Why I'm done delivering food

19JUN2021; 1615, SAT

I'm pretty sure that when that pic was taken a few short years ago, I never fathomed that I'd not only have a dad bod and Pop Smoke braids (RIP), but a legit need for actual glasses, with a Rx in them. In a similar vein, I most def didn't see coming the days of me zipping around my hometown, delivering food, back when I got out of the service just shy of a decade ago.

Random: I certainly miss those frames, and wonder whether or not the kiosk employee/owner that I bought them from was jerking my chain when he informed me that those specs offer UV protection, despite being clear as day, obviously. In relation, if you'd have told me then that Juneteenth would be a federal holiday, and we'd be celebrating in regards to the chains that they were forced to finally take off of us back in the 19th century...

In any event, not only have I been delivering grub off and on for the past several years or so; but it was my very first job after I realized that the paper wasn't necessarily gonna chase my Black self. A pizza chain, that shall remain nameless, hired me; and for whatever reason, I quit after the first day.

It's entirely feasible that the manager who hired me still holds a grudge in regards to the matter. I know that I likely would.

At any rate, doubling back for a minute: it'd have been stupendous if I were somehow able to work in a dispensary, or something similar, after leaving the Army. That's what I told my superiors I'd be doing when they asked about my plans post being enlisted.

Not only was that more or less improbable back then, but the people with the most experience and familiarity with being a "street pharmacist" are feasibly (still) in chains if they resemble me in the slightest; meanwhile the folks who've mostly survived the "War on Drugs" unscathed have "secured the bag", if they look more like the slave masters and overseers of old. Happy Juneteenth.

Back to the topic at hand: I've delivered food for at least three different gig economy apps. Also, I'm more or less known to have been partnered with a few different peeps, who split the revenue directly down the middle with me, for the most part.

Those ventures took me thru just about every hood in Chocolate City; or Cappuccino City rather, as it's now colloquially known. On the bright side tho, I'm unmistakably grateful for all of the cool food spots that I would've likely never heard of without so much ripping and running.

I sincerely regret that I never had one of those $600 days nor, a ridiculously large "pandemic tipper" which I've heard so much about. That would've absolutely left me with a much more positive disposition on the matter.

That reminds me: why in the hell did I not try and get a referral code from one of my friends/Fam for the sake of the potential bonus? "Such is life."

Another drawback to a certain app in this biz: drivers are not only restricted to a single instant payout per day; but we get hit with a two dollar fee every damn time also. The drivers and restaurants are already hurting as it is, in the middle of this "panini"; unless I'm missing something?

On a similar tangent: the timeframes that they expected the deliveries to be made in were all but completely unrealistic; as well as readily punitive. Like really, are we expected to fly on the highways and run lights in the city, or did I simply miss that part of the welcome vids?

A slight sliver of a silver lining in the clouds: there were occasionally beautiful and empathetic people who were pleased with the opportunity to pay gratuity, so as to be big time blessings. That was especially the case when the storm clouds were gathering overhead and/or when there was a premium on each delivery, due to increased demand, surprisingly.

TL;DR- Between the riffraff stealing cars and such, it's hardly, if at all worth the trouble IMHO (In My Humble Opinion). Bammas complaining about the worker shortage, but are also willing to attempt anything besides paying more than poverty wages to attract hardworking employees.

I recently read somewhere about an UberEats driver being brought to tears after seeing his odiously low fare for a delivery that took approximately an hour. Naturally, I'd have a similar situation go down, personally, just a few days ago or so, immediately following the article's publication; and that was the straw that broke the camel's back.

On top of that: I made roughly fifteen times the amount earned from that delivery, off of one quick and easy project with the new company that I started working for recently; in about the same exact timeframe. Granted, there's no instant payouts like with the food deliveries; but I have a sneaky suspicion that I'll survive somehow regardless.

***

Prayerfully, someone somewhere gets something pertinent (re: useful) from this post. If that somebody's you, then please think about considering a Like/Tip/Share, and/or checking out some of my other posts.

TIA (Thx In Advance). Peaceful Tidings.