The practical economics of the delivery courier.
The delivery side hustle has its ups and downs. Some days the earnings are better than average. Other days they are not. However, this is the nature of the delivery side hustle. When it’s good it’s good and when it slows, it’s definitely slow. Furthermore, couriers turning in long shifts know that there is a mixture of busy times throughout the day. For example, the lunch rush. For about two hours deliveries run full tilt then it slows to a crawl through the early afternoon.
With this in mind, every courier knows that after that lull in the early afternoon the early evening rush begins. This is a four or five hour block of time that is delivery intensive. In fact, it’s not uncommon to receive back to back delivery orders from the queue during the evening rush. Furthermore, this is one of the best times of the day to be available for deliveries. Not only are there more deliveries, but also the quality of the offers is above and beyond other times of the day.
However, one of the few exceptions to that scenario is the type of delivery the courier has on deck. Hot fresh food deliveries are in a different category than the shop and deliver type of delivery. In fact, a Walmart pickup is in the shop and deliver category. However, the process for a grocery pickup is a whole other ball game, compared to the restaurant pickup. Or another similar retail location.
Practical Economics
The economics for the courier is what many articles on this site are about. The economics for the delivery customer is what this article is about. Furthermore, it’s those very same economics that inspire, and lead, to the creation of a Walmart grocery order. If it’s cheaper to have it delivered, then why not have it delivered? The amount of time the delivery customer has in the process is minimal. Likewise the investment of money is significantly lower. Especially if the at home customer is a monthly subscriber to the delivery app.
The courier with a preference for shop and deliver orders, most likely does well with grocery pickups. They are very similar delivery types. Furthermore, grocery pickups are more popular than ever. And the options for grocery services are growing every year. Between shop and deliver orders, and standard grocery pickup orders, the courier covers all the bases of basic delivery services. The economics for the at home customers are worth noting.
When it saves time it usually also saves money. It’s funny how that works. However, for the courier that is a common practice. Saving time is saving money. Similarly, the at home delivery customer is a pro at saving time and saving money. That’s one reason why the courier is bringing the supplies from the faraway outpost.
The Delivery Courier
Working with time saving techniques is what a courier does. This applies to the more than part time courier. Couriers running longer shifts than part time, push a different kind of envelope. They spend many hours of the day going from one pickup to the next. In between the pickups, are drop-offs, and traffic jams. This repetitive process can eat up time, and resources if not monitored closely.
For the long shift courier the practical economics of the grocery delivery are just as valid as the at home customers. Although the time saving techniques between the two might be different, the concept of saving time and money, are not. The delivery courier experiences this when orders are stacked. The efficiency of stacked deliveries is all about economics. There are less miles traveled. And less time involved. Additionally the resources needed to complete the delivery are halved because of the proximity of the courier, to the second delivery offer.
This is also a strategy of the at home customer. The expense of getting groceries goes down when received as a delivery. For example, no travel time to the store. And no gas used, or time wasted sitting in traffic. In fact, the at home customer doesn’t even have to be home to get the grocery delivery. It can be left at the door. This is multi-tasking on steroids. And the courier has a second opportunity, if the delivery trip has stacked orders.
Delivery Economics
The courier relies on the delivery to make ends meet. The at home customer relies on the delivery to make ends meet by saving time and resources. Both are working with their own economics. However, it is a balance that is beneficial to everyone. A courier might look at a delivery as more than just an opportunity for pay. There is also resource management. And that must be balanced with the overall expense of the delivery.
Similarly the at home customer is looking to balance the cost of the delivery with the convenience of the delivery. Furthermore, there are times when it is more efficient for the at home customer to order a delivery. Especially if it’s a large order. And even more so if the delivery customer lives a long way from the pickup location. It’s ultimately a huge time saver. This goes doubly for the courier.
If the courier is stacked and has more than one offer, things will be busy. However, the economics of the courier’s work means every delivery has the potential to be an earnings bonus. It just takes follow through, and attention to detail. Something an at home delivery customer can appreciate. Stay safe out there.
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