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Desire to earn some extra income to pay off a few bills, go some repairs done on the motorcar , or treat yourself to a holiday? Then you're probably thinking " how tin I make some money ?" One fun and like shooting fish in a barrel way to increment your income is by being a Postmates delivery driver, delivering all kinds of foods, beverages, office supplies, groceries, and other goods straight to the consumers who gild them. Drivers are earning up to $700/calendar week!

The company is ever looking for qualified gig economic system workers to join the Postmates fleet . Just like with other rideshare and delivery driving jobs, Postmates commitment drivers are independent contractors, working equally much or every bit footling as they desire. The more y'all evangelize, the more money y'all'll brand. Let's explore how consumers use Postmates and what it's like to be a commitment driver for Postmates.

Here's what Heather from Indio, California says about working as a Postmates delivery driver:

" Beingness a Postmates delivery commuter is a great style to explore new neighborhoods and come across new people when I'thou out doing deliveries. I love being my own boss and deciding when and for how long I desire to work during the week.The actress coin really comes in handy. "

What is Postmates ?

Postmates is a nationwide on-need delivery service that started as a San Francisco startup back in 2011. The dream of the visitor's founders was to encourage customers to support their local economies past purchasing items from local businesses, creating jobs for local delivery drivers at the same time.  Since then, Postmates has become ane of the biggest players in the on demand economic system industry. Thousands of rideshare drivers, who already drive for Uber or Lyft , besides deliver for Postmates to add to their independent contractor income. Yet, you practice not have to be a rideshare commuter or ain a motorcar to evangelize for Postmates. In fact, depending on the city, many Postmates commitment drivers brand their deliveries on foot, or by scooter or bicycle.

Driving for Postmates

Wondering how to become a Postmates driver ? The process is pretty similar to signing upward for other rideshare or on demand delivery services.

  • Yous'll create a driver account and begin the sign upward on the Postmates website .
  • If you were referred to deliver for Postmates by a current Postmates delivery driver, you should have been assigned a Postmates Referral Code . Be sure to enter it when you apply so both you and the commuter who referred you receive your sign up bonuses. Postmates pays upwards to $200 in sign up bonuses in some cities.
  • Read and sign the Postmates Fleet Agreement, which basically spells out the rules and regulations of being a Postmates commitment driver.
  • You'll need to pass a groundwork cheque. Felonies, tearing crimes, sexual misconduct, or criminal activity linked to belongings damage or theft may prevent you from becoming a Postmates delivery driver. The background check ordinarily takes 3-10 days.
  • After passing the background check y'all tin log in, set up your direct eolith payment plan, and actuate your Postmates Prepaid card (PEX) which you'll demand to pay for sure kinds of orders. More on this later.
  • You'll be asked to attend a local thirty minute Postmates orientation. You'll learn what the delivery driver chore entails as well as how much y'all can earn, how to apply the app, and ways to increase your earnings.

So download the Postmates app to your smartphone , sign in, and offset delivering and earning!

How Does Postmates Work ?

Although food orders from restaurants brand upwardly the majority of Postmates deliveries, that's where the similarity to other delivery services ends. Yous may be asking yourself, "And then exactly what does Postmates evangelize ?" Well, Postmates users can order just about anything they desire from all kinds of businesses like department stores, food trucks, drug stores, clothing stores, supermarkets, juice confined, coffee shops, liquor stores and more.

Where is Postmates available?

Postmates delivers pretty much everywhere in the United states of america, in all 50 states. Customers tin can order from, and drivers can evangelize for, Postmates in hundreds of big, medium, and small cities beyond the country. We're talking everywhere from Bismarck, Due north Dakota to New York City to Waco, Texas and just about everywhere in between. For a full list of Postmates cities click Here .

Postmates Driver Requirements

Postmates driver requirements are pretty simple.

  • Required Postmates commuter age is 18 years old minimum, with a valid driver'due south license.
  • You must not accept any criminal history or driving violations on your record. These volition come upward during your Postmates background check.
  • Yous'll need valid insurance on the auto you're using to brand deliveries. Your proper name must be on the automobile insurance and the coverage must meet the minimum requirements of the country yous're driving in.

