The Neighborhood Service Layer
The Neighborhood Service Layer
Not everything in a neighborhood is a favor. Some things are a trade.
The rickshaw operator at the corner isn't doing it for karma — it's their livelihood. The handyperson who fixes your plumbing charges for their time. The tutor who helps your kids with math has a rate card. These people are part of the neighborhood fabric, but they don't fit the gift economy.
Karmyq's neighborhood service layer is a directory where they can be found by the neighbors they already serve.
Two Layers, Clearly Separate
| Mutual Aid (Layer 1) | Professional Services (Layer 2) | |
|---|---|---|
| What it's for | Neighbors helping neighbors | Paid neighborhood services |
| Currency | Karma | Your own arrangement |
| Visibility | Community members | Everyone in the neighborhood |
| Trust signal | Personal trust score | Stars + completion record |
| Who sets prices | N/A (gift economy) | The provider (advisory only) |
| Ratings privacy | Private within community | Public |
The separation is deliberate. Mixing them would corrupt both: karma would stop meaning generosity, and paid providers would be awkwardly constrained by community membership rules.
Why Layer 1 ratings are private, Layer 2 ratings are public: Personal trust scores within communities reflect private, relational dynamics between neighbors. Publishing them would chill participation and create social pressure. Provider trust scores, by contrast, are the point — they exist so strangers can decide whether to hire someone. Public accountability is the mechanism.
The Rickshaw Stand
Imagine a rickshaw operator who serves a neighborhood. They're not a member of any particular community — they serve all of them. They shouldn't have to join your neighborhood group to be discoverable. And you shouldn't have to be in any specific community to find them.
Provider profiles on Karmyq are publicly visible — no community membership required to browse or contact a provider. The neighborhood service layer is for the neighborhood, not just the community.
How It Works
Any Karmyq user can create a provider profile:
- Choose a service type (rides, home repair, tutoring, and more)
- Write a bio and describe what you offer
- Add pricing notes (advisory — Karmyq never processes payment)
- For ride providers: list your vehicle type and typical routes
When someone needs a ride, they browse the provider directory, find someone who covers their area, and reach out directly to arrange it. Karmyq handles the connection — not the transaction.
Trust Without Karma
If you use a provider, you can leave a star rating and a short review. Over time, providers build a provider trust score based on:
- Star ratings (60%) — what people say about the experience
- Completion rate (30%) — did they show up and finish the job?
- Response rate (10%) — do they respond promptly?
This is separate from personal trust. A reliable rickshaw operator doesn't need to have helped anyone move furniture — their service record speaks for itself.
What Karmyq Is (and Isn't)
Karmyq is a directory where neighbors offer services directly. It is not a marketplace:
- No payment processing
- No commission
- No dispute arbitration
- Pricing notes are advisory only — "~500/hr, negotiable" — not binding quotes
The relationship between a provider and a customer is theirs to manage. Karmyq just makes it easier to find each other.
Phase 1: Rides
The first service type with a dedicated profile is rides — fitting for a platform that started in a neighborhood where rickshaws, auto-rickshaws, and local drivers are part of daily life.
More service types (home repair, tutoring, and others) will follow with their own profile extensions. The foundation is generic — the same provider profile structure works for any service type.