Most people choose to work for rideshare apps and delivery apps because of freedom and flexibility. Do you love the flexibility of setting your own hours and being your own boss, but hate the idea of having passengers in your car?
Amazon Flex might be a better option for you than working with Uber, Lyft, or other rideshare apps. Amazon Flex lets you earn money making deliveries rather than transporting passengers.
Whether you’re a seasoned driver or you’re just looking to earn extra cash for the holidays, Amazon Flex is a great choice for your next side gig!
Amazon Flex is a delivery service that promises fast delivery of goods in 1-2 hours. A variety of items that qualify for Amazon Flex delivery are under the categories of Amazon Prime Now”, “Amazon Eats”, and in some cases, regular Amazon Prime orders.
With flexible hours, good pay, and low levels of customer interaction, driving for Amazon Flex an attractive option for those that are looking to make some more money with their side hustle.
You get to be your own independent contractor, and you’re in control of how much or how little money you make.
Amazon Flex Delivery Driver Requirements
Delivery Types
The Flex app will always let you know what type of orders you will deliver, as well as steps for how to complete the deliveries. Here are the most common types of deliveries:
Certain Deliveries Require Special Attention
Attended Deliveries: Either the customer or another authorized person must be present.
Alcohol Deliveries: The customer or recipient must show you their state issued ID. You have to scan their ID into the app or manually enter the ID number for proper verification. You must also be 21 or older to deliver alcohol.
Chilled And Frozen Goods: The delivery will be inside a cool bag that contains a dry ice box. At the time of delivery, remove the package from the dry ice box, and return the dry ice to the pick up station at the end of your shift.
Can You Make A Decent Living Driving For Amazon Flex?
Amazon Flex Drivers make anywhere from $18-$25/hour. Amazon says that $18 is the guaranteed rate and the higher amount is estimated to include tips, of which you keep 100%.
Customers have the option to add a tip within 48 hours of delivery. Tip or no tip, you get a base rate of $18/hour, whether you are out on a delivery or waiting at the Amazon Pick Up location for your packages.
You can easily track your earnings with the Amazon Flex app. You can schedule ahead or pick up any available block of time. Opportunities are available 7 days a week, so there is always a chance to earn. Using the app, you can plan your work schedule around your life.
How Do You Get Paid?
The payout for a delivery shift is fixed, and the fixed payout amount depends on the time of the shift, the difficulty, and the region. There are no surprises, since you will know exactly how much you will earn for each shift when you sign up for it.
Flex drivers are paid twice each week via direct deposit. Inside the app, you can view upcoming scheduled payments and past payments.
Application Process
First, go to Amazon Flex website and select the city you want to work in. They have a list of all the major cities including Austin, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, San Diego, and San Francisco.
Amazon Flex is already in more than 50 cities. If you don't see your city listed for Amazon Flex delivery, you can join their waitlist. The website says they are adding cities all the time.
Next, you will be instructed to download the Amazon Flex App onto your smartphone. Once you download the app, you must agree to their terms and conditions. Then, you will enter your information, including name, address, phone number, driver’s license, and social security number. You will provide your tax information and your bank account information so that you can get paid via direct deposit.
Finally, you will go through a series of training videos (there are 19 videos ranging in 3-6 minutes in length) with a small quiz after every 4 videos or so. The videos cover how to use the app, how to pick up and drop off deliveries, and how to troubleshoot in problematic situations.
Afterwards, you will consent to a background check. The Amazon app says the background check could take 2-5 business days, but it could possibly take longer. If it’s been longer than 5 days, contact Amazon Flex support.
How To Know If You've Been Accepted
Keep checking the Flex app for updates. Once your background check is successfully completed and your application is accepted, you will get a message from Amazon that says “Welcome to Amazon Flex.
Get Started.” If your application requires additional information, they will send you a checklist of application items needed.
What To Expect When Scheduling Shifts
After you’ve completed the background screening and all other application steps, new options will appear in the Flex app. You will schedule shifts inside the app under the “Offers” menu. The “Calendar” area will allow you to select dates and times when you are available to work a 4-hour flex shift.
