Making Offers on Jobs (Bidding)

Some jobs on ReciGo allow helpers to make offers instead of having a fixed price. Mastering the art of making effective offers will help you win more jobs and maximize your income.

What Are Offers in ReciGo?

Difference Between Fixed Price and Offers

Fixed price job:

• Customer sets final price (e.g., €50)
• Helpers "accept" directly
• Customer chooses among helpers who accepted (based on profile, rating)
• First come has advantage

Open bidding job:

• Customer sets indicative price (e.g., "From €30")
• Helpers propose their own price
• Helpers can add personalized message
• Customer compares offers and chooses the best (not always the cheapest)

Why Do Some Jobs Allow Offers?

From customer's perspective:

• Job difficult to value (doesn't know how much to pay)
• Wants to compare market prices
• Looking for flexibility (schedule, method)
• Prefers choosing helper based on complete proposal (price + message)

From your perspective:

• Opportunity to differentiate (not just by price)
• Can adjust price based on your availability
• Complex jobs usually allow offers = better pay

How to Calculate Your Offer Price

Basic Formula

OFFER PRICE = Direct costs + Time × Your hourly rate + Margin + ReciGo Commission

Step 1: Calculate Direct Costs

Fuel:

Total distance (your location → pickup → drop-off → return) × Consumption × Gas price

Example:
- Total distance: 30 km (15 km round trip from home)
- Consumption: 8 L/100km
- Gas: €1.50/L
- Cost: 30 km × 0.08 L/km × €1.50 = €3.60

Tolls (if applicable):

• Check route on Google Maps
• Add tolls round trip

Parking (if applicable):

• If you need to pay parking at pickup/drop-off
• Typically: €2-€5

Other costs:

• Landfill entry (rare, usually free at recycling centers)
• Extra help (if you need to hire someone for very heavy objects)

Step 2: Estimate Time

Time components:

1. Travel to pickup: Time per Google Maps + 10% (traffic)
2. Loading: 10-30 min (depending on complexity)
3. Travel to drop-off: Time per Maps + 10%
4. Unloading/recycling: 15-45 min (recycling center may have queue)
5. Return to your base: Return time

Example:

- To pickup: 15 min
- Loading: 20 min
- To drop-off (recycling center): 10 min
- Unloading + ticket: 20 min
- Return: 15 min
─────────────────────────
TOTAL: 80 min = 1.3 hours

Step 3: Your Target Hourly Rate

How much do you want to earn per hour?

Realistic ranges:

• Beginner (<20 jobs): €15-€20/hour
• Intermediate (20-100 jobs): €20-€30/hour
• Experienced (100+ jobs): €30-€50/hour

Adjust based on:

• Your experience
• Vehicle type (large van allows charging more)
• Job complexity
• Urgency (ASAP pays more)

Example:

• Estimated time: 1.3 hours
• Target rate: €25/hour
• Target income: 1.3 × €25 = €32.50

Step 4: Add Safety Margin

Why margin?

• Unexpected issues (traffic, object larger than expected)
• Vehicle wear
• Risk (difficult customer, complicated location)

Typical margin: +10-20%

Example:

• Calculated base: €32.50
• 15% margin: +€4.88
• Subtotal: €37.38

Step 5: Adjust for ReciGo Commission

Important: The price you offer is WHAT THE CUSTOMER PAYS (gross price).

You will receive: Offer price × 0.85 (ReciGo 15% Commission)

If you want to receive €37:

Target net price:         €37.00
Divide by 0.85:          €37 ÷ 0.85 = €43.53
────────────────────────────────
OFFER TO CUSTOMER:        €43.53
Round to:                 €44.00

Verification:
€44 × 0.85 = €37.40 you receive
(Slightly more, attractive price)

Writing Effective Offer Messages

Structure of a Good Message

Component 1: Personalized greeting (optional)

Hi [name],

Component 2: Understanding confirmation

I saw you need to transport [object] from [location] to the recycling center.

Component 3: Your value proposition

I have a large van and experience with furniture. I can help you today.

