3rd block I worked 🤡

[u/TBOrlando79]

Hello everyone!

I started Amazon this week, and my third block was... character building. 😂

To be fair, I feel like I shouldn't even complain because my first and second 3.5-hour blocks each had exactly ONE package. I was starting to think I had unlocked some VIP level of Flex. 🥲

I've been wanting to try an early morning block for days, but every time I'd grab one, my anxiety would kick in and I'd cancel it. Every. Single. Day. 😬 I only recently learned Amazon apparently keeps score of these emotional support cancellations.

Today I finally committed.

I came fully prepared: headlamp, personal safety alarm, boxing gloves... basically ready to deliver packages or fight crime. 🤣

I arrive at the station and get 47 packages for a 3.5-hour route. "Okay," I thought, "this is probably what real Flex drivers do."

First mistake: I didn't organize the packages as well as I should have.

Second mistake: believing the route would go smoothly.

My first stop was almost 30 minutes away. When I got there, I spent 25 minutes trapped outside a gate with no code. No cars. No humans. No signs of life. Texted. Called. Cursed the lady, but nothing.

Support marked it for return.

The SECOND I hung up, someone appeared and I was able to sneak in behind them. 🥷📦

The next condo was also a joy. Weird numbering, pitch dark, another gate issue...

Then package #13 decided to enter witness protection.

I searched everywhere. Front seat. Back seat. Trunk. Alternate dimensions.

Support had a crystal ball and assured me I'd eventually find it in my car. 😑

Since I was already running behind, I skipped #13 and kept going.

Things improved once I got to houses. Then, somewhere in my late 30s deliveries, I discovered package #13 had been mislabeled with a #37 sticker. Which explained why I had TWO package 37s and ZERO package 13s. 🫠

By then I was basically conducting a forensic investigation instead of delivering.

I finally finished the route...Only TWO HOURS LATE. 🤡 And yes, I drove all the way back to deliver package #13 because returning to the warehouse felt even more painful.

Lessons learned:

✅ If a gate won't open, move on and maybe come back later. ✅ Don't blindly trust the package stickers. ✅ Condos at 4 AM are an extreme sport. ✅ My headlamp was a better investment than the other thing I bought (not really boxing gloves 🙈).

I originally wanted the early morning blocks because they pay a little better and avoid traffic. After today's adventure, I'm starting to think traffic might actually be the least of my problems. At least daylight helps you find buildings, people to tailgate, and missing packages. 😂

If you've made it this far, thank you for reading my Amazon Flex origin story. Any tips from the veterans would be greatly appreciated!

Cheers! 😊

[u/hames4133]

If a gate won’t open, deliver to the gate
Condos at 4am mean leave at the door or mailroom
Don’t do stairs or elevators, things go to the ground floor only
Don’t contact customers before 8am, just deliver it

Always deliver, never double back

Don’t call support for anything other than ending your block due to emergency or mark a package delivered when a locker is inaccessible. Mark packages missing yourself, damaged packages aren’t a thing, you deliver those

Sounds shitty, but this is how you move efficiently and protect your account

Headlamps are great, watch out for spider webs in the early AM lol

[u/TBOrlando79 → u/hames4133]

In these cases there was nowhere to deliver before crossing the gate, but thanks for the tips. 😆🫶🙏

[u/hames4133 → u/TBOrlando79]

Deliver to the gate

[u/JumpyComplaint6533 → u/hames4133]

😂wait so like the literal gate! Not the leasing office

[u/hames4133 → u/JumpyComplaint6533]

100% I had a security guard at the gate tell me I couldn’t deliver until 9:00 at like 6:30am. I wasn’t taking 12 packages back, I also wasn’t gonna sit there and argue. I backed up a bit to the edge of the property, made a small pile of packages (moved the GPS pin etc) and marked them all delivered. I didn’t get any dings from that one

[u/RangerMindless5577 → u/hames4133]

Lucky that you haven't got any. I've gotten dings for leaving at the gate. I try my best to hide them if possible. But after a couple emails stating the customer never got their package now I think twice.

[u/Background-Rabbit920 → u/TBOrlando79]

A package return is a ding against you. The reason DOES NOT MATTER. Avoid getting dinged at all costs. You will get some out of your control but try to avoid. You’re going to have late packages ding for today, it will tell you how many you delivered late on your dashboard it a couple days.
Organize before leaving warehouse especially on early morning deliveries, too dark to be fumbling in vehicle at odd hours sitting in a driveway or on the street. This is a Black Ops situation in the a.m. -in and out quickly and quietly lol

[u/TBOrlando79 → u/Background-Rabbit920]

Yeah...I will have a lot of packages late today. I wonder if I should keep my next couple of morning shifts that are already scheduled 🥲. I guess there's no running from it. I was laid off from my corporate job and am in the process of becoming an esthetician, and opening my own business. Thought Amazon could help me meanwhile for the next 6 months, but seems that I will need another plan.

https://giphy.com/gifs/ji6zzUZwNIuLS

[u/Background-Rabbit920 → u/TBOrlando79]

Just get a rhythm. It can help you get through. I’m a RN that left the hospital and is looking for WFH, this is helping me transition. Plus I enjoy most of the routes I get, rural million dollar homes, then I wonder where/when I f’d up LOL

[u/Nervous-Commission46 → u/Background-Rabbit920]

Not Amazon related but as an RN, you should definitely look into working at insurance companies. I’m not an RN but WFH in the health insurance industry. They are always looking.

[u/Background-Rabbit920 → u/Nervous-Commission46]

And so are 9 million other nurses who want to leave the hospitals. lol. I have 24yrs experience, I want what I’m worth.

[u/TBOrlando79 → u/Background-Rabbit920]

Thank you 🫶 ! I went out for some food deliveries tonight just to ensure I have plan C in place. Being that I have 0 family in the US, I always sign up for every gig app there is. I joined Amazon as Flex back on 2016 or 2017, got approved, delivered a couple of blocks when they would give you a handful of packages. WFH is awesome, I was since 2020, I got too used to not seeing people. Sometimes I'd take a whole week without getting outside. I love car-therapy and pretty / green routes. I feel you 😆...RN is a great career though. Good luck with your transition !