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Amazon Flex

flex.amazon.com

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Re: Amazon Flex

#61

Post by hellofunk »

tdylan wrote: post #30
hmmdiggy wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We've had packages delivered by an individual similar to survelx, and the guy clearly smokes in his car as the package stinks of smoke and it even penetrates the items inside on occasion (clothing). Issue here is that he's not bound by company policy of smoking in a company vehicle, so he's free to smoke away.

Simple solution = rating system a la Uber.

I agree. When Amazon sends an order using one of these type of delivery services, they should send a followup email to the customer in a day or two after delivery asking for a simple rating on the delivery experience.

Re: Amazon Flex

#62

Post by suvelx »

colinramsay wrote: post #52
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.

I can't find anything that says Amazon bought Yodel - do you have a source? That said, I think you might be right about Yodel's general model being like this. Their service is shocking. On the other hand, right now I am waiting on a parcel being delivered by DPD on behalf of Amazon. They have given a one hour window, I can track the location of the van online, and I could have text them this morning to rearrange the…

How on earth did you get Amazon to send you a delivery with DPD?

Re: Amazon Flex

#64

Post by radmuzom »

How does the math work out on wages once you factor in the vehicle costs (gas, insurance, maintenance, etc...)? Is it higher than minimum wage?

Re: Amazon Flex

#66

Post by bmelton »

TazeTSchnitzel wrote: post #15
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.

No uniform? The least Amazon could do is send their drivers a hat and a sticker, or something.

Being in a Prime Now delivery area, I've had three recent deliveries by individuals in private cars, and each of them was wearing an Amazon Prime Now polo shirt.

In the past, I've had private car deliveries from Amazon, but I think they were generally LaserShip.

Echoing the author's sentiments, I had one delivery guy that looked sketchy. I forgot I was waiting on a package, and a guy showed up in my driveway, idled there for about five minutes (which my dogs alerted me to), then started lumbering up the driveway with a package in hand, smoking a cigarette, which he disposed of in my garden. The guy wasn't obviously from anywhere, in that neither his clothing nor car indicated any company affiliation whatsoever, so I stopped him and asked him his name and employer, and it was LaserShip, not Amazon.

Re: Amazon Flex

#67

Post by cableshaft »

wyldfire wrote: post #50
arethuza wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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?

Hmm. Sounds like an opportunity for a new business? Fluber will spawn itself as a broker to both services -- you just go where the app tells you and pick up your cargo (packages or people) and shuttle them to where the app tells you to go.

This is starting to sound suspiciously like missions in Grand Theft Auto. Now we need an app that shows you the best places to carjack and a social networking service for people who plan heists.

Re: Amazon Flex

#68

Post by hellofunk »

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?

Uber has already branched out to meal deliveries, so this is not far from their wheelhouse... no pun intended (actually it was).

Re: Amazon Flex

#69

Post by slayed0 »

BrentOzar wrote: post #46

If they're launching now in major cities, I'm guessing drone deliveries aren't coming anytime soon. (Or this is insurance against the drone plan not working.)

I don't think the drone plan was ever a serious short term consideration for 99.999% of Amazon's business

Re: Amazon Flex

#70

Post by ddmf »

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.

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/

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