The post Amazon Flex Review appeared first on Millennial Money.
If you want to make good money in the gig economy, you have to be willing to take on different types of roles. The more clients and gigs, the better. Working as an Amazon Flex driver is a great way to earn money as an independent contractor or gig worker — especially if you combine it with other side hustles.
Amazon Flex provides a fast, easy way to make money delivering packages around your local community. By far, the biggest perk is the freedom you get to take on other types of work when you’re not behind the wheel delivering items.
If you’re thinking about driving for Amazon Flex, here’s a breakdown of how it works.
What is Amazon Flex?
Amazon Flex is a small but growing on-demand shopping service. Become a driver for Amazon Flex, and you deliver packages to customers on behalf of Amazon using your vehicle.
You’ll work as an independent contractor, making deliveries on your own time. You can set your schedule, and from the looks of it, you’ll probably have a lot of packages to deliver if you’re up for the challenge.
How Does Amazon Flex Work?
Here’s a quick breakdown of how the service operates:
1. Reserve a 3-6 hour block
First, complete a brief registration process and open the app. Mark yourself as available to start seeing opportunities in your area.
Next, search for available delivery blocks in your region. Amazon shows how much you can make before a trip and how long the block should take to complete.
When you find an order you like, select it and proceed.
2. Make deliveries
After you schedule your delivery block, Amazon gives you a pickup location and lets you know when packages are available for delivery. You’ll deliver a mix of regular Amazon packages and Prime Now items.
Pick up the items, and use the Amazon Flex app to navigate to your destination.
Deliver the package to the address, and move on to the next order.
It’s that easy.
3. Get paid
Amazon credits your account immediately after completing an order. The app pays through direct deposit twice weekly — which is great, since you don’t have to wait forever to get paid.
As an added bonus, you can track your payments within the earnings section of the Flex app, giving you more control over your finances.
Amazon Flex Features
User-friendly App
When relying on an app for income, you want to make sure it’s easy to use and works the way it’s supposed to.
With the backing of Amazon, you shouldn’t expect any performance issues. You’ll have the full power, functionality, and support that comes with any Amazon service.
The Flex app is user-friendly, highly reliable, and supported by Amazon’s expert customer service team. If this sounds interesting to you, give it a whirl! What do you have to lose?
Rewards Program
Amazon Flex offers a rewards program for drivers. Examples include preferred scheduling, thousands of discounts, and tools for assisting with taxes and insurance.
You can earn points by making deliveries and completing blocks. Even better, you can unlock more lucrative rewards as you go along.
Amazon calculates points using a rating system that runs from fair (1 point per delivery), great, (2 points), and fantastic (3 points). You can earn up to 30 points per block.
Below is a breakdown of Amazon’s reward levels.
- 1: 1 point
- 2: 650 points
- 3: 3,000 points
- 4: 6,500 points
Keep in mind that points run in three-month earning periods and reset. If you want to keep earning rewards, you have to keep driving.
Relaxed Atmosphere
Amazon Flex doesn’t enforce tons of rules. So, if you decide to take the gig, you can customize it to your liking.
For example, you can ride with passengers if you want. Just keep in mind that this could create insurance complications.
You can also dress the way you want, within reason. If you feel like wearing cowboy boots and a t-shirt to work, you can. You don’t have to wear a uniform, shave, or wear a tie.
Best of all, you can control what you put on the radio. So while you drive, you can pop on some financial podcasts and learn some new strategies for managing money.
This may seem like a small thing, but it’s a taste of what you’ll experience with financial freedom. When you work for yourself, nobody can tell you what to listen to on the radio or how to dress when you show up to the job.
After getting a small taste of this kind of freedom, you’ll find it hard to go back to a desk job ever again. Take my word for it.
How to Get Started
Signing up for Amazon Flex shouldn’t be a painful process. Should you decide to move forward, here are the steps to follow:
1. Make sure Amazon Flex is available
Unfortunately, Amazon Flex has a limited footprint right now. While delivery apps like Uber Eats and DoorDash have thousands of locations, Amazon Flex is only available in roughly 50 cities.
You can find Amazon Flex in cities such as Seattle, Los Angeles, Portland, Houston, Austin, San Francisco, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Sacramento, San Diego, Phoenix, Dallas, Atlanta, and Denver.
Some locations are a bit puzzling. For example, The service isn’t currently available in New York City but it operates in nearby White Plains and Yonkers. So if you live in New York, you’ll have to venture out past the city limits to drive for Flex. And in Massachusetts, the service is available in Worcester but not Boston.
