LET'S DISH: Sometimes you'll get messages asking you if you can stay another hour or two - these get a bit frustrating as sometimes you stick around only for there to not be many deliveries in the end anyway, or they try to send you places you've already stated that you don't want to do. Often other messages too, asking for people to sign up to certain shifts at nights/weekends, or 'it's busy, can you lend a hand?' Etc. It's fine to say no but the constant message get a bit annoying. Unless they ask, you can't just jump in and start delivering like you can with other delivery places. You have to schedule. However there have also been times they've asked for people, I've put my hand up, then the coordinators gone home and I've been left waiting to see if I'll be confirmed - didn't happen so wasted time looking at my phone waiting for approval for the help THEY requested - receive "oh sorry" messages the following Monday. Most of the time the dispatchers/co-ordinators are great to deal with and are usually lovely, but there are one or two who get an attitude at times. Try not to take it to heart and don't engage - remember you're a contractor so you have the right to accept or decline what they give you. You also get paid peanuts. It's not your fault if they're low on drivers or have no one else to take an order a big drive away for not much pay. They might offer a 'top up' - you'll get that next pay, not the current one - and it'll only be a couple of bucks. Remember it's your time and wear and tear on your car. I've been told different process stuff by different dispatchers so sometimes that's been fun. Message your co-ordinator if something is really confusing. They don't seem to take notice of what you tell them in terms of your availability when you first sign up. When you schedule yourself, you can also write notes about eateries/areas you might not want to deliver to, however this will be ignored at times and they will claim they can't see those notes (however from things other dispatchers have said I figure this is a lie). There's been a couple of times they've been really good safety-wise but there was a customer where a few months later I was sent to deliver to them anyway so they either don't really care or their systems are rubbish. I suspect the former. Random lateness with money coming through at times, and if you work Friday night/over the weekend, you won't see your money until Monday - even Monday night. So if you're needing to pay something, don't depend on the money coming through when it's supposed to. I've been caught out before. Sometimes it just sits on pending forever. Sometimes you're a middle-man - they ask you to turn up at an eatery because they've put an order through but the eatery isn't responding, so they want you to go in and bring the order to the eatery's attention. Sometimes you go to pick up an order and the eatery realises their tool thing for delivereasy isn't working so you have to relay this to the dispatcher. Sometimes the eatery doesn't have something the customer wants and they want you to call the customer, etc. I've been barked at by a mcdonalds person before and had another eatery person unhappy I was late to their restaurant which was laughable as they are so freaking slow with their orders 9 times out of 10 - so, some eatery staff will say something if they want to - this has only happened to me a couple of times though. Most eatery staff are really nice. And remember, sometimes you can only do what you can do - you may have only a certain number of bags, you may have been sent to two other places and one got their food out late - traffic woes - no parking, etc. Sometimes you gotta just decide not to care, cos you do your best but stuff happens and you don't get paid enough for the shizzle anyway... Parking can be a big pain in the A. Eateries being unexpectedly late in giving you the food is frustrating, and can set you back so you end up late at other eateries/delivering food. Depending on your area, and if your car is fuel efficient, you might make good money. Most of the time though, this isn't the case. Some shifts you might make $100. Other shifts $40, even less. Remember the tax man takes his share too. You have to do your own taxes, or pay an accountant to do them. You don't get money back for fuel from the tax man no matter what anyone tells you. Also - there's how-to guides and short training videos, but no one to show you the ropes per se - dispatcher there for support and can answer questions but you're learning on the go pretty much. No breaks, unless there's a lull or you specifically request a break to the dispatcher. You only get a certain amount of time (at least 20 mins, I think it's a bit longer though) before you get kicked off the shift (unless they're desperate). CUSTOMERS Customers don't realise that you can't help it if you're late, if the eatery hasn't given all the food ( you're not allowed to check, you can only ask the eatery if you want to) and despite having bags you can't help it if food arrives cold (pretty sure maccas food goes cold as soon as it leaves the oil). Some customers order food, but then have their dogs running around outside or don't think to unlock their fortress gates for you. Tip: if you see tall fences or gates, call the customer and confirm whether there is a dog on the property. Heck if you can't get their gate open, call them as I'm sure in the end they'd prefer the food in their hand than left in the street. Some customers demand you wait until they answer the door - this is only a small percentage. A good way to get their butts to the door fast is mark as delivered - they will fly to the door and you will smile sweetly as you are just finishing getting their order out of your bag. Some customers are hopeless at describing how to get to them, especially if it's a workplace. They just want their food dangit, and we're the bottom totem-pole-dwellers that need to just hurry up and get their food to them. Some don't even note that it's a workplace/other type of building! Or give the wrong address- eg unit 4 when it actually turns out to be unit 6. Some will make you feel dumb - remember - you are not dumb for not having psychic powers yet. If you can't get hold of the customer, give the food to a reception area or contact dispatcher for support. Don't panic. Also, you'd be surprised how hard it can be to find some customers homes, even with the use of Google maps. Sometimes Google maps make the whole situation worse. Don't be afraid to call the customer. Wear good shoes. The completely vertical driveways and mud-filled yards I've had to walk up/through! Some letterbox numbers are horribly faded or even non-existent! Or there is a number, somewhere, but it's small and on a fence in a place that's not easily viewable. Sometimes the customer will laugh and say oh deliver easy always get this wrong! The drivers get lost or go up the driveway next door! Remain calm. Say oh nooo and laugh with them. Try not to suggest they purchase numbers to stick on their letterbox or front fence that will easily identify their property so they won't have delivery issues. They won't want that suggestion.
