How I Started Delivering for UberEATS
``UberEATS'', a service that delivers restaurant menus in Tokyo, started on September 29th. The features are that the deliveries are not made by employees, but rather in a sharing economy, where registered delivery workers deliver at a time of their choice, and there are many registered restaurants that have not previously delivered to their homes. As of September 29th, only parts of Shibuya Ward and Minato Ward are supported.
I registered as a delivery person for UberEATS and made several deliveries on the launch day, so I would like to write down some of my thoughts. This is a long text.
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Couriers Were Paid Per Delivery
Delivery workers are basically paid on a commission basis.
- A fixed amount of compensation will be generated for each delivery.
- Receive a commission for each order
- The longer the delivery distance, the higher the reward amount.
- A minimum guaranteed hourly wage may be charged, and the hourly wage may be paid even if there is no order.
- This is a business outsourcing relationship, not employment.
Transfers are made on a weekly basis.
Waiting Time Was Free—but Not Really
To wait for your delivery, simply stay online with the Uber Partner delivery app. When you receive a call from the app, you have to answer within a few minutes and head to the delivery store. This app seems to be common to Uber taxi drivers as well.
When I actually waited, I found that I had free time while I was waiting, but since I had to leave as soon as I was called, I didn't feel like killing time in a way that required a certain amount of concentration. I found it difficult to read difficult books, so I went to a place where there were many Pokestops and just killed time by playing Pokemon Go. I wondered if the taxi drivers waiting for customers were like this too.
The Bag Really Was Huge, but I Got Used to It
Delivery bags will be provided by Uber. There seemed to be two sizes of bags handed out before the launch, and mine was the larger one. This is quite large and I often hit the wall until I get used to it. It's even difficult to turn in an elevator while carrying it on your back.
This bag cannot be folded, so if you leave it at home, it will have a great presence. Even if you want to take a break at a cafe with your bag, it is quite large, so you will hesitate to bring it into the cafe space. The delivery staff manual even states, ``Avoid carrying delivery bags into the store.''
It was announced at the delivery staff gathering event held on the day of the launch that there had been a lot of feedback regarding this size, and that those who requested it would be gradually replaced with a smaller, foldable bag.
However, a man who was nearby at the event said, ``I delivered 10 times in one day during pre-launch testing,'' and said, ``Bigger is better! I'd be scared if it was too small and wouldn't fit.If it's foldable, I'm worried that it won't have the ability to keep things warm and cold, so I'm worried.''
I went online for a pre-launch test, but I never received a delivery notification, and I was surprised by this man's opinion because I thought it was "too big" even though I had never actually delivered it.
By the way, I delivered twice, once during the day and once at night, and by the second time I felt like I was used to it, and the difficulty of handling it was significantly reduced. When it became normal for me to feel like I was being thrown around by something heavy or to have things sticking out from behind me, it seemed like it had become part of my body, and I thought, ``Well, I guess this is okay.''
You Had to Provide Your Own Vehicle
You will provide your own delivery vehicle. The only vehicles that can be used for delivery are mopeds under 125cc and bicycles.
At the preliminary briefing session, we were introduced to two partner bicycle rental companies: Tokyo Minato Ward Bicycle Sharing (Rental Bicycle) and Share Cycle COGICOGI. Both are plans that only UberEATS delivery staff can sign up for, and you can rent them as much as you like for a monthly fee of 4,000 yen.
A Handlebar Phone Mount and a Large Battery Were Essential
Like the bag, it was lent to me by Uber, but I was also provided with a waterproof smartphone holder that could be attached to the steering wheel, and a large-capacity battery. The battery can be placed in the bottom of the smartphone holder and stored while charging, which is a good idea.
During standby, the device constantly checks location information and continues communicating, so battery support is essential.
The First Delivery Was Nerve-Racking
Today, I finally got the first delivery notification. The message "Respond within 4 minutes" will be displayed, and you will respond quickly, even if you are impatient. If you don't respond, your order may be passed on to someone else, passed on, or your order may be cancelled. Apparently, a good response rate also affects incentives, so you have no choice but to respond without thinking.
I think I saw the response process on video once at the briefing session...?I was so impatient that I was completely panicking as I operated it. And what's more, before I left, I received a second notification. I was informed in advance that multiple orders may overlap, so I responded quickly.
The screen displays the address of the store from which the delivery was made, a pin on the map, and the store name.
Both orders were from the same store. I hurriedly pedaled until I was about 200 meters away.
Long Waits for Orders to Be Prepared
When you arrive at the store and tell them, "This is UberEATS," the staff member also takes out a tablet, reads out your order number, and confirms that it is the same number displayed on your smartphone. It seemed like it was still going to take some time to finish, so I waited patiently for about 10 minutes in a place where I wouldn't get in the way.
