Beverly Hills-born DoMyStuff.com is an online marketplace where busy people can quickly find others to do their chores, from mowing the lawn or picking up dry cleaning to researching a cruise or planning a party.
How it works? Someone posts a task, choosing a relevant category and describing the task in detail. Businesses and individuals then bid for the task. Bids include the total cost to complete a task, when it will be completed and information on the service they will provide. The customer reviews the bids and chooses an assistant. Customers can view in-depth information on the service providers, including their names, locations and the ratings they've been awarded by past employers.
In addition to the bidding system, DoMyStuff has integrated several other features that take it beyond posting casual jobs on Craigslist or other boards. First of all, a rating system lets users share information on the quality of service providers. Which is important, considering many chores take place in or around a customer's home, making safety and reliability a key issue.
Secondly, to establish trust between buyers and providers, DoMyStuff provides an online escrow system that allows customers to forward payment for a task into an escrow account. While the task is being completed, neither customer nor assistant have access to the funds, but the assistant is able to see that the account has been funded for a specific task. Once the job has been completed to the customer's satisfaction, the funds are released to the assistant. Which protects both buyers and sellers.
DoMyStuff's charges service providers a commission if they're awarded a job. Commission rates vary according to a job's category and total cost, ranging from 7–10%. The service is free for buyers, who have the option of paying a small fee to highlight their project, bringing it to the top of a category (much like Google's sponsored links). The company is currently focused on Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York. One to start up locally before they go global?
Website: www.domystuff.com
Contact: contact@domystuff.com
Spotted by: Josh Reynolds
Email to friendPrevious: User-generated pod-tours «
Next: Fresh & frozen gourmet baby food »
k00k -- I'm guessing it's just a temporary or local glitch. I tried the site a minute ago, and can see the homepage, tasks and everything. Maybe you can try again?
I think it is a workable idea in Asia cities, especially like Hong KOng,Singapore, Shanghai..
I am inspired to do this in HK.Any suggestion for me? What type of jobs do you think applicable ?
Awesome, I have been in need of a service like this forever. I really wish that I didn't live in Northwest Ohio though, also known as hell.
this is a good one for many different cultures I would have thought. an extension of the "too much to do, too little time" concept that we tell ourselves exists!!! But if its your passion, then there is surely a market.
This site is a great idea!!! I wish someone in NYC will start something like this... http://www.divinemoving will be the first to enroll for helping people move and pack
The website is completely FREE as of December 2007. There are no forms of payment requests or charges in any way. The article should be updated to reflect this.
There's nothing to lose in joining.
Does that fact that this is now a completely FREE service not indicate that the business model is flawed? How does this company expect to make any money?!
I know there is a need for this type of service in my area. How do I bring this about? Also, I had difficulty registering. What's up?
What happened to DoMyStuff.com? There's nothing there.
k00k | April 17, 2007 6:01 PM