When waiting actually is the hardest part.
Every courier knows about speedy delivery. In fact, most couriers look for ways to beat the clock on every delivery. It’s the nature of the work. Saving time is one way to improve earnings. It’s within the courier’s realm of expertise to shave a few seconds off the clock here and there. For the courier using a delivery app it’s about familiarity with the area. That back road knowledge is a bonus in the rush hour traffic. Furthermore, it’s exclusive to the area, or zone, a courier favors.
This is more than using an advantage to improve earnings. It’s also using strategy to create consistent earnings. Similarly, the earnings stack up quicker. One of the advantages of a delivery app is the way it budgets time. For example, offering a second pickup location close to the courier’s current location. It is a customer service bonus, if the courier arrives on time with a delivery drop-off. However, when it’s possible to arrive a little earlier, that’s even better.
With this in mind, there is very little time for waiting. Couriers are not fond of waiting. They already have to do it at every red light. That might sound like an exaggeration, and it is. However, it is also very nearly correct. Furthermore, couriers find themselves waiting at railroad crossings and stop signs. There is the occasional downed tree that forces a new route selection. However, that is waiting to turn around. Therefore, it isn’t as severe as the red light madness.
The Waiting Game
Every courier using a delivery app experiences the pickup delay at least once. (Once every delivery shift, is slightly more like it.) It can be a significant delay. One that takes ten or fifteen minutes. Other times it’s only a few minutes. Although it is only a few minutes, those few minutes can still make a difference for the courier. A late rating happens one minute after the deadline.
The waiting game at a pickup location is a challenge for every delivery app courier. Not only is it a delay in the flow of the delivery, but also it is open ended. In other words only the merchant knows when the waiting is over. The courier arrives and marks the arrival in the app. Some delivery apps do not require the pushing of a button to mark the courier’s arrival. However, if the pickup is not ready, the waiting game begins. This is when the courier must remain alert, but also patient.
One thing to keep in mind while waiting, is how quickly the scene changes. Especially during a high demand dinner hour. It is normal for the merchant staff to be highly focused on their own work flow. Furthermore, they may have one part of the team struggling to keep up. This makes it easy to overlook the delivery. For example, the delivery order is on the tablet used for the delivery app however, no one at the merchant location knows about the order.
When It’s the Hardest Part
So the courier arrives early. However, the pickup is facing a delay. Since no one discovered the order until the courier arrived, there will be some waiting for the fulfillment of the order. This type of waiting is different from the late night delivery pickup wait. For example, the courier must wait for the order to be made from the start. This usually happens while the courier is en-route to the pickup location.
When the pickup is part of a stacked delivery the waiting game becomes more stressful. While the courier waits for the first pickup, the second pickup falls behind. In other words, the excessive wait time will have a ripple effect on the rest of the delivery. This is when a courier must watch things closely. It’s possible to do some scrolling on the phone. However, checking the roads, and the route, gives the courier an edge. This while keeping a close eye on the progress of the order. Remember, it can get stranded behind the counter just because no one thought to ask.
Excessive Waiting
This scenario is a common one. The courier has two orders to fulfill, but a delay on one, holds them both up. This is why it’s important to follow the flow of the merchant and the merchant staff. However, things don’t always go according to plan. Sometimes the wait is just too long. Then things get even more complicated. There is already a significant time investment in the waiting. To let it go at this point, means a loss of the time, and the payout.
After some long term experience, a courier has a much better idea of when to wait and when excessive waiting, is not helpful. This is particularly true of the stacked delivery. This is where every courier thinks about the split when one of those stacked orders gets dropped. The total payout is what sold the offer to begin with. With one of those deliveries dropped the total payout is only a fraction of what it was before. That changes the entire dynamics of the delivery trip.
The Bonus Take Away
Suddenly the delivery offer is not within the formula the courier used to accept the stacked offer. This affects the bottom line. So how long is too long to wait? Furthermore, is it worth it to stay on the delivery, even though it involves excessive waiting? The short answer is ten minutes and sometimes. Ten minutes past the pickup time set by the app, is plenty. If an order isn’t ready by then, the wait is excessive. At that point it is up to the courier whether or not the wait will be worth it.
Some delivery apps give the courier a chance to drop the order. Especially if the wait time becomes excessive. The courier may want to continue and advocate for the customer. This is easier to consider if the customer is in the loop. When the customer is aware of the delay it can ease the stress a courier feels while playing the waiting game. Additionally, some customers appreciate the dedicated courier and occasionally show it with an extra gratuity. Something to keep in mind while enduring the long wait. Stay safe out there.
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