Since Pokemon GO requires trainers to go out and explore, a number of people are now offering hot spots around their town or city.
Pokemon GO has only been out for a few days in the U.S and in other select regions such as Australia and New Zealand, but it has already become a massive phenomenon. Part of the allure stems from the app’s combination of augmented-reality technology with GPS, allowing players to go exploring and hunting for Pokemon around their town or city. Catching rare Pokemon can get pretty tiring after a while, but a number of people have come up with quite an entrepreneurial solution to this problem.
Through online marketplaces like Craigslist, people have begun to offer chauffeuring services toPokemon GO players who are unwilling to walk long distances. Over on the Vancouver Craigslist – where the game is only available as a bootleg since the Pokemon GO hasn’t been officially launched there yet – one driver has offered to pick up players at a requested location in the city and drive them around the city. Chauffeur services like these don’t come cheap, however, as that aforementioned Vancouver driver is charging $30 for the first hour and $20 for every subsequent hour. To their credit, the driver did state that passengers must wear seatbelts and that they will not do anything illegal, such as stopping in the middle of a highway or speeding.
Interestingly, there are other better Pokemon GO chauffeur deals available, should one look hard enough. Over on the Houston Craigslist, one particular driver is also offering a $30 per hour fee, but that comes with free wi-fi – as well as a discount to those who are part of Team Mystic.
It’s not just regular drivers on Craigslist who are offering their services, as many other people using other popular ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft to hit up local Pokemon hot spots. Given that Pokemon GO has caused Nintendo stocks to soar, it’s suddenly within the realm of possibility that Uber and Lyft could receive some of the app’s popularity and eventually wind up being more popular than Tinder.
Given that a number of Pokemon GO players have become so engrossed in playing the game that their local police have had to offer up safety tips, this ride-sharing idea is a win-win for everyone – drivers will earn a tidy profit, and players get to catch Pokemon without having to worry about getting tired, run over, or getting lured in by armed robbers.
Pokemon GO is available now for iOS and Android mobile devices in select regions.
