Newspaper Deliveries - Paper routes?

[Marie17]

Is it really a feasible thing to do now-a-days? I would love for my kid to have a weekend job but don't really know if it would be something that would really be more like a job for me too (he doesn't drive yet).

If it were just for the weekend routes - could he possibly make $50 a week? Anybody on this board work part-time for their local newspaper.

 

[swilshire]

It may be different in more urban areas, but here all the newspaper carriers are adults who drive the routes. The same person delivers the daily paper seven days a week as far as I can tell. We also get a bi-weekly local paper that has a different carrier. It would be unusual to find a weekend only delivery, I think, unless your area has a weekly only newspaper.

Sheila

 

[lovindonald]

I happen to be a paper carrier (Yeah!) and we are all motor routes here too. Another thing to note is that the papers are all morning delivery here so they have to be at the customer's house by 6:30AM and 7:30 on Sunday. Mainly we work in the dark and I am not sure you would want your child out there in the dark these days. I don't think it is like when we were a kid and you walked around the neighborhood in the afternoon. If you have any questions, feel free to let me know.

 

[lovindonald]

Another note is that there are no part time carriers, just full time - i.e. 7 days a week here.

 

[Frantasmic]

I was a paperboy in the 70s. We had morning and evening routes.
You had to "porch" your papers, i.e., make sure they were
placed on the porch by the door and we had to collect
each month.

 

[Marie17]

So it definitely has become an adult job. I am going to call the local paper and inquire about it to see if they possibly need a paper stuffer? Someone who puts all the advertising slicks and coupon inserts into them - or is that something the carrier does?

 

[monorailsilver]

Yep, our paper carriers are adults too.

They get up at 1-2am to go to where the papers get dropped off & start packaging them with the ads or putting them in bags if it is raining, etc...

They are done by 6-7am.

Two of my friends did this (one still does) & they said they can not take time off unless they find someone to cover their route. They get complaints from customers (one delivered in an affluent town).

The girl that doesn't do it anymore had a baby & had to find her own coverage & she was only out of work for 2-3 days post baby.

 

[MickeyMamma]

Our paper guy is an adult too. Comes around in his car. Papers are supposed to be here before 7 - supposedly supposed to get here before 6, but it doesn't usually happen.

Not sure if this is a city thing or not, but I think all of the paper guys around here are adults.

 

[azgal81]

I think paper delivering has changed alot now a days. Around here they are all adults and super early in the morning as well.

 

[kydisneyfans]

It really depends on the area-some papers are still afternoon and use youth carriers, but not too many of those exist anymore.

As for stuffing, most papers now have automatic inserting machines to stuff the paper, that's why half of the papers do not receive all of the ads. Those under 18 are usually not permitted in that area due to machinery.

 

[runwad]

Does your city of town have a community paper that comes out free to residents? Our town does and my kids just got a route delivering it on Sundays. Although they don't make a lot only 30 bucks/month but thats alot to a little kid and it's only one day a week so not too shabby in my book.

 

[Nascia]

I have been delivering the paper everyday (aside for our Disney trip in Dec) for about 3 months now. Ours has to be delivered before 6 on weekdays and 7 on weekends, fortunately they are all paid in advance subscriptions. Like PP have said, I can't take time off unless I have someone to cover for me, although my district manager did get me in touch with a previous carrier that can no longer deliver full time. Most carriers here are adults, but there are still a few kids that deliver the walking routes. You may want to see if your son can volunteer to be a sub or work the route with someone else (they do a few days, your son does a few days).

 

[Lets go to disney]

we deliver a local paper that is weekends only. we have from friday evening to sunday at 10 am. We have kids that deliver because of the time frame. I would check with the local newspaper.