Can someone explain why Amazon Flex thinks it’s acceptable to require independent contractors to return undeliverable packages to the station without additional compensation?
We get paid to DELIVER packages, NOT make unpaid return trips!
Today, I had packages with nonexistent or incorrect addresses. Obviously, I couldn’t deliver them. Now I’m expected to drive back to the station, burn additional gas, put more miles on my vehicle, and meet Amazon’s return deadline—all without an extra dime?
How is that reasonable?
Let’s be clear:
Amazon provides the delivery information. If an address doesn’t exist, that’s not the driver’s fault.
We’re independent contractors. Our time, gas, mileage, and vehicle maintenance aren’t free.
Returns can take drivers significantly out of their way. Some of us finish routes 30–60+ minutes away from the station.
Amazon imposes return deadlines. So not only are we performing additional unpaid work, we’re being told WHEN to complete it.
And before someone says, “Well, that’s part of the job,” why SHOULD it be? Just because a company includes something in its policies doesn’t automatically make it reasonable or fair.
If Amazon can track every single delivery, every minute of our routes, and every package that needs to be returned, surely it can figure out how to compensate drivers for additional return mileage and time.
My position is simple: If Amazon requires a return trip to the warehouse, Amazon should PAY for that trip. PERIOD.
At minimum, drivers should receive additional compensation when returns result from incorrect addresses, inaccessible locations, or circumstances completely outside their control.
And if this is supposedly already factored into our block pay, then Amazon needs to be transparent about how much time and mileage it’s accounting for.
I’m curious: How many of you are making unpaid return trips, and has anyone successfully received additional compensation for them?
Because at some point, we need to stop accepting every inconvenience as “just part of being an independent contractor.”
Independent contractor shouldn’t mean FREE LABOR.

My car is meticulous and there were no damaged packages...plus I shower daily and use deodorant. Any suggestions on how to fight this one?

*** PS. I DON'T SMOKE WEED, CIGARETTES OR CRACK *** 🤦🏼‍♀️

No more $100 +. And Always driving 150 plus miles. Starting to get hard to justify especially if you don’t have a fuel efficient vehicle.

Had a really weird experience with Amazon Flex today.

I had a 12:30–2:30 PM Whole Foods block. I arrived early, checked in, and the app immediately showed that all 19 packages had already been "Picked up" — even though I hadn't even entered the station yet.

A couple of other strange things:

Normally, the app shows "Picked up at [time]," but this time it just said "Picked up."

All three delivery stops were already overdue before my block even started. Their deadlines were 11 AM, 12 PM, and 11 AM.

I contacted Driver Support, and they told me to ask the Whole Foods staff. The staff couldn't find my packages and suspected another driver had already taken them.

I called Support again. They said they'd file a ticket and told me I could go home.

Has anyone experienced anything like this before? Did it affect your standing, or did Amazon eventually sort it out?

Just worried I'll get blamed for 19 packages I never even touched.

Is there a way to know if a block will be a waste of time before accepting the offer? For example i just accepted an offer for a 4 hr $90 block. Would this be considered a low paying block? Or would it be worth it?

I had fifteen packages today for rural area. At the end of my last delivery, I got a message saying to head back to DFL3 to get more packages and that it would take an hour and 40 mins to get there. My block ended at 5 and this was at 445. Um NO. I gotta hold of support. And they acted like it was a big deal to have those taken off of my itinerary. But they would do me the favor of removing them. Like what the heck is that?!!!

I was late to check in and missed my block. I have had this happen multiple times as well as late cancellations but they’ve fallen off as time passes by. What yall think?

Get off my main job and accept 2.5 hour block for $76.50 3:15a to 5:45 a.

SSD so I check in and wait for my block. It asks if I’ll work longer for more money. I check details.

They want to add 15 min and pay me $87.50.

Uh yea I’ll do that.

Mostly driving but 11 packages. I’ll get done I’m just over two hours for sure.

How do yall handle lockers that are locked up an inaccessible at 4 am. Whats the move? You can’t mark delivered in the app as far as I can tell.

And how the hell do you get the lockers to scan your packages quick. It’s always a pain in ass for me to get a box to scan.

While at the station waiting for my route, I receive a pop up advising me that I am being paid an additional 8 dollars due to “route attributes” but not to worry the route time has not increased. I’ve never seen an increase in pay at the beginning of a route only after. Also, it did increase the route time by 40 minutes. Is this a new thing? My concern is instead of asking you to accept a new offer when they may not have a route, they are going to throw a few bucks at you and claim it’s the same route time when it isn’t to avoid free routes.

This mf just started shadow banning you quietly I just got off the phone with support and they said since I canceled so many blocks I lost blocks I can pick up now I only canceled around 3 this morning wanted to see if I could get higher paying ones and they pull this bullshit never once have I not got blocks. Don’t drop your blocks no more they will ban you for a while now they said it’s on a 2 week rolling schedule so let’s see how long it takes me to get any blocks this week.

More likely to deactivate me, than reward me.

Is it just me or are dings taking longer to fall off than usual? Normally they’re off after a week but it’s already been two weeks and still nothing ? I do the full 40 every week so I’m doing hundreds of packages weekly and they still don’t fall off ? My standing goes up but they dings don’t fall

I have a Galaxy S26Ultra. Anyone else having trouble with the app always saying there's an error, having to reopen the app or sign out/in? Scanning IDs-every time, have to close and open the app again. Today, it didn't recognize my face, the Fresh associates can't manually scan your ID and the support number took me to customer supportive. I was too late for my shift even though I was there 15 mins early because that one freak time it couldn't verify my face.

Got my first block cancellation, woke up this morning to get ready for my 04:15-07:30 block , opened the app to check for future delivery’s and a notification popped up saying my schedule for today was cancelled.

Wondering exactly how tips work on the one hour deliveries I usually get a tip but yesterday I picked up a package and followed this car out of the warehouse. We both were doing one hours and we both had one package that went to the exact same house. I did not get a tip. I don’t know if he did, but I’m assuming it was one order and they sent two drivers out. Do they split the tip if that’s the case? Or does he get the whole thing since he picked up his order two minutes before I did. Frustrated because that house was a good 17 miles from the warehouse and they are too cheap to tip.

With the new midnight hours are all the stations changing hours. The sub-same day have starting shifts at 0215 3.5 , 3hrs and 2.5. I usually go to a .com station doing a 3:15am 3.5 route but after wednesday I dont see of the .com stations droping early morning blocks just 3hr routes starting at 0615. Are the .com stations stoping early mornings ?

Seems like I can’t catch a block until all the bot users schedules are filled. Everything is gone the second I click it

If you are a level 2 and you are able to switch regions, would they accept you instantly or do you have to wait for the “region to be open” to switch your regions