Your proper name does non demand to appear on the vehicle'southward registration. In other words, you lot can drive someone else's car to make deliveries, as long every bit you have motorcar insurance under your name.

Postmates Vehicle Requirements

  • Any vehicle that is in good enough condition to pick upwardly and deliver orders is acceptable, regardless of historic period, size, or model.
  • Postmates does not require an annual vehicle inspection. This is a big divergence between Postmates and Uber and Lyft , which do crave vehicle inspections .
  • If you plan to drive for Uber or Lyft , and you lot too program on delivering for Postmates also, nosotros recommend investing in a reliable, qualified car. For a recent list of the top cars to drive for Uber and Lyft click HERE .

Need a car for rideshare driving or Postmates delivery? Yous can affordably hire a qualified vehicle from HyreCar. We'll get you backside the cycle in less than 24 hours so you can start earning. There are more than details to come just to become started at present, click Hither .

Postmates Pay Construction

Postmates delivery drivers are paid a series of minimum flat fees during the delivery procedure. Here is the breakup of those fees:

  • Completed pick up of the order.
  • Minutes spent waiting at the pick up location for the lodge.
  • Mileage based on the altitude between pick up and delivery drop-off.
  • Completed drop off of the lodge.

The apartment fees vary from city to city, with the payouts being a bit higher in major metro areas like New York or Los Angeles.

  • The mileage earnings kick in when you lot option upward the guild and get out the location to bulldoze to the drop off. During this time, your mileage is tracked through the app until you lot get in at your delivery destination. That's when your earnings per mile, plus your various delivery fees are calculated and totaled. You lot'll see the final payment amount on the app.
  • If Postmates activates a Rush Bonus (surge pricing) during a decorated time of solar day, your delivery fees are increased. More on this subsequently.
  • Postmates does not take a commission out of your earnings, so 100% of your pay out is yours.
  • Delivery drivers are paid by direct eolith between four to 7 days after their deliveries are done.

To cheque out the flat fees yous would earn in your local market area click Here . Beneath is an example for New York Metropolis:

  • New York Urban center
    • Minimum $4.00 per completed delivery
    • $i.00 for pick up
    • $ane.00 for drop off
    • $.09 per minute waiting at pick upwards location
    • $ane.30 per mile between pick up and delivery

How Much Does Postmates Pay Per Hour?

OK, let'due south talk about making money with Postmates . Co-ordinate to Ridester.com, if a delivery driver puts in a total eight hour shift of deliveries from morning time through night, they could earn between $75-$100 per day. Postmates claims that delivery drivers can earn up to $27 an 60 minutes, depending on the location they work in and if Blitz bonuses are in result. Here's an overview of why and when your commitment fees can exist higher than normal:

  • Postmates Blitz pricing
    This is similar to the surge pricing that Uber offers drivers during peak times of 24-hour interval (lunch/dinner/weekend nights) or when a big sporting result is on TV or is actually happening in your local city. When Postmates activates Blitz Bonus pricing, a delivery driver's delivery fee can increase up to i.75 times the original amount. The app volition tell you when Rush is activated, which means it'due south a good fourth dimension to get out in that location and start accepting commitment orders.

Jermaine, a Postmates delivery commuter in San Francisco, says, " One of the all-time ways to actually increase your earnings is work the Blitz pricing in your area, particularly on weekends. I've also seen my commitment fees quadruple on holidays like New Years Day! "

  • Postmates peak hours are designated as:
    • 11am to 2pm every day.
    • 5:30pm to 9:30pm every day. This is considered the busiest fourth dimension for food deliveries
    • Friday, Saturday and Dominicus are considered high need days for all kinds of orders.
  • Your location. Purposely staying in a busy area of town during pinnacle delivery times will result in more delivery requests. Stay near the downtown areas or neighborhoods with lots of offices and restaurants.
  • Bad weather. People detest driving in howling rain storms or freezing blizzards to selection upwards food for the family or buy something from the local drugstore. Yous can benefit from this past being the delivery person who brings on-demand items to customers so they don't take to leave their nice warm homes or offices.
  • Postmates promotions, such as their "gratis delivery detail of the week" offering, means customers can club a specific food particular and only pay the commitment service accuse for a limited fourth dimension. Orders go through the roof during these promotions, and delivery drivers like yous volition benefit from the extra corporeality of deliveries. Blitz pricing frequently goes into event during these promotions, increasing your delivery earnings.

