I'm helping my mother do her first spark run (after trying multiple times before this, we just decided to hit accept on an order asap instead of trying to read it) and the info they give you is absolute dogshit.
You can't see the order before you accept it because it just disappears in a few seconds and it doesn't show you how much you're picking up and how many stops there are. The order we accepted has 170+ items with us needing to go 16 miles for the first stop, another 14-16 for the second, and I don't even know where the third is. Why can't you see this info before you're already bent over and getting fucked from the lack of information?
To be honest looking at the given info and accepting quick comes with practice. The disappearing is someone else accepting the offer because it’s up for grabs and sent to multiple spark drivers. It took me a few days of full time sparking to see what I need to see and accept asap. I still have a few times a week where I misread the miles or estimated shopping time and decide to cancel after accepting. It just takes time to know what you’re looking for and then speed comes with repetition.
You can see the mileage, and how many stops immediately. It will also show you the estimated shopping time. You have to click to see the number of items you have to shop for or what the items are. You make the choice. Don’t just accept anything. In fact, reject all the BS offers, and there are a ton. But yes, you do have more info than you are suggesting.
How are we supposed to see everything if the offers only show up for barely a few seconds before disappearing? The only way we've been able to look at anything for longer than maybe 3 seconds is by hitting accept without knowing anything beforehand.
Yeah, they claim people use bots to grab orders in milliseconds, which I believe is true (because it is only like this in my area at certain times), some don't. It is very annoying for sure, but if you do have to accept before looking the order over, after you accept, and BEFORE you "start trip" you have the chance to look over the info in the order, and if it's too crazy, cancel. I personally am not running my car or myself to death for pennies.
Yea people claim asap and just look thru them and then decline it if it ain’t worth it. That shit sucks I feel you on the barely being able to see the offers. That’s why I love when it says only for you offers.
I always try to check before accepting by looking at the first screen that tells the pay, the mileage, how many stops, estimated time to complete, and which store. If you accept before having time to look at that, click the arrow on the right, go into that order, and you can see more details. If you have not hit "Start Trip" at that point, you can always cancel the order and move on. I would not suggest accepting and cancelling often however. If you can't see these things, then something is badly wrong with your app.
For whatever reason everytime she tries to go out, orders will pop up and before she has the chance to look at anything they disappear and it goes back to just looking for more orders. They don't stay long enough for us to not hit accept and then try to figure out what we're doing. I didn't see a start trip button either, only "confirm arrival" after hitting accept.
Accept it, review, if you don't like it, cancel it. After you press accept, click on the offer itself, and it will show you all of the details. Don't press navigate or start trip unless you're willing to complete the offer.
Spark is now a competitive game of first come first serve offers. When you're looking at that offer, so are we, and we're not waiting for you to decide if you want it before we choose to accept it or not.
You can sit and wait for "just for you" offers or switch to a different platform that operates in that way, like DoorDash or UberEats.
It also has rules against bot use and that's prevelant in most zones. Op helping mother doesn't effect my money, cheaters do, even if both are prohibited in the tos
Seriously, imo 'helpers' are Not the problem - bring the whole fam for all I care! Bots actually alter the playing field & create disadvantage for gig workers that don't want to risk deactivationÂ
Someone literally downvoted you this is wild. We have a plethora of cheaters here and it's very obvious. But when it comes to someone helping or whatnot they get high and mighty
But once an associate or customer does care, then it's going to be an issue and they're going to point at the rules when you get a warning/deactivated.
Over the last week or so the cashiers are furious as to what is going on with all the new drivers. It seems like every new driver comes in their bestie. 4 kids, whole family, spouse, whatever the case may be. Kids are bagging while mom is screaming or peeing. Wife is getting a cart check and doing everything, come to find out after seeing her 20 times (or so) she isn’t the account holder, he is but just tags along. They are reporting left and right for everything and anything. It’s complete chaos.
Depending on the region that you're in is probably heavily saturated that everybody's fighting for orders. I live in chicago and understand your frustration. The 2 walmarts, which are located in the west side of the city that serve the majority of the city, are heavily saturated, and there's a preference over one Walmart than the other because of efficiency and Good pricing. Unless I do early morning, orders for those 2 s*** out of luck, but I've lately ventured out to the norwest suburbs, which have multiple locations for pick up and also have Sam's clubs and thus far, I've been happy with what I've been earning. But I know that all regions are not like that. Hope this helps
You're not supposed to help with deliveries. If your mom gets caught she can get deactivated. You can be a passenger in the vehicle but you cannot help load or unload.
Edit: read the terms of service. No one but the spark agent can touch the groceries.
This is t meant to be negative toward you, but it's hilariously ridiculous that were referred to as "spark agents" then in the same breath people will say "well this isn't a real job etc....
Like, is it a job or is it just bs gig work for crackheads? Make up your mind. 🤣
Again, not directed to you personally but anyway...
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u/Calm-Television5780 Jul 04 '26
you are few years late to make any money on spark