Do you feel sorry for your overworked and stressed Amazon driver? Now you can give them a tip. And it’s not coming out of your pocket. Alexa has this.
Yes, you can add your Amazon controller to the people to tip during the holidays. And why not? You see it running to your door again and again during the holiday shopping season because you’re taking advantage of your Amazon Prime benefits after the 2022 price increase.
The best part? Amazon is taking the $5 tip.
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Amazon announced the service this week, and even gave a video to subscribers to show how it works. You’ll need a way to access the Amazon Alexa cloud-based voice service, in the Amazon app, or through an Amazon device such as an Echo or third-party devices that have Alexa built-in. All you have to do is say “Alexa, thank my driver.” Alexa replies, “I’m glad you enjoyed your most recent delivery. Since you shared your appreciation, as a special ‘thank you’ this holiday season, your driver will receive an additional $5 at no cost to you.” Apparently, that doesn’t extend to postal service workers, who also deliver Amazon packages; when I thank my driver, Alexa just said that the USPS will be informed of my thanks.
But wait, there’s more. During the holiday promotion, the five drivers who receive the most thanks will receive $10,000 from Amazon, with an additional $10,000 going to the charity of the driver’s choice.
In a statement, Amazon said: “Amazon has a long-standing commitment to empowering and investing in delivery drivers. While this thank you is another time to express our gratitude, it certainly won’t be our last, and we look forward to finding additional opportunities to celebrate drivers who deliver smiles to customers.”
“Alexa, tip my driver” is a new perk from Amazon in a year where Amazon Prime subscribers have been considering the destination of your Amazon Prime membershipwhich became more expensive by 17% in 2022. Some benefits, among them Amazon’s Treasure Truck e Amazon Drive, have been removed (or will soon be). But a bonus came in 2022 when Amazon Music opened its record vaults to Amazon Prime subscribers.