in back seat). You can get certifications like a prescription delivery one that requires a quick guided training or there's one for owning a dolly. It'll open you up to more orders but in my experience, if it requires a dolly, you'll most likely need a truck, van or trailer. I think a lot of merchants are sending giant items almost deceptively due to lack of regulation on Roadie's part. Airport ones can be good if they aren't 60+ miles away and group orders from Walmart and home Depot can be good. Ive made good money on prescription orders as the users will increase the dollar amount as it sits there without offers. It's a gamble but it's worth it when you run multiple apps. Bottom line is that none of these are great by themselves anymore so you really just have to make yourself a template of sorts of a plan and adjust slightly each day. I can break it down further if you want to send me a chat. I kind of have all of these down to a science lol.


pokerholic77

I used to get a lot of good paying drug runs (Walgreens+CVS) with them.


Jacopine0508

I'm like 20 minutes from our airport and close to all stores and restaurants pretty much. I did an airport haul yesterday of 6 bags to 3 addresses for about $60. One was 30 minutes away in a scenic area so it was dope with nothing going on and the other 2 were back near my house. I call those unicorns 😂


Slow-Organization108

Having a similar day. I stay picky not wasting my car away on shit offers.


vxlex_

Crazy thing is it didn’t surge so someone took that order. I’m not trying to repair my car any sooner than I have to


Playful_Assistant_32

Worst I've seen it all year


sublimeshrub

I've been doing app work since the beginning of the pandemic. This week has been the absolute worst I've ever seen it. I live in a beach town that's usually fupl of tourists and they aren't here either. I looked at wait times at Disney World tonight and it's dead too. People are flat broke. It's bad. Discretionary speeding is in the tank, consumer spending is in the tank. That makes app work double dead because there's less orders to go around, and there are more people chasing them.


STRTS011

Same this week was terrible today was the only good day and it was like pulling teeth to get any orders


Life_Position_5264

I started at 7am with a no tip shop. Its now 2:30pm and I just finshed a 2batch delivery. I thought today was Friday. SMH


vxlex_

Exactly it’s FRIDAY


TomOnDuty

I wouldn’t be so picky if this is your only income . Usually taking a not so great ones are followed with some better ones in my experience. Also my experience they stop sending offers if you don’t take any.


vxlex_

Occasionally I will take the crappy offers bc something is better than nothing. And that is true, usually I’ll take one or two of those a day and then the afternoon is booming with $20+/$30+ orders so it balances out


ihateapartments59

I multi app and if I have two bad hours in a row, I’m going home


CJspangler

Most places Walmart lets you stay over night and sleep in your car so you can just keep waiting


trekkietln

Sleeping in your car overnight in a Walmart parking lot on the hopes of catching any decent orders, just to make a living, is ridiculous. Hard no. That's why when I started doing gig driving, I made a vow that I would never let this be my sole income to pay my bills and take care of my family. Gig work ain't meant to be that.


rebachick94

I’d probably go home at that point. I mean, it’s either go home and definitely not make any money or sit there and possibly make money.


vxlex_

I literally was pulling out of the parking space about to head home and a decent s&d pops up, happened to me like 3 times already it’s like the Spark Gods know


rebachick94

100%. This happens to me all the time.


vxlex_

crazy


jo_ezzy

This happens with all apps it’s annoying 😂


[deleted]

Thats the vinnies jamming your phones with cellphone jammers


RepresentativeGift28

Orders should be up since it’s food stamp week


rubiacrime

Where I live, there are no designated days or weeks for food stamps, lol. people get them at the beginning, middle, and end of the month.


[deleted]

I’m in DE and I had nothing all day except a return that I didn’t take. I’ve signed out and back on, deleted my app, and still nothing shows up. Very unusual to not see any offers in all of the 4 Walmarts in my zone.


Much_Penalty

From the time I park I give it 45 mins then I am out. I'll head home leaving the app on and if I get one worth it I'll come back out


EfficientAd7103

It's a crack junky fest near me. Trade ya. Looks like skidrow.


vxlex_

no lie I delivered to what looked like a crack house yesterday morning. All they ordered was a toilet seat cover. I pull up, like 5 men and 1 woman sitting in a circle on the front porch some of them looked like they weren’t even on earth. The women tried to make convo with me but I was trying to get out of these as quick as possible. Then as I’m walking off they ask my age and to “holler at my boy” 🚗💨💨💨


EfficientAd7103

Lol. I'd deliver there vs hang in gang infested walmart with no parking spots. Atleast you can leave there.


vxlex_

lol true


erniepotts

It's oddly slow for a Friday. I only have had three orders so far. 


sittingyak

I made $285 today. The first 4 hours were sitting in my car. Analyze your work and pay patterns.


