How Often Does Amazon Flex Pay

Tip # : Using Smartphone

Using Amazon Flex will require you to use a smartphone. This is as important as having a car, but you do not have to buy an expensive one a simple, cheaper smartphone will do the trick. However, make sure to insure the phone in case you drop or damage it during delivery jobs.

That said, having a newer phone can make your job more efficient such as faster scanning time, quick rendering of the maps, and better mobile signals.

Amazon Flex Tips To Start Earning As A Delivery Driver

Are you a ride-share or delivery driver looking out for new side hustles in the gig economy? If yes, you are in the right place, as this post will give you valuable information about being an worker and tips that can help you branch out your career into other driving domains.

Now you can be a driver but still bag a challenging job as a part-time or full-time gig. Amazon Flex is a service that offers rideshare drivers to make extra money on the side by handling grocery orders from PrimeNow, Amazon Fresh, and Whole Foods. In case you are wondering why you have not heard of Amazon Flex before, it is only because it is the least spoken about delivery programs.

Well, it is never too late, so let us get started and see how Amazon Flex Services can help boost your income. But let us first find out what Amazon Flex is.

Requirements For Amazon Flex Drivers

Before we get into the specific requirements, heres a common-sense consideration. Are you physically able to carry packages and other orders to and from your vehicle? What about when there is ice, heavy rain, or snow? Being hearty and healthy is one requirement of this job that you may not have to worry about in other driving gigs.

But if youre okay with doing the moderate-to-heavy lifting, and dont mind being out in crummy weather sometimes, here is whats required to be an Amazon Flex driver.

• Have a valid U.S. drivers license
• Show proof of insurance for your vehicle
• Have a smartphone capable of handling the app
• Have a vehicle large enough to carry your delivery loads

And here are answers to a few common questions.What makes a vehicle large enough to carry delivery loads?For Prime Now orders, you can use any four-door vehicle that will safely and easily transport customers orders.

*Note also that in the State of New York, this coverage does not apply. Drivers must procure their own commercial insurance coverage.We also recommend that you get additional coverage on your personal insurance that covers you as a delivery driver. This is not as expensive as commercial coverage, but its important to have if you expect your insurance company to cover you in the event of a mishap, and they discover that you use your vehicle for delivery.

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Amazon Flex Background Check

Amazon Flex and other gig jobs do a background check to make sure that youre a safe driver and are not a threat to their customers. This is a very standard background check, similar to one youd take when getting hired for full time employment at a corporation.

Amazons background check goes back seven years and looks for major criminal offenses and driving violations. If you have a history of violent crime or theft, you will probably be disqualified.

The same is also true of numerous driving infractions they probably wont accept you.

The background check is not instant. It takes about 2-5 business days to complete.

Consenting to the background check is the last step in the application process. If you are accepted, youll receive an email from Amazon prompting you to schedule your first block!

The Costs Of Driving For Amazon Flex

It would be overly optimistic to think that, as an Amazon Flex driver, youd get to keep every penny you earn. Like any kind of gig, theres a cost of doing business. Lets break down these costs so you can get a fuller idea of what youll be bringing home.

Your car will be the biggest source of expenses. Your payment , the cost of maintenance, plus insurance and registration, are going to be factored in. Youll have to shoulder most of these costs even if you dont drive for Amazon Flex, but there will be some increase in your insurance because youll be using the vehicle for business.Amazon Flex doesnt say drivers cant use rental vehicles, but the cost of doing so might make it less than practical. It might also be a challenge to find a car rental company that will provide you with the proper insurance.

If youre going to use a vehicle of your own, youll need the right coverage and more. Heres a list of all the expenses you should factor into your earning potential with Amazon Flex.

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Get To The Fulfillment Center Early

One of the biggest mistakes that Flex drivers make is arriving at the fulfillment center at the start of their shift.

When you do this, however, youre likely to find that theres a line of other drivers waiting in front of you.

This is a common complaint from drivers, who say that theyve waited as long as 45 minutes to pick up their orders.

Now, the problem with this is that your account can face deactivation if you are late to deliver too many packages, especially the Prime Now packages.

So, those 45 minutes you spend waiting at the fulfillment center can be detrimental to your rating.

We know that its not your fault, but this is unfortunately how the company operates at this point.

Therefore, the best thing you can do is to get there at least a half hour before your block begins.

This will give you more time in case you have to wait for other drivers to pick up their orders.

While it wont make you more money in the immediate future, it will help to boost your rating with the company, and youre likely to get more offers for on-demand delivery blocks and reserve shifts.

