The way this company works is through utilizing a network of independent contractors who are tasked to go out and charge the scooters when the batteries are running low as well as after 9pm or 10pm all the scooters are available for pick up to charge - after charging the scooters they are required to be dropped off at various locations by 7am the following day.
After approved you are shipped all the necessary equipment to fix scooters, then your account switches from charger to mechanic - you cannot be both charger and mechanic, only one or the other. To charge scooters the rates were originally $20 per scooter than a few weeks after the program started rates were reduced to $15 per scooter repaired and $5 paid for ones that are taken to the local warehouse because it is unable to be fixed.
So far it seems as though being a charger is a better route than a mechanic, because of the availability of scooters is much higher for charging instead of repairing.
The app is fairly simple to understand and navigate, with a guided tutorial for new users who need extra explanation on how to use the app. The sign up process is easy and fast, this link on how to sign up is: https://www.bird.co/charger
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I recently signed up for charging BIRD scooters, and have been doing it for a few days. Within the last few days I have discovered that some people attempt to cheat the system and hoard non available scooters within houses and wait till the price of charging the scooters rise from $7 up to $20 to find, capture, charge, and the release the next day. If people do this on a regular basis the cost of charging a possibly unused scooter can rise to over $140 per week. This seems like an unsustainable situation for the company to make a profit. **Starting May 24th 2018 this loophole has been closed, if scooters are moved before being captured the are locked from being captured**
Even at standard rates, every BIRD scooter becomes available for pick up to charge nightly at $7-$10 per scooter, if the scooter is unused regularly the scooter costs BIRD $210-$300 or more monthly. It seems as though BIRD is not making a profit, the company is likely just buying market share to grow rapidly even though it's losing money per scooter.
What I've learned working for BIRD:
- The company rents out scooters for $1 to start and $0.15 per minute.
- Scooters are widely available in various markets, I'm in San Diego specifically the community of North Park.
- When the scooters have a low battery it has independent contractors pick them up to charge for $7
- After 9pm all scooters are available for pick up to charge, for various rates $7, $10, $15, $20 depending upon difficulty in finding the scooters.
- Picked up scooters that need to be released the next day between 4am-7am to get paid.
- The recently opened up independent contractor positions to go and pick up damaged scooters to repair for $20 per scooter. **Prices have been reduced to $15 to fix and $5 to drop off un-fixable scooters at the companies warehouse** Fixes include adjusting brakes, changing tire tubes, and making other adjustments.
- Repair technicians cannot also charge scooters - you can only be a charger or a mechanic.
- Some people attempt to cheat the system, although BIRD doesn't always pay out if it seems like someone is cheating.
- Someone who charges scooters can easily make $100+ per day
- Someone who fixes scooters can likely make over $60+ daily.
- Lost scooters sometimes will pair with the phone of the last one who scanned the QR code, which then follows that person around as it the phone is the scooter.
- The app is glitchy.
- The company rents out scooters for $1 to start and $0.15 per minute.
- Scooters are widely available in various markets, I'm in San Diego specifically the community of North Park.
- When the scooters have a low battery it has independent contractors pick them up to charge for $7
- After 9pm all scooters are available for pick up to charge, for various rates $7, $10, $15, $20 depending upon difficulty in finding the scooters.
- Picked up scooters that need to be released the next day between 4am-7am to get paid.
- The recently opened up independent contractor positions to go and pick up damaged scooters to repair for $20 per scooter. **Prices have been reduced to $15 to fix and $5 to drop off un-fixable scooters at the companies warehouse** Fixes include adjusting brakes, changing tire tubes, and making other adjustments.
- Repair technicians cannot also charge scooters - you can only be a charger or a mechanic.
- Some people attempt to cheat the system, although BIRD doesn't always pay out if it seems like someone is cheating.
- Someone who charges scooters can easily make $100+ per day
- Someone who fixes scooters can likely make over $60+ daily.
- Lost scooters sometimes will pair with the phone of the last one who scanned the QR code, which then follows that person around as it the phone is the scooter.
- The app is glitchy.
So far it's a pretty simple straightforward process to work for BIRD charging scooters, and it seems easy to do the repairs (I receive the equipment to do repairs today).
If you want to make some extra money this is a great way to do it, so if BIRD is in your market you should consider becoming a scooter charger!
If you want to make some extra money this is a great way to do it, so if BIRD is in your market you should consider becoming a scooter charger!
The sign up process is easy and fast, this link on how to sign up is: https://www.bird.co/charger