Amazon has recently announced a new Program, Amazon Flex, which lets you deliver packages for money. Anyone can sign up for the program right now, but Amazon does have a few requirements. They will only hire people who are least 21, own their own car, and have valid driver's license. However, the FAQ suggests there may be opportunities in the future to deliver on foot or by bicycle, even though they are only accepting car deliveries as of right now. Amazon also expects prospective drivers to pass a background check. Finally an Android Phone is required, and Amazon will provide access to an app which is required to make deliveries.
Drivers will be paid $18 to $25 an hour, however Amazon does not explain why the pay per hour varies. Whether it's based on location, speed of delivering packages, or some other factors is not mentioned in the FAQ. Users can choose available 2, 4, and 8 hour time blocks to work in a particular day. There is no minimum number of hours required, and Amazon claims you can work as little or as much as you want. Amazon also promises consistent work, with deliveries available 7 days a week.
Drivers in the program will be directed by app to a "location near you" to pick up the packages and then deliver them to a location within a "local radius." Drivers will be delivering Amazon Prime Now packages specifically. Amazon Prime now promises two-hour delivery, or in some locations one hour for an additional fee. It's unclear how Amazon intends to deal with drivers who don't deliver packages on time. Also not mentioned anywhere on the site is whether the driver will be considered liable for damaged packages.
Amazon Flex will only be operating in select cities. Right now it is only operating in Seattle, but will soon be available in Manhattan, Baltimore, Miami, Dallas, Austin, Chicago, Indianapolis, Atlanta, and Portland. Despite plans to open to operate in many major cities in America, not a single city in California is listed. This may be because of the legal troubles facing Uber in the state of California over the status of its drivers, and Amazon may be trying to steer clear of such legal complications.
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