If you've been refreshing your Amazon Flex app for hours with nothing to show for it, welcome to the club. Getting blocks has become one of the most frustrating parts of being a Flex driver in Canada.
Let's break down why it's so hard and what actually works.
Why Can't I Get Any Blocks?
Too Many Drivers
Amazon has onboarded way more drivers than there are blocks available. In major Canadian cities like Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary, you're competing against hundreds of other drivers for the same shifts.
The Hidden Ranking System
Here's what Amazon doesn't advertise: there's an internal ranking system that affects which drivers see blocks first.
What lowers your rank:
- Completing too many routes (yes, really)
- Late deliveries or missed windows
- Customer complaints
- Suspected bot usage
- Too many package returns
New drivers often get priority — which is great until you've done 50 blocks and suddenly can't see any offers.
Bots Are Real
Let's address the elephant in the room: some drivers use automated software (bots) to grab blocks the instant they appear. These programs can accept offers faster than any human can tap.
Should you use one? No. Amazon actively detects bot usage and will deactivate your account. Plus, it's just not worth the risk when there are legitimate strategies.
Blocks Disappear in Seconds
Amazon Flex is first-come, first-serve. A good block can be gone in under 3 seconds. By the time you see it, tap it, and confirm — it's already taken.
Legitimate Tips to Get More Blocks
1. Enable Push Notifications
This sounds basic, but many drivers don't have notifications enabled properly. Go to your phone settings and make sure Amazon Flex can send alerts.
2. Maintain a "Fantastic" Rating
Your standing directly affects how many offers you see:
- Fantastic: First access to blocks + 3x reward points
- Great: Normal access + 2x points
- Fair: Reduced offers + 1x points
- At Risk: Almost no offers
3. Unlock Preferred Scheduling (Level 2)
Amazon Flex Rewards lets you set preferences for when and where you want to work.
How to unlock:
- Reach Level 2 (650 points)
- Fantastic rating: ~4-5 blocks to unlock
- Fair rating: ~13 blocks to unlock
Warning: Points reset every 3 months (Jan, Apr, Jul, Oct), so you need to maintain activity.
4. Position Yourself Near Stations
For Instant Offers (especially Whole Foods/Prime Now), being physically close to a station increases your chances. Drivers report best results within 10 minutes of a location.
5. Refresh Strategically
Don't just mindlessly refresh. Focus on peak release windows.
Best Times to Refresh for Blocks
Here's when experienced drivers have the most luck:
| Time Window | What's Usually Released |
|---|---|
| 3:00 AM - 6:00 AM | Same-day morning blocks |
| 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Afternoon/evening blocks |
| 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM | Evening blocks |
| 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM | Next-day blocks |
Pro tip: Start refreshing 45 minutes before the block start time. That's when last-minute drops happen.
Popular peak times: 10 AM and 4 PM seem to be when most blocks drop in Canadian markets.
Let's Be Honest: This Schedule is Ridiculous
Look at those times again:
- 3-6 AM? So you can't sleep properly.
- 10 AM - 12 PM? There goes your lunch break.
- 4-6 PM? Forget about a normal dinner.
- 7-10 PM? No relaxing after work.
Amazon has essentially designed a system where you need to be glued to your phone 24/7 just to maybe get a shift. You're not working — you're waiting to work. And that waiting time? Unpaid.
This is the reality of gig work that nobody talks about. You're competing against bots, fighting an algorithm, and sacrificing your sleep and meals for blocks that pay $18-25/hour before expenses.
The Real Solution: Stop Depending on One Platform
Here's the truth that experienced drivers have figured out: chasing Amazon blocks is a losing game.
The drivers making $1,500+ per week aren't sitting around refreshing the Flex app at 3 AM. They're working multiple platforms:
- Amazon Flex for when blocks are available
- Intelcom for consistent package routes
- Uber Eats / DoorDash to fill gaps
- Instacart for grocery runs
Why Multi-Platform Works
| Strategy | Weekly Potential |
|---|---|
| Amazon Flex only (fighting for blocks) | $300-500 |
| Amazon + food delivery | $600-900 |
| Multi-platform (packages + food) | $1,200-1,800+ |
Instead of spending 2 hours trying to grab a single Amazon block, you could be earning on another platform.
Managing Multiple Platforms with FlexMesh
The challenge with multi-platform delivery is organization. Different apps, different waybills, no unified route.
This is exactly why FlexMesh exists.
How It Works
- Scan waybills from any carrier — Amazon, Intelcom, UPS, Purolator, whatever
- Combine all stops into one list
- One-tap optimization — AI creates the fastest route through everything
- Deliver smarter — Save time, save gas, make more money
The Multi-Platform Advantage
With FlexMesh, you can:
- Accept an Intelcom route AND grab Amazon packages for the same area
- Mix food deliveries with package stops
- Stop wasting time on inefficient single-platform routes
Bottom Line
Getting Amazon Flex blocks in Canada is hard, and it's only getting harder. You can try the tips above, but the honest truth is: the game is rigged against individual drivers.
The smart move isn't to fight harder for blocks — it's to diversify.
Sign up for multiple platforms. Use FlexMesh to combine your deliveries. Stop letting Amazon's refresh schedule control your life.
Your time is worth more than sitting around at 3 AM hoping for a shift.
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