Advice from cycle couriers sought

^ Agreed. And the fact that he'd never heard of zipments means that, at the very least, their marketing could be improved upon.

my understanding is that Zipments is only in NYC so far.

That could not happen because the couriers would have to be registered (with photo id) and bank details. They'd get billed for stuff that went missing.

You are making an assumption that every courier has a bank account- and photo ID.

You are making an assumption that this system needs to be accessible to every courier.

Some of my mates are getting work from http://bizzby.com

What would stop an agency from getting the app and just grabbing every job that came up before farming it out to their own riders?

It's been a while, but the last time I worked as a bike courier (motorised version) no-one stopped to check who you were. You just rocked up in the right gear and said "picking up a package for " and they handed it over.

What would stop an agency from getting the app and just grabbing every job that came up before farming it out to their own riders?

Nothing but from a customer point of view that's great because it'll be dealt with and dispatched promptly

What would stop an agency from getting the app and just grabbing every job that came up before farming it out to their own riders?

It's been a while, but the last time I worked as a bike courier (motorised version) no-one stopped to check who you were. You just rocked up in the right gear and said "picking up a package for " and they handed it over.

Unless I missed something, you probably get paid through the app just like Hailo.

In which case, you'll be doing the work for free whilst the courier who turns up and finds the package already being delivered gets paid handsomely for not doing the delivery.

I guess that works if you're feeling generous and kind that way.

Unless I missed something, you probably get paid through the app just like Hailo.

In which case, you'll be doing the work for free whilst the courier who turns up and finds the package already being delivered gets paid handsomely for not doing the delivery.

I guess that works if you're feeling generous and kind that way.

I meant in a more unscrupulous manner.

Courier Co. dispatcher has the app, posing as a rider.

Accepts every job that comes up before anyone else gets it (no thinking involved, just accept the job regardless).

Passes them onto their own riders via the usual radio dispatch.

Their rider does the job.

Courier Co. gets paid via the app, not the rider.

I can't see why this would be a bad thing... if a courier turns up, and delivers the package quick smart, then they should get paid.

I see nothing in the original suggestion that makes this app exclusive to independent workers, but as the margins are so slim I can't imagine the Courier Co.s not wanting to hold a customer account themselves.

If a Courier Co. gave up their account management this way, then the customer still wins. Is that a bad thing?

And it gives independent couriers access to the accounts. Is that a bad thing?

It goes two ways, and the downsides are also upsides.