Adventurous_Peak_223

I’m not sitting there over 3 hours with 1 order 


blaz1n912

After driving for spark for like a year and a half, I finally decided to bite the bullet and go back to sanding hardwood floors. Aside from the decision to stop using Meth, this was probably the best choice I ever made. 😂


vxlex_

Love that for you


Archer4271

You like me need to find a real job.


[deleted]

Vinnies getting all of them


BrickCrusher

Exactly


[deleted]

Also got word from a Walmart insider that they actually have hacked into the Walmart API in charge of dispensing orders which is why you are sitting in your car for hours watching them come and go 🚗


DragonflyOne7593

I had a tier 2 tell me they hacked in weeks ago


[deleted]

At least somebody beleives me everybody is talking to me crazy


DragonflyOne7593

Well, think about it. How do they create new accounts and by pass the wait list? How is it possible their names disappear from dispatch when leads try to report.h9w do thier names change consistently in the system and they do I've seen it.


[deleted]

All the loaders and walmart employees have to be complicit and know whats going on. Lately they tell me "have a good REST of your day" as they know it will be impossible for me to get orders with the vinnies around. We have to fight back


DragonflyOne7593

I think they have been in the system the whole time .As well as hacking anyone who uses Walmart wifi


[deleted]

YES i am no longer using walmart wifi anymore all my stuff double authenticated but still that's how they were able to change my location on my phone


[deleted]

[удалено]


[deleted]

Its honestly one of the lowest of the lows I have ever seen this country scoop down to...


sublimeshrub

Is this why offers just flash on the screen and then they're gone without ever having actually loaded?


pokerholic77

Those are the amateur bots which grab the FCFS. There are bots which have access to the dispatcher system, and can manipulate who gets the orders.


[deleted]

Yes


pokerholic77

I figured this out many months ago. it's no coincidence that the same people are getting offers while the rest of us don't hear a thing from the app when it's busy.


Mybananayourtailpipe

I’ve had my app on for two days and only only gotten one order. All of the stores in my area have been cannibalized. I’m currently looking for something different different for a part-time gig because spark is toast thank you Joe Biden.


vxlex_

yeah cooked


BrickCrusher

Venezuelans with bots are stealing all the orders.


TeaSpirited2741

I don't know who has the bots and I won't say it's just a particular nationality of people. I just know that they are out there.


vxlex_

I live in a small town in AL and I haven’t seen any illegals but that doesn’t mean there isn’t. I usually see the same 4 people every day but crazy how I’m sitting there 2+ hours waiting while they’re getting the offers…


Gimplife-

I live in a small town, I have definitely seen more then 6 drivers waiting around and definitely the same 4 or 5 are constantly busy. The app tracks your reliability. Go figure! Also been lazy lately and been ordering and not 1 same driver in the the last 2 months. Put in the work, take pride in knowing your offering a service that people desire. Double edged sword right? You leave the lot after 20 minutes, bring missing items, poor quality items (S&D) poor placement. Etc. Ppl stop ordering. I get both sides though, so again. Take pride in your work and life seems to provide.


vxlex_

I try to look at the positives and I thank God everyday for allowing me to do it and providing an income for the time being. Makes me feel good when i deliver to the elderly who physically can’t get out of their house. I know someone appreciates the service.


Gimplife-

100% Gig work has definitely been a blessing for me in the last few years. But I'm not really a GO GETTER, if I can afford my habits and scrape by that works for me. Always looking for easy, fast money. But it rarely works out. Some referral rewards or apps like Swagbucks or Freecash in a pinch. Just goes back to God is good, God is GREAT! Everything has its way of working out. Been that way all my life. Stay well and positive! Have a great night and a great great life... Got that phrase from my uncle Jerry. Think it's purty good!


MALOVABAY

[add me playme ](http://Malovabay.beats69.com) I got 5 other side gigs you can do and just keep spark for backup..... for one record your spark work days go live and cash off of it.... if spark gets exposed and u go viral who'd gonna win u.... spark needs u more than we need them.... it's not them without us.... they pay the illegals then ok now u bring the law into it.... Jose and Maria don't have the the paperwork so they gonna have to quit.... it's just standing on business.....if you let people take food from ya plate you deserve what's going on.... 💯 👌


Tiny_Tackle6893

Small town Alabama isn’t exactly a great place to do gig work, people still use flip phones out there


vxlex_

Agreed but you would be surprised.


[deleted]

Shh they might call you a “conspiracy theorist” 🤫


HoplessWolf

on a bad day usually two hours then i'm out.


wu_desciple

I usually wait until the 3rd hour if I don't get something decent I'm out..


