For anyone working in the gig economy, especially in delivery services like UberEats, DoorDash, Amazon Flex, Shipt, or Instacart, time is money. Every second counts when you’re getting paid per delivery, and wasting time means less money in your pocket. One of the most common issues we face is delivering to apartment buildings or office complexes, where we have to use an elevator to get to the customer. This post is all about a simple trick I’ve learned from my days as a bike messenger in New York City that can save you a lot of time and, ultimately, make you more money.
The Problem with Elevators in High-Rise Buildings
If you’ve been in this game long enough, you’ve likely had to deliver to a high-rise building at some point. Whether it’s a tall apartment building or a multi-story office complex, elevators can become one of the biggest time-wasters. Some modern buildings might have multiple elevators or faster systems, but more often than not, you’ll find yourself in places with old, slow, or even malfunctioning elevators. On top of that, elevators can be crowded and busy, especially during peak hours.
Imagine this scenario: You’ve just made a quick delivery to the 22nd floor of a high-rise condo. You hand over the package, maybe take a photo as proof of delivery, and you’re ready to head back down. But by the time you return to the elevator, it’s already on its way back down to the ground floor because you were the last stop on the way up. Now you’re stuck waiting. The elevator might stop at multiple floors on its way back up, or it might be busy bringing other residents up and down, delaying your return to the ground floor and your vehicle. Every minute you’re waiting is a minute you’re not earning, and this can seriously cut into your efficiency and daily earnings.
A Simple Solution to Save Time and Increase Earnings
So, what’s the solution to this all-too-common problem? It’s a small trick I picked up from years of delivering into tall buildings, and it can save you those precious minutes that add up throughout your day. The trick is to keep the elevator “busy” while you’re making your delivery, so it’s ready for you when you’re done. Here’s how it works:
1. Press Extra Floors: When you’re going up in the elevator, press not only the button for the floor you’re delivering to but also a few floors above it. For example, if your delivery is on the 22nd floor, press the buttons for the 23rd and 24th floors too.
2. Hit the Down Button Early: Before you even make your delivery, press the down button outside the elevator on your delivery floor. This ensures that while you’re making your drop-off, the elevator is still in motion, completing the tasks you’ve assigned it by going up to the higher floors. By the time it’s done and comes back down, you’re ready and waiting, so you don’t have to sit around for it to return to your floor.
This strategy is simple but effective. It ensures that the elevator isn’t sitting idle while you’re making your delivery. Instead, it’s busy moving up to the floors you selected and then coming back down to your floor, just in time for you to catch it.
Why These Few Minutes Matter
Now, you might be thinking, “What’s the big deal about saving a minute or two?” But if you’re serious about maximizing your time and earnings, those minutes add up. Think about it: If this trick saves you just five minutes on a delivery and you’re making 10 deliveries a day, that’s 50 minutes saved every day. Over a week, that’s over four hours of extra time that you could spend making more deliveries, earning more money, or just taking a well-deserved break.
Even if you’re only saving a couple of minutes per delivery, that can be the difference between fitting in an extra delivery during a busy lunch or dinner rush, which might mean an extra $7-$10 in your pocket. Over the course of a week, those extra deliveries can add up to $50-$100, or even more, depending on the volume of work and the tips you earn. And if you’re working a fixed block for Amazon Flex, saving time on each delivery could mean finishing your block early, giving you more time to take on additional work or get home sooner to spend time with your family.
Small Tricks Add Up Over Time
The beauty of this trick is in its simplicity and effectiveness. It doesn’t require any special tools or equipment, just a little forethought and the willingness to think ahead. Over time, small tricks like this can make a big difference in your overall efficiency and earnings. And it’s not just about making more money; it’s also about reducing stress and improving your work-life balance.
Nobody likes wasting time, especially when that time could be better spent earning more or enjoying life outside of work. The next time you’re delivering to a high-rise building, try this elevator trick and see how much time it saves you. You might be surprised at just how effective it can be!
And if you’re looking for more tips and tricks to maximize your earnings and efficiency in the gig economy, I’ve got plenty more where this came from. Check out my eBooks like “Amazing Flexing,” “Earn More with UberEats,” and “Intro to the Gig App Economy” at the Self Start Library. Each one is packed with strategies and advice to help you earn more and have more free time to do what you love. Whether you want to work smarter, make more money, or just reduce the stress of the daily grind, these books have got you covered.
Start implementing these strategies today, and you’ll be on your way to earning hundreds more dollars each month, all while having more free time to spend however you like—whether that’s working more, spending time with your family, or just relaxing. Check out our online shop to learn more and start improving your gig app game!