Amazon's Big Plans to Disrupt Shipping

by: sasikat9

We have noticed that lately the last 10 or so packages from Amazon have been delivered by the USPS where they used to come by UPS.

Not sure why they have changed but talked with UPS guy and he stated that Amazon package delivery is down quit a bit.

To bad. The UPS delivery was faster and more professional than the USPS. USPS still takes days to deliver across the state.

by: Rexford

My question is does anyone really want to deal with a buyer who is driven my instant gratification?

I'm also watching this drone technology closely.  My guess is that a lot of drones will go MIA.  I know if I saw one buzzing around the airspace of my private property I'd have an issue with it.  I see a new sport on the horizon, similar to skeet shooting.

by: TomH

I agree with sasikat9 and Rexford.

I've also seen increased USPS delivers versus almost all UPS a year or so ago.

The drone delivery can not be much more than a small, small niche for many years to come.  And, I'm with Rexford, a little at home skeet shooting could be a growth sport.

Except for a few major cities and areas such as NY, Chicago, LA and such, the venturing into a hodge pod of doing their own delivery would be a very costly mistake by them -- I personally don't think they can do it.

As has been mentioned before, they are also going to be facing Walmart more and more. Walmart already has a built out thousands of delivery points (their stores) and a superb, owned transport system which they could much easier than Amazon, turn into a complete to customer home/office, etc. delivery operation.    

by: wellspring

If the newspaper carrier takes over our route, we are in trouble. Sometimes we get a paper, sometimes not. Sometimes its in the box, sometimes on the ground in front of the box. So undependable. Always the same excuse - vehicle breakdown.

by: wellspring

P.S. In our area, the newspaper carrier is an individual, who uses their personal car. A car that is about as dependable as the person driving it.

by: iheartjacksparrow

How many people actually subscribe to physical newspapers nowadays? After subscribing to the Los Angeles Times for about 30 years, I cancelled the subscription approximately ten years ago because the papers were basically going straight to the recycle bin; I got all the news I needed online. The only person I know who still gets a paper delivered is the 88 year old lady across the street who doesn't have an internet connection. Unless Amazon is intending to use former newspaper delivery persons to deliver their packages.  

by: Basset

Good point TomH, but Walmart does not have its act together yet. Amazon is still ahead of them, imo.  But,  Wal-mart is the closest contender. The structure is there, including delivery, but they just don't seem to know what to do with it.


Received an email to try '' Wal-Mart Grocery Shopping online with free pick up'' now available in my area. (You compile your list online, then set a time to go there and pick it up. An employee does the shopping.)  I usually buy the same things over & over at WM, so after good experience with walmart.com, why not.

Unfortunately, I can't report a positive experience.  


Problemo

Couldn't get out the starting gate.  Although I use Walmart.com - it does not seem compatible with the shopping for groceries part.  I was redirected to ''Grocery Shopping'' then when I put an item in my Grocery basket - I was prompted to open a new account.  My existing account did not work with this.

I called customer service.  An eBay-esque phone tree.  At last I reached someone who could NOT help me but transferred me to grocery customer service. Another chatty phone tree wanting me to make MORE choices. Then it hung up on me.  

Called local Wal-Mart - After 10 minutes on hold for Manager on Duty, someone became curious about the blinking light on the phone.  Finally a manager?  answered, listened but said he did not know what to tell me. I did not get the impression that he even knew if his store was participating in ''local pick-up''.


So... Rest easy Amazon.  Possibly eBay's laid off IT people went to work for Wal-mart. There are certainly some issues that need to be fixed if they want to compete with Amazon.  BTW, Amazon does have local delivery in some zip codes here, just not mine yet.

by: Bloggo

In the unlikely event that Amazon's drone delivery system gets off the ground, it will come to a crash landing soon after the first few injuries occur due to malfunctioning drones dropping out of the sky.

by: CypressC

If you think about it, it's really amazing that Amazon hasn't made a play to buy UPS.  

by: Beanie

Every time I see the word "disrupt" with one of these websites, I cringe and have flashbacks of JD's disruptive innovation, or what it really was, destructive intimidation.

by: truevisionary

I knew this was the direction Bezos was heading. I cannot believe the fools at UPS did not see this one coming. Today's consumer wants convenience. They do not want to buy something online then wait 3 days for the item to ship and another 5 days for it to arrive. Bezos will get the 2 hour window and again change the way consumers spend their money. As a seller on Amazon I love their innovation and if they can get my items to a customer in 2 hours or less that means more money in my pocket. The closest outfit is Target. I must admit they ship within 1 day but I am still waiting 5 days for my item. When Bezos masters 2 hour delivery say goodbye to Target and Walmart and most of brick and mortar. Adapt or die.

by: koonkat

USPS is better situated to cover every address, a situation that UPS and FedEx aren't really the best at.  I can see a partnership between Amazon & USPS rather than reinventing the wheel.

by: Tiffee Jasso

I'm with Rexford. I really do not want to deal with folks who need a gift by Friday afternoon and wait until Thursday evening to order it. Do us all a favor and GO TO THE MALL!

by: Moonwishes

It seems like this delivery scheme in any way and shape and form are going to be cutting out the 3P sellers. I sell a product that I have a huge variety but generally only 1-2 in quantity and for the most part only the one. So there is no way something could be shipped from my house and be delivered in California in 2 hours. Even Amazon taking over search and only letting buyers see sellers local to them isn't going to work, since many times I am the only one with the item in the whole USA. Or do they think that if they can't get a delivery within 2 hours, they don't bother showing results and so neither they or me make any money. People NEED to learn a bit of patience. How much of the stuff that is being delivered that fast is really that important anyhow? As the OP mentioned just because you didn't bother getting a present for someone go to the mall, don't expect Amazon to save the day. If they aren't within 2 hours of the mall they most likely they aren't close enough for that newspaper guy delivery either!

by: Ocean

I'm Prime for years and I dislike USPS delivery. UPS & FedEx use to deliver to my door.

USPS could easily deliver to door, leave in "Package Box" with key in my mailbox (like they use to.) I live in apartment building, and USPS has access. Our mailboxes are inside building.

Instead they leave just about all Amazon deliveries with apartment office.

Then I have to "waste my time" waiting in line at office to get packages checked-out. Sometimes no one there, and I have to return twice. Sometimes waiting 15 minutes.

And I don't get text, or email confirmation, from USPS once package is delivered.

by: sanddogg

Megalomaniac Bezos will not be happy until all his workers are robots. I still do not get the Amazon thing. Their performance, although massive,  is overall average as far as I can tell. But personally, I have had most orders from them as unsatisfactory. Tablet delivered without plug, Expensive paper delivered damaged inside of box (box was fine). RUSH for ink paid for overnite and it arrived 6 days later etc etc.  

by: FREDDY

What is the added cost to get it that fast????
I have to watch my money so I don't like to spend more than I have to.

This must be for certain major cities only.  If you live in a small suburb you will be out of luck.

I see a UPS drop off packages at USPS.  Girl at the counter said they have a contract to deliver certain packages for the next day. So it sounds like UPS and USPS  work together at times.

Drones delivery will  never work. Possibly for small envelopes to very rural areas. Then you get those that want target practice, malfunction drones, and a very huge liability problem. All for a package delivery???

Maybe next it will be like a transporter on Star Trek?? Beam me up, Scotty.