‘More like self professed handy-men’: Chicago woman hires TaskRabbit tasker to mount 60-inch TV. It turns out to be an ‘expensive lesson’
Sometimes it’s difficult to differentiate between household chores you can do yourself and those that require hiring a professional.
Sure, it’s probably a good idea to call a professional for any electrical work, plumbing issues, or structural changes, but tasks like mounting a TV are a little less clear.
Going the safe route, a Chicago woman decided that the task deserved a handyman and hired a TaskRabbit tasker to mount her 60-inch TV. However, she later ended up regretting that decision.
What Went Wrong With The TaskRabbit?
Chicago-based TikTok creator Emma (@tacoandchonky) posted a video sharing the painful aftermath of her Tasker’s alleged work. Her clip garnered over 45,300 views.
“Last time i hire a task rabbit thanks,” she wrote in the video’s text overlay, setting the scene.
“I was just on the phone with my mom and I hear a crash,” she says, before switching to her front camera and revealing her TV lying on the floor.
“Oh, it’s just my 60-inch TV falling from the wall,” she continues.
She reveals a sizeable hole the mount left when it detached from the wall, along with her broken TV screen. It has gone completely dark, with several cracks across the screen.
Emma says she hired someone specifically for the job, even though she had previously done it herself. “Did it fall off the wall then? No,” she says. “But when I hire a man to do it…”
She says she thought it was smarter to hire a professional, but it backfired. “Shattered my TV,” she says. “Merry Christmas to me, I guess. Gotta buy a new TV now.”
Viewers share advice
Viewers in the comments section jumped in with advice and stories of their own.
“I would contact task rabbit!” one person wrote. “I saw a video of a TR mess up yesterday and they commented on the video – maybe a good sign they’ll respond and help you out? Good luck, this sucks!!”
“I always get a card from them before they leave because TRUST I want to know who to come for if need be,” said another. “I hope Task Rabbit fixes this.”
“The problem is, not all people on task rabbit are professionals, more like self professed handy-men,” claimed a third.
One commenter wanted to know an important detail, asking, “How long did it last after hanging?” Emma responded, “About 7 months oddly enough.”
Are TaskRabbit Taskers Licensed to Perform These Services?
According to TaskRabbit’s FAQ page, to become a “Tasker” or independent contractor for the company, applicants are required to provide information for a background check, have a smartphone, be at least 18 years old, and more.
However, the list doesn’t include any requirement for a handyman license or professional credential for specific tasks.
While most tasks offered by TaskRabbit are fairly simple and don’t need specialization, such as cleaning, help during moving, decorating, or waiting in line, others might require a professional. Such as mounting a TV to the wall, for example.
According to European Business Magazine, a non-professional might struggle to properly assess a wall, determine which hardware is right for different wall types, or identify electrical safety concerns.
As Emma showed with her video, this margin of error could lead to loss of valuables.
Does TaskRabbit Cover Damages Caused By Taskers?
The company has a guarantee they call the “Happiness Pledge,” with which they promise to cover up to $10,000 for any property damages, bodily injuries, or intentional theft of a client’s belongings.
There are some caveats, however, the main one being that clients must file a claim no more than 30 days after the task was finished. Emma stated it had already been seven months since the completion, which makes her ineligible to file.
@tacoandchonky you know when my tv didn’t fall off the wall??? When I HUNG IT UP!!! You know when it did fall off the wall? When i hired a random man from task rabbit #taskrabbit #tv #tvfall #funny #tvfail #fail #tvfail #fyp #viral ♬ original sound – Emma
Emma did update her viewers with a new development: TaskRabbit allegedly offered her a full refund for the task and additional credits to use with the service. She says the company informed her she’s no longer eligible for the $10,000 ‘Happiness Pledge,’ so she has to cover the costs of a new TV by herself.
The Mary Sue reached out to TaskRabbit via email for comment, and Emma via TikTok messages for more information.
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