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We’ve all been there: waiting anxiously as your <keyword id="20544300" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="food-delivery-app" source="keywords">food delivery app</keyword> teases you with the promise that your order will arrive "in 20 minutes." You watch in despair as the driver appears to be stuck in some alternate universe, making you wonder if your meal is actually taking a detour through a black hole. Worse yet, the order arrives with half your items missing, or, horror of horrors, your curry has decided to bathe the entire delivery bag. And when you try to reach out for some help? You're met with a <keyword id="19896299" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="chatbot" source="keywords">chatbot</keyword> that’s more interested in looping you through pre-programmed responses than connecting you with a real human. As usual, redditors are here for your rescue. Very recently, a Reddit user took to a Bengaluru sub to share a “hack” to help those who were struggling with food delivery apps and wanted the “premium experience” without paying more for it. As per the redditor, the key is to choose <keyword id="20635241" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="cash-on-delivery" source="keywords">cash on delivery</keyword> while placing your order on <keyword id="19901323" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Zomato" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Zomato" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Zomato">Zomato</keyword> or <keyword id="19896956" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Swiggy" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Swiggy" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Swiggy">Swiggy</keyword>. They went on to claim that the app would then prioritise your order over even gold customers. Further, their chatbots are more likely to connect you to a human if the delivery is delayed beyond a point or if there’s any other issue with your order. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112865820" title="The new &amp;quot;Zomato for Enterprise&amp;quot; will directly bill your company for business-related food orders" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>“The user experience remains exactly the same — once the order is delivered you can pay via any UPI app or wallet or saved card through the app but you never again have to worry about being Zomato’s starving hostage,” u/steve7evans <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/bangalore/s/YokaI9aYfC" id="docs-internal-guid-b04dfa38-7fff-1b3e-b0be-47598d49afdf">wrote</a>. Many users shared their bad experiences with the delivery apps and <keyword id="19925749" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="customer-support" source="keywords">customer support</keyword>. While some agreed that they got the order faster than usual after opting for <keyword id="21690601" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cod" source="keywords">COD</keyword>, some felt that the experience is rather subjective. “I'm always able to connect with an agent. And I am always offered a refund generally when I complain. But I only complain in case of a genuine issue. Maybe because I don't abuse their system?” read one of the comments on the thread. However, this hack isn’t about cheating the system or stiffing hard-working delivery partners. The OP clarifies that this is about ensuring that you get the level of service you deserve, minus the unnecessary hassles. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111758782" title="Zomato and Swiggy increase platform fee by 20% – food deliveries to get costlier" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>

The “ultimate Zomato and Swiggy hack” might be opting for COD while placing your order, claim redditors!

In today's world, almost any activity can be carried out online. Even dating. While the idea of finding love by swiping left and right on your smartphone may sound super convenient, it often carries an element of risk. After all, the person on the other end could be anything. In a recent case, a <keyword id="20759324" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bengaluru-woman" source="keywords">Bengaluru woman</keyword> shared a chilling account of how her former <keyword id="23656848" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bumble-date" source="keywords">Bumble date</keyword> used his access at a food delivery platform to stalk her after their relationship ended. The disturbing story has drawn attention to the risks posed by data being misused by those with insider access. <h2><keyword id="20066274" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bumble" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Bumble" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Bumble">Bumble</keyword> date gone wrong </h2> According to a <keyword id="19951562" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="LinkedIn" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="LinkedIn" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="LinkedIn">LinkedIn</keyword> post by Rupal Madhup, her friend's nightmare began when her relationship with a man, who worked at a food delivery platform, ended. What followed was nothing short of disturbing. The man allegedly flagged her account in the company’s system, giving him access to her real-time delivery locations. He used this information to track her movements, sending her messages like, “Why are you not ordering at your own place at 2 AM? Where are you?” and “Ordering chocolates, are you on your period?” His obsessive behaviour escalated into full-blown digital stalking, where he would question her movements and orders, leaving her shaken. What makes this incident especially alarming is how he used his professional privileges to access her personal data, turning an ordinary breakup into a terrifying experience. In today’s world, where data is valuable, this case underscores how dangerous it can be when such sensitive information falls into the wrong hands. The situation has also prompted discussions around whether digital platforms have robust enough systems to detect and prevent unauthorised access to user data. In an age where every action—from ordering food to taking a ride—leaves a digital footprint, ensuring privacy and security is more crucial than ever. <h2>Tips for staying safe while dating online</h2> As online dating becomes more common, it’s important to take precautions to protect your privacy and personal safety. Here are some tips to keep in mind: 1. Avoid sharing sensitive information like your home address or work location early on. Stick to general locations and public places until you feel comfortable. 2. Many dating apps offer safety features like in-app messaging or the ability to block or report users. Make sure to use these tools if something feels off. 3. Some apps have location-sharing features, which can expose your whereabouts. Keep these settings off unless absolutely necessary, and don’t share your real-time location with someone you’ve just met. 4. If someone is overly interested in where you are at all times or tries to pressure you into sharing personal details, consider it a warning sign and disengage. 5. Before meeting someone in person, try to verify their identity through social media or mutual connections. It’s always a good idea to get a better sense of who they are. 6. Always meet in a public place for the first few dates. This ensures your safety and gives you time to gauge the person before getting more comfortable.

