How Much Should You Tip Amazon Prime Now Driver?

Just how much should you tip an Amazon Prime Now Driver that delivers your Whole Foods groceries?

If you have groceries delivered from Whole Foods, you are no longer tipping the shopper.  The tip you add in the app goes to the courier or delivery driver.  Those drivers usually pick up multiple orders to delivery in succession.  That’s the best thing about only delivering orders is that it’s pretty fast, you don’t have to deal with customers, and if you like strategizing locations you can make many deliveries add up to a better than average hourly wage.  The problem is that customers who might want to tip in cash (which I usually suggest) won’t have any way to do that because if you’ve had any Whole Foods (Amazon Prime Now) deliveries, you know it’s a drop and run task.  In that case, I suggest you go ahead and add your tip to the app, and yes, I suggest 10-15%.

When I’m home I add 5% in the app, and then when the driver is arriving (because Amazon usually notifies you when the driver is about to arrive) I get some cash for the balance.  I usually have to catch them at the door!  Cash says, “I value what you do.”.

You might argue that with several deliveries a few dollars commision adds up and the driver can make the promised $20 an hour or more that they are shooting for.  Any driver that has to navigate the ridiculousness of Atlanta driving deserves that; and more.

Deserving of a Tip for Delivery of Groceries

I have found that Amazon Now delivery (of Whole Foods grocery items) is the fastest among competitors of Instacart delivering Publix/Kroger/Aldi and SHipt delivering Kroger.  Within minutes of completing an order, I get a message from the store that it’s completed.  I’m still amazed at the speed.  ONe of the challenges I’ve noted though is that the selection of items isn’t as good as say Publix or Kroger.  Still, the organic and non-GMO products are extensive and for a person who needs fresh foods (greens, veggies) each week I can’t beat it.

When it comes to delivery, and only delivery, tips are as integral to the hourly wage as much as the shopper who spends time picking out the groceries you’ve ordered.  The only difference is that the shopper also gets a commision per item and the delivery person only gets a delivery commission.

The only thing that should affect your tip (and in some cases, you have a few days to change the tip) for Amazon  Now delivery of Whole Foods groceries should be speed, checking to be sure that no items were damaged in transit, and that nothing is missing.  While a store employee may miss an item (which should be noted), an Amazon Now delivery driver could miss an entire bag so it’s easy to recognize that (although rare).  So why not tip 15%?  This gig economy is changing the way work is done and in the United States, we pay less per income than many countries do comparatively.

Impact

Isn’t that wonderful?  The dollars in you invest in a gig economy worker has a direct and meaningful impact.  In 2016 there were 34,439 vehicular deaths and 2,177,000 injuries.   A delivery driver’s exposure to that risk is intensified simply by engaging. Gig economy workers pay into Social Security and Medicare just like everyone else and without those who are willing to invest vehicle costs and risk of personal safety (exposure to a vehicular incident), you can’t enjoy the free time you now enjoy not having to shop.

A tip should be at least 15%.  Interested in becoming an Amazon Prime Member?   I recommend sharing your membership with your best friend or family.  You can always join for a free trial and see if it’s worth it!

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