Postmates Pricing

How much does Postmates price ?
Besides the actual cost of the items purchased, a variable percentage-based service fee, commonly effectually 9%, is applied to the price of each item that a customer purchases for delivery. Customers also pay a delivery fee every fourth dimension they place an lodge through Postmates. The delivery fee varies depending on if the merchant they order from is a Postmates Partner or not, or if increased Blitz delivery fees are in consequence when the lodge is placed. Here'southward how the prices of typical deliveries are calculated, without added Blitz delivery fees and non counting the prices of the actual items purchased:

  • Club from a Postmates Partner merchant (has a dark-green check mark next to merchant name on the app or website).
    • $1.99 to $3.99 delivery fee + 9% variable pct-based Postmates service fee based on detail toll + tip if whatever.
  • Order from a Non-Postmates Partner merchant (no delivery agreement with Postmates)

$5.99 to $9.99 + 9% variable percentage-based Postmates service fee based on item price + tip if whatsoever.

Postmates Tipping Policy

Tin can customers leave tips for Postmates delivery drivers ? Absolutely, just they are non mandatory. That's why is important for delivery drivers to offer the all-time customer service possible in order to encourage tips from customers .

  • Postmates adds a suggested 20% tip to all commitment orders through the app. The larger the club, the larger the suggested tip.
  • The customer can concord to the 20% tip, or ignore the suggested amount and tip equally much or as petty as they want, also through the app. The customer has the option to non exit a tip at all.
  • Customers can give Postmates commitment driver tips in greenbacks.
  • Drivers go along 100% of the tips they receive.
  • To encourage tips from customers try the post-obit:
    • Deliver your orders with a smiling while identifying yourself and greeting the customer past name.
    • Always check orders earlier leaving the pick upward location to make sure everything is right.
    • If it's a food order, grab some extra napkins, utensils, eating house mints, condiment or sauce packets and other meal-related items for the customer. They only might reward the extra attempt with a tip.
    • Paw the client their receipt before asking if they want to review it.
    • Check to make sure your name and contact info is on the receipt. Point your information out to the customer and tell them to contact yous if something is wrong with the order. This way, the customer volition remember you if they don't tip you right away through the app. Customers tin can actually tip their delivery drivers upward to a couple of days afterwards the delivery has been completed.

For more suggestions on how to encourage tips when you're a rideshare driver or delivery driver click HERE .

How to Employ the Postmates App for Drivers

Here's a useful guide to using the Postmates Commitment Driver App .