Bumble date turns stalker: Bengaluru woman claims her ex stalked her using location from food delivery app

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Research shows that ordering food for delivery has gotten expensive, yet demand remains high.</li><li>Pandemic habits and time-saving needs drive consumers to prioritize convenience.</li></ul>Convenience comes up with a pretty hefty cost these days.There's now a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ordering-food-through-uber-eats-doordash-gotten-wildly-expensive-2024-9">considerable difference in spending</a> between eating out and getting your meal delivered. But demand for food delivery has remained high — as has its price.The personal finance site FinanceBuzz did <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://financebuzz.com/compare-costs-food-delivery-apps">an experiment</a> in September and found that based on the cost to deliver an entrée, a side, and a drink from 10 popular chains on the same day within 3 miles — organizing dinner with an app such as DoorDash, Grubhub, UberEats or Postmates can cost almost double what it would to collect it yourself. This is when factoring in charges for food, fees, taxes, and suggested tips. Business Insider contacted these delivery companies for comment. Both Uber — which owns UberEats and Postmates — and Grubhub pointed out that restaurants also often set the menu prices for delivery, and these may sometimes be higher than when purchasing in-store. Still, diners aren't necessarily being deterred by the much higher prices.Last week, food delivery company DoorDash, reported an 18% rise in orders year over year in its third quarter of 2024. Revenue grew 25% to $2.7 billion in the same period.While Uber doesn't split out the results of its individual delivery companies, it saw gross bookings for its delivery segment grow by 16% year on year in Q3.So, why has delivery gotten this expensive?<h2 id="ef2204e7-2a73-4ce1-b97e-9e59db13fb63">Consumer competition</h2>"As app delivery has become more popular, apps have to pay more to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/drive-for-uber-eats-after-layoff-would-not-recommend-2024-7">drivers</a> to convince them to make deliveries for their team — with many drivers juggling multiple apps throughout their shifts," Anthony Miyazaki, a professor of marketing at Florida International University, told Business Insider."At the same time, demand for delivery pushed consumers to unknowingly compete against each other, with <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-much-to-tip-food-delivery-driver-doordash-ubereats-2023-7">a willingness to pay more for delivery and more for tips</a> to get their food delivered on time," he said. A food delivery driver <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-delivery-driver-gets-big-tips-declines-orders-wealthy-areas-2023-4">previously told BI</a> that he decides to accept or pass on a variety of deliveries often based on the highest upfront tips.<div type="image" title="food on a table from doordash delivery service" height="528" width="772" msid="114979379" hostid="261" sizebytes="27174"></div>This led delivery app companies to take a higher cut from restaurants and raise fees for customers, while at the same time, drivers are looking for higher tips, Miyazaki explained, which all results in a much pricier food order.Matched with inflation resulting in the soaring prices of labor and commodities, many chains — including Starbucks, McDonald's, KFC, In-N-Out, and Olive Garden — <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fast-food-price-rises-tipping-point-value-deals-combos-mcdonalds-2024-8">have increased the cost of menu items</a>.There are a couple of reasons that, despite the hikes, Americans are still choosing the ease of using an app to get dinner.<h2 id="5a6cf862-4bfe-4ddc-b330-71cd4f343f80">Creatures of habit</h2><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/changes-restaurants-pandemic-qr-codes-self-service-kiosks-2024-10">The way we dined changed</a> following the COVID-19 pandemic.But despite lockdowns coming to an end and the country gradually opening back up, people grew accustomed to the trend of ordering food."The pandemic has shifted dining habits, leading more consumers to seek out restaurant-quality meals at home," Alon Chen, CEO of Tastewise, a consumer data platform for food and beverage brands, said."Consumers now consider ordering takeout as a time-saving experience akin to dining out but in the coziness of one's living room," he said.For Miyazaki, because of the rise of streaming, more are comfortable with 'entertaining in' rather than going out for a meal."Also, with more people working from home, they're likely further from lunchtime restaurants and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/work-from-home-lunch-experts-broken-not-take-breaks-2024-9">don't feel the need to get away from the office anymore for their lunch break</a>," he said.<h2 id="ad899ce2-c371-4933-b511-e71d9133d92b">Time is money</h2>Oliver Wright, a senior managing director and the global lead for consumer goods and services at Accenture, explained that consumers feel "time-poor."This means that although <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/cutting-out-cost-of-convenience-for-a-month-2021-11">more money is spent on ordering food</a> than cooking or eating in a restaurant, the customer is saving time, he told BI.The degree to which <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-doordash-instacart-still-delivering-lots-as-consumers-pull-back-2024-8">convenience and ease are playing on consumers' minds</a> to alleviate time pressure has become especially relevant in recent years, Wright said, to the extent that people are willing to spend more if time is saved."Feeling 'time-poor' is a really dominant attribute," he said."The value of time might be very high," Chris Olivola, an associate professor of marketing at Tepper School of Business, told BI.He said that for the rational consumer, whether because of the amount of money earned per hour, how much importance is given to an activity, or the contribution being made to a company, these food delivery apps are popular because of how they assess their time.It's also about expertise, he said."You might be a good cook, but if you want Thai food and you don't know how to cook Thai, you have to teach yourself, Olivola said, "and that takes time."

