Has Amazon Prime been blowing it for you lately? (Boston: home, to buy)

[MikePRU]

I've definitely noticed Amazon has been more sloppy lately with delivery estimates. I've been a Prime member for at least 8 years and before this year I could probably count the number of times a package showed up late on one hand. Lately, it seems they've been missing the mark a lot. When they do it's usually pretty bad. Often when they miss, the item hasn't even shipped by the estimated delivery date.

It's frustrating because when I call customer service they can't tell me what the problem is or when the item will get shipped. They usually offer a $5 credit or a month of Prime. Right before Christmas they did give me a $20 credit which was nice.

Originally Posted by porterhouse

Amazon wants to drive more people to the lockers as it is much more cost efficient for Amazon. However this defeats the purpose of the convenience for me.

How does Amazon save money with the lockers? I recently shipped something to the lockers in the Wellesley Whole Foods and I got a USPS tracking number for it. Is USPS giving them a lower rate for these deliveries?

[CaseyB]

Do the packages get to the lockers faster or is it for security reasons?

[GeePee]

I think mostly for security, A lot of people have been getting packages snatched off their steps. I think it is by chance that they also get to the lockers faster. Makes sense.Driver has one big drop to the lockers in the am.

[porterhouse]

Originally Posted by MikePRU

How does Amazon save money with the lockers? I recently shipped something to the lockers in the Wellesley Whole Foods and I got a USPS tracking number for it. Is USPS giving them a lower rate for these deliveries?

It’s all part of their distribution strategy. Over the past 18 months in particular I have seen the number of packages delivered by the white Amazon vans sharply increase, while UPS and USPS deliveries have decreased. It is my understanding that an even higher percentage of deliveries into Amazon service centers (which always have lockers) are handled directly by Amazon. Taking more and more of the their last mile delivery internal represents an enormous savings to Amazon, which will only grow. Obviously less distribution points (lockers in a central location vs in many individual home adresses) is much more efficient from a logistics perspective, representing significant cost savings. Even for packages currently being delivered to the lockers by UPS or USPS, I would be shocked if Amazon hadn’t negotiated even lower rates for bulk delivery into these centralized locations.

I’ve been an Amazon customer since 1997 (according to my account page), so it would be hypocritical to knock them. However I can’t say that I’m proud of the impact to local and national businesses that I’ve helped them to sew in retrospect.

[tysmith95]

Originally Posted by lrfox

The only time I've had the window missed in the last year was a package due to be delivered last Thursday (1/4). Obviously the big storm played a big role in that and in my book, that's entirely forgivable/understandable. I didn't bother calling customer service, I figured I'd just wait. Sure enough, when I was walking out the door for work at around 7:15 a.m. on Friday, there was a guy in his personal van delivering packages to my place and my neighbor. The back was full of Prime packages. I asked him what was up and he said that he sometimes gets contracted to do deliveries when they get behind. Frankly, I was surprised to see my package that early the day after a major storm.

I still love Prime. Combined with my Apple TV, Echos and home speaker setup, it's my favorite service by far.

*edit*
Also, ditto what others have said about the lockers. I work near Whole Foods in the West End which has lockers. It always seems that my packages end up there much more quickly than they do on my doorstep. While my neighborhood is safe, I still don't feel great about having packages left on my porch while I'm at work. For that reason, I choose the lockers a lot.

Yah it's amazon flex. Basically anyone with a car can sign up.

[NorthofHere]

Originally Posted by GeePee

In the past 6 months or so i have noticed that it is a rare event if Amazon actually delivers my package in the 2 day window.Customer service always makes good, But this is becoming more common.Anyone else?
I know....first world problems......

It depends on where it is shipping from. 99% of the time is gets to me in the 2 day window if I have ordered early in the day and it ships from an Amazon warehouse even coming from California to Florida. If I order late (after 5) say today Monday and it says it will arrive Wednesday, I would say probably 85-90% of the time it does come then. If it ships from a third party it's a hit or miss whether or not I get it in the two days from ordering. I do get it in the two days from shipping. There have been some delays due to weather and Christmas where the package should have arrived in two days but the postal service missed the delivery. Rarely does it make a difference to me if it is two days or three. If I need it fast I usually pay the extra if reasonable for one day.

[MikePRU]

Originally Posted by CaseyB

Do the packages get to the lockers faster or is it for security reasons?

I've only had one order shipped to a locker. I would imagine people do it for security reasons. I did it because it was a gift for my wife and I didn't want her to see it in advance of me giving it to her. My lone experience did not show any faster shipping speed to the locker vs. to my doorstep.

Originally Posted by porterhouse

It’s all part of their distribution strategy. Over the past 18 months in particular I have seen the number of packages delivered by the white Amazon vans sharply increase, while UPS and USPS deliveries have decreased. It is my understanding that an even higher percentage of deliveries into Amazon service centers (which always have lockers) are handled directly by Amazon. Taking more and more of the their last mile delivery internal represents an enormous savings to Amazon, which will only grow. Obviously less distribution points (lockers in a central location vs in many individual home adresses) is much more efficient from a logistics perspective, representing significant cost savings.

It seems I have a constant stream of Amazon boxes showing up at my front door. We have monthly subscriptions to certain products and because of the convenience we order a lot of other household and other items via Amazon. I've actually noticed at my house a sharp decrease in the last year or so in packages being delivered by Amazon. The vast majority have been UPS with some USPS and even fewer FedEx packages mixed in. Of course, I'm just one customer. I wouldn't be surprised if Amazon handles more and more of their own deliveries. Where are those drone deliveries they were talking about launching last year?

Originally Posted by porterhouse

Even for packages currently being delivered to the lockers by UPS or USPS, I would be shocked if Amazon hadn’t negotiated even lower rates for bulk delivery into these centralized locations.

If Amazon can negotiate with USPS and get them to deliver on Sunday then they can do anything.

Originally Posted by porterhouse

I’ve been an Amazon customer since 1997 (according to my account page), so it would be hypocritical to knock them. However I can’t say that I’m proud of the impact to local and national businesses that I’ve helped them to sew in retrospect.

The retail apocalypse is real! I was just reading that Sears in the Natick mall is going to be down sizing and a Dave & Busters may take over part of the floor they're giving up. Of course, JC Penny in that mall is now Wegmans as well.

[BostonMike7]

Originally Posted by MikePRU

If Amazon can negotiate with USPS and get them to deliver on Sunday then they can do anything.

Makes me wonder if USPS taking that contract was due to them needing the money, or Amazon throwing them a big enough bone they couldn't say no.

[GeePee]

Originally Posted by MikePRU

The retail apocalypse is real! I was just reading that Sears in the Natick mall is going to be down sizing and a Dave & Busters may take over part of the floor they're giving up. Of course, JC Penny in that mall is now Wegmans as well.

I don't mind these types of places going down. It's when they encroach into more localized services that i get a little concerned.I'm not sure if they still do it, but I recently ssaw them pushing house cleaning.

[wror]

Try the alternative and see how that goes for ya. Walmart

Bought an auto light bulb. The package was crushed
Bought a coffee maker. The coffee maker package had a 3 inch dent in the side. The maker was either a display or a previous return.
Bought a TV, looked like someone took a broom stick and plugged a hole into the box.
Than 2 1/2 3 weeks waits on items
Than if you search for say household lights or something, books or cat5 cables might come up on the search.

Amazon Rocks!