Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Amazon Flex

flex.amazon.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

371–380 of 475 posts

Re: Amazon Flex

#371

Post by dzlobin »

shocks wrote: post #126
stephenc_c_ wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

In NYC, they like to use A1 International. I'm literally 0/2 with them, as neither package handled by A1I ever arrived.

Re: Amazon Flex

#372

Post by Lawtonfogle »

lotso wrote: post #263
dragonwriter wrote: post #166

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Does your UPS package get delivered in an hour? If what you are paying for with Amazon Now is rapid delivery service, then why would you tip for the service you are paying for. UPS delivers in a time set by the level of service that is paid for. Presumably, Amazon Now does the same thing. > Do you tip a pizza delivery driver? I did before pizza parlors started adding an additional separate charge for delivery servi…

The separate charge doesn't actually go to the driver. You should really tip your delivery driver.

Then they should really not charge me. In these cases, I just stop going to that business because not tipping will increase the chance of bad service. Personally I would like to see an end with all tipping, especially since there is an implicit threat associated with it (such as not tipping can get you spit in your food, which I consider a form of assault and battery).

Re: Amazon Flex

#373

Post by knorby »

jonlucc wrote: post #251
chrisBob wrote: post #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.

Would you feel better if the person said "Hi, I work for UPS; are you home right now?"? There's no authentication built into the phone call. Perhaps Amazon should use their apps to facilitate that kind of communication with something like a push message?

You are totally correct, but somehow Amazon couriers just opt for the maximum creep factor. UPS will call my apartment call box if I'm one of the people getting a package delivered, and they have the phrasing down. Amazon couriers will often call from their personal cell phone, and just say that it is Amazon and that they have my package. Given the callbox, the call is worthless anyway unless I'm home, but I never answer since it is a rando phone call! Their drivers just need training...

Re: Amazon Flex

#374

Post by andreasklinger »

digikata wrote: post #351
thieving_magpie wrote: post #315

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Man I couldn't care less who hands me my package if it arrives intact and on time. I'm not looking for a "delivery experience".

Isn't the probability of something going wrong higher if the delivery infrastructure isn't staffed with full time people? I would guess that mishandling, loss, misdelivery, theft would all be more likely under the flex model.

i want to agree with you but a lot of "professional" "fulltime" delivery companies i had trouble with provided more than sub-par customer care.

i even have a black list of delivery companies i try to avoid (when purchasing from amazon vendors)

Re: Amazon Flex

#375

Post by [deleted] »

digikata wrote: post #351
thieving_magpie wrote: post #315

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Man I couldn't care less who hands me my package if it arrives intact and on time. I'm not looking for a "delivery experience".

Isn't the probability of something going wrong higher if the delivery infrastructure isn't staffed with full time people? I would guess that mishandling, loss, misdelivery, theft would all be more likely under the flex model.

[deleted]

Re: Amazon Flex

#376

Post by justincormack »

Someone1234 wrote: post #173
ddmf wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yodel use self employed drivers, probably in a similar way to flex, but I doubt they get as much money - £30 to £50 a day - not sure how many parcels that entails. http://yodel.broadbeantech.com/jobs/view/4467/

You supply the fuel... If you take into account the wear and tear on your car and the cost of refueling, this is like minimum wage levels of income. I'd be interested to read an account of someone who has actually done this "job"* (*technically self-employed, therefore treated like "unemployed" to most financial institutions and don't receive normal benefits like holiday time).

There are some stories here http://www.netmums.com/coffeehouse/working-childcare-692/wor...

Interesting that one got the mobile numbers of the customers to arrange delivery, while others clearly failed to deliver and then didnt get paid.

Re: Amazon Flex

#377

Post by dorward »

thieving_magpie wrote: post #315
suvelx wrote: 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.

Man I couldn't care less who hands me my package if it arrives intact and on time. I'm not looking for a "delivery experience".

It's the "on time" bit that is important.

I've spent whole weekends waiting in at home for a delivery from Amazon Logistics only to get emails at 7pm each evening telling me they tried to deliver and failed.

Re: Amazon Flex

#378

Post by jlebar »

tzier wrote: post #360
speby wrote: post #327

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is a massive lack of imagination. I highly doubt the only motivation from Amazon's perspective is strictly about cost-cutting. On its surface, yes, it would be easy to assume this could result in some odd or lesser version of having a major courier deliver your package. On the other hand, by having Amazon control the to-the-door experience, that gives them incredible granular controls over how things are done, w…

> On the other hand, by having Amazon control the to-the-door experience, that gives them incredible granular controls over how things are done, when, by whom, and how they do it, including how they are supposed to treat you at the door (if you're there), what to say, etc. etc. You can't exert control (e.g. uniforms, greetings, etc.) over independent contractors, so Amazon would not be able to do any of this under th…

> You can't exert control (e.g. uniforms, greetings, etc.) over independent contractors

That's false as a matter of fact.

Re: Amazon Flex

#379

Post by ecdavis »

jlgaddis wrote: post #183
TheRealWatson wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can we agree already to not have to tip? I don't want Amazon to realize this money-saving practice at my expense. We don't tip UPS, we shouldn't tip these guys. Nobody tips me for pushing code to git.

The trend nowadays seems to be for everyone to ask for tips. I guess I kinda understand as it costs them nothing to do so and they definitely don't lose anything (and only serve to gain) by asking / soliciting for tips.

They don't lose anything in the short term, but look what tipping did to the restaurant industry in the long term. As tips become standard, businesses use them as a reason to keep wages low - in some cases lower than minimum wage.

Re: Amazon Flex

#380

Post by cwilson »

arethuza wrote: post #7
jblok wrote: 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?

Somebody needs to work out how you drop of packages for Amazon while driving passengers around for Uber. Actually - not completely crazy - how willing would you be as a passenger to take a few detours to get a saving on your taxi bill?

For me personally (and I imagine many others), not willing at all. I use Uber when I need to be somewhere quickly, so I'm not going to risk being late so I can save $5.

I'm actually curious if anyone knows how well Uber Pool is working? I've never used it for a few reasons, but a big one is that I don't want to risk another rider pickup causing me delay in getting to my destination.

Post reply on HN