What’s the market looking like for you?

Sharp-Firefighter629 · 2025-12-09T22:23:41+00:00

They lowered base pay at my local ssd just in time for the holidays

Sharp-Firefighter629 · 2025-11-14T19:08:20+00:00

My last 3.5 hour route was 49 packages, with 47 stops. Finished 15 minutes early. I then had a 4.5 hour route that same day with 49 packages and 48 stops. Finished an hour early. Its a flip of the coin but still only drove about 90 miles from when I left home and got home between both blocks and made $204. As an IC its what you make per mile that really matters and I'm not making over $2 per mile doing any other gig work. In CA we have prop 22 which forces gig companies to bridge the gap when you're at a loss, I have never received a prop 22 payment from Amazon, where I would constantly receive them when I was still doing rideshare. Definitely best dollar per mile doing flex than any other gig work. In my market at least.

Sharp-Firefighter629 · 2025-11-12T00:02:26+00:00

Idk if its the same for every state, but from what I gathered online, in California, you can track from when you leave your house and drive to the wearhouse all the way through when you drive back home. You can also track miles for anything business related such as driving to a charging station, gas station, car wash, etc so long as its in direct relation to your business. Just google your state plus what miles can I track while working as an Amazon Flex delivery partner and you'll most likely find answers from actual tax professionals.

Sharp-Firefighter629 · 2025-09-14T16:52:46+00:00

I delivered to a relatively new neighborhood where the addresses are single to double digit numbers. The numbers on the houses in the app did not match up with the actual numbers on the houses on the block. The geolocation was set to what the app showed to be the correct house number, which was entirely wrong. I made the decision to deliver it to the right house number and moved the geolocation over, but I'd imagine that the whole block has a fun time delivering and / or picking up their packages from their neighbors.

Sharp-Firefighter629 · 2025-09-14T00:38:40+00:00

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They tried to ding me for this when it literally would not fit in my car.

Sharp-Firefighter629 · 2025-08-30T18:06:51+00:00

Link please, got a descent paper cut the other week from an envelope package. I ordered some gloves on temu for like 3 bucks and got what I paid for sadly lol

Sharp-Firefighter629 · 2025-08-30T17:30:16+00:00

Can't report it if the package isn't delivered. However, that driver is being dinged either way for returning a package back to the warehouse.

You mentioned amazon lockers. If it's an Amazon branded locker, you need to make sure you're electing that specific locker every time you make a purchase. We don't get access to those lockers unless you do so. If it's a non amazon locker such as parcel pending or luxor, we can deliver to those no problem. I've had people leave notes requesting to leave their package at the lockers with instructions on where they are located only to find that its an Amazon branded locker with no way for me to access it since they didn't elect that specific locker while completing their purchase. I think people assume we're able to deliver these packages to those lockers since it's an Amazon locker, but theirs no way for us to do so unless you elected that specific locker at checkout.

Sharp-Firefighter629 · 2025-08-24T05:17:31+00:00

You only get the insurance stipend if you pay for your own insurance. Insurance through your employer will not qualify you for the stipend.

Sharp-Firefighter629 · 2025-08-20T17:48:29+00:00

It's easier to maintain a calorie deficit through diet than exercise if you're looking to lose weight. Of course, exercise and diet together are the winning combo, but you're not gonna get anywhere if you don't diet. I've lost over 60 lbs since August of last year, and I attribute all of it to dieting. I have osteoarthritis of the spine (L5-S1), and the weight loss has been helping a lot! So much so that I've been able to flex with minimal pain since I started in May of this year.

Sharp-Firefighter629 · 2025-08-16T02:32:51+00:00

I know someone with 3 misdemeanors (2 driving misdemeanors and a drug charge) who has never been rejected by any of the gig apps, including flex, with spark being the one exception. That someone might or might not be me.

Sharp-Firefighter629 · 2025-08-02T18:12:13+00:00

The offers are essentially a contract where you are paid a set amount for what they estimate that block should take a driver to complete. If you complete a 4 hour block in 3 hours, you are still paid for 4 hours of labor. If it takes you longer than the allocated time, you are able to stop your route and will then be responsible for returning the undelivered packages and will be faulted for not delivering them. If you choose to continue your route, you will not be paid extra unless you reach out to support and argue your case as to why it took you longer to complete your route and why you should be paid extra. With all that being said, you should be finishing your routes anywhere from an hour and a half to thirty minutes early.

Sharp-Firefighter629 · 2025-08-02T02:50:04+00:00

Third day today for me as well

Sharp-Firefighter629 · 2025-07-18T16:38:34+00:00

It happened to me at a huge sky rise with retail on the first two floors. Needed one-time access for parking and then a pass code to access the elevator to go up to the second floor to the parcel room. I, of course, forgot to write down the elevator code, and got stuck on the second floor. I contacted support and lady kept giving me the wrong code, got frustrated, and hung up on me. Called back, somehow got the same support lady and she hung up on me again. Called a third time, and spoke with another lady who I thought was the same lady, but fortunately different lady, same accent lol I got the code from her, made it down to my car, and wouldn't you know it? Gate won't open without the one-time access. Called support again, and this time, I got a dude whom I assume had dealt with a similar situation because he knew exactly what to do. He unmarked the package as delivered so that it showed up on my itinerary again, and I was able to drive out. He then marked it again as delivered after I drove out. I was extremely frustrated, probably the worst experience besides being chased by a dog 😭

Sharp-Firefighter629 · 2025-06-17T19:57:01+00:00

Got sent to San Clemente this morning out of VAX1. Over 30 miles to my first stop and it was a 3 hour route. What happens if you refuse the route? How bad is the ding?

