Everyday I get one or two emails that go something like this: “this guy is traveling in the opposite direction” or “this pickup requires a detour” or more often simply “this is not on my way”.

I answer these comments happily because I know that every single one of our members has a different expectation as to what PickupPal will do for them and certainly most are not quite sure how it all works. I change up my answers and use metaphors sometimes to explain and i thought to blog about it…if you will permit me

The matching engine creates a sort of bubble around the routes that drivers save into the system and this becomes a catchment area. Basically it is tantamount to a net that is cast. The pickup requests caught in that “net” are matched to the route - PickupPal reels in the net for the PickupPal drivers and dumps out the catch for them to take a look. Some “fish” are good, some are not the right ones and need to be thrown back into the sea. This is not meant to annoy anyone, but rather to meet all sorts of appetites. Some drivers have no taste for deviating from a set course, some others do. So under these circumstances, sometimes we catch a fish/pickup that is not right for Drivers.

One thing that members can do when they come upon a particularly unpalatable morsel is to check the “also, do not show this again” box on the drive opportunity page. Because we get it, not everyone likes squid - I do but that does not mean you need to. What makes it hard however is that a few people don’t really want to fish with a net at all…but would rather be fishing with a line in out the back of the boat.

We have mentioned in our one-on-one communications and within our forums that we are working on a new user interface (UI) for release this summer, it will include a feature whereby drivers can set matching preferences on their routes, in essence giving them the option of a smaller net perhaps even several sizes of nets. We think it will be like fishing in a barrel:)

- Suesan