They're even available on Amazon's own website, although the devices violate the Flex terms of service. Once the device is connected to a power source, the phone's touch screen sensors can recognize its taps.ĭrivers can buy the devices online for prices that typically cost $50 to $150. Users clip two cables onto their phone in the location where the refresh button and blocks appear in the Flex app. There are also devices called autotappers or block grabbers that automate the physical action of tapping the app. Two Flex drivers who use Flex Utility said they haven't been suspended by Amazon when they've used the tool. The Flex Utility developer claims his app doesn't violate Amazon's terms of service because the user has to manually click the Flex Utility button in the Flex app. The app is "quite a bit faster" than a human because it can filter, select and swipe blocks "within a millisecond, while it would take a human at least several seconds," said the developer behind the Flex Utility app, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Drivers can specify what kinds of blocks they'd like to grab based on the pickup center, time of day and type of block. The Flex Utility tool refreshes the Flex app, filters out blocks that don't match the user's search criteria and then places the button over appropriate blocks. "The use of third party tools to accept work creates an unfair advantage, is against our policies, and can result in removal from the Amazon Flex program." Faster than a humanįlex Utility uses an Android phone's accessibility features to create a virtual button that's overlaid onto the Flex app. "We're committed to creating fair opportunities for our delivery partners to secure delivery blocks," the spokesperson said. "It's completely unpredictable."Īn Amazon spokesperson told CNBC that the company prohibits the use of bots. "You start to learn when shifts become available, but there's no guarantee you'll open the app and something will be there," Polenz said. In his two years as a Flex driver in Florida, Polenz said he has learned that Amazon usually drops new shifts in the app around 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. "We all have to fight for a meal and literally have to manually tap several times per second, nonstop, until we see a block."ĭrivers also join Facebook groups for other Flexers in their neighborhood, where people alert group members when shifts are posted, said Chad Polenz, an Amazon Flex driver and YouTuber who posts videos about his experience as a gig economy worker. "Their business model is basically one that acts like someone tossing a fish into a bucket of lobsters," said Jonathan Lee Provost, a former Flex driver. Some of them spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear of retaliation from Amazon. Many have grown frustrated with the intense and often unpredictable nature of grabbing shifts, or they simply want to make more money, according to several current and former Flex drivers. Boost your freelance work! Are you looking for a freelancer to do a similar project?Ĭreate your project and get bids from the best freelancers.Despite the risks, bots have become an increasingly common tool for Flex drivers. Log into your Workana account or Register today. Required platforms Android, Other, iPhone, iPadĪpp type Utility - Utility application (flash, calculator, etc.)Īndroid API HTML iOS iPhone JavaScript Linux MySQL PHP Responsive Web Design What is the scope of the project? Medium-sized change Then when a block becomes available I would like it to be grabbed from the server to where an Android phone can then accept.Īsk me any questions that you might have. I need it to check for blocks between 10-20 times per second. You will need to have this connect to the server to access the blocks for the Flex program/app. You will need to install a proxy server onto a VPS. Blocks are released by their server and I am trying to be able to grab them before they get out to other users. I am wanting a Server Based Block Grabber for an android program called Amazon Flex.
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