Before the doorstep.
Behind the offer.
The calculations, small frustrations and easily missed work behind a grocery delivery. Written from the driver’s side of the app.
These essays draw on the founder’s delivery experience and perspective. Numerical scenarios are illustrative; no customer encounters or individual trips have been invented.
A $12 Spark offer can cost me money. Here’s the math.
The number at the top of the offer is the beginning of my calculation, not the answer.
Your Spark delivery can start long before the car moves.
On a shopping order, the drive is only one chapter of the job.
“I’ll tip when it gets here.” Here’s the problem from my side.
A tip you intend to give later and a payment I can evaluate now are two different things.
Your delivery ends at the door. My mileage may not.
The drive away is easy to forget when you’re pricing the drive there.
A Spark driver is also running the business behind the delivery.
The shopping and driving are visible. The planning, costs, records and decisions come along for the ride.
“I paid a delivery fee.” What does that tell the driver?
A customer’s checkout charge and a driver’s offer describe different parts of the same transaction.
Heavy groceries, stairs and access: make the handoff work for everyone.
Delivery can be essential. Acknowledging the carrying work helps customers and drivers plan a better arrival.
Eight hours on the road: why gross earnings are only the first number.
Fuel, waiting and the miles between orders belong in the same picture as delivery pay.
Find your next answer.
Browse the searchable library, get a practical delivery checklist, or look up a delivery term.