General Question

BronxLens's avatar

Jobs for a frequent traveler?

Asked by BronxLens (1539points) September 27th, 2010

I get to travel often both domestically an intenat’l) for a very low nominal fee. What lawful services may I provide for a fee? If you suggest being a courier, looking for suggestions, websites, books that guide one on how to go about it. Thanks.

Observing members: 0 Composing members: 0

17 Answers

robmandu's avatar

So… you want to use the travel itself as an income opportunity? Not just looking for a job that you could do from anywhere?

BronxLens's avatar

@ robmandu – Correct. The most common I can think off would be offering to deliver small cargo/papers for a fee. Looking for guidelines on how to go about it & other options (outside the box thinking) from the collective.

cazzie's avatar

Create a travel blog with pictures and discussions about where to eat, what to see, etc.

Being a courier of what, exactly? There is a reason they ask you if you are carrying anything for someone else, you know.

Pied_Pfeffer's avatar

What about looking into companies that hire people to be mystery or secret shoppers? Some airlines, hotels, rental car agencies and restaurant chains might have programs like this for their frequent guests. It would be based upon your existing schedule.

I’m wracking my brain to think of how a courier service might work and am only coming up with the pitfalls.

Should you find something, I highly recommend that you check with your company’s HR department to see if doing whatever it is might be against company policy. Some have very strict rules about things like this.

BronxLens's avatar

@cazzie – Valid point. I wouldnt transport anything I can’t inspect before the envelop is sealed and handed to me; perhaps only accept established businesses to do work for.

BronxLens's avatar

@pied_pfeffer Valid point as well. Yes, I would check into this before doing anything courier-involved.

Pied_Pfeffer's avatar

What type of targeted audience do you think there would be for an independent courier service? Can you think of an example where I would select your service over a company like Federal Express? I think that is where I’m getting hung up on the courier idea.

BronxLens's avatar

@pied Perhaps someone that doesn’t want to have any record or the delivery of the document? OMG!, J.J. Abrahams is knocking on my door LoL Kidding aside, this is why I posted the quest here, to see if someone reveals an angle that we haven’t thought about.

Tropical_Willie's avatar

The only couriers I have known worked for a large corporation in the security department and carried internal documents from one facility to another.

WestRiverrat's avatar

Join the navy. You will see plenty of the world.

funkdaddy's avatar

What about regional products/delicacies? Everything is pretty connected now, but there are still some regional things that you just can’t find everywhere. My dad always wants me to bring him a brisket from Texas. I tried shipping it once and it was over $100 to get it there overnight.

I know people pay a premium for good maple syrup, their favorite cheesecake, specialty products from well known places in their old stomping grounds, etc. It’s not really something you could do continuously but if people know you’re willing, and travel a lot, they might have you bring something back. People get crazy about their favorites. It might be something you could build up a network for over time.

Same with items from NYC, drop an ad on Craigslist in the city you’re traveling to a week before you leave asking if anyone needs anything from NYC. It might even lead in other directions we aren’t thinking of.

BronxLens's avatar

@funkdaddy, Lurve to you man! This is the outside the box thinking I am looking for. Keep it coming Lurv’sters =)

cazzie's avatar

Make sure to check the restricted items for each country. A friend of my father’s had the bright idea of sending me a smoked turkey from the States to New Zealand. It was confiscated. A lot of meat products are like that. But that is a good idea. Norwegians have all these weird foods that they miss when they live overseas.

cazzie's avatar

So, @BronxLens you’d basically be travelling from NY city to other parts of the world. I start thinking about things crafters and trades people want. In NY there is a lot of cool stores. There’s that camera shop run by Hasidic Jews… you know the one? I bet you could find photographers willing to pay a fee to get their hands on some of the hard to find items they carry.

And I bet there are all sorts of wonderful fabric stores, tailors, wedding gown makers…that would LOVE fabric brought from Italy or France.

I always tell my husband to bring me back essential oils from where ever he is. (I’m a soapmaker, so I like to play with fragrances.) But, if you’re ever coming over to Norway, I need a new soap cutter. I can pay for it and have it sent to your address and you can bring it to me. hahahaha

robmandu's avatar

Levi’s jeans are often highly desirable… especially in Asian countries.

I had a visitor from China come over and he was buying up Levi’s like crazy because they were so inexpensive here vs. over there… which is weird because I think Levi’s has a lot of their product manufactured over there.

shirleylopez's avatar

You do like photography? I know some people make money out of the photos they take. Or maybe you can be sort of a tourist guide. My friend likes the outdoors and what he does is to post an invitation to people on his Facebook account that he is willing to take and guide people to the places that he explore such as beaches, mountains, etc. He gets a fee for doing that, more than to pay for his food and fares.

Response moderated (Unhelpful)

Answer this question

Login

or

Join

to answer.

This question is in the General Section. Responses must be helpful and on-topic.

Your answer will be saved while you login or join.

Have a question? Ask Fluther!

What do you know more about?
or
Knowledge Networking @ Fluther