Food deliveries keep getting more expensive — but we can't stop ordering       

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Amazon is reportedly developing <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meta-ray-ban-smart-glasses-gen-z-friends-review-photos-2023-11">smart glasses</a> that its delivery workers could use.</li><li>The glasses could provide navigation and take pictures of packages upon delivery, Reuters reported.</li></ul><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-delivery-driver-pay-rise-union-pressure-2024-9">Amazon</a>'s next attempt to speed up package delivery may involve smart glasses.The online retailer is developing glasses for its delivery workers that could show them exactly where to go in a building, such as which way to turn in order to find a delivery location, and take pictures of packages once they're delivered, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/amazon-developing-driver-eyeglasses-shave-seconds-off-deliveries-sources-say-2024-11-11/">Reuters reported</a> on Monday, citing unnamed sources with knowledge of the project.Having that information on a small screen embedded in the glasses instead of a smartphone or other hand-held device would free up workers to carry more packages and save time on deliveries, Reuters reported.The project, known within Amazon by the code name "Amelia," is far from certain to launch, according to the report. Some challenges that Amazon has reportedly faced include creating a battery with enough capacity for a several-hour-long delivery shift and gathering enough location data for the glasses to guide workers."We are continuously innovating to create an even safer and better delivery experience for drivers," an Amazon spokesperson told Business Insider. "We otherwise don't comment on our product roadmap."Amazon, like Meta and Snap, has previously developed smart glasses that were consumer-facing.Amazon has offered <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-echo-frames-smart-glasses-hands-on-2019-9">Echo Frames</a>, its smart glasses for consumers with voice assistant Alexa integrated, since 2019. The Echo Frames don't include cameras or an integrated display but do feature microphones and built-in speakers. Amazon is using Echo Frames as the basis of its delivery-focused version, according to Reuters. Sales of the latest version of Echo Frames totaled fewer than 10,000 over the past year, according to the report.Glasses for delivery drivers would be another way that Amazon is using technology to try to make its delivery operations more efficient, especially during the final stretch, or "last mile," of delivery.Amazon is already planning to add <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/transportation/amazon-vapr-delivery-van-packages">AI technology</a> that will show its delivery people which packages to deliver in the back of delivery vans at specific stops starting in early 2025.The company announced in July that it had delivered 5 billion items to Prime members globally on the same day or the following day so far this year, a 30% year-over-year increase. Over the years, some <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-delivery-drivers-dsps-working-conditions-legal-threat-2021-9">Amazon delivery workers</a> have said that Amazon has highly ambitious delivery targets and expects them to deliver more packages than they can during their shifts.In October, Amazon CFO Brian Olsavsky said that the company's quick delivery times are making it more attractive for customers to order <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-seeing-surge-sales-cheaper-items-2024-11">cheap, everyday items</a>, such as beauty products and shelf-stable groceries, from the retailer.Amazon is also opening more facilities designed to deliver customers' orders — including those placed through <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-prime-orders-deliveries-faster-than-ever-2024-4">Amazon Prime</a> — on the same day that they're placed.Are you an Amazon delivery or retail worker? Do you have information or a story idea to share? Reach out to this reporter at abitter@businessinsider.com

Amazon targets smart glasses that could guide delivery drivers to where to drop off packages, report says

