Before I go to bed each night, I ask the Alexa enabled Lenovo nightstand clock what the weather will like. Alexa informed me last night that I could tip Amazon driver $5 after I had announced the unusually warm weather.
There are currently approximately 275,000 Amazon drivers (opens new tab) delivering More than a Billion (opens new tab) Holiday gift-carrying boxes and making holiday dreams a reality for consumers and Amazon. What does the driver who carefully places these boxes at our doors make of it? There is not much to it, except for $20 an hour. It seemed like the least I could have done to give a driver a tip.
“Alexa,” said I, “Thank you to my driver.” I waited a while to confirm that the driver was indeed a hard worker. Alexa, however, informed me that she didn’t understand my request.
I decided to contact Amazon because of a few questions. Plus, people asked me questions on Twitter about who gets paid and how.
Amazon representatives offered to apologize for Alexa’s initial mistake, insisted that Alexa is functioning as promised, and encouraged me to give it another shot.
Who got paid?
Amazon apparently based the $5 tip off your most recent delivery. It might be a good idea to ask Alexa to thank the driver as soon as you receive a package at your door. Otherwise, the thanks might go on to the next delivery.
How long does the program run?
I have good and bad news. The good news is you can still thank your Amazon drivers as long they deliver packages. Unfortunately, the $5 tip promotion, which was US-only, has ended.
“Alexa, thank you for exceeding our expectations. We’re glad to see customers interested in thanking their drivers and encourage them to continue doing so. Amazon informed me via email that drivers would continue to be notified about the appreciation they have received.
There are still some rules around the Alexa grateful system.
Amazon drivers can be thanked for their efforts once per order. You could thank them for each order if they drop off multiple orders at once. We’re picturing a long list to thank Amazon drivers for dropping off multiple orders in one visit.
The program, which started Dec. 7, was designed to deliver as many as 1 million $5 tips for Amazon Flex Delivery Partners and Delivery Associates employed by Amazon Delivery Service Partners. Hub DP drivers deliver Amazon packages in the United States.
You can also open your door to thank your Amazon driver, but there is no other way to thank them through Amazon without the Alexa system. You can use it on Echo devices and Alexa in Amazon App.
It’s encouraging to see so many people jump at the chance to monetarily thanked their Amazon drivers. But on the other hand, Amazon might have earmarked a little more that $5 million to slow down this transition from gratuity into pure gratitude.
As I was finishing this post, another holiday package arrived at my doorstep. I didn’t see my driver so I went to Echo and said, “Alexa. Thank you for your driver.” She Instantly responded, “Glad to have enjoyed your most recent delivery.” We’ll pass your appreciation to the driver.
That’s better than nothing, I suppose.
