Delivery riders are voicing their frustration over a common dilemma they face – being scolded for perceived speeding while simultaneously being pressured to meet tight delivery timelines. The issue was brought to light in a recent post on Facebook by a delivery rider who highlighted the contradictory expectations placed on them by customers.
Delivery Time Pressures vs. Speed Limit Constraints
The delivery rider lamented the double standard imposed by certain customers who express discontent when their orders are not delivered within the expected time frame. On the other hand, the same customers are quick to criticize or complain about riders allegedly exceeding speed limits during their delivery runs.
According to the rider, explaining the reasons for delays, such as overwhelming order volumes at the assigned merchant or the adherence to speed limits for motorbikes and e-bikes, often falls on deaf ears. The riders stress the importance of waiting for orders and maintaining legal speeds to avoid potential legal consequences or public scrutiny.
Do right also wrong, do wrong cannot win
Delivery riders face a Catch-22 situation, as exceeding speed limits can lead to encounters with law enforcement or other road users who may capture and share videos of the riders violating traffic rules on social media. The potential consequences include warnings, fines, or even having their delivery app accounts banned.
Adding to the riders’ frustration is the fact that customers often turn to delivery app customer service to report delays, seeking warnings or punitive measures against riders who fail to meet their delivery expectations. The rider’s rant highlights the impact of these complaints on their livelihoods, as adverse reports from customers can lead to penalties from the delivery app companies.
Seeking understanding
The delivery rider, addressing those with such contradictory expectations, questions how they would address the inherent contradictions in their demands. The rider encourages customers to consider the challenges faced by delivery riders, including external factors beyond their control, such as merchant delays or the need to comply with traffic regulations.
In response to the rider’s rant, the broader question emerges: how can customers reconcile their desire for speedy deliveries with the need for riders to adhere to speed limits and traffic rules? The advice to customers is to foster understanding, appreciate the difficulties faced by delivery riders, and recognize that some delays are inevitable, ensuring a more harmonious relationship between customers and the essential service providers.
What the rider said
“Have you ever encountered people who complain about us, delivery riders, allegedly exceeding the speed limit on our motorbikes or e-bikes during our delivery runs? At the same time, this very same group of people expects us to deliver their food within a specific time frame? And they wouldn’t budge, even if we explain to them that the delay is due to the assigned merchant having an overwhelming number of incoming orders that we must wait for or because we cannot exceed the speed limit of our motorbikes and e-bikes.
Otherwise, especially for the latter, we risk getting caught by the authorities, or some road users who happened to witness it might upload a clip of us disobeying traffic rules for the sake of fulfilling the customer’s expectations on social media. Additionally, they often complain to the delivery app customer service, seeking to get warnings or even having our delivery app accounts banned if we fail to meet their delivery expectations.
If given the opportunity to speak to them, how would you address such contradictions upheld by people like this? What advice would you give them?”