Since January of this year, I have been delivering for Ubereats. It is my first job since I left on disability back in 2017. The steroids have helped stabilize my hemoglobin at levels not seen since four years ago and I am happy about that. Not only have I more energy but I can now get out there and make some money. Obviously because of the pandemic we have been shattered because we happen to work in the service industry.
Thankfully without having to jeopardize my disability payments, as little as they are, I have not had to knock on doors to look for employment during this pandemic. After all with my immunocompromised condition, I would not want to work in a setting where I was put at risk just to make a few dollars.
A friend of mine mentioned that being a delivery driver would be a good idea. At first, I thought that would be boring. Just waiting around and waiting to deliver something seemed like not something I wanted to do. So I thought maybe to give Ubereats a look. I wanted something where the hours were flexible. If I wanted to take Saturday night off I could. As we are a one-car family that would also work.
Well, I never thought I would say this but this is probably the best decision I have made in finding employment right off disability. I am also the best person suited for it. Why you ask would I like doing Ubereats? Well, I will be blunt about it. I can handle the bullshit! The training I had being a waiter for 38 years has enabled me to understand that a lot of people do not know how to communicate properly.
For example, I am delivering this meal to this address and I find they are a bunch of townhouses. So what is the unit number? I got to call the people or text them to ask what number are they at. They answer back like oh 68. No sorry no nothing. I wonder if they will add the unit number? Probably not.
People use excessively the service as well. Once I had to pick up this order. I quickly had to empty my bladder and when I walked out it was only an iced cappuccino! I had another delivery to pick up after that so that iced cappuccino sat in my car for a good 25 minutes. Then to top it off when I entered the lobby of the apartment building the door slammed on my back leg causing me to wipe out almost losing the drink and dropping my phone. I opened a wound on the back of my leg causing it to bleed all for an iced cappuccino. I was not impressed.
Then at night that is fun. Try finding a number when the occupant of the house has all the lights turned off. Or the laneway is full of snow and ice and you have to balance what you have in one hand and your phone in the other.
Now with the pandemic and the occupancy rules of places like Starbucks you have to wait outside in the cold and wind gusts for your delivery order.
Parking at some places where you deliver is tenuous at best. One row of townhouses I deliver to sometimes I can drive to the townhouse but I cannot turn the car around to drive out forward. Therefore I have to be careful and drive in reverse back to the main road and enter it backwards.
I mentioned earlier about heading to the washroom to empty my bladder. One time I had to piss so bad I stopped at this gas bar and the guy told me to wait outside. I mentioned I just needed the key to the outdoor bathroom. He said I had to wait outside as there were already two inside the gas bar. I shouted back listen if you do not give me the key I am going to piss outside. I walked out and someone came out and handed me the key. Just in time, I might add.
Of course, you have to read the instructions too. A lot of people say just leave it at the door. Do not knock or ring the doorbell please with an exclamation mark. I take a picture, send it, then press delivered. I will get in my car and get ready to drive on and their food will be sitting there in the cold. I am left thinking they are waiting for me to drive away before they open the door to fetch their rapidly cooling Chinese food or chicken dinner. I know I would be grabbing it quickly.
The fun part that I find is like when I was waiting on tables every day is different. You never know what is going to happen. Like working a la carte I may get a delivery then get another notification of another pick-up nearby. I get in the car, drive to that one and pick it up then while I am dropping off the last delivery I may get a notification to pick another right after I finish the drop. Just like getting sat a few tables all at once in a restaurant, I get the same buzz. I know when this happens I am making some money. Fridays are the best day when I usually make over $200.
I usually average 34 hours a week. Last week I delivered 93 meals. I take a couple of days off and the money is surprisingly good. So I am hooked. It is easy for me but I can see like being a waiter few would put up with it for very long. It may appear easy but there is the stuff that people would not put up with for very long. I am used to it though. So it is water off a duck's back.
Soon, I want to add Instacart where you do groceries for people. Same idea and even more bullshit but I hear it pays well. This is the future and I am doing it. Feel good about that and that I can do it.
