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[Cosmic Bus]

We've used both the Flex food delivery and the one-hour shipping recently, and had no complaints about the drivers -- they're super nice. Thing is, I would very rarely use the service with the usual delivery charges; we only tried them out because of some free delivery promotions. Otherwise, I don't need laundry detergent, dog toys, and Chinese takeout at midnight that badly.

 

[Slayer-33]

We've used both the Flex food delivery and the one-hour shipping recently, and had no complaints about the drivers -- they're super nice. Thing is, I would very rarely use the service with the usual delivery charges; we only tried them out because of some free delivery promotions. Otherwise, I don't need laundry detergent, dog toys, and Chinese takeout at midnight that badly.

Emergency situations bro lol

 

[eBay Huckster]

You bolded the wrong part... out of any post office or any authorized depository

I think this is completely by-passing the post office.

or from any letter or mail carrier, or which has been in any post office or authorized depository, or in the custody of any letter or mail carrier

doesn't matter if it's bypassing the post office, the couriers are mail carriers

 

[UnluckyKate]

We all wished

 

[Deaf Spacker]

Maplin offers a similar service in the UK, it's pretty cheap considering it's same day delivery.

 

[Acorn]

Not sure how I feel about the coming "sharing economy". I'll add it to my reading list.

 

[Future]

They'd better do proper background checks. It's one thing to have Uber meet and drop you off a block from your house, another to have someone going right to your door.

Do you think your local pizza delivery guy went through these checks?

 

[goodcow]

doesn't matter if it's bypassing the post office, the couriers are mail carriers

No they're not. These are private couriers, not federal employees.

 

[Veritigo_X]

No they're not. These are private couriers, not federal employees.

They are still liable for stealing packages just like any other private courier, which is what people seem to be worried about.

 

[goodcow]

They are still liable for stealing packages just like any other private courier, which is what people seem to be worried about.

Liable to Amazon, who will fire them, but it's not a federal crime like postal theft.

 

[Veritigo_X]

Liable to Amazon, who will fire them, but it's not a federal crime like postal theft.

Oh right, I agree with that.

 

[5amshift]

Does Amazon pay for gas?

I would be surprised if they did. At that hourly rate, I wouldn't expect them to.

 

[Two Words]

If this catches on, isn't this going to add more carbon emissions? At least a UPS truck goes on a single long route to deliver a hundred packages instead of a hundred cars individually delivering.

 

[dLMN8R]

This seems really utterly terrible??


$18-25/hour and you have to pay for your own gas and car wear. In a city that already has a high minimum wage and will be $15/hour within a couple of years?

 

[McHuj]

Not sure how I feel about the coming "sharing economy". I'll add it to my reading list.

Don't worry it's only temporary until drones and robots take over.

 

[impact]

This seems really utterly terrible??


$18-25/hour and you have to pay for your own gas and car wear. In a city that already has a high minimum wage and will be $15/hour within a couple of years?

Seems about in line with how they compensate people that work in their sweatshops. Amazon is the worst company in America but no one gives a shit because of their prices.

 

[Sorcerer]

Don't worry it's only temporary until drones and robots take over.

I wonder how drones will every work? I am sure someone is going to write an app to track them in the skies and there will be snipers with bb guns ready to take them down and steal your package.

Also bad weather will probably destroy your package.

 

[Cat Party]

This seems really utterly terrible??


$18-25/hour and you have to pay for your own gas and car wear. In a city that already has a high minimum wage and will be $15/hour within a couple of years?

What does a pizza delivery driver make, for comparison?

 

[SatoAilDarko]

Two days is fine for me if I can avoid random people driving to my house. My family already never opens the door for anyone.

If I need something today I'll just drive to a store and get it.

 

[Marty Chinn]

Amazon's own shipping service is really shitty. I can't tell if this will make things worse or improve it.

 

[cyberheater]

I wonder how many packages you have to deliver to get $25 a hour.

 

[robochimp]

18 U.S.C. § 1702 - Whoever takes any letter, postal card, or package out of any post office or any authorized depository for mail matter, or from any letter or mail carrier, or which has been in any post office or authorized depository, or in the custody of any letter or mail carrier, before it has been delivered to the person to whom it was directed, with design to obstruct the correspondence, or to pry into the business or secrets of another, or opens, secretes, embezzles, or destroys the same, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

Nothing in there applies to Amazon Flex or UPS or Fedex.

 

[massoluk]

I wonder how many packages you have to deliver to get $25 a hour.

It's already in Seattle, may be someone registered there can enlighten us.

 

[WeAreStarStuff]

Nothing in there applies to Amazon Flex or UPS or Fedex.

I always assumed that it did.

 

[God Dayumm]

If this catches on, isn't this going to add more carbon emissions? At least a UPS truck goes on a single long route to deliver a hundred packages instead of a hundred cars individually delivering.

Not if those cars double as cabs!

 

[Walpurgis]

Please come to Canada.

 

[Taco_Human]

So their own version of poatmates. Cool?

