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yet again. Despatch jobs....:(

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bootsbiker
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PostPosted: 14:37 - 15 Dec 2010    Post subject: yet again. Despatch jobs....:( Reply with quote
Ok I know there are many topics on this subject..

Please no one tell me how shit these jobs are I KNOW I done it 15 years ago and when down a dead end. I am skint and new work.. Sad Sad

Question is Can any1 recommend a courier company in London which have bikes... (There is noway I want to do it on the Gizzer slingshot)..

Van driving is also a possible...

thanks
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pits
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PostPosted: 15:02 - 15 Dec 2010    Post subject: Re: yet again. Despatch jobs....:( Reply with quote
bootsbiker wrote:
I want to do it on the Gizzer slingshot


Sounds like some sort of ghey hammock for bummers.
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Cheeseybeaner
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PostPosted: 23:38 - 15 Dec 2010    Post subject: Re: yet again. Despatch jobs....:( Reply with quote
bootsbiker wrote:
Ok I know there are many topics on this subject..

Please no one tell me how shit these jobs are I KNOW I done it 15 years ago and when down a dead end. I am skint and new work.. Sad Sad

Question is Can any1 recommend a courier company in London which have bikes... (There is noway I want to do it on the Gizzer slingshot)..

Van driving is also a possible...

thanks


GLH, Addison Lee, CYC, Shitty Sprint, Courier Systems the choice is yours. I think courier systems is the worst for screwing money out of you to 'repair' their bike, though I'm sure they all offer equally shit rental conditions.
They're all crooked and rely on screwing illegally resident brazilian rent boys to keep afloat. Good luck if you're willing to accept the conditions.
I don't know if I'd recommend working for any London firm to be honest.
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calyx
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PostPosted: 05:48 - 16 Dec 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote
Try DHL first. As said courier systems is the worst. (i know i worked there)
BTW food delivery is a better option. Free bike, free petrol, free maintanence, 6.50 per hour, free junk food (not always) + tips. (around £15 per night if you smile a bit)

Van isn't too bad if you don't mind carrying 10 stone boxes all day long.
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TheDonUK
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PostPosted: 22:56 - 16 Dec 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote
This ^^^

Pizza delivery can be good if you work in the right areas and have a good team of people.
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bootsbiker
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PostPosted: 23:55 - 16 Dec 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote
cheers guys.... will give it some through... looks like I am going to wait until after xmas period....

Might try to find mechanic work first as i am a trained Car mechanic with NVQ3 , just haven't worked at it for over 7 years and the last place i worked is now a block of student flats...
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Nath
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PostPosted: 02:35 - 17 Dec 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote
I work for courier systems on one of their bikes. The above posts are correct, you pay full cost for maintenance on the bike. This is pretty harsh compared to addison lee where you'd pay nothing at all for bike maintenance. But if you compare it to running your own bike it's not so bad. I know I could run my own bike cheaper than what it costs with courier systems company bike, but the laziness of never having to wield a spanner in anger is quite nice.

I started working for courier systems about six months ago. At the time I started, Addy lee said they weren't taking on riders. But I understand that they only take on quite experienced riders when they are recruiting anyway. Couriersystems will take on any old idiot, and there's quite a few of them evidenced by a high turnover rate of riders. But there's also a hardcore experienced bunch in there as well.


Personally I've got really lucky and am earning plenty of money. As much as it hurts to see a workshop service bill every 5k miles, I'm sticking where I am for the time being because I think I'd struggle to get near the money I'm pulling in now with another company. I put the hours in to get it, but at least it's there for the taking.
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sickpup
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PostPosted: 03:04 - 17 Dec 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote
Nath wrote:
I work for courier systems on one of their bikes.


You don't call, you don't write then you turn up working for the people we tell everyone to keep away from. Kids. Wink
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Cheeseybeaner
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PostPosted: 10:25 - 18 Dec 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote
sickpup wrote:
Nath wrote:
I work for courier systems on one of their bikes.


You don't call, you don't write then you turn up working for the people we tell everyone to keep away from. Kids. Wink


I thought city sprint were the pits personally. Still chasing my xda deposit with them now after waiting five weeks for my final week's pay. Money grabbing cunts!
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Marmalade
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PostPosted: 10:44 - 18 Dec 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote
So what sort of ppm do courier systems pay?

Heard some things about 50ppm when charging customers £2+
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Nath
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PostPosted: 11:29 - 18 Dec 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote
Concensus from basically anyone I've spoke to is that citysprint are the worst company to work for, with courier systems a close second.

Using a company bike from courier systems definately leaves you open to getting screwed out some money, I'm sure of that. I'm surviving okay on that front so far. From an office point of view though, I've found them okay. There's plenty of idiots in their office who don't know much and aren't very helpful, but the key figures are alright, and seem quite eager to put together the double ups on distance, and nice runs of jobs across town.


