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Amazon Flex Driver Reviews: What to Know About Working There

Key Takeaways

  • Amazon Flex drivers appreciate flexibility, independence, and fair pay ranging from $18 to $25 per hour.
  • Challenges include limited job availability, no compensation for vehicle wear and tear, and unreliable support.
  • Amazon Flex is seen as a suitable side gig rather than a full-time job.
  • Whether Amazon Flex is recommended depends on individual needs for flexibility and tolerance for the cons.

Are you weighing your options to see if Amazon Flex is a good side gig to consider? Since delivery jobs have become one of the most popular careers in recent times, it’s not far-fetched to see them as a good job opportunity.

But what do Amazon Flex drivers say about working there? We’ll uncover that in this post along with whether it’s worth getting into the Amazon Flex system and how it works.

Brett’s Take: Thoughts From an Expert

Amazon Flex drivers have mixed opinions about driving for the platform.

They appreciate the flexibility and independence, as well as the fair pay ranging from $18 to $25 per hour.

However, they also face challenges such as limited job availability, no compensation for vehicle wear and tear, and unreliable support. Many see it as a suitable side gig rather than a full-time job due to these drawbacks.

Overall, whether Amazon Flex is recommended depends on individual preferences and needs for flexibility, independence, and tolerance for the cons mentioned.

Is Amazon Flex Worth It?

Before moving on to more detailed reviews, you can use this snippet to determine whether working with Amazon Flex as a delivery driver is worth your time:

Pros of Amazon Flex

The job is flexible

You can work independently

Amazon Flex pay is fair, at an $18 – $25 average per hour

You can select when you want to be paid

Cons of Amazon Flex

Jobs are limited in availability, and your workload may not be steady

There may be penalties for late deliveries or cancellations

Your vehicle may be subject to wear and tear

You have to cover payments for gas, parking expenses, and the like

You may have challenges contacting support

Reviews: What Drivers Are Saying About Amazon Flex

With over 2.9+ million Amazon Flex drivers today, there’s a wealth of knowledge that new drivers can glean from those who’ve already worked with the Flex delivery service.

Driver reviews below are segmented into different work categories, based on research and reviews taken from multiple sources.

1. Work-Life Balance

This category earned a 3.6-star rating on top review sites, indicating that the Amazon Flex work-life balance falls somewhere in the middle for most drivers.

The side gig offers you flexible independent contractor work so you’re your own boss, able to schedule work hours at your convenience.

In a review, one Flex driver said that you earn “Easy money on your schedule. Short shifts range from 3-5 hours. Driving your vehicle, and picking up your route is easy too.

Some of the policies don’t always make sense, but it’s not a bad gig at all.”

However, some drivers find that there are too many packages for the period you’ll get paid for. There were “Too many packages, not enough time to deliver packages. No breaks or toilets to use when on shift,” a driver said.

Another driver in Las Vegas said that the company no longer offered blocks regularly and recently decreased the length of blocks while assigning drivers more packages.

It was also difficult for them to quickly pick up packages at the warehouse and get on with their deliveries because the warehouse employees weren’t helpful.

Scheduled deliveries aren’t always guaranteed on the job because other drivers get the available blocks on an early-bird basis. The first driver to schedule the delivery block gets it.

According to a Flex driver’s review, the problem with this is that you must spend a ton of time checking your phone for routes to get a good one because there’s no set time when the app posts available routes.

2. Compensation & Benefits

The length of time Amazon drivers spend working affects how much they earn. The average rate per hour is about $18 – $25, but other factors like the area and type of delivery can also affect the amount of money you get paid.

Based on reviews, there’s some division among Amazon Flex drivers about whether or not the compensation offered is worth the time and effort they put in.

Some drivers say that their pay is alright, while others find it “awful.” Some see it as a good source of extra cash, but others feel it’s not enough compensation for the wear and tear on your vehicle.

A Dallas driver said, “Getting paid twice a week is cool. Not good for a full-time job but a part-time hustle. You have to spend money to get money with Flex. I put 20-30 bucks in my car before every block.”

Another driver working in Boston said, “You have to have a real job. This is more like a side gig if you want to make a little extra here and there. It’s not reliable. I don’t recommend it as a main job.”

There are no added benefits to your hourly compensation as a Flex driver. The company recognizes drivers as contractors and therefore doesn’t offer benefits like comprehensive and collision coverage insurance, paid time off, etc.

One significant reward available to drivers, however, is cashback earned from the purchases they make with the Amazon Flex debit card. You can earn up to $500 cashback monthly when you use the card to pay on Amazon.com.

In a nutshell, working with Amazon Flex is great if you need quick money. Still, it’s not a full-time career that you can survive off. If you’re considering it as a side gig, it’s also important to weigh the effects it’ll have on your car before you begin.

3. Ease of App Usage

The Amazon Flex app allows drivers to carry out various tasks during their scheduled blocks, such as:

  • Scheduling delivery times
  • Scanning packages at pickup and delivery points
  • Mapping the delivery route
  • Showing visual proof that the item was delivered

Because of the importance of this tool in getting packages to their rightful owners, its seamless functionality is vital.

