Are your legs getting tired from all the Pokémon GO? Well, some entrepreneurs have the solution for you. They want to be your personal Pokémon GO driver. That’s right, for around $30 per hour a driver will now chauffeur you around to play in cities like New York, Portland, Baltimore – and even Adelaide.
Photo illustration from a photo via Shutterstock
The ads are slowly cropping up around the country, as the augmented reality game catches fire and people find out that they’re accidentally getting exercise. Some of the drivers are even including perks like free snacks, phone chargers and Wi-Fi.
From an ad in Portland on Craigslist:
FOR SALE:
RIDES FOR POKEMON GO!
I will drive you around Portland Metro area while you play Pokemon Go.
Rides will include snacks and beverages.
$30 [$AU40]/per person
Includes 2 hours of driving around to all the PokeStops and Gym Trainers.
And another ad in New York on Craigslist:
Don’t want to walk especially in the heat, humidity, or rain for a bunch of km’s to hatch your eggs, visit Pokéstops, go to gyms, or get items? Looking for Pokémon the don’t reside where you do? Let’s make your Pokémon go experience more SAFE and comfortable?
I am driving around the Tri-state area for Pokémon. I am open to all farm routes. I am available day and night!!!
EMAIL or TEXT me let me know what type of trips you would like (Destination or just travel the city) when and what team you’re on (I am Mystic). I’ll try to organise it so that it will be fun and enjoyable for all.
EMAIL or TEXT me so we can set up a rendezvous. I’m thinking Union Square or Atlantic Mall (Brooklyn)
I am a current licensed T&LC driver. I have a 5 seater car (2016 Toyota Camry) but will only taking 3 passengers for quality of life reasons.
iPhone thunderbolt, Apple Watch and Micro USB-cord charger already in the car for convenience.
Wifi-enabled trip.
Or for $US25 ($33) one guy in Baltimore will drive you around for an hour while you try to catch them all. From another ad in Baltimore:
Have you ever wanted to have your very own chauffeur personally drive you around to Baltimore’s Poke-Stops and Gyms? Looks like your wish has been granted! For one hour I will personally drive you around to Baltimore’s Poke-Stops & Gyms helping you catch them all.
Benefits:
1. GET ALL OF THE STEPS WITH NONE OF THE SWEAT – We will drive around at egg incubation speed so that you still get credit towards hatching your eggs.
2. GO ANYWHERE – You have a choice of travelling where you want in the Baltimore City area or take one of my pre-constructed routes.*
3. NO HASSLE – I can pick you up and drop you off at your house. Or we can meet in Hampden.
4. GET VARIETY – Explore all of Baltimore to find different kinds of Pokemon.
Feel free to contact me if you want to know more info. I accept both cash and Venmo.
PS: PRAISE HELIX
A search of Gumtree shows that Australians are starting to join in on this enterprise as well, with drivers advertising their services in Cairns, Newcastle and Adelaide.
Other people are just looking for a friend to hunt Pokémon with. This ad in San Francisco is looking for a Pokémon GO pal at the very specific hour of 1:00AM. No money is mentioned. I might humbly suggest that answering a Craigslist ad from some anonymous person who wants to go play Pokémon GO at 1 o’clock in the morning might not be a smart idea, but you do you.
Of course, some people have been trying to use Uber and other ride sharing services for Pokémon GO-related activities. But this isn’t really suggested. Uber and the like are services designed to get you from one place to another without frequent stops in between. Pokémon GO, of course, is all about stopping to play. Hence, these entrepreneurs seizing on what they see as an opportunity.
[Twitter]