By nature, rideshare drivers are entrepreneurs and hustlers.
This mean we’re resourceful, we know how to get things done, we take advantage of every opportunity that comes our way, and we’re always on top of the next big opportunity.
But after talking to a few rideshare driving buddies of mine last week, I realized that not everyone knows about all of the delivery opportunities at our disposal in 2019, which is understandable because there are so many rideshare and delivery services out there, it can be hard to distinguish which one might be the most lucrative and right for you.
Over the last few weeks, I’ve been digging into a food delivery service called Caviar, which is just one of the many food delivery apps out there, but it comes with an upscale twist.
Available Caviar delivery cities:
- Brooklyn
- Boston
- Chicago
- Dallas
- Fort Worth
- Manhattan
- Los Angeles
- Orange County
- San Diego
- Philadelphia
- Queens
- Sacramento
- San Francisco Bay Area (including the East Bay & Marin)
- Seattle
- Portland
- Washington D.C.
Caviar is similar to other platforms in that customers can order food on-demand, but they lean towards curating higher-end restaurants on its app, which allows for closer partnerships and faster order fulfillment (at least that’s what they say).
Since Caviar is growing and quickly becoming a top option for delivery drivers, let’s break down what makes Caviar stand out in the food delivery space, so you can see if it’s right for you.
How Does Caviar Work?
In practice, the Caviar app works just like any other food delivery service currently on the market. Customers open the app, browse a list of restaurants and menus, and place orders.
On the courier side, it’s also very similar to other platforms – once the app is activated, you can choose delivery requests in real-time, and then you pick them up from the designated restaurant. After, you deliver the order to the customer, who then has the option of leaving you a tip.
The Requirements
Anyone who is 18 years or older and has access to a vehicle (car, truck, motorcycle, bike, or scooter) and a smartphone with the mobile courier app is eligible to deliver with Caviar.
In addition, drivers must have two years of driving experience, and past delivery service or retail experience is a bonus, but not explicitly required. All applicants must pass a background check consistent with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance and similar laws.
Pretty standard stuff here. If you’re already a rideshare driver then you’ll likely meet the requirements.
How to Apply to be a Caviar Driver?
Sign-up can be done from anywhere – simply sign-up with Caviar online to create an account and enter in the required information.
Once your application has been submitted, you’ll receive an email inviting you to an orientation, which you’ll reply back to and select a date and time.
What’s the Caviar Orientation Process like?
Next up in the sign-up process is attending an orientation! You’ll receive a email right after you finish signing up which will let you choose when your orientation will be.
You can usually schedule your orientation just a few days after your application has been sent.
The orientation consists of general instructions on how to use the app, filling out forms on your smartphone to authorize a background check, and providing them with your bank details so you can get paid.
Make sure to bring your Driver’s License (or equivalent photo ID), the smartphone you plan to use while delivering, a copy of your vehicle insurance policy, and your license plate number. If you’re biking instead of driving, bring a photo of your bike.
This process is generally quick, and after you attend the orientation and agree to the Courier Agreement, you should be ready to set the app to “available” and go out and deliver.
What Are The Pros of Caviar?
Caviar seems to try to make the delivery experience as less stressful as possible for their couriers. Interestingly enough, it seems as if they are building a system that attempts to address many of the pain points that couriers face in this kind of set-up.
The first positive aspect of this app is that the details of the order are shared before you even accept it.
When you receive a request, you will be notified and given two minutes to either accept or reject the order. The request details include where the pickup location is, the general neighborhood where the drop-off location is, and how much you will be paid upon completion of the order. You can use that information to decide whether to accept or reject the order.
The second pro that comes with delivering with Caviar is that they only work with higher-end restaurants they have partnerships with.
Caviar focuses on quality instead of quantity, which means there are fewer restaurants to choose from on the app. Since they only work with specific partners, that means a smoother pick-up process and no dirty looks from the restaurant staff.
Caviar also makes sure to provide high-resolution, accurate photos of every menu item they deliver, which decreases the chance of customer confusion and of you having to hear, “Hey, I didn’t order that!”
Moving along, Caviar has no rating system – which means much less panic for drivers. Postmates requires you to maintain a 4.7 rating to continue working on the platform, while Caviar doesn’t seem to penalize customers or couriers for receiving low ratings. They simply eschew the rating system nonsense, which decreases performance anxiety for couriers.
Lastly, say goodbye to debit cards. Postmates requires you to pay for delivery orders yourself using a PEX card and take a photo of the receipt before the delivery address is released. Caviar does not utilize the payment card method – instead, payment is processed through the app before you are dispatched for delivery. That means no carrying cards and overall, less hassle.
How much can I make with Caviar?
According to Caviar’s website, couriers can earn up to $25 per hour and are compensated for each successful delivery with a task-based fee. While the pay structure isn’t overly transparent, Caviar claims to use an “effort-based algorithm” that calculates pay based on time, size of the order, and distance traveled.
In reality, you’re probably looking at making anywhere from $10 – $20 per hour depending on the time of day and the locations where you drive.
Caviar states that you have the flexibility to choose your own delivery hours, and advises that the app is most busy during lunch and dinner. They claim that “the more you work as a courier, the more you’ll earn.”
As far as actually receiving money, Caviar gives you the option of using the Cash App for instant payments, or you can receive payouts deposited into your bank account on a weekly basis.
Is Caviar right for me?
Now that you’ve learned about the basics of Caviar, it’s time to decide if working with them is right for you. Just like all food delivery companies, the potential to make good money depends on how you strategize your delivery jobs and keeping operating costs low. Unlike other delivery apps, you don’t get paid for the time you spend doing the job, so speed is of the essence. The faster you complete the delivery, the better.
While Caviar seems to have a variety of benefits for couriers, you can only know if it’s right for you once you try it out.
Working for Caviar to supplement your ridesharing work might earn you a few more dollars than the other platforms out there. This is because they cater to an affluent demographic and require a minimum order, so your commission will typically be larger. Plus, they have a tipping function as well, so you never know when a customer might be feeling extra generous.
Have you delivered for Caviar before? Let us know about your experience using the app in the comments.