Things that make you scratch your head, right?
Before moving forward, make sure that Amazon Flex is available in your area. If it isn’t, you can still download the app and let Amazon know that you’re interested. The company may contact you when an opportunity arises in the future.
2. Meet the age requirement
To use Amazon Flex, you have to be at least 21.
If you don’t meet the age requirement, there are always companies like Postmates, DoorDash, and Uber Eats that hire 18-year-old drivers.
3. Pass a background check
Amazon Flex requires submitting a background check when you sign up for the service.
Agree to the background check, wait three to five days for the results to come back, and you could be off to the races before you know it.
4. Have a valid driver’s license
Good news: You don’t need a commercial license to use Amazon Flex. A regular driver’s license will suffice.
You will, however, need to provide a copy of your Social Security number for tax purposes.
5. Own a vehicle
Amazon Flex isn’t picky about the type of car you drive. For most deliveries, a four-door midsize sedan or larger vehicle should do the trick.
In other words, there’s no need to buy a van or pickup truck.
And get this: It’s also okay to drive a beater. No, really.
You don’t need a new car or even a presentable one. If your car looks like it just escaped from the junkyard, you’re fine.
Just make sure it can actually get from point A to point B during delivery without breaking down, causing a major accident, or leaking oil on someone’s street. Customers will complain about oil spills, and that won’t bode well for you.
To that point, driving for a service like Amazon Flex puts a lot of wear and tear on a vehicle. It’s a good idea to bring in your car for periodic tune-ups so that it stays in working order. Preventative maintenance goes a long way in this line of work.
6. Have an iPhone or Android
Amazon Flex works with both Apple and Android devices. Just make sure your phone is functional and can support the Flex app and you should be good to go.
Amazon Flex has specific Android requirements. At present, it requires version 6.0 or higher, at least 2 GB of RAM, and a working camera with flash.
7. Check your insurance
Amazon provides partners in states other than New York with the Amazon Commercial Auto Insurance Policy.
There is no cost for this service. It includes uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist coverage, auto liability coverage, and contingent comprehensive and collision coverage.
It’s also a good idea to call your insurance company and make sure you have the right policy in place.
This is especially important if you switched to a lower mileage insurance plan to save money while working at home during the pandemic.
When you drive for Flex, you’re going to put a lot of miles on your car. As such, it’s important to make sure your plan is up to date.
Promotions
Amazon Flex debit card
Amazon offers the Flex debit card for drivers.
This card provides 6% cashback on all fuel purchases and 2% cashback on Whole Foods and Amzon.com purchases. You can also get 1% cashback on all other purchases. Cowabunga!
Discounts
Amazon partners with Stride for limited benefits. This partnership provides discounts on a range of items — including restaurants, auto repairs, entertainment, and more.
You can access discounts by driving for Amazon and racking up points.
Security
Generally speaking, there’s nothing to worry about from a security standpoint with the Amazon Flex app.
It’s part of the Amazon ecosystem, which means you’ll benefit from the world’s most cutting-edge security services.
One thing to note is that Amazon will ask you to take a selfie from time to time with your phone to verify your identity. Amazon uses this biometric information for fraud identification and investigation purposes.
According to Amazon, the company deletes selfies after 30 days.
Don’t worry, it makes me a bit uneasy, too. But if you want to drive for Amazon Flex, you don’t really have a choice. This is the world we live in now.
Customer Support
Run into a problem during a delivery? You’re not alone. Flex offers customer support between the hours of 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday.
Flex drivers can reach Amazon agents over the phone at 888-281-6906. Email support is also available at amazonflex-support@amazon.com.
This level of service is right on par with what you’ll find with most other delivery apps.
Tips for Maximizing the Profits
Minimize taxes
All Amazon Flex workers are independent contractors. This means you’ll be fully responsible for paying taxes on any income you generate from the company.
That being the case, it’s a good idea to work with a tax advisor so that you don’t fall behind on your tax obligations.
You may also want to consider setting up estimated taxes so you can pay quarterly and avoid a massive backlog during tax season.
Hustle
Your success with Amazon Flex depends on how many packages you deliver. Keep the app open and drive whenever you can.
If this is a side hustle, then drive during nights, weekends, and possibly even your lunch hour. If you’re trying to become financially independent, slacking isn’t allowed.
