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Amazon rolls out machines that pack orders and replace jobs

reuters.com

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Re: Amazon rolls out machines that pack orders and replace jobs

#51

Post by seneca »

psychometry wrote: post #20
fastball wrote: post #2

Something tells me people will find a way to complain about this. And that those people will be the same people that think Amazon's warehouse policies are oppressive.

Automation isn't the problem. These jobs being lost are terrible and no one should do them. The problem, as always, is capitalism. Amazon wouldn't be where it is today without its massive workforce, including its army of factory workers. None of the people losing their jobs will benefit from this increase in productivity, though. Those gains will go only to the people at the top. Meanwhile, there will be more competi…

[flagged]

Re: Amazon rolls out machines that pack orders and replace jobs

#52

Post by simonh »

cheeze wrote: post #9
fastball wrote: post #2

Something tells me people will find a way to complain about this. And that those people will be the same people that think Amazon's warehouse policies are oppressive.

IMO the best "counterargument" here is that those were jobs which paid folks who then paid into their local economy. That goes away with robots and becomes more revenue. Lots of folks are in favor of a "automation tax." I'm not sure how I feel. Note I'm not arguing these points, but merely pointing them out.

>Lots of folks are in favor of a "automation tax." I'm not sure how I feel.

I think it's really important the operators of the horse drawn coaches, put out of work by the train I get to work in the mornings, are properly compensated. How is that to be funded without an automation tax?

Re: Amazon rolls out machines that pack orders and replace jobs

#53

Post by dewitt »

sandworm101 wrote: post #35

I'm surprised that Amazon still uses boxes. They have the market power to insist manufacturers comply with amazon-specific packaging requirements. Why not just insist that all products be packaged in postal-compatible packaging? Then the amazon warehouse robot need only slap a label on the product and throw it in the shipping bin. Another answer would be to have products packaged in standard, or at lease square, boxe…

I'm not an expert, but regarding your last question, I believe it's an industry-standard practice:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drop_shipping

And something that Amazon does as well. If you're a third-party seller:

https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/external/201808410

But this more-or-less hidden from the customer if Amazon is the seller.

Re: Amazon rolls out machines that pack orders and replace jobs

#54

Post by double0jimb0 »

dickeytk wrote: post #42
sandworm101 wrote: post #35

I'm surprised that Amazon still uses boxes. They have the market power to insist manufacturers comply with amazon-specific packaging requirements. Why not just insist that all products be packaged in postal-compatible packaging? Then the amazon warehouse robot need only slap a label on the product and throw it in the shipping bin. Another answer would be to have products packaged in standard, or at lease square, boxe…

They’ve done this https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=...

No, that's not what Frustration Free Packaging is. "FFP" is just easy to open cardboard product packaging, basically no blister packs.

They still put your FFP box into another bigger shipping box.

Re: Amazon rolls out machines that pack orders and replace jobs

#55

Post by onion2k »

Ajedi32 wrote: post #45
egypturnash wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Bezos’ pockets.

And from there?

Is this where you try to claim trickle down economics works despite the top 20% of people owning more than 80% of the financial assets?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wealth_inequality_in_the_Unite...

Re: Amazon rolls out machines that pack orders and replace jobs

#56

Post by glckr »

fouronnes3 wrote: post #39
zdw wrote: post #15

Video of the CarltonWrap mentioned in the article: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1yw05mWnXw It's actually pretty neat - creates boxes to size on demand. Doesn't seem like this would be possible with humans at a store, and could really cut down on box inventory.

Absurd how most of the items on the belt are already in a cardboard box. Seems so wasteful.

Amazon already (for some items, in the UK at least) makes you explicitly choose to have them re-box it in their own packaging, otherwise they just ship it in whatever box it's in. I imagine they'll do the same here, just not feed these items into the box machine in the first place.

Re: Amazon rolls out machines that pack orders and replace jobs

#57

Post by justaman »

jordache wrote: post #47

andrew yang 2020. no brainer. Surprised why more candidates are not discussing the automation gorilla in the room. there are not enough low-skilled, difficult to automate jobs that can sustain the population.

I like that he brings up a conversation we as a country need to be having but his ideas are hairbrained or idealist at best.

Re: Amazon rolls out machines that pack orders and replace jobs

#58

Post by Ajedi32 »

onion2k wrote: post #55
Ajedi32 wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And from there?

Is this where you try to claim trickle down economics works despite the top 20% of people owning more than 80% of the financial assets? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wealth_inequality_in_the_Unite...

You didn't answer the question.

Re: Amazon rolls out machines that pack orders and replace jobs

#59

Post by masklinn »

dewitt wrote: post #53
sandworm101 wrote: post #35

I'm surprised that Amazon still uses boxes. They have the market power to insist manufacturers comply with amazon-specific packaging requirements. Why not just insist that all products be packaged in postal-compatible packaging? Then the amazon warehouse robot need only slap a label on the product and throw it in the shipping bin. Another answer would be to have products packaged in standard, or at lease square, boxe…

I'm not an expert, but regarding your last question, I believe it's an industry-standard practice: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drop_shipping And something that Amazon does as well. If you're a third-party seller: https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/external/201808410 But this more-or-less hidden from the customer if Amazon is the seller.

The article wouldn't apply to drop-shipping situation. Drop-shipping means the upstream provider delivers directly to the downstream consumer, but that means it never goes through Amazon's warehouse and is thus not packaged or re-packaged by Amazon.

Re: Amazon rolls out machines that pack orders and replace jobs

#60

Post by _fq4v »

Tharkun wrote: post #40
liotier wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It would be great if all the jobs could be automated ... If all the capital could be distributed.

I believe something called 'communism' which addresses that. Snark aside, automating shitty jobs is a Good Thing. Finding new and better jobs for those impacted should be a major political priority. Education is one aspect, but comes too late for those already on the workforce. Places like Japan keep unemployment low by having many low skill jobs, like mall greeters and whatnot. This may be better than unemployment,…

The United States, is, in a sense, a communist country, given that most people own a good portion of major companies. However, like every other communist society literally ever, your diminutive share of ownership means little and there's still one guy in charge, except our guys differ by industry and vertical.
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