India’s appetite is increasing day by and day and the <keyword id="20676228" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="food-services-industry" source="keywords">food services industry</keyword> is on a sizzling plate, projected to grow by 10-12% annually for the next seven years, according to a recent study by <keyword id="19896956" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Swiggy" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Swiggy" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Swiggy">Swiggy</keyword> and <keyword id="19922375" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bain-Company" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Bain &amp; Company" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Bain &amp; Company">Bain &amp; Company</keyword>. This translates to a potential customer base of 45 crore people by 2030! <keyword id="20039605" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="online-food-delivery" source="keywords">Online food delivery</keyword>, in particular, is expected to grow at an even faster rate with a compound annual growth rate of 18%. Fueled by a growing population, more eating-out occasions, and a wider variety of food options, India's culinary landscape is undergoing a delicious transformation — delicious for the service providers. But what of the consumers? While the study reveals a fascinating diversity in <keyword id="22275323" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="how-india-eats" source="Orion">how India eats</keyword>, it also indicates that the top 50, or Tier 1, cities presently account for 70% of food consumption. This wouldn’t be a problem if eating food from outside weren’t basically synonymous with eating unhealthy food. To exacerbate this problem, statistics suggest that this trend will soon seep into the Tier 2 and 3 cities of the country as well. Further, 70% of consumption came from upper-middle to high income households. As per the study, GenZ and other youngsters represent a significant chunk of the food consumption pie – a whopping 40%! <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="109113406" title="Millennials and Gen Z&amp;#39;s trendy new splurge: groceries" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>Growing up in the age of smartphones and social media, Gen Z is comfortable navigating the digital world to discover new restaurants and cuisines. They're not afraid to experiment, venturing beyond traditional family favorites and trying over three different cuisines and six restaurants in a year! While GenZ appreciates good food, they also prioritise value for money. Online food <keyword id="20039606" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="delivery-platforms" source="keywords">delivery platforms</keyword> allow them to compare prices and offerings before placing an order. Furthermore, this generation is expected to dine out more often as their disposable income increases. The rise of online food delivery has revolutionized the way India eats. It has not only extended our eating hours (think late-night cravings!). With changing lifestyles, mid-meal snacking is becoming a popular trend. This opens doors for innovative brunch and evening snack options, requiring restaurants to adapt their opening hours. Delivery platforms have seen an increase in people ordering food items like chicken biryani, fried rice, butter naan, masala dosa and Margherita pizza, among other things, during odd-hours of the day and night. Convenience, taste, and price are now the holy trinity of ordering decisions. Food delivery platforms have intensified competition by making restaurant discovery and comparison a breeze. However, the rise of these food delivery platforms can have a direct impact on the health of Indians, and judicious use of them is advised. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111758782" title="Zomato and Swiggy increase platform fee by 20% – food deliveries to get costlier" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>

Swiggy report says GenZ contributes to 40% of food consumption; highlights recent trend of binge-eating