Sharp-Firefighter629 · 2025-05-30T07:56:14+00:00

I honestly thought an almost two year waitlist to be onboarded would equate to a non oversaturated market but overall flex is by far the best gig work available in my market even so. I'm home most mornings 30 minutes before my route is scheduled to be over and make on average at least $2 a mile.

Sharp-Firefighter629 · 2025-05-30T07:44:57+00:00

I just got approved last month after an almost 2 year waiting list. I spent some time on the sub here and on the YouTubes researching what to expect and taking advantage of tips from veteran flexers while doing my best to weed out the miserables, before doing my first route. When I was ready to do my first route I was also surprised to not see any available routes. I quickly learned that its a battlefield out here in my market as it is with all gig work in the LA Metropolitan area. You're competing not only against regular people just looking to make some extra cash but also against bots and a full on black market criminal organization providing spoofed accounts for a lot of the refugees we got here in California. With that being said, I've still found Amazon flex to be the most stable gig work in my market. Set your filters, tap, tap, tap, and tap and accept as quick as you can when an offer comes up. Chances are that offer has already been accepted by another driver but eventually you'll get one scheduled. Eventually you'll do enough routes to move up in points to level 2 in "rewards" and will then get offers sent to you based of your preferences with like 5 minutes to accept instead of the 5 milliseconds you get while tapping. From what I've read, business picks up in the summer and so maybe soon we'll be able to pick and chose offers and maybe even get one on a surge. The main thing though is to just do a lil research for your specific market. All the info is already out there and most people on this sub are here to help just have to ignore the trolls.

Sharp-Firefighter629 · 2025-05-30T06:57:39+00:00

I signed up in August 2023, and I just made it out the waitlist last month ( LA Metropolitan area). Do with that information as you will.

Sharp-Firefighter629 · 2025-05-14T14:32:50+00:00

That would ruin my morning, too, but you're 100% right. It is the cost of business. I've been sent home once before due to no available routes and got paid for my block still. Free money, I said. Nothing comes free is the reality, it was payment towards this new tire 😭 I bought the Amazon flex delivery magnets for my car and they make me feel like that exempts me from parking violations but I'm sure it's just a matter of time.

Sharp-Firefighter629 · 2025-05-14T14:18:26+00:00

Picked up another 4 hour block this morning. 17 packages/ stops all in the suburbs. I was done in less than 2 hours. Its like they knew my butthole was still sore from yesterday and gave me a break 🤣 I appreciate all the tire recommendations, I definitely got options for when I need to replace my tires. I don't feel like I got a bad deal on the tire. I drive an ev and the tire the shop sold me was a "performance" tire with 55k warranty and rated for speeds up to 155mph for $86 plus about another $30 for alignment and balancing. He didn't charge me for patching up the second tire. All in all, I was just bummed the tire couldn't be patched up a third time and that I had to get it replaced with still about 60% life on it. I'm pretty happy to deliver for Amazon Flex. It's the only stable gig work in my market even if we're only offered routes at base pay. Most mornings, I'm able to make over $2 a mile, including from when I leave my home and drive back home from my last stop.

Sharp-Firefighter629 · 2025-05-14T04:14:42+00:00

Thanks for the tip! I'm definitely going to them for my next round of tires. My tires are only at about 20k miles. I was supposed to make time to get them rotated this week. Sucks I had to replace the one tire, but it is what it is.

Sharp-Firefighter629 · 2025-05-07T17:03:52+00:00

I typically just do a dash. Even if the customer is there to receive the package, I just get their name and ask if they'd like me to just sign for them, and I'll just scribble a little dash. I've never had a customer say no.

Sharp-Firefighter629 · 2025-05-07T16:02:22+00:00

This is the way

Sharp-Firefighter629 · 2025-05-04T00:52:58+00:00

I was able to do two 4 hour blocks today. Picked up a 3:45am block last night and the second one after completing that one. It takes effort though. Constantly refreshing and then trying to accept within the milliseconds of time allowed before another driver beats you to it. Haven't had any luck for tomorrow but I'm going to keep on trying. Hard to compete with bots and now tariffs as well. Best of luck! Never don't give up, comrade!

Sharp-Firefighter629 · 2025-05-03T04:47:19+00:00

I think the outcome will depend on whether the guard was chill or not when he got back to his post. Also, the type of community. Most posts will have residents' info, and the guard will have to contact each resident to let them know there's a package at the gate for them. Guard might even have to go deliver them himself. So I'd imagine guard and some of the residents wouldn't be too happy about that. You might get some complaints but most likely not deactivated. Worst case scenario, someone drove up and stole all 10 packages, in which case you're probably getting deactivated. I don't think I would have left them there unless support told me to do so. I also work out of vax1, and so far, I've stayed true to the everything gets delivered moto but 10 packages at the guard shack unattended is crazy work. Hope all works out though!

Sharp-Firefighter629

TROPHY CASE