  • In one case you've officially be accepted as a Postmates commitment commuter, you can open the app and start waiting for delivery orders.
  • Tap the slider on the top correct of the screen to online, meaning you're ready to start accepting delivery orders. Tap it again when you want to go offline and not do deliveries.
  • When you lot first open the app, the screen volition testify you a map where Blitz Bonuses, which increment your commitment fees, are bachelor inside your delivery area. These are areas where you'll want to bulldoze to and wait for orders.
  • Y'all'll hear a chiming notification sound through your telephone when an order comes in.
  • Yous don't have to take instantly, which is a cool characteristic. The app tells you how far abroad the selection upwards location is, and gives you enough fourth dimension to make up one's mind if you want to drive out of the expanse yous're in at the moment.
  • Want to accept this order? So tap "accept" on the bottom right of the screen, then starting time the procedure by borer "start pickup" immediately after that. Yous're on your manner!
  • The Postmates app has an interesting navigation characteristic. Cheque this out: Tap the arrowhead on the screen when you're gear up for directions to the pick up location. The app volition inquire you to select a GPS app that's already on your phone, such every bit Google Maps, MapQuest, or Waze etc. The address volition instantly open in the app that yous select. This is cool considering you lot may prefer one of these over the navigation system that other rideshare or delivery companies strength y'all to utilize.
  • When you arrive at the pick up location, allow'south say it's a restaurant, tap the "confirm gild details" on the bottom of your screen. Here's where all the order contents are listed along with whatever kind of special instructions. If everything is exactly as the gild, look for the bank check box next to the client's name and tap information technology.
  • Something incorrect with the order? Is the eatery out of soy milk? Need to ask the customer if almond milk is OK for their latte? No matter what the effect is, at that place is no need to worry. Tap "back up" on the pinnacle right of your screen to either call or text the customer. Their contact info is right at that place in instance you demand to reach out.
  • Postmates asks that commitment drivers e'er have a motion picture of the customer's order receipt using the Postmates app. Just tap the screen and the app will access your phone photographic camera. Then accept a articulate motion-picture show of the receipt.
  • Be sure to take the physical receipt with y'all to present to the client.
  • Ok, the order has been prepared and packaged correctly and you're ready to leave the restaurant. Slide the green "Swipe to Submit" bar on the bottom of the screen all the way to right to notify Postmates, and the customer who is post-obit your progress through the Postmates app on their phone, that you've picked upward the order and are ready to start the commitment procedure.
  • The customer'south location accost will pop upwardly on your telephone screen in the app. Tap the arrowhead on the screen for GPS directions. It will utilize the GPS app you lot chose previously.
  • Arrive at the drop off location. If there'southward a trouble (no one answers the door), or you can't find the actual accost even with the help of navigation, tap the client's name on the bottom of the screen for customer contact data. You lot tin then phone call or text them. Postmates recommends waiting between an boilerplate of 5 to 10 minutes after you arrive at the drib off location before moving on to your adjacent commitment, if the customer does not respond to your repeated attempts to contact them. We'll get into what to practice if you can not successfully complete an order afterwards.
  • If you do successfully drop off the order to the customer, tap their name on your screen and then tap "complete delivery." That'due south information technology! You've completed your delivery and your earnings will be calculated and displayed.

Hither are another absurd features on the Postmates app:

  • You tin notify Postmates when you want to switch from one delivery manner to another. For example, you tin switch from making deliveries by car and change to strictly delivery on foot or past scooter or bicycle.
  • You can track your direct deposits from Postmates and see if any of your customers tipped you subsequently you completed their deliveries.
  • A characteristic called "Newsroom" will give you lot updates from Postmates about important things the company feels volition aid you exercise your task as a commitment driver.
  • Aid Heart is a feature on the app that contains helpful manufactures about the delivery process from the Postmates website besides as a FAQs section.

Dissimilar Types of Postmates Requests

As a delivery driver, you'll bargain with different kinds of delivery requests. Information technology may or may not crave you to "pay" for the order with a prepaid Postmates credit menu. There are three kinds of orders:

  1. Orders that are placed and already paid for by the customer:
    1. The client placed their order on the app or on the Postmates website and paid for it using their personal credit card or debit bill of fare. All you accept to do is go to the option upward location, receive the club and the receipt, snap a moving picture of the receipt through the app, and leave to deliver the society to the customer. There is no fiscal transaction.
  2. Manual payment and order:
    1. This is a very mutual type of gild. The client lists what they desire from a particular restaurant or concern on the app. When you arrive, you place the customer's order for them. You lot tin can try and call the restaurant or business organisation ahead of fourth dimension to identify the society to save yourself some time, but non all establishments allow this. Depending on the type of asking that was fabricated, this order could accept already been paid for by the customer with their credit menu or you lot'll have to pay for it with the Postmates credit card.
  3. Orders that have already been placed just not paid for by the customer
    1. This is where yous'll need to use the prepaid Postmates PEX credit menu you were issued when you signed up to be commitment driver.
    2. Postmates automatically loads the amount the customer'south order costs on to the PEX card and so yous tin pay for the order at the eating place using the PEX card.

Orders from Cash Only Merchants

Postmates makes it very articulate on their website that they practice not work with cash-simply merchants. If you arrive at the pick up location and notice the concern only accepts cash, you must follow this process:

  • Tap "support" on your screen and abolish the delivery. Postmates prefers that you do not utilise your own money to purchase orders, and they brand that articulate on their website. However, this does not mean you're forbidden to use your own greenbacks to buy a customer's order if you want to. There is a reimbursement procedure.
  • If you decide to buy using your own cash, you can asking a reimbursement within 48 hours from Postmates. Tap "support" to connect with the Help Center. Y'all volition need to contact Postmates through the app and provide them with the name of the merchant, the date of the purchase, a snapshot of the receipt, and the reason why you used your own funds.