As India gears up for its vibrant festive season, a notable surge in <keyword id="23052492" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="seasonal-hiring" source="keywords">seasonal hiring</keyword> is taking place across various industries, with gig roles leading the charge. According to data from job site Indeed, seasonal hiring is projected to rise by 20% this year compared to last, driven primarily by <keyword id="19990771" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="e-commerce" source="keywords">e-commerce</keyword>, logistics, and retail sectors, as companies prepare for heightened consumer demand. Sashi Kumar, Head of Sales at Indeed India, emphasised, "The festive season is a crucial period for businesses across India, and we're seeing a significant uptick in hiring for seasonal roles as companies prepare to meet heightened consumer demand." <h3 style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:14.0pt;margin-bottom:4.0pt;">What is gig work?</h3>Gig work refers to flexible, short-term, or freelance employment often facilitated by digital platforms. Unlike traditional full-time jobs, gig workers are hired on a project basis, allowing them to work for multiple employers or companies as needed. These roles are popular in industries like food delivery, transportation, and logistics. During India's <keyword id="21015356" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="festival-season" source="keywords">festival season</keyword>, when businesses experience a spike in demand, gig workers play an essential role in ensuring smooth operations across sectors like retail and e-commerce. <h3>Gig labour during festival season</h3>The festive season in India, spanning from September to December, is one of the busiest times of the year for businesses. As a result, companies ramp up hiring to cope with increased sales and customer demand. Seasonal roles in delivery, logistics, warehouse operations, and customer support see the highest demand, as businesses focus on timely deliveries, inventory management, and customer satisfaction. Indeed's data reveals that the top gig roles witnessing a rise in hiring this season include <keyword id="21462485" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="delivery-executives" source="keywords">delivery executives</keyword>, <keyword id="22103182" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="warehouse-workers" source="keywords">warehouse workers</keyword>, <keyword id="23052493" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="logistics-coordinators" source="keywords">logistics coordinators</keyword>, <keyword id="23052494" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="in-store-sales-executives" source="keywords">in-store sales executives</keyword>, and customer care executives. While major cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Delhi see a steady increase in demand for gig workers (18-20%), tier-2 and tier-3 cities like Nagpur, Jaipur, and Vadodara are emerging as key contributors, witnessing a hiring surge of 22-25%. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112999246" title="As fast as some jobs are growing, others are losing steam" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div><h3><keyword id="3480589" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="meesho" source="Orion">Meesho</keyword> major contributor</h3>One of the standout examples this festive season is Meesho, a leading e-commerce marketplace in India. According to sources, the platform has enabled around 8.5 lakh seasonal job opportunities, representing a 70% increase from last year. Of these, 5 lakh jobs were created within Meesho's seller network, while another 3.5 lakh jobs emerged in the logistics sector. Sourabh Pandey, CXO of Fulfilment and Experience at Meesho, shared, "This festive season, we are particularly thrilled to have enabled 8.5 lakh seasonal jobs, especially in tier-3 and beyond cities. Empowering SMBs, local manufacturers, and logistics providers to scale their business is resulting in meaningful economic opportunities that are driving financial inclusion in these regions." Meesho has reportedly also partnered with prominent third-party logistics providers such as Delhivery, Ecom Express, and Shadowfax to meet the increased demands of the festive season. These collaborations have not only expanded logistics capacity but also helped generate gig opportunities in first-mile, middle-mile, and delivery associate roles. Abhishek Bansal, CEO &amp; Co-founder of Shadowfax, commented, "We are particularly excited to nearly double our capacity across several value-added services, such as Reverse Quality Check-Based Pickups and Hand-to-Hand Doorstep Exchange. These efforts ensure smooth deliveries and returns during the festive rush." <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112720685" title="If you want to find a job, it&amp;#39;s time to specialize" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div><h3 style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:14.0pt;margin-bottom:4.0pt;">The future of gig work in India</h3>The rapid rise in <keyword id="23052491" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="gig-hiring" source="keywords">gig hiring</keyword> reflects the evolving needs of today's consumers, particularly during high-demand periods like the festive season. The e-commerce industry, which saw a 35% rise in demand for seasonal workers, is expected to continue driving this trend, with logistics and retail sectors close behind. "The industries that are growing — e-commerce, logistics, quick commerce — are doing so because they're aligned with the needs and behaviours of today's consumers,” Sashi Kumar explains. “This is where the future of India's <keyword id="19916569" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="job-market" source="keywords">job market</keyword> could be heading". With a flurry of companies contributing significantly to job creation, particularly in tier-3 and tier-4 cities, gig work is becoming a vital source of employment across the country. As India's job market evolves, gig work is likely to play an even larger role in shaping the future of work, offering flexibility and economic opportunity to millions of workers. (With inputs from agencies)

E-commerce is expected to help seasonal hiring for gig roles surge by 20% this festival season: reports