Unfortunately, many drivers complain that the Flex app is often buggy, making it difficult to sign in or complete orders on the app.

A driver in Virginia said, “The application has canceled routes without notice. I have been at locations on time and had the route canceled by the app claiming I wasn’t there after already checking in.”

Another common challenge is the instability of the app’s GPS, which often reroutes drivers to locations different than the intended destination.

This challenge usually causes delays in drivers’ blocks, affecting their delivery times and reducing their ratings.

4. Job Security

Delivering for Amazon Flex is a side gig, not a full-time employment opportunity. There’s no guarantee that blocks will always be available daily, and the number of blocks available per day also isn’t steady.

As one review says, “this company used to have an abundance of work available easily making it a job worth doing full time, now it’s too many drivers and not enough work.”

The competition on the app is getting tighter because of the increase in its number of working drivers. This affects the availability of blocks and the ability to schedule the available ones fast enough.

A Houston driver said in a review, “…seems like whenever there is an offer that comes up, it’s already gone when I try to schedule it.”

5. Work Culture

Amazon offers its Flex drivers complete independence and flexibility. There’s no authoritative figure to micromanage drivers, and you choose to work whenever you like, thanks to the advanced scheduling feature.

It’s a diverse, fast-paced job that helps drivers learn how to manage their time and develop logistical skills. It also requires adaptability and patience to deal with multiple types of customers during every delivery block.

You’ll need problem-solving skills to handle unpredictable routes and potential hitches with warehouse employees.

If you love jobs where you interact with co-workers regularly, Amazon Flex delivery may not be a fitting option.

Reviews show that there isn’t much contact with other employees because deliveries are usually run solo. But if you like being outdoors and love working independently, then you should give it a shot.

One 5-star review claims the work culture is pleasant since they can be their “own boss” and “make money while you listen to the radio or a podcast or whatever you like.”

In summary, Amazon Flex reviews show that the work culture is flexible, fast-paced, and productive.

Outside of some hitches with logistics, if these are attributes of a work environment that you enjoy, you should consider becoming a delivery driver for Amazon Flex.

6. Driver Support

While drivers are out and about delivering items, it’s not uncommon to encounter challenges that require backend support from the company and its support team. On occasions like this, delivery drivers require swift support due to the large amount of packages to be delivered.

Another reason why support may often be necessary is that some delivery routes are damaging to vehicles. One review shared that, “the routes can be awful at times considering the navigation is supposed to always give the best routes.

On 2 different occasions, the navigation sent me to roads that were permanently shut down so I had to call Amazon.”

Amazon Flex has provided three ways to contact the support team:

  1. Via email, amazonflex-support@amazon.com
  2. Via the app’s phone call feature
  3. Via direct phone call to numbers (877) 212-6150 or (888) 281-6901

Despite the many support options available, driver reviews present the app’s support assistance as unreliable. One Reddit review claims drivers are better off calling friends for advice than seeking Amazon Flex support for assistance.

Another review reported that support is “hard to stay connected to.” Support failures like this may lead to cases where customers accuse drivers of not delivering a package if the app is down.

Drivers have found that in situations where Flex’s support is unresponsive via the app or unhelpful over the phone, documenting your activities may be the leverage you need to prove your case if necessary.

How Amazon Flex Works

Amazon Flex drivers work within a scheduled delivery block to deliver items, groceries, and more. Delivery blocks refer to a set time frame within which Amazon delivery drivers pick up and drop off packages.

Once a delivery driver pre-arranges a block time, they must arrive at an Amazon delivery station to pick the packages up and then complete all deliveries within the scheduled block.

These are the different delivery blocks for each category:

  • Packages: 3-6 hours
  • Store Orders: 2-4 hours
  • Instant Offers (last-minute restaurant deliveries): 15-45 minutes
  • Amazon Fresh/Prime Now: 2-4 hours

Try to finish early when on a scheduled block because exceeding the time slated per delivery block won’t fetch you extra pay.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Amazon Flex Standing?

This is Amazon’s way of evaluating its drivers’ performance during their delivery gigs. Gig delivery services like Uber Eats typically use a 5-star rating to track drivers’ performance when dropping off a package.

However, Amazon works differently. It uses a four-level rating to score drivers. The highest is “Fantastic” and the lowest is “At risk.”

How Much Do Amazon Flex Drivers Make?

According to the Amazon Flex website, most Flex drivers earn about $18 – $25 per hour. This wage depends on factors such as driver locations, tips earned, delivery duration, and more.

However, according to driver reviews, the actual pay is an average of $22.56/hour.

Does Amazon Flex Run a Background Check?

Yes, Amazon Flex runs a mandatory background check on every potential delivery partner before they can start offering delivery services.

The company works with a third-party service, Accurate Background, to check drivers’ criminal history, driving records, drug-related offenses, and more.

Final Thoughts

After carefully reviewing drivers’ firsthand experiences from working with the Flex program, it’s safe to say that the app is a flexible way for good drivers to earn extra income with their personal vehicles.

This side hustle provides good pay, but it’s not without its drawbacks. Before you sign up, carefully review the pros and cons of working with Amazon Flex to determine whether the program is a good fit for your needs.

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