Mileage rate. It's meant to be 65ppm, but variable from client to client. There's one account in particular that I've always reckoned pays no more than 55ppm, but I'm now starting to question that. I just worked out a few jobs from my last pay sheet, and a distance run from that account was showing 60ppm. From a couple of other accounts, I worked out about 63ppm, again on distance runs. I'm not sure if town jobs are calculated differently. Occasionally you get jobs that randomly pay very well.


I started with courier systems because I needed to get on a company bike straight away. I came down to London to start despatching on my own bike. It kept breaking, I kept fixing it, untill one day after about 2 and half months I killed the topend and decided to give up. The small company I was working for was shit btw, deadly quiet. Now that I'm with courier systems I'm not sure whether I can get out. I live very close to their office which is obviously very helpful, and they seem to keep an eye out for me to make sure I'm earning enough. Plus I've got a lucrative little night-run going as well.
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Cheeseybeaner
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PostPosted: 12:04 - 18 Dec 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote
Nath wrote:
Concensus from basically anyone I've spoke to is that citysprint are the worst company to work for, with courier systems a close second.

Using a company bike from courier systems definately leaves you open to getting screwed out some money, I'm sure of that. I'm surviving okay on that front so far. From an office point of view though, I've found them okay. There's plenty of idiots in their office who don't know much and aren't very helpful, but the key figures are alright, and seem quite eager to put together the double ups on distance, and nice runs of jobs across town.


Mileage rate. It's meant to be 65ppm, but variable from client to client. There's one account in particular that I've always reckoned pays no more than 55ppm, but I'm now starting to question that. I just worked out a few jobs from my last pay sheet, and a distance run from that account was showing 60ppm. From a couple of other accounts, I worked out about 63ppm, again on distance runs. I'm not sure if town jobs are calculated differently. Occasionally you get jobs that randomly pay very well.


I started with courier systems because I needed to get on a company bike straight away. I came down to London to start despatching on my own bike. It kept breaking, I kept fixing it, untill one day after about 2 and half months I killed the topend and decided to give up. The small company I was working for was shit btw, deadly quiet. Now that I'm with courier systems I'm not sure whether I can get out. I live very close to their office which is obviously very helpful, and they seem to keep an eye out for me to make sure I'm earning enough. Plus I've got a lucrative little night-run going as well.


I think the problem with the larger firms is they basically take people for granted and are less interested in trying to retain decent riders, more interested in lowering pay rates and having a high turnover of staff who they can screw which they can as there are enough mugs queueing up.
I've never felt so ripped off as I have with city sprint, virtually every week you had to chase your pay. You'd have zero's on your invoices for jobs completed perfectly well and with full signatures, not a rare occurrence at all. So many immigrants in London means they can get away with it too.
They quote a 55p mileage rate but frequently you didn't even get paid that, 100 miles from piccadilly to poole down in dorset yielded £42 at 4:30 in the afternoon! Jokers. And that's even after confirming the price with them stated at £60.
There equipment charges were ridiculous too and on leaving they accused me of not returning their equipment after enquiring where my final week's pay was, £880 billed against me according to the monkey on the phone!
So what exactly is the £260 deposit for if they reckon they'll charge on top of that too?
Incompetent arrogant tossers, not worth wasting your time patience and money with.
I don't mind the idea of a company bike but I reckon that way you're even more coerced into accepting their terms, for the life of me I wouldn't want to pay them to fix their own bike with their own exaggerated costs! Not my idea of what self-employed bike couriering is about.
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calyx
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PostPosted: 12:41 - 18 Dec 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote
Nath wrote:

I'm not sure if town jobs are calculated differently. Occasionally you get jobs that randomly pay very well.


Town jobs are calculated to make you earn 4.50 p/h if you are lazy, £6 p/h if you are determined, £7.50 p/h if you ride like a mad man. (25-30 despatches per day)

After a while you learn their usual customer's courier rooms, easiest parking locations and toilet locations. This priceless knowledge will put your pocket another £1.50 p/h.

BTW they can send you to Nigerian consulate for a passport extension application. You wait in the queue for 5 hours and earn 30 pounds without any hassle.
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Nath
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PostPosted: 13:59 - 18 Dec 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote
Cheeseybeaner wrote:
100 miles from piccadilly to poole down in dorset yielded £42.

One up without a return? If you didn't punch somebody's face in over that then you are far too forgiving.

I heard bad things about city sprint anyway, but all that's barely believeable. Getting docked money for missing deadlines etc, is that for real?


I find most couriers are unreasonably cagey about talking about money and experiences. I know because I'm quite a chatty person and when I encounter other couriers when on deliveries I generally ask a few questions. Like I said before, I've figured Addison lee the best company to work for on a company bike, but specific circumstances to me hold me off trying to move. If I fell foul of somebody important in the office and started getting fed shit, then I'd try to get in there.