<ul class="summary-list"><li>DoorDash has partnered with two companies to use hourly employees with benefits.</li><li>That's a change for a delivery service that built its business on contractors who are paid per gig.</li></ul><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/most-doordash-workers-spend-surprisingly-short-time-doing-job-2024-9">DoorDash</a> is experimenting with using employees with benefits — not just independent contractors — to make deliveries.The delivery service is working with at least two local delivery providers, one in Austin, Texas, and another in Fresno, California, through its <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://about.doordash.com/en-us/local-commerce-service-partner?_gl=1*ng6v7y*_gcl_aw*R0NMLjE3MjIyNjYzMjcuQ2owS0NRanctNXkxQmhDLUFSSXNBQU1fb0tubGp5QjdiOHNzU05OdDR6dE1Bcl9kZmd3YlJTQkpGUTBORE5RaVM3YVdUVkRoTVRYMHlNZ2FBbDJERUFMd193Y0I.*_gcl_dc*R0NMLjE3MjIyNjYzMjcuQ2owS0NRanctNXkxQmhDLUFSSXNBQU1fb0tubGp5QjdiOHNzU05OdDR6dE1Bcl9kZmd3YlJTQkpGUTBORE5RaVM3YVdUVkRoTVRYMHlNZ2FBbDJERUFMd193Y0I.*_gcl_au*MTg2ODQwNTE2MC4xNzE5OTI1Nzc0&amp;_ga=2.69043863.760568407.1727102173-897592233.1703081308">Local Commerce Service Partner Program</a>. The local providers handle hiring the employees, but the orders that they fill come from DoorDash.Websites for both companies say they are hiring W2 employees. That's a big change from the gig workers that DoorDash and other delivery services have largely built their businesses on.Though small in scale, the partnerships represent a fundamentally different business model from the one that DoorDash has used to become one of the world's largest delivery services.Since its founding in 2013, DoorDash has relied on independent contractors, who are generally paid for each delivery they complete and have more flexibility about when they work than traditional employees. Uber, Lyft, Instacart, and other delivery companies have also relied on gig workers to build their businesses, leading millions of people in the US into the gig economy.But using employees who are paid hourly and work shifts of up to several hours at a time helps make sure DoorDash always has people on hand to make deliveries, a company spokesperson said."We remain committed to preserving and protecting the flexibility of independent work that the vast majority of Dashers prefer," a DoorDash spokesperson said, referring to the company's independent contractors."However, we also know there is a small subset of workers who prefer set schedules and the predictability of W2 work, which is why we're piloting LCSP in select markets to focus on maintaining healthy supply levels and supplement the handling of new and different types of orders," the spokesperson added.LCSPs are local commerce service partners, or businesses that "operate their own delivery business and employ their own fleet of delivery associates who fulfill deliveries offered through the DoorDash platform," according to DoorDash's website.One of the partner companies, Fresno Logistics, says on <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.fresnologistics.com/dash/">its website</a> that it offers "high-quality logistics services to restaurants, grocery and convenience stores, and a variety of other businesses (e.g., retail) in the Fresno, CA area through the DoorDash Platform."Fresno Logistics' website touts the benefits for potential hires, including a $16-an-hour wage, tips, reimbursement for miles driven while on the job, healthcare, and paid time off. While not a direct comparison, that's much more than some gig delivery workers take home: A <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/uber-lyft-doordash-drivers-earn-below-minimum-wage-tips-study-2024-5">UC Berkeley study</a> this year found that many make less than minimum wage after accounting for expenses such as gas.Austin-based LCSP One, meanwhile, says on <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://lcspone.com/">its website</a> that it pays W2 workers $13 an hour plus tips and a per-mile reimbursement of 10 cents. Full-time delivery employees work four 10-hour shifts scheduled Monday through Friday each week, while part-time workers must make at least 20 hours worth of deliveries, according to the website.The home page of its website says that the company offers employees "gig-work mentality with a career mindset."Fresno Logistics and LCSP One did not respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.Gig workers lack many of the benefits and legal protections that employees get. Some gig workers have said that their pay has decreased over the last few years, especially compared to early 2020, when demand for the delivery of groceries, takeout food, and other goods rose.Others have had their accounts on the delivery apps deactivated with little or no explanation. And some gig workers have pointed to performance metrics, such as the percentage of potential orders that they accept, saying that they make the work more <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/doordash-grubhub-uber-workers-gig-work-feels-like-a-job-2024-8">like a traditional job.</a>Making deliveries as an employee could solve some of those problems by giving workers more predictable pay and reimbursing them for miles driven.The amount delivery services pay gig workers has been going up in some cities, too. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/doordash-regulatory-response-fee-nyc-minimum-wage-law-delivery-workers-2024-2">New York City</a> and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/instacart-doordash-pushing-back-against-seattle-gig-worker-laws-payup-2024-4">Seattle</a> recently enacted laws meant to raise gig worker pay.Do you work for a gig delivery service and have a story idea to share? Reach out to this reporter at <a target="_blank" href="mailto:abitter@businessinsider.com">abitter@businessinsider.com</a>

DoorDash is trying a new way of making deliveries — and it doesn't involve gig workers

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Amazon faces pushback from residents in Texas, where it's testing its delivery drone program.</li><li>Residents are complaining about the level of noise as Amazon seeks to expand the project.</li></ul>Amazon's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/08/16/amazons-drone-expansion-plans-spur-pushback-from-texas-residents.html">delivery drone robots</a> once seemed like a futuristic joke. But now, as the company seeks federal approval to expand its drone program, it's facing a fundamental challenge: They're too loud.Drones are generally loud machinery. Anyone who has tried to relax on a beach while someone flies their drone can relate. Australians have for years <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.bu.edu/articles/2023/reducing-noise-of-delivery-drones-and-rotor-powered-rideshares/">complained about the noise level</a> from Alphabet-owned drones used by Wing, a food delivery service in the area. And even locals in Nepal say the drones Sherpas plan to start using to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trash-mount-everest-drones-clean-up-sherpas-climbing-2024-8">clean up trash from Mount Everest</a> sound like "a swarm of bees."John Case, an orthodontist from College Station, Texas, where <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-drone-delivered-cookies-15-minutes-after-order-2024-1">Amazon's delivery drone experiment</a> is taking place, told CNBC that he recently encountered an Amazon delivery drone that "sounds like a giant hive of bees.""You know it's coming because it's pretty loud," Case said.Amazon is seeking approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to expand its drone delivery operation beyond College Station into Tolleson, Arizona, according to CNBC.College Station's city manager, Bryan Woods, ran tests on one Amazon drone and found it emitted noise in the range of 47 to 61 decibels, according to the report. Decibel levels of 40 to 65 are similar to a typical suburban area at night, a household refrigerator, or a business office, according to the decibel level comparison chart from <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://ehs.yale.edu/sites/default/files/files/decibel-level-chart.pdf">Yale Environmental Health and Safety</a>.In May, Amazon <a target="_blank" href="https://www.faa.gov/uas/advanced_operations/nepa_and_drones/Amazon-TX-SEA.pdf">submitted a proposal</a> to the administration to increase deliveries in College Station from 200 to 469 flights a day. Shortly after, College Station Mayor John Nichols wrote in a letter that residents were getting fed up with the noise."Since locating in College Station, residents in neighborhoods adjacent to Prime Air's facility have expressed concern to the City Council regarding drone noise levels, particularly during take-off and landing, as well as in some delivery operations," Nichols wrote, according to CNBC.Amazon and Mayor Nichols did not immediately return Business Insider's request for comment.Amazon said in a statement to CNBC that it is "proud of the thousands of deliveries we've made and the hundreds of customers we deliver to" through its Prime Air drone program."We appreciate the community of College Station and take local feedback into account wherever possible when making operational decisions for Prime Air," the statement said.

