The cash on hand delivery and old school money
This article might be dated. It has references to the older days of delivery. Especially those before a pandemic. The article doesn’t cover the first recorded delivery. Likewise, it isn’t about the first delivery guarantee. Thirty minutes or less these days, will cost ya’, as they say. However, there is some old school talk. Mainly between the current delivery process, and delivery just one decade ago.
With this in mind, this article focuses on cash delivery. It does still exist, and in some cases, cash is also the tipping standard. Once upon a time it was the most common tipping standard. Not only could the tips be in cash, but also they could be very generous. Things were different with cash. Furthermore, many things were different in those days.
For example, there were no delivery apps in the delivery market. GPS wasn’t a given. Especially the convenient hand held devices that are available these days. (phones) Delivery was a bit more personalized. And not the, track your courier on the phone map, way. The cash on hand delivery meant real contact. Someone was going to meet at the door and accept the delivery. In exchange for cash.
The Cash on Hand Delivery
The cash was another task for the courier. Unless magic words were spoken. Keep the change. It was code for…keep the change. Usually it meant counting the cash, and keeping anything above the cost of the delivery cargo. As mentioned before, sometimes that was a generous event. In fact, there were times it was a bonus event. An addition to the pay that was significant.
A quick, and customer oriented courier, made it a positive delivery experience. The results were tangible. In the days of old school money, the courier provided the change. If any were owed. However, this meant counting the cash. It also meant basic quick math to provide accurate change. With old school money, the courier played the part of the cash register, as well.
This process was profitable, if the courier had some hustle. Getting back to the dispatch board, was another big part of the cash on hand delivery. It is a courier best practice to complete deliveries as quickly as possible. This means more opportunities per hour. Unthrottled opportunities. Not like a delivery algorithm. There is a profound difference between driving on a crew, and driving with an algorithm.
Old School Money
Furthermore, there is a difference in pay. Tips are just one part of the equation for the crew driver. The delivery app driver, factors tips differently. They must be tracked proactively and retroactively. Furthermore, there is a small base pay offering from the app. However, it is based on mileage. Respectively. Therefore, the tips make up most of the pay for the courier using a delivery app.
Additionally delivery apps have all but discontinued the cash delivery. With the more popular delivery apps it is possible for the courier to opt in to cash delivery. However, it is important for the courier to have cash on hand for making change. The magic words are not spoken all the time. Sometimes the customer wants the change.
Experienced couriers, may sense there is more to this thread of thought. There surely is more. In fact, this topic connects to many more dealing with the cash delivery. Or the absence of the cash delivery. Does it really have that much impact on the earnings potential of today’s courier? And if so, why? This and more will be discussed in the upcoming series of articles. Stay safe out there.
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