Component 4: Your offer details

My price includes:
- Pickup at [location]
- Safe transport (protective blankets)
- Delivery to Vallecas recycling center
- Recycling ticket management

Component 5: Specific availability

Available today at 5:00 PM or tomorrow morning. Does that work?

Component 6: Call-to-action (optional)

If this works for you, confirm and we'll start. Thanks!

Examples of Good Messages

Example 1: Simple recycling job

"Hi, I can help with the furniture. I have a medium van and know the Vallecas recycling center well (I go several times a week). Available today from 3:00 PM. Price includes loading, transport, and management at recycling center. Regards, Carlos"

Example 2: Complex move

"Hi Ana, I saw your 1-bedroom move. I have experience with 50+ moves on ReciGo (5-star rating). Large van with ramp and blankets. I can do it Saturday morning. Includes basic furniture disassembly if needed. Does that work?"

Example 3: Urgent ASAP job

"Hi, I'm near your area (10 min). Can be there in 20 minutes if you need urgency. Have experience with appliances and bring tools in case you need disconnection. Ready to start now."

What to AVOID in Messages

❌ Too short:

"Ok, I can do it."

• No personalization
• Doesn't inspire confidence
• Customer doesn't know what to expect

❌ Too long:

"Hi, my name is Juan, I've been working in transport for 5 years, I have a 2020 Mercedes Sprinter van with 15m³ capacity, I've done more than 200 jobs on different platforms including ReciGo, Wallapop and others, I'm very professional and responsible, I have full coverage insurance and can provide references from previous customers if needed..."

• Customer loses interest
• Seems like spam
• Focus on what's relevant

❌ Aggressive on price:

"€100, non-negotiable. Take it or leave it."

• Unprofessional
• Customer feels pressured
• You lose jobs

❌ Too servile (devalues your work):

"I can do it for €10 if you want, or free if you give me good rating."

• You seem desperate
• Customer is suspicious (why so cheap?)
• Not sustainable

❌ Poor spelling:

"hi can do the job 2day ok 50€"

• Unprofessional
• Customer doubts your seriousness
• Review before sending

Strategies for Winning Offers

Be Among the First to Bid

Why it works:

• Customer usually reviews offers in arrival order
• First offers have psychological advantage
• If your offer is reasonable, customer may accept without waiting for more

How:

• Enable push notifications for new jobs
• Respond within <5 minutes of posting
• Have message templates ready (customize quickly)

Impact:

• First 3 bidders: 60% probability of being chosen
• Late bidders (>10): 15% probability

Don't Always Be Cheapest

Lowest price does NOT always win:

Real example:

• Offer A: €30 (no message, 3-star profile)
• Offer B: €45 (detailed message, 5-star profile, large van)
• Customer chooses B (prefers reliability over savings)

Factors that beat low price:

• ⭐ High rating (5 stars vs 3 stars)
• 🚚 Adequate vehicle (customer wants everything to fit)
• ⏰ Availability (if customer needs urgent)
• 💬 Professional and clear message
• 📸 Professional profile photo
• 🏆 Experience badges (e.g., "100+ jobs")

Competitive price + strong profile = winning combination

Differentiate with Extras

Include extras that don't cost much but add value:

• ✅ "I bring protective blankets" (cost to you: €0, you already have them)
• ✅ "Can disassemble furniture if needed" (15 min extra)
• ✅ "I manage recycling center ticket" (free, but customer values it)
• ✅ "I clean area after loading" (5 min, big impact)
• ✅ "Available today" (if others can only do tomorrow)

Example offer with extras:

"€55, includes:

• Safe transport (blankets included)
• Basic disassembly if needed
• Area cleanup after loading
• Proof photo at recycling center Available today 4:00-8:00 PM"

Customer perceives: "Worth €10 more than other offer, but includes much more. Worth it."

