Is Doing UberEATS as a Side Gig, in The CBD with an Ebike, Worth It - Factoring Costs?

Slicker871 on 02/01/2024 - 14:26
Last edited 02/01/2024 - 14:42 by 1 other user

I live in Melbourne CBD, which I assume is the best possible location for doing ubereats deliveries. My account is set up, so as soon as I buy an ebike, helmet, and bag, I'm ready to go. I'm considering doing three nights a week, particularly on the busier days.

However I work a job that pays above median, meaning I'll pay over 30% of the earnings on taxes. I am also completely unaware of how much ubereats pays, or other hidden expenses like repairs (for example would it be a sudden $200 a month?). If the net pay factoring all costs results in being $15 an hour, it isn't worth the excessive time on the road. If it's around $20-25 an hour, though, I'll most certainly do it.

Is there anybody here who does deliveries in the city, with an ebike, while working full time - who can give a rundown of how much they earn from doing deliveries?

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Comments

  • umoddbro on 02/01/2024 - 14:36
    +4

    I did it years ago around 2018 and it was pretty good money, you can easily fetch $25-30 an hour especially in the cbd. The fact that you have a bike puts you at an advantage as well since you're not paying fuel, insurance, wear and tear on your car etc. Definitely good as a side gig on Friday nights and weekends. I can only assume it's busier nowadays with more people ordering food online.

  • Unorthodox on 02/01/2024 - 14:45
    +1

    I know a few people who did it during uni

    See if there's any sign up bonuses which will help with getting you ahead return on investment wise.

    Also look at leasing or renting a bike (plenty of older stock Zoomo bikes around) which will allow you to calculate how many deliveries you need to do to pay off that cost.

    Target periods where there's more likelihood of orders and sporting events etc.

  • freefall101 on 02/01/2024 - 15:26

    How much is the bike going to be? Spend a couple of grand on that and you'll be 2 months (or more, I'm figuring 4 hours a night, 3 nights a week) before you break even on that. It's a bit of a long term commitment when you don't have the bike otherwise.

    If you're in the CBD, maybe look at a job doing food and beverage serving at sports events instead? It'd be a short trip to work to go to Marvel/MCG and it'd be generally friday night/weekend work.

  • Associatedrambutann @ Uber Eats on 02/01/2024 - 16:51
    +1

    I used to do it years ago when it paid a reasonable amount.
    I'd work lunchtime + dinnertime 3-5 days per week and would average $35-40 per hour before costs during those peak periods.
    They changed the structure and payment amounts went through the floor. I did however do it on a motorbike, not a bicycle, so I got much longer higher paying fares.

    Every delivery generally takes 15 mins from 'here yo job' to delivery - can take up to 30 mins.
    My guess is that payment ranges between $5-$8 per delivery on a bicycle.

    If you're going to get an e-bike either way then give it a crack, nothing to lose, but if you aren't going to get an e-bike unless its for the purpose of doing Uber Eats then I wouldn't bother.

  • JimmyF on 02/01/2024 - 16:55
    +5

    I am also completely unaware of how much ubereats pays
    My account is set up

    Yep thats the way Uber rolls! So you have an account all setup, and they still haven't disclosed what they'll pay you. Doesn't that sound a bit fishy?

    as soon as I buy an ebike, helmet, and bag

    If you don't want the ebike for anything but Uber deliveries, can you borrow/hire one for a few nights to see if this is for you? There are a few places that rent them. Might be better to drop $90 on a weekly hire from this place, if you are unsure.

    https://vyronelectricbikes.com.au/rentals/

    or

    https://www.electricbikesuperstore.com.au/ebike-rental/

  • wolvesaussie on 02/01/2024 - 17:10

    I like your thinking its the same as mine. I work full time and work side at a stadium which someone here has suggested.

    After tax get about $18.5 an hour which isnt really worth it for me for how far i have to travel. However when stage 3 tax cuts come in i will get 22 or 23 and even tho its not much difference i think it makes it worth it. Its mainly psychological

    • brendanm on 02/01/2024 - 18:07
      +12

      Why would they tip when they already have to pay an extortionate delivery fee, plus higher food prices? If the money is crap, don't do the job.

      • DashCam AKA Rolts on 02/01/2024 - 18:57
        -5

        Think you missed my implied /s.

        • brendanm on 02/01/2024 - 20:21
          +2

          Shit, sorry. Some people legitimately believe this 😞 I'm normally pretty good with the sarcasm..

      • Jimothy Wongingtons on 02/01/2024 - 19:22
        -1

        I do tip my Uber drivers in cash on pickup who do the work deliveries I put through. Feel bad for some of these guys and girls as they are obviously working holiday types there’s no way a $35 fare for a 30 min drive is worth it since they’d be flat out getting half of that ?

        • paullovesbargains on 03/01/2024 - 17:14
          +1

          Next time you are in kmart, can you tip my daughter. she only gets $15 an hour. so she will need a bigger tip than your uber driver.

  • Switchblade88 on 02/01/2024 - 17:45
    +1

    General Retail Industry Award is $24.73, or nearly $31/hr for casual.

    You don't have to worry about expenses or breakdowns at Maccas either…

    • Minimum chips on 02/01/2024 - 22:27

      Or getting hit by a car.

    • Sleeqb7 on 03/01/2024 - 10:29

      It sounds good in theory, but I don't know many fast food/retail roles that allow you to pick and choose your specific hours.

