A former Postmates driver reveals the 8 biggest mistakes customers make that can waste time and money

Monica HumphriesJun 19, 2021, 20:22 IST

Annie Smith, a former Postmates driver, spoke to Insider about common mistakes people make when ordering food on the app.@annie_smith1013/TikTok/CHRIS DELMAS/AFP/Getty Images

Annie Smith worked as a food-delivery driver for Postmates for about six months in 2020.
She shared the mistakes she saw customers make that caused order delays.
Smith said customers shouldn't place orders during non-peak hours or ignore drivers' calls.

Annie Smith worked as a Postmates delivery driver for six months in 2020 as a side-hustle after losing her full-time job that year.

Annie Smith delivered for Postmates for about six months she told Insider. @annie_smithhhhh/TikTok

Smith said the most frustrating mistake was when customers didn't have their house or apartment number visible or well-lit.

A mailbox with a visible house number. bensimonphotography/Getty Images

Another mistake Smith said customers often made was not giving clear directions for the driver.

Customers can include information on the Postmates app to help drivers deliver their orders. Insider

Not leaving a decent tip is a huge mistake, she said.

A person delivers a food order in her car. Visual China Group/Getty Images

Leaving the porch light off was another common mistake Smith said she wishes people would stop doing.

A well-lit front porch. chandlerphoto/Getty Images

Smith said customers shouldn't overlook ordering during lunch or dinner rushes. They could actually get their food faster in those times.

A food-delivery biker picks up an order from a restaurant. Lindsey Nicholson/Education Images/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

Smith said not returning calls or responding to texts from drivers can cause order delays.

Food-delivery drivers sometimes call or text the customers with questions about orders. homas Trutschel/Photothek via Getty Images

Customers often skipped out on checking for promotions and would miss out on saving money, Smith said.

The loading page for the Postmates food-delivery app. Rafael Henrique/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images

Smith urged people to not blame food-delivery workers for situations out of their control.

A delivery person hands an order to a customer. Joaquin Hernandez/Xinhua via Getty

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