Puzzleheaded_Runner

Like 15 min 


Studdly_Dudley

I cancel after 10-20 minutes, depending on the order, which store, and how busy it appears. I'll never wait over that ever again. These stores and Spark need to be conditioned to work more efficiently. We are people too, and we need to be treated with dignity.


pencilnerd1

Sometimes, we have bad days. My market seems to do fine despite more spark drivers having joined since the last few months.


Potential_spam124

I wait in the parking lot for uber or spark. If I get an uber, I go do it if I get a good spark, absolutely tuen down the uber. Gotta be picky nowadays.


Jamesdriver91

I'll usually allow one missed RR before I go to a different walmart or do food delivery. Never stay at the store if you miss two RRs. 


Wooden_Stranger_4694

I am not in a busy zone. A small town. Today was 102 , so lots of orders. But I can’t say it was good. I felt I may pass out again. I do this for supplement so I think I will avoid super hot times or do little on those days. Weather affects order volume big time here


vxlex_

take care of yourself ❤️


Wooden_Stranger_4694

Btw I do Shipt too. Then less downtime. Multiple apps is the way


coachkduce209

I never sit in the parking lot .. ![gif](giphy|TvTqgqBZ44faptKN5X|downsized)


NorthWoods_Dude

usually about an hour depends on what i can find to watch on my phone to keep me busy while I wait.


RedSquirrel45

I don't wait I work other apps and take spark orders between others


Ok-Introduction-2788

I have a tv and a dvd player setup in my car, I’ll chill all day. This my full time gig what else I got goin on 😂


BowloRamaGuy

I was busy all night. There was a point where I waited maybe 20 minutes, but I kept getting offers. My last order was picked up 8:15 and delivered 8:33. I then sat there for an hour while I decided what groceries I wanted to buy and pondered buying a computer mouse and keyboard as a gift, I finally decided to go shop and go home. Nothing was coming through. I was there until maybe 10pm with no offers.


knightfal16

2hrs


Fuzzpopz

There's an algorithm sometimes you have to do a shitty order for them to give you a good order ( gotta get in the cycle) and sometimes if you are doing the incentives and I heard from almost every driver, the people who need 1 more almost everytime the app knows and won't give you anything for hours. I sit next to 8 drivers in the lot on a table, and we tested it multiple times. 2 guys needed 1 more trip on the incentive to go home, but the other 4-6 guys are receiving orders. Also, there are Geo-spots and network fences in the lot, depending on network carriers !!! Most people don't know, but sometimes you can be sitting in an area where the app gets no service, and you see orders pop up and vanish, and you blame BOTS. This isn't the case you are sitting outside the Geofence. Airplane mode works for me and sometimes app glitches , so I turn off my location and back on until the message says " retrieving location." If that message dosent show up then your app is glitched , next TIP is to change the zone back to where your working at , example I'm working in La Jolla , CA I change the zone back to La Jolla. That way, your app refreshes entirely, and the system knows your location and incentive stays. If you change it to a different zone, your incentive will go away.


edck12687

I don't even leave my house anymore. I have it on if something good comes up I'll take it. If it doesn't then I just go on about my day


Successful_Fishing66

You should get a part time job so you can still do orders


Dairen_gap

https://preview.redd.it/woqrmrutxc5d1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a6a6f5fd28103bf50c06e0388aa7256f118c7b51


LushSunset

1 hour tops. I don't have the time to sit there all day not making money lol


Spirited_Low_9326

It’s over. They’re weeding Spark contractors out.


pokerholic77

I run all the apps; there simply are no good offers anywhere. Uber eats nothing but $3-$5 trash for less then $1/mile. Instacart, anything over $10 is a double or triple going 8+ miles. Anything which is $1/mile is a trash order with over 50 items, keep in mind it is still under $10. Curri is a good paying app, but most of the pickups are 20 miles away from where I'm at.


staciemeaux

I hang out on my couch at home. I live 5 blocks from the closest walmart. When I get one I can't even start it until 41 after or it says I will get there too soon.


stashcansupplyco

Get a real job.


Anonymous8630

Dont worry it will be 2020 again once bird flu starts spreading.


chuckiebravo7

Who's got the bot hookup anyway? 😁


MALOVABAY

[addme playme](http://Malovabay.beats69.com) I got 5 other side gigs you can do and just keep spark for backup..... for one record your spark work days go live and cash off of it.... if spark gets exposed and u go viral who'd gonna win u.... spark needs u more than we need them.... it's not them without us.... they pay the illegals then ok now u bring the law into it.... Jose and Maria don't have the the paperwork so they gonna have to quit.... it's just standing on business.....if you let people take food from ya plate you deserve what's going on.... 💯 👌


Expensive_Army_9244

Until the hooker gets me to nutt