Guaranteed shifts: Under the “Offers” area of the app, you can claim “Reserved Offers.” A reserved offer is a shift set aside for you based on your ability. You can choose to accept or decline the reserved offer, but there is a deadline to accept the shift, so move fast.
Drop-in shifts: You can also pick up Next Day shifts as they become available. Next Day offers are in high demand, so you shouldn’t miss out on your reserved offers. Keep checking back regularly to pick up a shift.
On the day of your shift, the Flex app will notify you where to go to pickup your packages. Show up at the Amazon pick up warehouse, a retailer, or a restaurant, depending on the type of delivery. The week before, you can select your hours and get preferred scheduling, or make same day selections and try to reserve 2 hour blocks.
What Happens When You Arrive At The Pick Up Location?
First, check your shift to see where your pickup station location will be. You will begin your shift by arriving at the pickup station and swiping “I’ve Arrived”.
Once you arrive, you can get anything from one package to a whole cart of deliveries if there are multiple orders.
Scan each package, select “finished scanning” and loaded up your vehicle. The Amazon Flex App will show you the name, address, and navigation instructions.
Once you arrive, you rescan the package and see if there are special instructions (attended, unattended, gate code, call customer, check ID). Sometimes there are other detailed instructions for delivery from the customer.
Schedule And Confirm Deliveries Using the App
Keep your phone opened to the Flex app and follow the instructions, since most of the activities will be done in the Flex app.
The Flex app guides you each step of the way, but you can always call support if you run into problems.
Reasons For Amazon Flex To Deactivate Your Account
During the application process Amazon lets you know that you can be deactivated for these reasons, but it’s is worth mentioning again- don’t do any of these things, or you won’t be able to drive for Amazon Flex.
Your account will be deactivated if:
Let's Weigh The Pros And Cons
Let's talk about the pros and cons!
Pros
High and consistent pay compared to similar jobs, flexible shifts, and minimal direct interaction with customers. Overall, Amazon Flex is among the best of the on-demand app jobs with consistent pay and other perks. With rideshare apps, income can be very sporadic and unreliable.
Cons
You may have to plan ahead; otherwise available shifts may get snatched up quickly. You also have to closely monitor your availability and keep checking the app for a “Next Day Shift”. You might have trouble getting into a building or apartment complex, or you might have trouble finding a safe place to leave the package. Some drivers mentioned that the time blocks are not reasonable to make such a large number of deliveries. You have to decide what is best for you. Just follow the instructions and guidelines in your Amazon App training, and contact support if you run into any issues, and you should be fine.
Is Amazon Flex Right For You?
As the website says, be your own boss, set your own schedule, and have more time to pursue your goals and dreams.
Is Amazon Flex right for you? You have the information, but only you really know the answer to this question, and yu won't really know until you try. If you decide to give Amazon Flex a try.
Have you driven with Amazon Flex? Tell us about your experience in the comments below!
Amazon Flex Review
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Flexibility
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Ease of Use
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Company Support
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Income Potential
Overall
Summary
Amazon Flex offers flexible hours, good pay, and low levels of customer interaction, which make it a great side hustle.
Pros
- Flexible Hours
- Good Pay
- Don’t have to have passengers in your vehicle
Cons
- Application process and availability make it difficult to be approved
- May not offer shifts when you are available
Editor: Clint Proctor Reviewed by: Chris Muller
Robert Farrington is the founder of The College Investor and is widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading voices on student loan debt and saving for college. He holds an MBA from UC San Diego Rady School of Management and has spent over 15 years researching, writing, and advising on student loans, 529 plans, financial aid programs, and saving and investing for young professionals.
Robert has been featured in the The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, NBC News, and Forbes, where he has been a regular personal finance contributor for over a decade. His work combines both professional expertise and personal experience – he successfully navigated his own student loan repayment journey and has helped thousands of readers do the same.
He is committed to making the intersection of personal finance and education transparent and accessible. You can learn more about Robert on the About Page or on his personal site RobertFarrington.com.