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May 9, 2012

Gidsy – The Local Activity Super-Site

Itching to find out more about your neighborhood’s history, or maybe to learn a new skill like fire eating or unicycle riding? Gidsy is your site. The application lets qualified experts share their skills and knowledge with others in their cities. Meanwhile, people looking to get out of the house and try something new can sign up for the activities and tours other locals are offering nearby.

You don’t have to be a tourist to take advantage of the fun – and sometimes wacky – tours and excursions that people post on Gidsy. Just select your city from the list, choose a category like history, nature, sports, or shopping, and click “Search.” Gidsy will provide you with a list of activities that meet your specifications, including brief descriptions and pricing information. Click on an activity that looks interesting to find out which dates it’s being offered and read any posted reviews, and make a reservation once you’ve made up your mind and decided to attend. Although Gidsy requires that you pay with a credit card or PayPal account before the event takes place, your money won’t be transferred to the host until 24 hours after the activity occurs. This serve as one way of protecting participants from flaky hosts who don’t show up or provide the activities they described.

To start earning money from your hobbies and skills, sign up to host an event with Gidsy. Create a listing that describes the activity or tour you’d like to organize, making sure to include details like the minimum and maximum number of participants and the times or days when you’re available. Once your listing has been verified, you can start hosting events. Gidsy will deposit the money you’ve earned directly into your PayPal account.

Practical Uses:

  • Find out more about the history of your neighborhood
  • Go on a ghost tour in your town
  • Learn how to eat fire
  • Try out a new skill like unicycle riding or rollerblading

Insider Tips:

  • Participants can pay via credit card or PayPal
  • Money is deposited into host’s accounts 24 hours after an activity occurs
  • Organizers can list activities on Gidsy for free, however the site charges hosts based on actual bookings
  • Small businesses can use Gidsy to advertise their events

What we liked:

  • Gidsy is a great way for people to explore their towns
  • People can make money by offering their services on Gidsy
  • Gidsy protects event attendees from fraud by holding their payments until after an activity is complete
  • Organizers are automatically sent confirmations when people book their activities

What we didn’t like:

  • Gidsy is currently only available in six cities

Alternatives:

Company Info:

  • Launched: November 2011
  • Privately Held
  • Headquarters: Berlin, Germany
  • Founded by: Edial Dekker, Philipp Wassibauer, and Floris Dekker
  • Web site: http://gidsy.com

Costs:

  • Gidsy charges a 10% service fee for each booking

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