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Thu Aug 13 2015 11:57:16

USPS Carriers Are Like Uber Drivers for Amazon

By: Ina Steiner

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Endicia says Uber and Amazon are making moves to enter the package-delivery space, reportedly testing crowd-sourcing services where "everyday folks" will deliver packages.

The shipping software company conducted a survey that found that while 67% of respondents said they would use such a service from Uber or Amazon, 34% would be more likely to use traditional carriers such as USPS, FedEx and UPS.

Top reasons for sticking to traditional shipping carriers: familiarity, reliability, security, and convenience. 

And speaking of how Amazon gets packages into customers' hands - one analyst estimates the USPS is handling an enormous percentage of Amazon deliveries, according to Bloomberg.

"US Postal workers are, in a way, like Uber drivers for Amazon," a Bloomberg reporter opined in an interview with her colleague. You can watch the video interview on the Bloomberg website. The accompanying article quotes Bernstein Research data that estimates Amazon pays the USPS $2 per package, "which is about half what it would pay UPS and FedEx."

Bernstein says Amazon receives a deep discount from the USPS "because the e-tailer does so much of its own processing - including providing computerized address lists to make it easier for carriers to tailor their delivery routes for faster drop-offs."

The article ends with the following: "The bottom line: The U.S. Postal Service handled an estimated 40 percent of Amazon's deliveries in 2014," prompting us to wonder what happens to the USPS if Amazon replaces that portion with other methods (delivery drones, anyone?).

Also, if Amazon, Uber, or others use crowd-shipping, it could mean a lot of un-uniformed drivers showing up on peoples' front porches - not necessarily a good think in light of the growing problem of package theft. 

The Endicia survey asked people what they thought about that issue. You can find more on the survey results in today's Newsflash.



Comments (20) | Permalink

Readers Comments

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by: methuen-web-sales This user has validated their user name.

Thu Aug 13 12:46:44 2015

I'm not sure if I want a sloppy looking person delivering my packages so I would hope that the shipping companies would be vetting their deliverers.  I also hope that it's not a method that people/employees of less than stellar principles to go into to increase their income.

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by: sasikat9 This user has validated their user name.

Thu Aug 13 13:48:21 2015

@methuen  Not sure you want a sloppy looking person delivering your packages.

My so called mail person is the exammple of sloppy pig.  She wears the same sleazy crotch hugging shorts and halter top everyday while driving a smoke burping oil leaking government motors car.

The days of uniformed postal employees in our area of the country is long gone.  A rural route we have.  Complain to the postmaster and his retort is " What do you expect me to do"

I for one would like to see the uber like delivery of my parcels.

Maybe at least they can get them to the right address which our sleazy mailperson  can't seem to do.  

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This user has validated their user name. by: Ming the Merciless

Thu Aug 13 14:13:37 2015

Porch shopping carried to a new level.

Of course, these greedy corps are considering this because they can pay peon wages to the "everyday" people who will be delivering packages -- until the theft/shrinkage rate becomes unsustainable.

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This user has validated their user name. by: Rexford

Thu Aug 13 15:21:49 2015

So when the "everyday person" is responsible for delivering the package, and the package goes missing, is the "everyday insurance company" going to cover it.

Drones, newspaper trucks, "everyday people"......the equivalent of one of Donahoe's thinking days.  

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This user has validated their user name. by: Basset

Thu Aug 13 16:19:42 2015

Aside from porch shopping -

Mr. Basset has used Uber and likes it - no complaints at all.  That being said - the sexual assault charges that pop up now and then with Uber drivers are worrisome.


At least the delivery people won't be coming IN the house - still, I hope they get a background check.

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This user has validated their user name. by: iheartjacksparrow

Thu Aug 13 21:07:55 2015

There was a big story a few days ago here in Los Angeles that four male Uber drivers at the Los Angeles Airport were ticketed because they had criminal convictions that would prevent them from having a taxi license. According to the Los Angeles Times, the offenses were: child exploitation, identity theft, manslaughter, and driving under the influence. If Amazon is going to use Uber drivers as delivery persons, I certainly hope they research these people thoroughly as I wouldn't want the people referenced in the article delivering my packages.

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by: ajeweler This user has validated their user name.

Fri Aug 14 09:02:27 2015

Unfortunately the world is full of convicted criminal's todays society, I say as long as they have that in their past (except child Crimes lock them up and neuter them) everyone has had some sort of run in with speeding tickets and traffic violations (what if they took your license forever for one ticket?)

with that said as long as they can be in some way insured and or bonded let them work (less in obomacare)

Now the real criminals lets use fleabay for example there are a bunch of criminals that have not yet been caught so what most of you are stating is if they were caught do not let them work but..... if they are active in crimes against people like freebay it is ok to allow them to have a say so in your business??

people a thief is a thief if you put lipstick on a thief it still a thief.......

as a employer for over 45 years I have hired people with Past criminal records (some stupid charges) one comes to mind

Hemp (or pot seed) is a crime in my state even possession of a single seed is punishable by jail time