At this time, I was wearing jeans and a polo shirt, but it was just my everyday clothes. If it were a hat or shirt with a logo on it, it would give the impression that he was not a customer, but someone else, but if he were wearing casual clothes, he would be just a person standing there with a smartphone, so I did my best to act inconspicuously.
It was a little crowded around lunch time, and it was a small shop, so I thought it might be better to go outside so I wouldn't be in the way, but I ended up waiting until the food was ready.
After Collecting the Food, Tap “Start Delivery”
Once you receive the item, you will need to operate the app again. When you select "Arrived at the store", a list of orders will be displayed.
After confirming the items you have received, press the check button. A staff member read out our order to us to confirm, but he ended up reading out the details of the toppings that were not displayed on the screen, so we couldn't confirm that, so we both got a little nervous. Since I had two orders, I didn't want to make a mistake, so the store clerk wrote the order number on the packaging box, so everything went smoothly.
The ordered items had low moisture content and were in a shape that would make them easier to deliver. I was pretty scared when I heard from a ``10-time delivery veteran'' at the event, ``It's really scary because the soup would spill. I don't want to walk down hills. I was really worried about whether the ice cream would melt,'' but I was relieved that there was no soup.
Click the check mark and slide the START DELIVERY block on the next screen to start delivery. From this point on, the customer's UberEATS app will have a "Delivery" status. When you arrive in your neighborhood, the current location of the delivery person will be displayed on the map in real time, letting you know that they are in that area and will be arriving soon. If you have ever used an Uber taxi, you will understand.
When the customer's current location is displayed in real time like this, it makes me feel like ``I'm being watched, so I have to get it to them quickly!'' Even when I was pedaling my bicycle, I found myself imagining in vain, ``I wonder if people are watching me as I move.''
When I was about to leave the store, I got mistaken for an UberEATS delivery person. At this point, I realized the benefits for the store: ``I see, even if we were inundated with orders, traditional delivery workers wouldn't be able to handle it, but by concentrating Uber's delivery workers, we can use the full capacity of our kitchens to make deliveries.'' Store payments are pay-as-you-go.
When the App Displayed the Wrong Address
From the first time, the mission was to deliver two items at once, but surprisingly, only the zip code and name were displayed for the first item. The map was displayed and the destination pin was set, so I decided to head to the pin first even though I was curious.
Get close to the pin and calm down again to operate the app. However, the address field is still displayed as empty. There is a button to contact the orderer by message (SMS) or phone, so I press the phone button, but the phone app doesn't start up and nothing responds. When I press Messages, the Messages app opens with an empty recipient.
Thinking this is a support issue, I try to call the support number, but it's busy.
Fortunately, Both Cases Had the Correct Destination
While I was doing this, I received an SMS saying, ``Please come to the X floor.'' My current location was displayed on the app on the orderer's side, and I knew it was close, but it never came, so I guess they thought I was lost in the last mile.
I didn't know whether the sender was the first or the second one, but since the address shown in the second one matched the floor number, I entered the building thinking that at the worst, I would deliver the second one first.
When I try to enter the building, I receive a call back from support. When I told them that the address was not displayed and that I could not call or send a message, someone who appeared to be the person who had placed the order approached me.The name was displayed, so I checked and was relieved to see that it was the first order with no address displayed.
This meant that it was the same address as the second delivery, so I sent a message to let them know that it had arrived, and they came to pick it up shortly afterward, and I was able to complete the first delivery with great fear.
I didn't have time to take the next delivery, so I used offline operations to finish my daytime delivery.
Talking with Other Couriers Was Fun
When I left the building, there was a delivery man carrying an UberEATS bag in addition to me. As expected, it was around noon on the launch day. When I greeted him, he didn't seem to know where the building was, so I told him it was the building over there. It was just a small exchange of information between the delivery guys, but I naively thought it would be nice.
Before this on-site communication, I had seen delivery workers talking with each other at the event venue, and I thought it was just fun. I wonder if someone will create a Facebook group community for delivery workers.
The Rating System Was Frightening but Well Designed
UberEATS allows customers and restaurants to rate delivery drivers. This evaluation is a very important indicator as it affects future delivery priorities and incentives. If I were to receive a low rating, I would naturally feel the need to respond firmly.
Delivery personnel must wear clean clothing, greet customers clearly, and speak clearly. It goes without saying, but having a clear evaluation function made me feel a far cry from the mindset I had when I was working part-time for an hourly wage. Well, the compensation itself is not an hourly wage.
However, because I was so concerned about the evaluation, I felt like I was too eager to "hurry up and deliver the car" and was unable to drive safely. Although it is fair to deliver the goods quickly, priority should be given to ensuring safe delivery without any accidents. However, I thought that the game-like feel of clear evaluations and accurate recording of delivery times would hinder this to some extent.