  • brendanm on 02/01/2024 - 18:08

    If it's around $20-25 an hour, though, I'll most certainly do it.

    Why would you bother if you are making more money at your day job?

    • brad1-8tsi on 02/01/2024 - 19:37
      +2

      you bother if you are making more money at your day job?

      I don't get it either.

      Whenever I needed more income I'd find something that paid cash, (usually working for myself )

      Or I'd put my hand up for OT or shift work or I'd play the long game and do what was needed (qualifications, training, change jobs) to get a better hourly rate.

      I live in an area where there are dozens of delivery riders and they all look a bit anxious and desperate. It doesn't look like they are riding the gravy train.

    • cookie2 on 02/01/2024 - 21:30
      +2

      To make extra money that can't be made at the day job I'd say.

      • brendanm on 02/01/2024 - 21:39
        -2

        Then do overtime, change companies and get a raise, so a second job that isn't crap etc.

  • hasher22 on 02/01/2024 - 18:14
    +1

    Sign up for multiple apps such as Uber, DoorDash and others….. this will maximise your orders to accept.

    Is it worth it? But these independent side gigs are good short term in my opinion or every now and then. I used to do Amazon Flex and it was ok, but good news I lived only 10 minutes away from the pick up and drop off depo and I would get roughly 128+ per 4 hour shift, I used to smash it out in 3 hours each shift but they added more parcels and I got fed up. Also best time for Amazon flex is after morning traffic and shift ends before afternoon traffic, to me in Sydney would be 10am to 2pm shifts but those shifts get taken instantly.

    But try it out, worse that can happen is you don't like it and you're at a loss with your bike, helmet and bag expenses.

    • D0OMZDAYZ on 02/01/2024 - 18:28
      +2

      When I was in a KFC, I watched a guy eat a meal for 20 minutes with a customers food on the table. He then left, reached the street, and reentered the KFC because he got another order. I think he had the first customers food for 30 minutes before even leaving the premise.

      These companies that expect us to pay $7-9 for delivery? What a joke.

      • Minimum chips on 02/01/2024 - 22:31
        +3

        I think there's a rule for KFC delivery drivers that they're not allowed to give you the food until the fryer oil and meat-sweat has completely saturated the crumb and turned it mushy.

  • AustriaBargain on 02/01/2024 - 23:27
    -1

    Could get paid for exercise if you pedal every now and then. Sometimes free food if the order cancelled. I'd give it a go if I weren't a fat lazy slob.

  • BewareOfThe Dog on 03/01/2024 - 00:17

    As long as you are not an overseas student, as you cannot work more than 24 hours per week.

  • Hector on 03/01/2024 - 07:44

    If you want to buy a e bike, the usage that is attributed to earnings is tax deductible. (Not an accountant)

  • Kayrhcp on 03/01/2024 - 08:20

    I’ve seen WAY too many UberEats cyclists get cleaned up by cars in Melbourne CBD to consider using my bike extensively in the area.

    If you do this, please get insurance.

    • mhz on 03/01/2024 - 08:57

      Its mostly to do with how they ride around the city. Not a day goes by without me seeing idiot e-bike riders running red lights or going down a one way street the wrong way.

      • Kayrhcp on 05/01/2024 - 10:05

        Most of the ones I’ve seen were not rider fault. Most of them to do with drivers doing reckless right turns from the left lane etc…. Just Melbourne things!

  • capslock on 03/01/2024 - 09:12

    Don't be one of those riders that texts the customer to say - I've arrived, you have 5 mins to come down from your apartment or I'm leaving. Timer starts now.

    • bobbified on 04/01/2024 - 09:22

      How long would you expect a delivery rider/driver to wait? Time is money.
      (I usually check the map and go downstairs as they're approaching with the aim of arriving at the same time).

      • capslock on 04/01/2024 - 10:28
        +1

        I never make riders wait. However I don't think riders should threaten customers with a timer straight away. It assumes that customers will be late before they've even had a chance to prove otherwise.

        Also I think new high rise apartments are short on lifts so it can take a while to get down during peak periods.

        • bobbified on 04/01/2024 - 12:03

          You and I and a few others are probably reasonable, but others may not be so.

          I always see multiple riders waiting around in the foyer of my building. I'm assuming that there's got to have been plenty of people who just take their sweet time coming down because they "paid for delivery".

  • 82norm on 03/01/2024 - 09:16

    Just do it, you won’t know until you give it a go. The e-bike might come in handy for other purposes.

  • jonkvh on 03/01/2024 - 15:52
    +1

    Don't eat the customers food either…

  • gmatht on 07/02/2024 - 17:37

    I used to work my local cafe strip on a ebike, until Uber eats changed the algorithm so they never assigned jobs to bike riders. Their algorithm needed to be changed; before it wanted to give me jobs with an hour bike rides that would have been much better sent to a car. I would have still like to be assigned to the sub $5 jobs that car drivers hate and are really suitable for a bike though.

  • Nirmitha on 24/04/2024 - 12:57

    Did it briefly for a change during COVID-lockdowns (using car). eBike is definitely the way to go because of parking/traffic.

    One of the challenges in CBD was some customers (weirdly, they were all Chinese… just stating the observation) expecting food to be delivered all the way up to their apartment door. Even though most buildings clearly say delivery drivers aren't allowed beyond the ground floor lobby. So that becomes a hassle, plus navigating some buildings take time.

    eBike will be a fairly big cost. Consider resale value, maintenance, storage costs.

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