What's worked well for me is being very flexible - The latest I've ever come home from a normal circuit job was 1am. I don't have a life, what little life I had I left up in Nottingham, so I don't mind long hours. I think because of this I've been spotted as an asset and been looked after.
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Nath
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PostPosted: 14:09 - 18 Dec 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote
calyx wrote:
Town jobs are calculated to make you earn 4.50 p/h if you are lazy, £6 p/h if you are determined, £7.50 p/h if you ride like a mad man. (25-30 despatches per day).

Sounds like scooter work. Working from one end of town to the other, and back again, pays plenty more than that as long as you get a few on board. Boshing around all day within a circle of w2/nw1/n1/e1/e14/se1/sw3/sw7/w8 ain't my idea of fun.

That's a fair part of what I was doing with the first company I worked for. In the interests of saving anybody else from the same shit, I'll name em, ADL in se1. You'd count yourself lucky to ever tot up more than £400 with that lot on a big bike.
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Cheeseybeaner
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PostPosted: 22:11 - 18 Dec 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote
Quote:
[quote="Nath"] '100 miles from piccadilly to poole down in dorset yielded £42.'

One up without a return? If you didn't punch somebody's face in over that then you are far too forgiving.

I heard bad things about city sprint anyway, but all that's barely believeable. Getting docked money for missing deadlines etc, is that for real?



They have a complete disinterest in paying you the correct sum for a job you do, that job was quoted at £62 or so which 2 weeks later (wait till third week for first week pay cycle!) miraculously appeared on my invoice as £42. Granted, after a lot of hassle they sorted it out but they appear to intentionally dock people's pay every week on at least 2/3 jobs. Its more or less the norm.
Everyone else I've spoken to said exactly the same thing.
Usually took at least another 3 weeks to receive the correct pay for the work so they're always holding on to your money.
I had jobs going back to April this year which still haven't been credited. I could understand one off pay errors but this obviously was much more than that.
Same crap with their deposits, finished two months ago had to wait 5 weeks for final week's pay and still chasing the xda money.
They do have a clause in their tender agreement that says they'll deduct £25 for jobs completed 'unsatisfactorily' so they pretty much give themselves carte blanche to screw you to their heart's extent.
They were charging £22 a week just in normal equipment charges, uniform (on a motorcycle ffs!??) and GIT on top of all this.
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Marmalade
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PostPosted: 11:49 - 19 Dec 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote
Nath wrote:

I find most couriers are unreasonably cagey about talking about money and experiences. I know because I'm quite a chatty person and when I encounter other couriers when on deliveries I generally ask a few questions.


Same here but like you say, not a lot of people want to talk about rates.
I just do my own thing, charge my own rate, if they don't want to pay it then get some other monkey to get it there late



Cheeseybeaner wrote:
I heard bad things about city sprint anyway, but all that's barely believeable. Getting docked money for missing deadlines etc, is that for real?



They have a complete disinterest in paying you the correct sum for a job you do, that job was quoted at £62 or so which 2 weeks later (wait till third week for first week pay cycle!) miraculously appeared on my invoice as £42. Granted, after a lot of hassle they sorted it out but they appear to intentionally dock people's pay every week on at least 2/3 jobs. Its more or less the norm.
Everyone else I've spoken to said exactly the same thing.
Usually took at least another 3 weeks to receive the correct pay for the work so they're always holding on to your money.
I had jobs going back to April this year which still haven't been credited. I could understand one off pay errors but this obviously was much more than that.
Same crap with their deposits, finished two months ago had to wait 5 weeks for final week's pay and still chasing the xda money.
They do have a clause in their tender agreement that says they'll deduct £25 for jobs completed 'unsatisfactorily' so they pretty much give themselves carte blanche to screw you to their heart's extent.
They were charging £22 a week just in normal equipment charges, uniform (on a motorcycle ffs!??) and GIT on top of all this.[/quote]

This is the norm for them, jst comeplete shitbags with no respect for the people working for them https://codforum.org.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7867
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Cheeseybeaner
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PostPosted: 19:54 - 20 Dec 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote
Nath wrote:
calyx wrote:
Town jobs are calculated to make you earn 4.50 p/h if you are lazy, £6 p/h if you are determined, £7.50 p/h if you ride like a mad man. (25-30 despatches per day).

Sounds like scooter work. Working from one end of town to the other, and back again, pays plenty more than that as long as you get a few on board. Boshing around all day within a circle of w2/nw1/n1/e1/e14/se1/sw3/sw7/w8 ain't my idea of fun.

That's a fair part of what I was doing with the first company I worked for. In the interests of saving anybody else from the same shit, I'll name em, ADL in se1. You'd count yourself lucky to ever tot up more than £400 with that lot on a big bike.


I worked for them. They had a hard time understanding why I was leaving them with no notice after them paying a grand total of £226 for 4 and half days work...Time wasters.
They can afford a very swanky office though!
I think the number of 'good to work for' despatch firms are rapidly decreasing as the tactics of the big players start infecting the whole industry.
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