Would Optimization Lead to Couriers Waiting Like Taxis?
At the preliminary briefing, an Uber employee said that one way to make deliveries more efficient is to wait near popular restaurants. This seems to be influenced by the fact that one of the algorithms used to select delivery workers is that they are "waiting near the delivery restaurant."
In that case, delivery workers would gather at popular restaurants, and I thought it would be like waiting for a taxi in front of the station. A bag with the UberEATS logo on it catches my eye, and since it's a popular restaurant, there are a lot of customers, so it becomes publicity, and the number of home deliveries from that restaurant also increases.What a positive spiral.
I Liked the Manual Distributed at the Launch Event
At a delivery event held on the morning of September 29th, the following manual was distributed. It usually has good things written about it, and it helped me a lot during my first delivery, so I think delivery workers should read it carefully.
Do's Partner As a delivery person
A“5 advice that will lead to a high rating”
1.Restaurant: Courteous service to both customers.
·Always remember to smile and say hello from the bottom of your heart.
·Always actively look the other person in the eye when receiving/handling food.
2. Attentive delivery
·Cooking temperature. Deliver while maintaining the condition as much as possible
·Make sure to check your order number when receiving your food.
3. Three principles: “Trust, Honesty, Gratitude”
·Keep these three principles in mind so that restaurants and users will want to use UberEATS again next time.
4. Bright and lively
·Be cheerful and cheerful when communicating with customers at restaurants and delivery locations.
·Make it clear that you're here to pick up an UberEATS order.
·Get used to operating the app
·When interacting with restaurant customers, be able to smoothly operate the app and check order details and destinationAs a Dont's Partner Delivery Person
A“5 Tips to Avoid Low Ratings”
1. Restaurant/Customer First
·Do not rush the restaurant as it takes time to complete the dish.
·If it takes time to deliver food, etc., sincerely apologize to the customer.
2. Calm behavior
·If there is a problem, don't panic and call the user to confirm.
*If you cannot contact the user, please wait for about 10 minutes.
3. Professional attire
·Make sure to wear clean clothes and avoid wearing light clothing.
4. Consideration for those around you
·During delivery, be sure to check your surroundings and drive safely.
·Avoid bringing delivery bags into the store.
5. Pay close attention
·Check that the products are complete and that there are no defects in accessories such as chopsticks.
Below is a full view of the manual.
I Learned the Streets
When you get a job in the delivery industry, you become familiar with the roads. The same goes for UberEATS delivery drivers. And UberEATS prioritizes deliveries from stores closest to the location information of the waiter, rather than a specific store.
There is no need to return to the original location after delivery. Therefore, the delivery area may move rapidly, such as initially waiting in Shibuya, delivery from the Shibuya store to Ebisu, orders that arrive after delivery to the Ebisu store, delivery to Meguro, etc.
For example, I thought that if I did UberEATS all day on Saturdays and Sundays, I would be able to learn a lot about Shibuya and Minato wards.
When I Ordered as a Customer, the Food Arrived Before the App Said It Had
I was also interested in UberEATS as a user, so I ordered using the 1500 yen coupon code. I ordered from the store I delivered it to. By the way, my coupon code is eats-eq8ue. If you enter this into the app, you will receive a 1,500 yen discount on each order. If you order, I will also receive a 1500 yen coupon. Thank you for your support.
Now, on the ordering side, the estimated arrival time is displayed after the order is placed, but even when the estimated arrival time is near, it does not proceed from "The delivery is ready" and it is difficult to confirm the location information of the delivery person.
In the meantime, the delivery man arrived. I was curious as to why the delivery wasn't in progress, so I checked the app screen on the delivery person's side, assuming I was the same delivery person, and found that the delivery had not started. Without practice, well, it can't be helped. When I first started using it, I was very surprised when I operated it.
An Unexpected Competitor to Crowdsourcing Work
I just happened to know that many people at a company involved in a crowdsourcing business were using UberEATS all at once. Then, I realized that the crowdsourcing business and UberEATS are competitors.
This is because when you are on the receiving end of a job, when it comes to ``comparing jobs that you can do in your free time,'' it seems like you have to weigh up whether to choose a crowdsourcing job or an UberEATS delivery job.
The rewards for UberEATS are around 2,000 yen per hour for a smooth delivery, and you can do it if you have the skills to carry luggage and ride a bicycle, so you can get much better rewards than crowdsourcing jobs that anyone can do.
When it comes to what to do after the last train, there is a famous story that late-night taxis compete with manga cafes, but I thought that the sharing economy called UberEATS and crowdsourcing were also somewhat unexpected competitors.
What Did It Pay Per Hour?