Work During Inclement Weather

No one wants to drive when its raining or snowing. Thats a given fact.

If mail carriers had the option to stay home on a snowy day, they probably would.

But, because Flex drivers work on their own schedule, they do have the option to work during bad weather . And, as youll find, many of them take it and run with it.

Because so few people want to work in inclement weather, youll find that a lot more delivery blocks open up when its raining or snowing. Ultimately, this means that youll be able to make some extra cash.

Of course, you should only do this if your car is capable of driving in bad weather, especially if you live a good distance from the fulfillment center.

And, you should probably get some appropriate gear. Boots, jackets, and waterproof clothing will make your life a whole lot easier.

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How Long Does It Take To Process The Amazon Flex Background Check

Amazon Flex passes the job of checking backgrounds to an outside company that specializes in this field. The check, under normal circumstances, takes only 2-5 days to complete, but it can take as long as 10 days to complete. If your check takes longer than 5 days, simply call Amazon Flex support to get a status on your background check. Provided theres nothing in your records that might be a problem, youll be up and driving for Amazon Flex before you know it.

What Does The Amazon Flex Background Check Cover

The Amazon Flex background check goes back seven years to search for criminal offenses. If you have any offenses on your record involving theft or violence, you are not likely to pass. A driving background check will also be conducted, to ensure you havent had an inordinate number of moving violations.

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Write Your Gas Off As A Business Expense

Amazon doesnt compensate you for gas mileage directly.

However, because Flex is an independent contractor job, you have the opportunity to write off business expenses on your tax return.

Now, doing this wont help you get the money back, per se. But, you can write it off as a deduction on your taxes, which means that you wont have to pay taxes on your gas money.

The IRS has a protocol for gas write-offs called the Standard Mileage Deduction.

Essentially, they allow you to write off a certain amount for gas each year. Currently, the Standard Mileage Rate is 54.5 cents per mile.

So, you should keep a log of all the miles you drive for Amazon Flex during the year . There are multiple apps that will automatically keep track of your mileage for you.

Pro Tip: Keep your receipts so you have proof you spent the money on gas and can easily write each expense off.

Then, at the end of the year, multiply your mileage by 54.5 , and include it as a deduction on your tax form.

Because you depend on your car for work, you can also write off all repairs, maintenance, and any other money you spend to keep your vehicle on the road.

Those new brake pads? Include those in your deduction. Windshield wiper fluid? Write it off.

It helps to have a professional accountant look over your taxes at the end of the year to make sure all of your deductions are in good standing. Youll also avoid getting audited by the IRS this way, too.

Packages 3 Hours $5850

I nabbed a 3-hour shift on a Saturday afternoon, set to start at a facility in North Seattle. This one was much different not a big warehouse, but a small dedicated Amazon Flex office with a parking lot.

I parked, walked into the office, and checked in by scanning a QR code. Shortly after that, a friendly attendant lifted a blue cover off of this:

41 packages? For me? In my car? Wowza.

The attendant told me that 15 packages per hour was the average workload, so I prepared myself for a full 3-hour shift.

I had watched some how-to uploaded by other couriers and learned that some people strategically organized packages in their vehicle depending on address and drop-off order, to speed up the delivery process.

After scanning each package with my smartphone, I wasnt quite sure how to position each box in my car to optimize for efficiency. I wish Amazon made this process more systemic, because I ended up spending a lot of time searching for the right package during my drive.

This shift took much longer than my first two hours and 25 minutes but I drove less than 10 miles. Some quick observations from this particular shift:

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Remember To Track Your Progress

As a gig worker, you need to make the most of the time you spend driving for all the companies you work with. Thats why you need to , so you can see how much youre earning, and which of your gigs is paying the most. This amazing app lets you record your earnings, track your mileage, and see all the facts and figures displayed in a super-useful format.

Youll also get info on traffic, whats happening at the airport, events, and weather, plus easy access to our blog. Our Perks tab features cool deals and discounts for drivers, and the Gridwise YouTube Channel will amaze you with insight and entertainment. If thats not enough, theres even more on , where you can get in on the great Gridwise gas card giveaways. So dont wait

What Is Amazon Flex In 2021

Amazon Flex is a delivery program that hires drivers to deliver Amazon packages to its customers doors. This program enlists drivers to pick up the packages in many cities across the US, using their own vehicle and a smartphone app for support. Drivers are paid on a contract basis and must pay for all gas and vehicle expenses.

Keep reading for your complete guide and answers to common questions about Amazon Flex!

