The free food delivery and it’s impact on the courier
It’s not always about the tip. From delivery to delivery the courier fields details and dodges less than ideal road conditions. At the end of the day there is much to reflect on. However, it’s not really a tip the courier ruminates over. Indeed, any courier that has been through one year of delivery, has seen at least one better than average tip. They’re not all bad. Some are unexpectedly generous.
With this in mind, most couriers also wish the better than average tip was commonplace. In fact, there are certain times of the year when the tips actually are better than average. The holiday season holds the title for a very generous time of year. Furthermore, many couriers work extra shifts and additional hours during the holiday season. This helps maximize the earnings during a time when the earnings are better than average.
One of the things most couriers are not looking for is free food delivery. This isn’t necessarily because couriers don’t like free things. Most everyone likes free things. Including couriers. However, it takes a special kind of circumstance to provide something for free. Most merchants will do it as part of a marketing campaign. Yet, most couriers, aren’t running marketing campaigns.
The Free Food Delivery
It doesn’t take long for the new courier to get experience in the delivery field. One of the first things a new courier learns is how to cover the expense of doing the work. The amount of resources, and expense the courier invests, is relevant. Earnings need to be up and above these expenses. Otherwise why do it? This is the constant pursuit of the sidehustle courier. Furthermore, it’s a build it as you go pay model.
The build it as you go pay model, is a personal approach to the delivery process. Or, more specifically, the delivery app process. It works off of a basic strategy. For example, the delivery app courier has no way of predicting income. Other than previous experience in a zone, the courier has no point of sale system to analyze the previous years numbers. Therefore, the courier is after what pay is possible. This means covering expenses, is the first priority. Or should be.
Once the courier has the expenses made, the pressure eases. There is less at stake now that the expenses are covered. Furthermore, the sooner the courier can accomplish the basic strategy, the sooner the courier can earn profit. The basic strategy pays the bills. Everything after that, pays the babysitter. Or it buys the groceries. The point is, the delivery app courier has to stay focused on going for the maximum earnings. This is how most couriers are able to break even.
A Special Look
Free doesn’t always mean free. Once upon a time I knew a cynic who stated that nothing in life is free. There’s just no such thing. While debating philosophy is actually a courier specialty, in this instance, there was likely some truth in that statement. Therefore, there’s really no such thing as free food delivery. Someone somewhere pays for it. It might be an Elf in Narnia. However, it is still not necessarily free.
Furthermore, it isn’t free for the courier to use resources to make the delivery. Way back a minute ago, when the delivery apps first came on the scene, some of them started an incentive program to increase the customer base. Therefore, the free food delivery incentive helped the delivery app gain traction. It also helped foster a misconception. The idea that the courier is also free. The assumption was that the courier works for the delivery app, and therefore must get paid from the app.
With this in mind, many customers were under the impression that the courier is paid already. It made sense, because after all, it was a free food delivery. At that point, tipping the courier, felt like giving a double tip. This was a cause and effect deal. There was an effect, but no one could have foreseen the cause. It was new ground.
Free Food Delivery and It’s Impact
This actually became a new normal for quite some time. It got to the point where the courier could recognize the signs of a membership delivery request. These often came with no tip. However, gradually, things began to shift. In fact, more delivery customers than ever began to take an interest in the courier. Similarly, delivery customers gained insight into the pay mechanics of the delivery driver. This, in turn, helped fuel a resurgence in the tipping of the delivery driver.
In fact, it helped develop new systems for courier compensation. Finally, with better pay and an increase in work opportunities, the at home delivery industry gained even more momentum. Of course, the free food delivery offer, played a big part in that change. Furthermore, it helped usher in a wider variety of delivery partners and opportunities. It was a new concept at first. One that was popular. In fact, it’s still a common promotional offer with new delivery apps. Free food delivery is one proven way to bring in the new customers.
This new customer approach is a positive one for the courier. An uptick in business, means an uptick in delivery opportunities. This is always positive news for the courier. Furthermore, it’s what makes a dinner rush, an actual rush. Especially when it involves the weekend, or a holiday. This is when the courier has the chance to maximize those earnings. Stay safe out there.
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