 

[Ivan A Nguyen]

Needs an Android phone. Ew.

 

[Lucky Seven]

Sounds nifty.

 

[Kibbles]

Can I just drive to the plant to pick up my own packages then? I'd rather not pay extra for this service.

 

[Oreoleo]

What does a pizza delivery driver make, for comparison?

Because they get tips, they're able to be paid below minimum wage the same way waiters are. The most I ever got paid as a driver was like $6.50, but that was over 3 years ago. $18-25 is pretty decent.

 

[dLMN8R]

Because they get tips, they're able to be paid below minimum wage the same way waiters are. The most I ever got paid as a driver was like $6.50, but that was over 3 years ago. $18-25 is pretty decent.

In Seattle everyone must be paid minimum wage, even tipped workers. So right now the minimum wage is $10 or $11 depending on the size of the company and benefits status. Details


So pizza delivery people will make at least that minimum wage + tips. However I believe these Amazon drivers will be tipped too. I've made an order using the Prime Now service and a suggested tip of $7 was automatically added to my order. You can change it of course, but it looks like the variability of Flex drivers' pay will be because of tips.

 

[Veritigo_X]

Can I just drive to the plant to pick up my own packages then? I'd rather not pay extra for this service.

That kind of defeats the purpose of the entire Prime Now service.

 

[Hylian7]

What's the URL for Amazon.ca?

 

[dity]

From my experience with couriers who supply their own vehicle and stuff here in Australia, it usually isn't the best experience. Pesky couriers leaving the "sorry we missed you!" card because they had a few other jobs to complete and didn't want to go up a flight of stairs to "waste time" knocking on the door. It happens with regular mail sometimes too here, but I've only ever had one courier come to the door here while I'm home waiting. I hope that doesn't happen to you guys with this Flex service.

The most immediate problem I can see with the service is probably something that apparently happens with Uber drivers: they see a job, accept it, but then cancel because it's further away than anticipated. Could a package end up in "too far away" Flex courier purgatory? Probably more relevant to living in the suburbs around the city than being in said city though.

 

[Septimus Prime]

This seems really utterly terrible??


$18-25/hour and you have to pay for your own gas and car wear. In a city that already has a high minimum wage and will be $15/hour within a couple of years?

But that's $15/hour in a couple of years versus $18-25/hour now, which is a huge difference for a lot of people.

That said, I don't think it will ever happen in CA, unless Uber wins its appeal against EDD on the contractor vs. employee thing.

 

[Liferebooted]

Well stealing mail is a federal offence..

Yes it is, but this is never mailed or anything of the sort to fall under that.

 

[darkside31337]

can't be as terrible as lasership at least.

 

[TrojanBlade]

So how does the delivery person gets the package? They have to pick it up from Amazon warehouse or something?

I am already happy with Amazon 2-day free shipping as they always make it on time. Not sure how this will help much.

 

[Veritigo_X]

So how does the delivery person gets the package? They have to pick it up from Amazon warehouse or something?

I am already happy with Amazon 2-day free shipping as they always make it on time. Not sure how this will help much.

This is for Prime Now, which has different uses than regular Prime. Having a party and want some booze delivered? Use Prime Now and get it within the hour. Prime Now also uses local businesses to get products. In NYC, for example, you can get groceries delivered from Westside Market.

 

[impact]

So how does the delivery person gets the package? They have to pick it up from Amazon warehouse or something?

I am already happy with Amazon 2-day free shipping as they always make it on time. Not sure how this will help much.

yep

 

[Professor Renegade]

Interesting. Hope it's a free service for Prime customers.

 

[NEOPARADIGM]

They'd better do proper background checks. It's one thing to have Uber meet and drop you off a block from your house, another to have someone going right to your door.

Um, supposing you don't live in a gated community, you realize anyone can go right to your door at any time, yes? Fucking paranoid.

 

[Crud]

I have to wonder how many of these packages are going to end up missing.

No better than FED EX, UPS and the rest of them to be honest.

 

[UraMallas]

I signed up for this this morning and they just emailed me with some times tomorrow and Thursday for onboarding and information classes.

I told them I'd love to continue down this road but I live in Des Moines IA and as far as I know, the service isn't offered here.

We'll see how it goes...

 

[Orkidea]

I would totally do this if it were in my city

 

[ghostofsparta]

Is this cheap labor model going to continue? I feel bad for the drivers. Sure the hourly pay is decent but no one earning that much should skimped of health insurance and other benefits.

 

[IchigoSharingan]

Don't really want some random stranger to know I've got a MacBook Air and iPad Air in my house.

now everyone in this thread knows!

 

[VivaciousSoul]

I signed up. Baltimore isn't that far away and it might actually be preferable to driving in DC. There can't be too many places in the US less friendly to drive than DC.

Haven't received a response yet.

 

[Walter White Walker]

If you're delivering in downtown Seattle you'll be paying an assload for parking to deliver the package. Who pays for that?