Regarding the hourly wage, I thought, ``If I do well, I might be able to earn around 2,000 yen without a minimum guarantee.''
The reward increases depending on the unit price per order and the distance. On the first day of launch, the reward for one order was approximately 600 yen for a distance of 1 to 2 kilometers.
The time it takes for one delivery is 20-30 minutes, including being notified, going to the store to pick it up, and waiting or not for it to be completed. Therefore, it is best to make about 2 deliveries per hour.
600 yen x 2 times is 1,200 yen, so one way to increase this unit price is to wait near popular restaurants during times when orders are concentrated.
Even if you receive and deliver multiple orders from one store at the same time, the unit price for each order remains the same, so you can earn much more efficiently than for each order.
However, it is possible that the number of delivery staff increases and orders are not delivered, so it is difficult to predict that. Well, I think that will be adjusted accordingly and everyone will settle on an hourly wage that they can continue to work at.
By the way, on September 29th and 30th, two days after launch, the guaranteed minimum hourly wage was 2,600 yen for mopeds and 2,100 yen for bicycles. In the future, it is likely that incentives for guaranteed minimum hourly wages will continue to occur on rainy days when the number of delivery workers is reduced, or during Christmas time.
How Was a Courier’s Identity Verified?
The documents to be submitted for identity verification differ depending on whether you are a Japanese or a foreigner. I uploaded my driver's license through the app and it was approved in about 3 days.
How Everyone Related to UberEATS
I tried to diagram the relationship between UberEATS, stores, delivery personnel, and orderers based on the explanations I have heard so far.
UberEATS' position is that they are in the business of matching stores and delivery workers, so anything that happens during delivery is basically the responsibility of the delivery worker, and they must deal with it themselves. In addition to delivering goods, delivery staff also handle other tasks such as communicating with stores, contacting customers, and responding to accidents.
For example, if you spoil your food, you can immediately contact the store and the store will probably re-make it and ask Uber to re-deliver it. A separate delivery person may be provided at this time.
Roads Are Dangerous
(Additional note: 2018-08-08: UberEATS now provides insurance while the package is being delivered. However, it is not covered when heading to the store or after delivery.)
However, after making a few deliveries, I realized that roads are dangerous. I think a helmet is a must if you're going to do it hard.
In addition, since UberEATS is not an employment service but a outsourcing service, there is no possibility of work-related accidents. Accidents and troubles during delivery are your responsibility. I also thought that this risk premium was reflected in the hourly wage. However, I think there is an offset to the freedom of being able to do what you want when you want.
Was There Insurance?
Bicycle insurance for individuals costs around 400 yen per month, and is easy and inexpensive as you can sign up online, but it does not cover accidents during work. Insurance against negligence caused by a third party during delivery by bicycle is covered by a type of insurance called "facility liability insurance."
When I asked Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance for my work with UberEATS, I received a quote of 890 yen per month for insurance for up to 100 million yen per accident involving people and property. Payment is made in installments, but upon cancellation, payment will be made until the month following the cancellation request.
If it is a moped, the business type is the same as motorcycle delivery, so insurance for motorcycle delivery may be possible. If the vehicle is less than 125cc, you can probably sign a contract for 1,500 to 3,000 yen per month. (Reference: Motorcycle Delivery Squeeze｜Insurance Service)
If possible, I would like Uber to introduce me to a partner insurance company that I can easily contract with.
Final Thoughts
I would recommend UberEATS delivery services to people who have a small amount of time to do but don't have anything to do and would like to be able to move their bodies and turn it into money. However, in terms of career development, it's not something you can build up to, so instead of dedicating your life to it, I thought the best way to get along as an UberEATS delivery worker is to make the most of your free time.
You can register as a delivery person from https://www.uber.com/signup/drive/deliver/. After entering the referral code eq8ue and registering, I will be paid 30,000 yen if I deliver 30 times (as of June 12, 2017. Previously, the registrant was also paid a fee, but it seems that is no longer the case).
Tools Used to Create This Article
- Editor MarsEdit
- Image processing Skitch
- Drawing Google Drawing
- This can be used from Google Drive and is very convenient. If it's easy, you won't need Visio anymore, and you can collaborate with it, so I'd like to make it the standard.
Revision History
- I deleted the image of me carrying a bag that was taken at the bicycle storage area of my apartment building. I posted this without knowing that photography is not allowed in the common areas of the apartment. We apologize to everyone involved. (2016.10.1)
- The statement that I had originally written, which I remembered from the preliminary briefing, ``the order amount and the reward are proportional to each other,'' was incorrect, and when I checked with the Uber support center, I was told that the reward would be determined according to the number of orders and the distance. Accordingly, we have revised the entire hourly wage section and some descriptions. (2016.10.1)
- We have posted a quote for facility liability insurance. (2016.10.3)