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Other Amazon Financing Options

While Amazon Monthly Payments or an Amazon credit card will likely offer the most flexibility, a number of other flexible payment tools may be a better fit for you. Keep in mind, however, that a few of these methods will require you to pay at least some interest.

Tip: Unfortunately, many shoppers have had trouble using popular installment payment services for Amazon purchases. Quadpay is one notable exception, allowing you to shop on Amazon via the Quadpay app. However, only six-week payment plans are available.

What Day Does Amazon Flex Pay Me My Earnings As A Deliverer

If you are thinking of working as a delivery person, it is recommended that you first know the requirements to work for Amazon Flex. If you stay as an employee, the company will pay you following the model discussed below.

Amazon Flex processes your payments weekly, specifically the daysTuesday and Friday but the deposit will appear in the dealers account the next business day. Although you must bear in mind that if the payment coincides with bank days or holidays, the deposit will be processed the next day.

Payments are subject to the days worked and the service provided. Currently, this company has three delivery services: Amazon , Amazon Prime Now and Amazon Fresh .

The payment process is implemented as follows: if you make Deliveries for Amazon throughout the week will be made two deposits. For example, on Tuesdays Amazon Flex will pay for deliveries made by the partner on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday and on Friday they will deposit the deliveries made on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

If you deliver all week for Prime Now, the payment process also takes place in two deposits, but the days you deliver vary. That is, if you made deliveries on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, you will be paid on Friday and if you work on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, these deliveries are paid to you on Tuesday.

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New 0% Intro Apr Card

A new credit card that offers a 0% introductory APR on purchases will allow you to carry a balance for several months and save on interest on all new purchases.

Two of your best options at the moment are the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express and the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express.

Thats because not only do both cards come with a 0% introductory APR on new purchases , they also offer rewards on Amazon purchases as part of their welcome bonus.

The Blue Cash Everyday and Blue Cash Preferred cards offer 20% back on Amazon.com purchases for your first six months as a cardholder, with a $150 and $200 cash back cap, respectively.

The Discover it® Cash Back card is another great choice. It comes with a 0% introductory APR on purchases for the first 14 months and the Discover cash back calendar for 2021 lists Amazon.com purchases as eligible for 5% cash back from October through December .

Tip: You can check if you prequalify for a new credit card at many issuers sites or use a tool like CardMatch to search across multiple issuers for prequalified offers that fit your credit profile. Prequalification will help you get a better sense of your odds of approval before you apply.

How Does Amazon Flex Work

Amazon Flex provides delivery services by using a fleet of gig worker drivers who use their own vehicles.

Amazon Flex driver deliveries include:

• Packages: Picked up at a delivery station and delivered to customers. Your work must be completed within a time slot, which is usually in 3- to 6-hour blocks.
• Prime Now and Amazon Fresh: Groceries and household items are picked up from an Amazon delivery station, usually in 2- to 4-hour blocks.
• Store orders: Pickups from local stores, in blocks of 2 to 4 hours.
• Instant offers: Only available in limited areas, these deliveries start near your current location and last from 15 to 45 minutes.

And heres something thats really important. Flex drivers can make about $18 to $25 per hour. Earnings will vary depending on your location, of course, but those numbers represent a good rate for delivery work, and can make driving for Amazon Flex well worth the effort.

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How Are Amazon Flex Drivers Paid

Every Amazon Flex driver is paid twice per week via direct deposit. These payments are processed on Tuesdays and Fridays, so you can expect to receive your funds within one business day . You will also receive customer tips within a couple of days of a completed delivery block.

If your bank account information ever changes, you can easily update it in the Account tab of your . If you run into any issues along the way, you can always by emailing the team at .

How Much Do Amazon Flex Drivers Actually Make

Amazon delivery driver pay is $18 to $25 per hour on average, according to Amazon. However, several factors influence your earnings, including:

• Your location
• How fast you complete deliveries
• Potential tips

You see how much money a delivery block guarantees when creating your schedule. Amazon always pays at least $15 to $19 per scheduled hour.

Pay can vary based on your location and current order demand. For example, Amazon might boost rates during high demand times.

Blocks where customers can tip, like Amazon Fresh deliveries, show an estimated tip amount as well. You keep 100 percent of your tips.

Delivering packages efficiently is what matters most for earning a high hourly wage. Its also worth noting that customer tips arent common unless youre delivering groceries.

This is one significant difference between Amazon Flex and most food delivery jobs.

Additionally, the fact that Amazon guarantees $15 to $19 per scheduled hour is different from most delivery gigs where hourly pay is more volatile.

Here is how pay from Amazon Flex compares to other popular on-demand delivery services.

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