Live data from Hacker News

Amazon Flex

flex.amazon.com

121–130 of 475 posts

Re: Amazon Flex

#121
post #8

I've got a suspicion that Amazon has been trialling/building this in the UK since their purchase of Yodel, perhaps earlier. A number of times some bloke in a car has turned up and delivered me a package. No uniform, no branding. Just a phone running Amazon software. I can't say it's the greatest experience.

UK Prime customer getting terrible service from Amazon delivery - I think you're right, I complained the other day that Amazon are the only delivery people who demand I come down to the building entrance to collect my package instead of delivering it to my door. Prime is an important part of Amazon's strategy, if they're not going to actually deliver packages properly then they're screwing themselves over. I'll see h…

> WTH am I getting d/ved for?

No idea, so I upvoted you.

Now don't downvote me people just because I'm commenting about it. I didn't start it so it's not fair.

Re: Amazon Flex

#122
post #80
post #8

I've got a suspicion that Amazon has been trialling/building this in the UK since their purchase of Yodel, perhaps earlier. A number of times some bloke in a car has turned up and delivered me a package. No uniform, no branding. Just a phone running Amazon software. I can't say it's the greatest experience.

Package delivery is never a good experience in the UK i have my packages delivered to a friendly shop nearby - to my house, it's a nightmare. The collect+ system also works reasonably well, i take that option if offered. (where it's delivered to a local cornershop or similar and you walk to pick it up) I really feel there should be a gap in the market for "last mile" delivery to be solved properly, but i suspect ther…

im in the UK and any delivery tends to try my house first, then a neighbour and failing that the shop opposite me.

The only time I have any real issue is when it requires signing for e.g. speciali delivery, in which case I have to go collect it.

Saying that, I did have a delivery (ebay purchase delivered by courier) that was stolen. they must have watched the driver try to deliver and when there was no answer he went to the shop and dropped it off there. a few minutes later someone went in and asked for the parcel and the shop gave it out. not their fault and it should have been signed for so I was able to claim a refund.

Re: Amazon Flex

#123
post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It'd be valuable for you to complain to Amazon when that happens. They probably can't get feedback on a service like this except through complaints like that.

Complained several times but still occurs. I'm stuck in that guy's catchment area so always a high chance it's the same bloke.

They'll probably get the idea if you start hitting them in the wallet. Any time the stuff you ordered smells of smoke, return it as having been damaged in transit (it's true!) and they should catch on pretty fast.

Re: Amazon Flex

#124
post #19

Sounds a lot like LaserShip which Amazon already uses sometimes here on the east coast. Minimally trained people delivering last mile packages using their own vehicle. Results are.... mixed.

I had a package delivered by LaserShip last week. The experience was fine for me, it was delivered around noon without damage. A women delivered the package and was driving what seemed to be her personal mini-van with a sticker on the side.

Re: Amazon Flex

#125
post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

E-commerce companies have 2 points of contact with the customer - the website and the courier. It makes no sense whatsoever to me why there's this ongoing race to the bottom on the courier side of things while companies spend more and more on the website side. I suppose at that point they already have your money, so what if this delivery experience is awful? Yodel are worse than useless, and I can't see this being mu…

What I don't understand, is why I can't pick my delivery slot for free. Everybody has jobs. Everybody finds it annoying to buy something on line. You never know when it's going to turn up. You have to take a day off, and hope your driver is competent at his job. Why can't you just say "I'll be at home on Thursday after 5pm. Call me on #555-333-9999 if you have any issues". Courier delivers the package after 5pm on Th…

I have everything delivered to my office, as long as I can transport it home on my bike (i.e. no washing machines). Works very well for me, but apparently not every workplace encourages this. Here, the delivery guy brings the packages directly to my office ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Re: Amazon Flex

#126
post #8

I've got a suspicion that Amazon has been trialling/building this in the UK since their purchase of Yodel, perhaps earlier. A number of times some bloke in a car has turned up and delivered me a package. No uniform, no branding. Just a phone running Amazon software. I can't say it's the greatest experience.

The blank vans, oftentimes actually rental vans, are actually Amazon Logistics. This is Amazon's own delivery operation in the UK, and all Prime deliveries in my area use this service. It's been years since I have seen any third party delivery providers for Amazon orders.

Every time I've got something delivered by Amazon Logistics, it's actually been APC.

Oh, and it's shit. Order next day delivery at 9AM Monday? Delivered 7PM Tuesday! Get it Wednesday because the post room in my office closes at 6PM.

Re: Amazon Flex

#127
post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm still waiting to see cashiers disappear in supermarkets. Or bakers, since bread and cake production could be completely automatized by now. Strangely they are not going away. I wonder why... People who predict extinction of jobs are usually wrong.

And people who refuse to see it are usually blind... The supermarkets I go to have greatly reduced their cashiers. In most cases by at least half, especially in small shops (3 cashiers has become 2-3 machines and one human). As for bakers, they don't just make bread and cake. Excellent video on the subject: CGPGrey - Humans Need Not Apply: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Pq-S557XQU

> As for bakers, they don't just make bread and cake.

yet it's still their main product and they are stopping making it even though industrial bread is cheaper. So your point is ?

Re: Amazon Flex

#128
post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

E-commerce companies have 2 points of contact with the customer - the website and the courier. It makes no sense whatsoever to me why there's this ongoing race to the bottom on the courier side of things while companies spend more and more on the website side. I suppose at that point they already have your money, so what if this delivery experience is awful? Yodel are worse than useless, and I can't see this being mu…

What I don't understand, is why I can't pick my delivery slot for free. Everybody has jobs. Everybody finds it annoying to buy something on line. You never know when it's going to turn up. You have to take a day off, and hope your driver is competent at his job. Why can't you just say "I'll be at home on Thursday after 5pm. Call me on #555-333-9999 if you have any issues". Courier delivers the package after 5pm on Th…

Can't you get it delivered to work?

Re: Amazon Flex

#129
post #4

So I imagine the question every self employed person with a car will be asking themselves right now is this: will I make more money driving for Uber or driving for Amazon?

why not both?

If you have a bunch of parcels in the boot of your car you deliver them when you are nearby on an Uber call or when you have no uber work.

Re: Amazon Flex

#130
I see the appeal for people looking to work, but as a customer I strongly prefer UPS, FedEx or USPS.

Last week I got a phone call: "Hi, are you home right now?"

It turns out it was actually an Amazon Logistics delivery person, but that still isn't a question I really want to answer over the phone to some random person.

Post reply on HN