Is there Postmates Insurance for Drivers?

Postmates does provide insurance for delivery drivers when they are logged in to the app and making deliveries. This covers whether you're in your car or delivering on a bike.

  • Accidental Occupational Liability
    • $50,000 limit coverage on medical expenses and injuries that Postmates delivery drivers experience while on the job. This is a higher coverage than other competitors offer.
  • Auto Backlog Insurance
    • Once you sign upward to be a delivery driver, you're given $1 million liability coverage if y'all're involved in a motorcar accident. This also covers third party property impairment and actual injuries.
  • General Liability Insurance
    • Postmates fleet members who evangelize on bicycles receive $one million liability coverage that also includes third party property damage and bodily injury.

Postmates Delivery Driver Expenses

All rideshare and delivery drivers rack up expenses while doing their jobs. Postmates delivery drivers are no exception. Regularly scheduled vehicle maintenance, fuel costs, repairs, parking meter fees and parking garage charges are all your responsibility. Many of these fees are tax deductible, however. For a listing of taxation deductions that rideshare and delivery drivers may be able to declare come tax time, as well equally peachy ways to track your mileage and proceed every bit much of your profits equally possible, click HERE .

Contacting Postmates

Wondering how to contact Postmates ? There a few different ways to practice that depending on whether yous're a customer or commitment driver. You lot tin can call the Postmates back up telephone number at 888-815-7726 to speak with an bodily human being virtually delivery issues. Even so, reviews from drivers say the results from calling this number are mixed. The easiest and quickest mode to detect the answers may be through the Postmates app itself.

Postmates Customer Support

  • Postmates client service is available 24/7 through the app. The Postmates app support section has a lot of FAQs that might have the answers customers are looking for.
  • On the app, go to menu, and tap "help." There is where Customer Support tin can be selected. If the answer tin not be plant in these areas, Postmates will advise that you lot transport Customer Support an email detailing your specific problem. Responses usually take less than 24 hours.
  • Another fast way to contact Postmates customer back up is through their Twitter and Facebook pages. You can transport letters directly to the support team in this way and go quick responses.

Postmates Commuter Support :

Postmates refers to its team of drivers as a armada. That's why the company's driver support is as well known as Postmates Fleet Back up . They offer assist to drivers who are on the task making pickups and deliveries.

  • If you're a driver and demand aid with an gild correct away, the Armada Support Page on the Postmates app will have everything you need. This is especially important when you're in the middle of the delivery process.
  • The Fleet Support page also helps y'all get quick feedback from a back up representative when you lot report an event through the app.

You can also get fast answers to issues are to email Postmates at aid@postmates.com or send a question in through their social media pages such every bit Twitter and Facebook .

Determination

So now you lot know what it's like to exist a Postmates delivery driver also as a customer. If you lot want a fun and like shooting fish in a barrel contained contractor gig delivering food, beverages, and shop-bought goods to customers in your town, on your own schedule, so being a Postmates commitment driver may be the job for you. Yous'll make some extra income , particularly if you keep an center out for Rush pricing fees while you lot're driving and delivering. The more y'all deliver, the more money you lot'll make. And recall, providing an excellent customer experience volition increase your tips, pregnant more extra income in your pocket. Give information technology a endeavour, and let united states know how information technology goes!

Demand a Car to Drive for Postmates? Attempt HyreCar!
Yeah, it is possible to deliver for Postmates on foot and past bicycle, but for the most function, Postmates delivery drivers deliver by car. But what if you don't own a car, or don't desire to utilize your auto for deliveries? HyreCar tin can put you behind the wheel of a adept quality, reliable car in less than 24 hours. Y'all won't be roped into any long term contracts, either.  In fact, y'all can rent a motorcar for just two days if you lot want to try us out. Insurance is included with every rental, also! What are y'all waiting for?  Start renting from HyreCar and start delivering for Postmates. Then you tin can start accepting deliveries…of extra income!

Happy delivering for Postmates from your pals at HyreCar!

Past Rob Izenberg – HyreCar Staff Writer