Adjust Price Based on Urgency

ASAP (urgent) = +20-30% price

Why:

• Customer needs solution NOW
• Willing to pay more
• Less competition (other helpers not available short-term)

Example:

• Normal job (tomorrow): €40
• Same job ASAP (in 2 hours): €50-€55

Scheduled job (flexible) = -10-15% price

Why:

• No urgency, customer can wait
• More helpers compete
• You can plan better (group with other nearby jobs)

Read Between the Lines

Analyze customer's description to adjust offer:

Detailed and specific customer:

"2-seater sofa, 180cm long, 85cm wide, approx 60kg weight. Pick up at 15 Main Street, 2nd floor with elevator. Take to Vallecas recycling center (I have reserved ticket). Available Saturday 10:00-12:00."

• Organized customer
• Knows what they want
• Probably values professionalism over low price
• Your offer: Medium-high price, very professional message

Vague customer:

"Stuff to throw away, various. Today better."

• Unclear customer
• May be surprises (more objects than expected)
• ASAP = urgent
• Your offer: High price (includes risk margin), ask for photos before confirming

Price-sensitive customer:

"Indicative price €20-€25, don't have much budget."

• Customer looking for cheapest option
• Compete aggressively on price or move to next job
• Your offer: Adjusted price, mention efficiency

Managing Multiple Offers

How Many Offers to Make Simultaneously?

General rule: 3-5 active offers at the same time

Why:

• Only 20-30% of offers are accepted
• If you make 5 offers, you'll probably win 1-2
• Don't overload yourself (risk of not being able to fulfill if they accept all)

What If Multiple Offers Are Accepted?

Prioritize:

1. Job that pays most (better ROI)
2. Closest job (less time/gas)
3. Most urgent job (customer expects quick response)

Cancel ones you can't do:

• Be honest with customer
• Cancel as soon as possible (don't wait until last minute)
• Suggested message:

  "Hi [name], sorry but I just accepted another job that overlaps with this one. I don't want to commit without being able to deliver. Hope you find another helper. Good luck!"

Impact on your account:

• Canceling accepted offer affects your rating (use sparingly)
• Better: Don't make more offers than you can handle

Update or Withdraw Offer

You can edit offer before customer accepts:

1. Go to My Offers
2. Select active offer
3. "Edit offer" (change price or message)
4. Or "Withdraw offer"

When to edit:

• You realized you miscalculated (price too low)
• Your availability changed
• You see other offers and want to be more competitive

When to withdraw:

• You're no longer available
• Found a better job
• Customer took too long to respond (lost interest)

Negotiating with Customer

Customer Asks for Discount

Scenario:

"Hi, I like your offer but €60 is too much for me. Can you do €45?"

Response options:

Option A: Negotiate halfway

"I understand your budget. I can do €50 if that works. It's the best price I can offer while maintaining quality. Does that work for you?"

Option B: Maintain price explaining value

"My €60 price includes [list extras: blankets, ticket management, immediate availability, etc.]. It's the most adjusted I can offer. Want to confirm?"

Option C: Politely decline

"I understand you're looking for a lower price. Unfortunately I can't go below €60 due to fuel and time costs. I hope you find what you're looking for. Good luck!"

When to budge:

• Customer seems reasonable and job is still profitable at reduced price
• You don't have other jobs that day (something is better than nothing)
• You want to build good relationship (may be more future jobs)

When to maintain price:

• Your price is already tight (can't lower without losing money)
• Customer asks for excessive discount (€60 → €30)
• You have more profitable jobs

Customer Asks for Extras Without Paying More

Scenario:

"Perfect, I accept your €50 offer. By the way, can you also take these 3 boxes to another address? It's on the way."

Response:

"Sure, no problem. Taking the extra boxes to another address would add [calculate time/km] to the job. Would you be okay adjusting the price to €60? Or I can do just the original job for the agreed €50."

Never accept free extras:

• Devalues your work
• Customer may keep asking for more
• Not sustainable

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Articles

• How to Accept and Complete Jobs
• Helper Commissions Explained
• Improving Your Rating
• Optimizing Your Profile

Last updated: January 31, 2026

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