This review is sponsored by Under the Sun Errand Service.
Under the Sun Errand Service #Review
By Charlotte Bowman
I’m a busy, self-employed mom, and I have a lot of spinning plates. Some days I don’t know whether I’m coming or going. Time is precious to me, and like Melissa Gates, I wish I had more of it. Even with the help of my husband, who is as equal a partner as I could ask for, there are days when I wish I could clone myself.
Plates are falling from the sky as I write this, I’m gonna need to buy more plates. Another thing to add to the shopping list! ~ Amy Hunter
I know I’m not the only girl who is juggling house, home, kids and career. Just ask any mom in the carpool line or cubicle beside you. Thanks, in part, to our busy lifestyles, some days we just don’t have time for even the simplest of errands, such as taking the family pet to the vet for a routine checkup, or, in the case of my friend Allyson, running to the Tractor supply store to buy horse feed.
So when I heard about a new errand service opening in Columbus last fall, I was curious.
An errand service does just that — they run errands for people who are unable to, typically seniors. The services offered by Under the Sun vary from food delivery, to pet care, to heavy lifting, and more.
I hesitated to contact them for two reasons. First, there was no picture or information about the owners on the website. And, frankly, I prefer to know who I’m working with before I hire them. Second, there were no testimonials or reviews on the website. (Several testimonials have been added since then.) Granted, it takes time and word of mouth for a service-based business to build up a good reputation.
So I bookmarked their website and waited.
A few weeks later, I was pleasantly surprised when the owners, Michael and Marina Dunbar, reached out to me! While I rarely accept compensation to review a business or product, this time I agreed. The holidays were fast approaching, and I had no doubt my spinning plates would start falling, and no doubt I would need some extra help.
Signing up for service
It was the morning of Christmas Eve when my first spinning plate fell. Crash!
I realized I had forgotten to prepare food to take to my family’s annual Christmas gathering on December 27. Now, I’m a meh cook and I hate grocery shopping, especially on the day before a major holiday!
After a some thought, I had the clever idea of getting Under the Sun to pick up a pre-cooked entree and appetizer from Call It Yours Casseroles and deliver it to me by 5 p.m. on December 26.
Booking a service is easy. Simply, visit their website and select an errand from the list of services. Next, schedule a time to get it done. You can choose a same-day appointment if you’re in a rush, or you can request a time in the future that suits your schedule.
The website said that an errand runner would confirm my chosen errand and stay in touch via email or text message. Sure enough, within an hour of placing my request, I received a confirmation email from Michael.
I gave myself a pat on the back and settled in to enjoy a relaxing Christmas. Yeah! Go me!
Too bad I didn’t think my plan through completely. The second plate fell on December 26. My phone started buzzing around noon. It was an email and text message from Michael. Turns out that CIYC wasn’t open on the 26th — a detail I would have known had I taken the time to place an actual order.
Ack! Kill me. Now.
Feeling somewhat embarrassed, I wrote back to Michael with an apology and an updated shopping list for Publix.
That afternoon at 4:30 p.m., just 30 minutes prior to my requested delivery time, Michael arrived at our door. My husband answered the door. Michael introduced himself and handed over the groceries and receipt. I had my checkbook in hand ready to pay, but Michael said they would send an invoice via Paypal. Hooray! Thank you.
My Thoughts?
It’s all about convenience. I can see how an errand service could ease some of the burden by taking care of those little tasks that eat up your time. Even though a trip to the grocery store takes me 30-45 minutes, that’s 30-45 minutes better spent on other things.
It’s all about customer service. I appreciated Michael’s prompt communication about the problem with my order, both by text and email. By getting in touch with me so quickly, I had time to come up with an alternate solution which included cooking that evening.
Michael was dressed nicely, polite and professionally. I’m sure that other parents, senior citizens, and especially home-bound adults would welcome having him or someone else go grocery shopping, pick up the dry cleaning, or take their puppy for a walk.
It’s also about affordability. I thought Under the Sun’s flat rate of $19 per hour was very reasonable. Most errand runners charge between $15 and $45 an hour, depending on the location. The national average is around $25 per hour. Granted, UTS’ rate increases if you have a rush job or need heavy lifting.
Will I use them again? Yes. Sometimes my husband isn’t available. Sometimes a girl just needs some extra help. The next time my spinning plates start to wobble, I will consider giving them a call.
Quick facts about the business:
- Discounts are available for senior citizens, military, small businesses and physically disabled individuals.
- Each service is insured for up to $5,000, which tells me that the owners view their business as an actual “business” and not a side gig.
- If you live on the outskirts of Columbus, keep in mind that UTS charges for mileage after the first 15 miles. Be sure to contact them if you have any questions.
- Tipping isn’t generally encouraged since the service fee is included in your invoice. Payment is collected upon completion of the errand. They accept cash, check, all major credit cards and PayPal.
How to contact them
For more information or to book an errand, visit underthesunderrands.com. Feel free email them at [email protected] or call 706-315-7807 to chat about any questions or concerns.
