'Their business model is basically one that acts like someone tossing a fish into a bucket of lobsters,' said Jonathan Lee Provost, a former Flex driver. Some of them spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear of retaliation from Amazon. Many have grown frustrated with the intense and often unpredictable nature of grabbing shifts, or they simply want to make more money, according to several current and former Flex drivers. Bots also remove some of the frustrations of the Flex app, like having to hit refresh constantly.ĭespite the risks, bots have become an increasingly common tool for Flex drivers. In response, some Flex drivers have begun using bots - combinations of hardware and software meant to mimic the action of tapping on blocks - to increase their odds of winning a coveted shift. The competition can be cutthroat, with hundreds of drivers competing for a handful of blocks at the same time. New shifts appear in the app at seemingly random intervals, and if they don't swipe and tap fast enough, the block disappears. They have seconds to claim a shift by swiping on the block then tapping 'accept' on the screen.

After they log in, drivers will repeatedly tap a big orange refresh button until delivery shifts, referred to as 'blocks,' appear on the screen.Īs soon as blocks pop up, drivers race to claim one of a handful of available shifts. The Flex app is where drivers find package delivery jobs in their area.

Like many gig economy workers, Amazon Flex drivers start off their day by opening an app.

Amazon flex block grabber