This employee purchased bird seed from w-mart it contains hemp seed when stopped on traffic violation they asked to search car they found yes one single seed they charged this poor man possession under 20 grams??? he was arrested thrown in jail, bailed out hired attorney cost him over 5,000 to defend himself and even after two years fighting this finally won, however the arrest still shows up on a background check we hired him he was a great employee over 10 years of service to us and never once out of line, handled thousands of dollars in jewelry.

so these drivers should for sure be screened but if they have a bogus charge do not condemn them
every problem has two sides

here is a link to the seeds from birds most states have laws for hemp even though it is sold in every state in w-mart and online people get arrested for the most petty things (mostly the past 20 years or so)

http://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/03/us/bird-food-is-a-casualty-of-the-wa
r-on-drugs.html

the
real criminals are the ones active that have not yet been caught karma

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by: sasikat9 This user has validated their user name.

Fri Aug 14 10:49:31 2015

@ajeweler   I would think that the cop that had the time to go through the birdseed to find just one seed should be fired for wasting the taxpayers money.

That said having cops in my family we find the story just a tad bit stretched on the truth.  

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by: ajeweler This user has validated their user name.

Fri Aug 14 12:24:15 2015

@sasikat9

re read it did not say he went thru food, said found seed in car
and just so you will know I am retired gold badge as well.....
stretch nothing yes waste tax payers dollars but still was bad

drivers need the chance is the just of the story if they have record it may be petty

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by: sasikat9 This user has validated their user name.

Fri Aug 14 14:37:34 2015

@ajewler

re again nowhere did I say food.

Still believe its a stretch. Cops may be somewhat on the dumb side on occasion but they are far from stupid.

Paste star on forehead for being a retired gold badge for what ever that is supposed to mean.

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by: Volvo351 This user has validated their user name.

Fri Aug 14 20:59:08 2015

Yeah, eBay is going to accept tracking from a bunch of slackers who can't hold a regular job...after they sleep off their buzz they activate the Uber app and there are people crazy enough to get into a vehicle driven by someone with a residual blood alcohol or THC level.

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by: Volvo351 This user has validated their user name.

Fri Aug 14 21:00:43 2015

@Sparrow

Gypsy cab drivers who are ILLEGAL ALIENS?  In Los Angeles?  Naw...couldn't be.

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This user has validated their user name. by: iheartjacksparrow

Sat Aug 15 21:34:32 2015

@ajeweler - There has to be something else going on with your employee. Hemp seeds are sold in health stores and on Amazon as a source of protein. Either the officer had other charges pending on your employee, or it wasn't a seed but actual bags of pot.  

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by: DonC This user has validated their user name.

Mon Aug 17 02:30:53 2015

I receive excellent service from the USPS. I don't anticipate changing services.

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by: Chicago48 This user has validated their user name.

Mon Aug 17 05:07:33 2015

Endicia says Uber and Amazon are making moves to enter the package-delivery space, reportedly testing crowd-sourcing services where "everyday folks" will deliver packages.

^^
This is the dumbest thing I ever heard or read.  No way would I let an ordinary person deliver my package, no way.  Can I sue them if the package is damaged or lost?

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by: Chicago48 This user has validated their user name.

Mon Aug 17 05:10:07 2015

Also, if Amazon, Uber, or others use crowd-shipping, it could mean a lot of un-uniformed drivers showing up on peoples' front porches - not necessarily a good think in light of the growing problem of package theft.
^^
Not only that, what if that person shows up at your door at night unannounced.  That person could be taken for a robber or stalker and shot.

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by: Chicago48 This user has validated their user name.

Mon Aug 17 05:13:29 2015

At least the delivery people won't be coming IN the house - still, I hope they get a background check.
^^
You don't know THAT.  From what what I read UBER does a poor job of background checking.

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by: FREDDY This user has validated their user name.

Mon Aug 17 10:12:45 2015

Do not see the cost savings there.  Only for large heavy packages going to rural area.  
Does Amazon require signature confirmation for claims??  That means staying home till they show up??
I will stick with the reliable USPS, UPS, Fed ex  system.  

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by: Toledo Maude This user has validated their user name.

Mon Aug 17 11:39:03 2015

Half a lifetime ago in desperation to fund my small dying import business, I worked for four years as an independent contractor driver for a small courrier company.

After four years of driving 70,000 miles a year, I burned out two vans and had six months of payments left on the second burned out van.  I was down to replacing worn out tires with used slightly less worn tires.

Not to place too fine a point on this, driver turnover was constant which meant reliability suffered with common occurance of late deliveries and lost packages.  Between the vageries of the economy, competition from other large and small courrier companies, and the cost of maintaining a vehicle, there was little or no income at the end of the year.    

We made the USPS, UPS and FedEx look good.  Very good.

As a 15 year eBay seller veteran/victim, I will eagerly continue to rely on the big three for deliveries.  

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by: debranator This user has validated their user name.

Mon Aug 24 01:01:17 2015

funny thing..in my neighborhood...
amazon has had "regular" people in their own cars deliver to me for years.sometimes the packages are fedex..some ups.
but, i see at least 2 regular people a week...at my door with amazon packages.



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