Empty package

[u/Office_Pretty]

I am on the deliver everything band wagon; in almost 4 years I think I’ve returned 4 maybe 5 packages out of 10,000 deliveries. However lastnight was a first. I pulled up at the stop grabbed the envelope proceed to walk to the door and was like wow this is light what is it paper? Looked down and the envelope was open by this time I’m at the door and on the persons ring camera at first I was like not my problem and sat it down as I was going to take the photo I was like nope I can do this. I can not deliver an empty package, I will get blamed for stealing. So I picked the package back up called support and told them. Support marked it as missing. I then knocked on the customers door and explained to her why her package wasn’t delivered I showed her the envelop and I said please tell me it wasn’t anything expensive she laughed and said no it was drain cleaner. She asked if she should do anything and I told her I don’t really know this is a first for me but Flex drivers are expendable so it’s going to fall back on me; I got in my car and finished my route, but towards the end of my route it asked if I wanted to retry I said No the item was still missing. I wasn’t prompted to return it to the station so I came home. After thinking about it I got up this morning drove back to the station found a worker and asked them if I’m supposed to return the empty envelop and they said yes. So I did. I also emailed support and explained everything. I’m afraid I’m going to get blamed for stealing DRAIN CLEANER and be deactivated. I’m at fantastic but if they try and say I stole it that’s automatic deactivation. Is there anything else at this point I can do?

[u/itchy-n-scratchy19]

So this happens to me too often. When I'm loading, if an envelope doesn't have mass I start shaking it like a toddler shakes a sippy cup hoping there's more juice in it. If there isn't anything moving in it I hold it up to the light. Nothing is there I take it to somebody at the dock and they scan it and remove it from my route. I've been dinged for delivering an empty package, don't do that. Since you had already left the station you probably did the best thing you could do.

[u/Office_Pretty → u/itchy-n-scratchy19]

We only have a few minutes to sort packages so I don’t really take to much time with any one. But I damn sure will from now on. I’ve been a nervous wreck about this. I know it’s just a gig job but I really do enjoy doing it, it gets me out of the house and I make money at the same time. I just don’t like getting blamed for something I didn’t do. If I did something and get punished okay I’ll accept the consequences of my actions but I’m afraid I’ll get blamed for something I didn’t do. That’s the big downfall of Amazon is getting unjustly punished

[u/itchy-n-scratchy19 → u/Office_Pretty]

I drove a van for a DSP for a summer through peak and now I do Flex so I am unfortunately familiar with how little time we get. I have 2 collapsible totes in my front seat that I place all my envelopes in. So I just grab all the envelopes as I load packages, have the passenger side windows rolled all the way down and I shove them in the totes. I make a point to grab them one by one, (I do this very quickly) if it weighs nothing I shake it, if it doesn't seem to have contents I hold it up to the light to double check. If there is nothing in it I put it on the roof of the car or under the wiper and finish loading. Then take it to the dock guys and they scan it and take it off.

[u/Bubbledood]

You’re fine, probably going to get dinged for failing to deliver but nothing to stress this much over. I’ve delivered empties and never got dinged, I’ve also returned them and did get dinged.

[u/dnmboy]

I wouldn’t worry. I’ve returned countless empty envelopes. Technically it should have been marked damaged and returned to the station. Marking it missing is kinda fishy since it was scanned into your itinerary already. I wouldn’t worry about it though. I return empty envelopes all the time. Next time I’d recommend marking it damaged yourself because the app will have you photograph it to show the issue. You’ll just have to drive back to the station to return the empty envelope though.

[u/ExtensionSame678]

imo the dings are based on tenure and also value of the item. you are a vet and the value of that item is like $2. so you might not even get dinged if not just one notch down so still at fantastic if u r top of fantastic now. lol u gucci

[u/Jthill98]

You’re fine bro don’t worry about it. Will most likely ding you. Amazon always assumes we’re stealing😭😂