Amazon's delivery drones are so loud they are like a 'giant hive of bees'

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Making money has gotten more challenging for <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/the-delivery-reckoning-is-here-doordash-uber-instacart-gig-work-2024-7#:~:text=Making%20deliveries%20used%20to%20be,orders%20in%20a%20timely%20fashion.">gig delivery workers</a> in recent years.</li><li>But one gig delivery worker in Minnesota said he's found delivering large orders is profitable.</li></ul>Like millions of Americans, Jeff Miller makes deliveries from major retailers as an <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/uber-eats-doordash-lyft-instacart-pay-dropped-study-2024-2">independent contractor</a>.But his work doesn't often involve delivering groceries or a single restaurant takeout order. Instead, he often picks up <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gig-economy-fedex-xpo-fight-deliver-furniture-big-bulky-2021-4">heavy or bulky orders</a> that other drivers can't — think bags of mulch as customers start gardening in the spring or air-conditioning units as the weather gets hotter — through a gig delivery app called Roadie."If it's huge, it really takes a lot of the drivers out of the ability to take it," Miller said of heavier orders in an interview with Business Insider.Roadie is one of several apps that fill and deliver orders for major retailers using workers who are independent contractors. Like Instacart or DoorDash, Roadie shows workers specific deliveries available to them and the payout for each.Waiting is a key part of maximizing his pay, Miller said, since compensation for a delivery job often rises the longer it sits unclaimed by a driver. "It'll sit there for a couple of hours, and it'll go up from $49 to $75," he said.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/golden-age-gig-work-instacart-doordash-delivery-jobs-over-2023-12">Making money has become more challenging for many gig delivery workers</a> over the last few years, with more people signing up to work for delivery apps.On some apps, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/instacart-cuts-minimum-base-pay-for-drivers-2023-7">pay-per-order has also declined</a> in the past year.Miller, who lives in St. Cloud, Minnesota, said that Roadie serves him orders that involve driving hundreds of miles. But many of the deliveries he takes involve driving to smaller towns about an hour away.Deliveries in rural Minnesota through Roadie tend to be more profitable than ones in more populated areas, Miller said, since there are fewer drivers around to take orders. He's noticed that similar orders generally pay less in Minneapolis and St. Paul, he said."They're worth less because there's more people driving there," he added.He saves money on gas by driving an electric vehicle, he said. Miller also uses a small trailer to haul the bulky orders he tends to pick up.His most profitable orders tend to come from Home Depot stores in his area, he told BI. These orders can involve delivering "anything from really small orders to huge orders with plywood," he said."I've done water heaters," he added. "Anything that'll fit in my car and trailer, I'll take." Tractor Supply Company stores are another common source of orders for Miller through Roadie.Miller said he also checks GrubHub, Uber Eats, and Walmart's Spark for the highest-paying orders, but he avoids taking small orders on those apps. "I don't take $3 orders for anybody," he said."Having the four apps, I can cherry-pick real nice," he added.A Roadie spokesperson said the app has about 200,000 contractor drivers in the US. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ups-is-getting-into-same-day-delivery-with-roadie-2021-9">UPS acquired Roadie</a> in 2021.Delivering big and bulky items, including for retailers, is one area where Roadie is expanding, the spokesperson said. In June, the company launched <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240605305689/en/Revolutionizing-Logistics-Roadie-Unveils-RoadieXD%E2%84%A2-Solution-to-Supercharge-Efficiency-Speed-and-Simplicity-for-Big-Bulky-Deliveries">RoadieXD</a>, a service that allows delivery drivers to pick up large items directly from cross-docks — sites where products are delivered from suppliers and immediately distributed for delivery, without having to sit in a warehouse or store first."Drivers who take on these larger deliveries are not only meeting a critical market need but are also contributing to a more seamless and satisfying delivery experience for customers," the spokesperson said.Do you work for a gig delivery company and have a story idea to share? Reach out to this reporter at abitter@businessinsider.com