Try to look at Amazon packages as money sitting on the table. If you don’t deliver them, someone else will, and an opportunity to make money will disappear.
To maximize your chances of success, stay hungry and agree to as many deliveries as you can stomach.
Use multiple apps
When it boils down to it, there are many different delivery services on the market to explore, and you can make money delivering everything from food to groceries to household items.
When you head out to deliver items, scan through your apps first and go to work for the company offering the highest pay and the most opportunities at that time.
If one app has no availability, open up another app. Never settle for a couple of bucks when you know you can make more.
Consider other side hustles
Amazon Flex is a great service. But let’s face it: When you’re driving for Flex, it can be hard to make ends meet — especially if you’re doing it full-time.
Consider doing other side hustles, too. For example, you can walk dogs, freelance write, or take surveys with Swagbucks when you don’t have any deliveries to make.
In this day and age, it’s never been easier to make money on the internet. You just have to be determined to make it happen.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Make your own schedule
- Use your own vehicle
- Decent hourly rate of $18 to $25
- Helpful rewards program
- Direct deposit
Cons
- Limited access
- Rewards points expire
- No job security
- You have to pay for gas and maintenance
Alternatives to Amazon Flex
Want to make some extra money? Of course you do! Consider adding some of the following apps to your lineup to supercharge your delivery business.
Instacart
Instacart is a bit more involved than Amazon Flex. Using this service, you can make money shopping for groceries and delivering them to consumers in your area.
Instacart is active in more than 2,400 locations across the U.S. You can earn about $20 per hour on average, including tips.
Shipt
Shipt is a bit like Instacart. It’s a leading grocery delivery app with nationwide service that’s backed by a retailer you might have heard of called Target.
Shipt shoppers can earn $16 to $22 per hour delivering groceries to customers.
Grubhub
Grubhub is one of the most popular food delivery services on the market. If you’re looking to deliver food, this is a top option.
The company works with more than 300,000 restaurants across more than 4,000 U.S. cities. Unless you live in the middle of nowhere, this could be a good app to explore.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Amazon Flex delivery drivers make during the week?
It largely depends on the number of packages you deliver and your location. Most drivers should be able to bring in anywhere from $500 to $1,000 or more during a good week.
One issue to keep in mind is that Amazon Flex can be very competitive — especially during the holidays. So, it’s not always the most reliable source of income.
That being the case, it’s important to have more irons in the fire. Whatever you do, don’t become completely dependent on Amazon Flex.
Is Amazon Flex legit?
Working for Amazon Flex comes with its share of challenges. That said, the company is definitely legit. Look at Amazon Flex on Glassdoor, and you’ll see a four-star rating.
Amazon Flex can make a decent part-time job or even a full-time job if you hustle enough.
Is Amazon Flex a good employer?
Amazon gets a reputation for being a difficult employer. For example, warehouse workers have grueling jobs, with long hours and low wages.
Amazon Flex is a bit different. With Flex, you get access to a flexible schedule and slightly better working conditions. As long as you can make hour deliveries and handle packages carefully, you shouldn’t have much of a problem or face a lot of pressure.
The main challenge that Amazon Flex workers face is the lack of support from the company. It’s important not to mistake rewards for benefits. You won’t get access to medical coverage, dental care, or a 401(k). And there is virtually no job security. This is an on-demand job through and through.
Is Amazon Flex Worth It?
Make no mistake about it: financial freedom is within your grasp.
People often ask me how this is even possible. I’ll be honest: It takes work and lots of it. Still, I and many other Millennial Money readers have achieved it, and there’s no reason you can’t do the same. You just have to set goals, make a plan, and work for it.
If you decide to pursue this opportunity, just make sure to carefully track expenses since gas, insurance, and car maintenance costs will add up. You’ll also have to account for taxes.
I’ve found the easiest way to make sure you’re good with taxes is by maintaining a spreadsheet that tracks how much money is flowing out and in each month.
Above all else, remember this: You won’t be working directly for Amazon. You’ll be a contractor, which enables you to pursue other opportunities outside Amazon.
Keep a full lineup of other driving apps, and use them to your advantage. Never forget you aren’t tied to Amazon Flex in any way.
The more services you drive for and the harder you work, the more money you’ll make. That’s the secret to accelerating your journey to long-term financial independence.
There’s only one question left: What are you waiting for? Get out there and sprint towards financial freedom. I’ll see you at the finish line.
The post Amazon Flex Review appeared first on Millennial Money.
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December 31, 2022 at 07:57PM
