So you’ve been driving for Amazon Flex for a couple of months and then all of the sudden it’s become a lot harder for you to get blocks? Welcome to the reality of Amazon Flex. There’s a theory that’s been going around for a long time that new drivers get the first choice of offers, so that Amazon can keep you interested in what’s known as the “Honeymoon Period”.
Basically, new drivers seem to get special treatment because they’re new. Amazon wants to keep fresh new drivers around, so that they always have a large pool of drivers that will deliver their packages for low wages.
You see, once a driver becomes experienced and understands how the game works, they stop taking blocks at the “base rate”. The base rate is $18 an hour which might sound pretty good at first. That is until you start to realize the depreciation on your vehicle, the cost of gas, etc. The base rate is really not that great when you’re an independent contractor. So experienced drivers will hold out until the blocks “surge” to something more like $25 an hour.
A block will surge once it sits in the Amazon Flex app for long enough and nobody accepts it. If all of the drivers hold out and wait for the surge then the blocks will increase in pay. This is of course a gamble, because if you hold out for too long you may not get a block at all. There’s always drivers out there willing to take the base rate and if you hold out you could end up making $0 and $18 an hour is always better than $0. More about the Amazon Flex Gamble here: https://flexswag.us/2018/06/06/amazon-flex-increased-rates-surge-the-gamble/
The Amazon Flex Algorithm
Amazon themselves have confirmed that not all drivers are treated equally. If you have any doubts about the Amazon Flex algorithm showing favoritism to certain drivers, see the message below from Amazon to drivers:
We wrote more about that here: https://flexswag.us/2020/02/14/amazon-confirms-driver-suspicions-each-driver-sees-different-offers/
End of Honeymoon
For new drivers getting blocks seems to be easy breezy. Then all of the sudden it gets really hard. This is the end of your honeymoon period. Amazon has divorced you. It’s over and you’re now on your own. You have to compete with the rest of us. Suck it up, buttercup!
This is usually the point where drivers will start hitting the forums and groups. From there they realize how brutal it can be to get blocks. So begins your life as a habitual phone tapping maniac. When you find yourself half asleep in bed, tapping on your phone, congratulations! You’re now a seasoned and hardened Amazon Flex driver.
Just a Theory?
The “Honeymoon” phase in regards to Amazon Flex is just a theory. However, it’s one that persists year after year. This is because new drivers will come to the Flex driver online communities and ask why it’s suddenly gotten harder for them to get blocks. At first their offers are plentiful and then out of nowhere they dry up. Almost as if Amazon made it easier for them when they were new.
There’s very little evidence to support this theory other than a few screenshots of new drivers offers compared to that of an experienced driver. Where the new driver has a bunch of blocks to choose from and the experienced one has none.
It’s clear that the Amazon Flex algorithm favors certain drivers based on the metrics that they’ve set, they admitted to that themselves. New drivers getting first dibs in a “Honeymoon” phase is still just a theory, but one that seems very likely.
Summary
If getting blocks has suddenly gotten harder for you as a newer driver then you may have just been released from the alleged “Honeymoon” phase of Amazon Flex. They treated you well and took you out to nice dinners and dates but now you’re a real Amazon Flex driver. You get to compete with everyone else with no special treatment from the Amazon Flex algorithm.
You now should have an understanding of what drivers mean when they talk about new drivers getting special treatment and you should understand why seasoned drivers are always saying the phrase:
Don’t take base rates.
– Every Experienced Amazon Flex Driver
Check out your local Amazon Flex driver social media groups for help specific to your area. The informative Reddit sub here: /r/AmazonFlexDrivers/
And our very own Flex Swag forums here: forum.flexswag.us
Appreciate it. Be safe and Flex on!