A gig worker explains how big deliveries from Home Depot and Tractor Supply make him more money

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Delivery apps like Instacart and Walmart Spark often 'batch' orders together.</li><li>But gig workers say it cuts into their income since they get paid less for each order delivered.</li></ul>Last summer, some gig workers who delivered grocery orders for Walmart noticed a change: Instead of just delivering one order, they had to deliver two or three at once."Three grocery orders can also be delivered during each trip by using your front seat, back seat, and trunk space to keep these orders separate," Walmart told workers for its Spark service at the time in an email. The advice is now on the company's <a target="_blank" href="https://drive4spark-walmart.helpdocs.io/l/en/article/pmpzf3r7s7-understanding-offer-types">website for Spark drivers.</a>The practice of bundling orders isn't new. Other apps, including Instacart and DoorDash, have been doing it for years.But four independent contractors who make the deliveries told Business Insider the practice usually leaves them doing more work for less money, further eroding their earning potential on gig-work apps. The workers declined to have their names used, but BI verified their identities.Many <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/golden-age-gig-work-instacart-doordash-delivery-jobs-over-2023-12">gig workers say that their earnings have fallen</a> over the past year because of lower pay and greater competition among drivers for orders.<h2>Drivers have a choice, companies say</h2>Batches have been part of Instacart's strategy for "several years," a company spokesperson told BI."Batches that include orders from multiple stores make up a very low percentage of batches on our platform," an Instacart spokesperson said. "As with any batch, shoppers are never required to select multi-order or multi-store batches."Batches with multiple orders are "compensated accordingly and reflect the effort it will take to fulfill those batches," the spokesperson added."Batching is a win for drivers and our customers," a Walmart spokesperson said. "Drivers often prefer offers for batched deliveries and receive higher average earnings per trip while spending less time per delivery. Batching is also a way to serve more customers more efficiently and accurately.""We're proud to offer multiple types of deliveries, and drivers can choose which offers to accept based on their preferences," the spokesperson said.A DoorDash spokesperson did not provide comment for this article.<h2>Drivers find angry customers, lower ratings, lost tips</h2>The experience can be frustrating for customers. Customers can track where their driver is using the Walmart app, but they have no clue when their driver has more than one order to deliver, one Spark driver in Alabama told BI."Some customers get angry wondering why it's taking so long," the Alabama driver said. "On their end, they just see a vehicle driving all over the city with their groceries in it." In reality, the driver is following a route created by Walmart to deliver the orders, and someone's order has to be delivered last.Customers give drivers low ratings and pull away tips as a result, the driver told Insider.Walmart also batches together orders of non-perishable goods, such as shampoo and electronics, often combining a dozen or more orders together for one driver to deliver. "They're trying to be like FedEx and UPS, but they'll put 10 orders in one whole trip, and you might get $24 to $30 for that," one Spark driver in North Carolina told BI.The pay can be reasonable if the delivery addresses are close together, the driver said. But if they're more spread out, the deliveries take more time, making it less profitable, he added.On Instacart, shoppers used to shop and deliver one order at a time. But over the last few years, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/instacarts-profitability-relies-on-batching-orders-its-shoppers-hate-it-2023-8">Instacart has bundled two or three deliveries together</a>. The bundling, known as a "batch" in Instacart lingo, is one of the ways it improved its profitability ahead of its IPO last September, it said in filings with the SEC.One Instacart shopper in New York City said that they make less per order when they deliver a batch of two or three at once instead of a single delivery.More complicated – and generally less profitable – are batches that involve shopping multiple orders at different stores, then delivering them to different addresses, the shopper said."Two-store orders are even worse because it's like one store in Queens, the other in Brooklyn," the shopper told Business Insider. "They really don't understand the distance."Orders also get bundled together on restaurant delivery apps such as DoorDash and Uber Eats. Earnings aside, those batches often present another challenge for gig workers: Getting food to customers before it gets cold — or hot.One DoorDash customer expressed frustration that they were the third stop for the Dasher delivering their order in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/doordash/comments/13kezqx/double_dashing_is_really_annoying_for_customers/">a Reddit post</a> last year."He picked my food up from the restaurant that is 7 minutes away, but he has two other stops in the opposite directions before he gets to me," the poster wrote of the delivery worker. "And I ordered ice cream too.""If your food is unacceptable when you receive it, (especially the ice cream), you should complain to DoorDash that your food is ruined because your Dasher was on a triple stacked order," one commenter wrote.Do you work for Instacart, Spark, or another delivery service and have a story idea to share? Reach out to this reporter at abitter@insider.com

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