1. You Need Extra Bags (and Postmates will give them to you)

Postmates only gives you one (small) bag when you sign up with them. Unfortunately, your large orders won’t always fit in that bag, which leads to unhappy deliveries and unsatisfied customers. However, Postmates actually allows you to order a “replacement bag” every month. Taking advantage of this feature will give you a decent stock of bags that will serve whatever size order you have come in.

2. Busier isn’t always better.

When that area on your in-app map lights up in red, it means you want to head there ASAP, right?

Not necessarily. Those orders are already live. It doesn’t mean the area will stay busy. In fact, a bunch of couriers heading to the area may lead to you not getting any orders by the time you get there (Blitzes that aren’t close by can be bad ideas for the same reason). It’s far better for you to stick with the areas you know are consistently busy.

There’s no hourly guarantee with Postmates (unlike GrubHub). That means there’s no penalty if you decline an order. Taking larger or more expensive orders leads to higher tips, since many people tip based on a percentage of a total order.

3. You’re a customer, too.

Did you know that Postmates couriers who complete over 25 orders each month qualify for a free Postmates Unlimited subscription that month? This means that you as a courier can receive the same benefits as an Unlimited customer, just without paying the normal $9.99 a month fee. Unlimited includes no delivery fee on Plus orders over $25, no service fees on Plus Partners, and other benefits.

This perk might not increase your earnings, but hey, if you don’t have to make a grocery store run for yourself, you can make another one for a customer, right?

4. Your earnings are from tips

The real money-maker from Postmates is your tips, and that means you need to work to up those.

Communicating with customers via text message, writing on their receipt, or simply using their name and giving them yours can personalize the experience and make them remember you (at least long enough to give you a tip).

Don’t mention tips—no one wants a pushy courier. However, you can encourage them to leave a review, which drives them back to the app where they can tip. You can also remind them to leave a tip by giving them a receipt rather than just asking if they want it. However, if you’re going to send a thank you or “leave a review” text, be sure to do so before you close out the order.

If you want some more ideas on how to increase your tips, look here.