Retiree Keeps Busy Thanks To Amazon Flex, He Says

DALLAS, TX — Retirement isn't for everybody. Just ask Daniel Jensen, who at 70 years old still can't stop working — even while he's supposed to be on vacation.

Sitting in Dallas, Texas, Thursday morning, Jensen took a break from the cross-country RV trip he's currently on to talk about how he's managing to keep himself active thanks to the Amazon Flex delivery program, which Jensen says gives him the opportunity to stay busy, make some cash and interact with people all while providing a flexible work schedule that caters to his availability.

Formerly an MP with the U.S. Army and a deputy with the Sherman County Sheriff's Office, Jensen ended up spending most his life — 32 years — as a real estate broker in Portland and Vancouver, Washington, before retiring a couple years back. Not entirely satisfied with sitting around through his retirement, and with some gentle nudging from his wife, Jensen found a job that gets him out of the house and into the world in a way that he finds fulfilling.

"I love this program," Jensen told Patch. "It's not for everyone, but it works for me."

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Following his retirement, Jensen and his wife wanted to see the country and do things they hadn't had time to while he was working the real estate business, he said. To supplement his retirement funds and still keep himself somewhat active, Jensen began looking into various ride share programs like Uber, Lyft and others for which he could work on his own schedule, at his own discretion.

While checking out what opportunities were near him in Vancouver in the fall of 2017, Jensen met a man named Brent who apparently worked the whole lot — Uber and Uber Eats, Lyft, Amazon Flex, and others. Brent told Jensen about the various benefits of each program, but it was Flex that Jensen said sounded most appealing.

"I thought, 'well, I'm gonna jump onboard to see if could get some happy faces from delivering packages for Christmas,' " he said, noting the interactions he has with Amazon customers as one of the more rewarding aspects of the program for him.

Jensen ended up enjoying it so much after the first season that he continued delivering. He estimates he's made more than 1,000 deliveries since he started, with this month marking his one-year anniversary working the Flex program. And it's not just Amazon Prime packages either; Jensen said Flex drivers deliver a wide variety of Amazon-related things, including groceries from Amazon partner Whole Foods.

Employed as an independent contractor, as opposed to a member of the actual Amazon staff, Jensen said he's able to deliver for Flex in any community that offers the program — which total more than 50 communities, according to Flex.Amazon.com. So when Jensen and his wife packed their RV and hit the road, they planned the trip to take them through areas where Jensen could continue pulling in extra cash and keep their RV moving smoothly.

Jensen's first out-of-Oregon deliveries were made in Denver, he said. Then he and his wife went to Oklahoma City before heading south to Dallas. Next they'll visit San Antonio, then Albuquerque and Tucson, Las Vegas, and then the California Pacific Coast as they make their way back home — all the while getting more smiles from the folks to whom he'll deliver packages before returning to Vancouver in March.

All in all, Jensen said he expects to deliver in eight or nine communities before the trip is over.

"Being able to take Flex with me allows us extra money to do extra things," he said.

Amazon's well-formed delivery app system is one of the program's highlights, Jensen said, noting the app is regularly updated and improved upon based on feedback from customers and Flex contractors. Additionally, he said, as contractors, Flex drivers are allowed to pick scheduled blocks of time they'll be available to work, though prospective Flex drivers should be aware they're expected to cover their own expenses, such as fuel and vehicle maintenance.

However, the pay is good and there's plenty of work, Jensen said, adding, "If you don't work, it won't be rewarding. You gotta put in the time."

Leeway for sickness and other emergencies is given when drivers provide an adequate amount of notice, and Amazon will cover the cost of canceled deliveries so drivers are never left empty-handed.

"There are four or five ways Amazon Flex keeps you busy," Jensen said. "It really does fit so many living situations."

From college students (at least 21 years old) to retirees and everybody in between, Flex is rewarding financially and simple enough to get into, Jensen said.

"I just want to help get the word out," he said. "I'm certainly not ready to retire … and I wouldn't know what to do if I wasn't driving."

Image via Daniel Jensen, Kait Fund