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Rocky
Tufted Titmouse
Joined: May 02, 2008
Posts: 29
Location: Any world that I'm welcome to
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 Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2008 3:32 am Post subject: Perfect job for Aspies? (with one drawback) |
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I just learned about a startup called ChaCha that hires independent contractors who work anywhere they have broadband internet. The premise is that people call a toll free number or send a text message from their mobile phone and get the contractor to give them an answer to their question. The contractor either knows the answer, or checks the web for the answer. The hours are completely up to the contractor. No face to face interactions!
The drawback... No benefits and only $0.20 per answer. They estimate $4 to $10 an hour. This would be (for most people) a way to earn extra money. The link to the site follows-
ChaCha
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"Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible."- Frank Zappa
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n4mwd
Phoenix
Joined: Jun 08, 2008
Posts: 663
Location: Palm Beach, FL
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| Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2008 8:31 am Post subject: |
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There are also some call service center jobs that are done in a similar way. They use VOIP and make it possible for a telephone customer service rep to work out of their home. They get paid by the call.
I don't have any links unfortunately. Its popular with people who have kids and have to stay home because of that.
Here's a link, but not exactly what I was searching for:
call-center-voip-and-at-home-agents
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computerlove
emos and goths, please die.
Joined: Jul 11, 2006
Posts: 3532
Location: Male, Mexico, Graphic Design
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| Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2008 11:29 am Post subject: |
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hm, that's nice 
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ike
Raven
Joined: Aug 10, 2007
Age: 34
Posts: 118
Location: Boston, MA
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| Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 11:18 am Post subject: |
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| n4mwd wrote: | | There are also some call service center jobs that are done in a similar way. They use VOIP and make it possible for a telephone customer service rep to work out of their home. They get paid by the call. |
Tiff's brother just gave us this one yesterday. http://www.liveops.com ... good idea... though I would much prefer to be doing support over a live-chat widget personally. It's a lot easier for me to pretend to be NT if the other person doesn't have to hear my voice. I'm less likely to say something stupid. |
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pineapple
Deinonychus
Joined: May 01, 2006
Age: 24
Posts: 380
Location: san francisco
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| Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 6:32 pm Post subject: |
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I've used ChaCha; it's very cool. But I'm surprised by how little they pay; that isn't cool at all. Isn't $4 an hour way below minimum wage? Would you do this as your only job?
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ike
Raven
Joined: Aug 10, 2007
Age: 34
Posts: 118
Location: Boston, MA
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| Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 9:32 pm Post subject: |
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| pineapple wrote: | | I've used ChaCha; it's very cool. But I'm surprised by how little they pay; that isn't cool at all. Isn't $4 an hour way below minimum wage? Would you do this as your only job? |
Well it's an unusual circumstance because the pay rate isn't actually based on an hourly wage... it's based on the number of questions answered I assume... and may also involve some kind of quality metrics -- it's hard to say without knowing the internals of their system... But I gather that there are laws that allow people to be paid per-task as an agent which don't fall under the normal rubric of wage laws because they're not paying a wage, they're hiring an agent, which is considered more akin to the purchase of a service.
As an agent (or business owner if you prefer) you're allowed to set prices however you like -- although in this case, they've already established what they're willing to pay for that service. So you could for example choose to perform that service for a higher price, but you would have to find a client base other than theirs (and in this case a technical infrastructure to provide the service).
Am I rambling again? :)
Anyway... yes $4/hr is well below the current minimum wage here in the US. The upper end of their pay-scale ($10/hr) is above it. That's just the average of what their agents are getting based on how quickly they answer those questions. I wouldn't expect it to be a sole income. I'm thinking about using it myself though to supplement my now non-existent income. |
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n4mwd
Phoenix
Joined: Jun 08, 2008
Posts: 663
Location: Palm Beach, FL
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| Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 6:26 am Post subject: |
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| pineapple wrote: | | I've used ChaCha; it's very cool. But I'm surprised by how little they pay; that isn't cool at all. Isn't $4 an hour way below minimum wage? Would you do this as your only job? |
Its probably a commission base pay. You get paid that plus something for the calls you handle. |
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ike
Raven
Joined: Aug 10, 2007
Age: 34
Posts: 118
Location: Boston, MA
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| Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 10:52 am Post subject: |
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| n4mwd wrote: | | Its probably a commission base pay. You get paid that plus something for the calls you handle. |
Their FAQ describes $3-9 an hour as the average earned from the 10-20c commission per question rather than a combined hourly rate.
Careers > Become a Guide (top) > FAQ (bottom) > How and How Much Do I Get Paid |
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Rocky
Tufted Titmouse
Joined: May 02, 2008
Posts: 29
Location: Any world that I'm welcome to
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| Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 3:43 pm Post subject: |
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There is no base pay. You would be an independent contractor only. I was not recommending this particular job, but mentioned it in case it would be of interest to anyone here. It might get someone thinking about a similar job.
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"Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible."- Frank Zappa
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