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Lately I have observed that UPS has given up trying to re-deliver my packages if they don’t find me at home on their first try. They instead ask me to go pick t

Lately I have observed that UPS has given up trying to re-deliver my packages if they don’t find me at home on their first try. They instead ask me to go pick them up from a UPS storage location. I wonder if this is another sign of carriers getting fed up with Amazon.

sokoloff 7y ago
More likely Amazon not willing to pay for the redelivery attempt for the parcel. (Carrier contracts and line-item fees are quite negotiable, even way below Amazon’s scale.)
cbhl 7y ago
Not doing retries is a cost thing -- last mile is expensive (human drivers, fewer packages) and retrying delivery multiplies that cost 2x, 3x or more. Bufferbox (YC Summer 2012) was trying to reduce this cost before Google Shopping acquired and shut them down.
alistairSH 7y ago
USPS does the same thing for me. Pretty annoying. That said, whoever does the last-mile delivery in the Amazon-branded vans seems to do a good enough job for my easy-to-find house. And they tend to deliver in the evening, when I'm home, so the package isn't sitting out all day (though I'm sure this is a quirk of my location and the driver's route, not a feature).
- howard941 7y ago
  I've found USPS service to my residence is fantastic when it's my regular letter carrier but I do give a $100 tip every year. Nothing fits in my tiny street mailbox (thanks HOA, I had a nice big box at one time) but she walks parcels to my door even if it's pouring buckets.
fancyfish 7y ago
I got fed up with this since it was happening for about half my deliveries. I ask for a refund and let them return to sender after the package is done sitting at the storage location.
Spivak 7y ago
I actually prefer this than the re-delivery attempts. Look, if something was "wrong" the first time it's probably going to stay wrong the next n times they try. I would just rather it be in a fixed location that I can pick up any time than wait another week or so until they give up.
- noncoml 7y ago
  What’s the point shopping online then? You might as well go out and buy it if you have to drive.
  - kevin_thibedeau 7y ago
    Retail stores don't stock most of the things I buy online. Sometimes I try to find something local and give up. I need a 5mm glass fuse for a shredder. All the auto parts stores only carry 6mm. Box stores don't have small fuses. Amazon got the sale.

sokoloff 7y ago

More likely Amazon not willing to pay for the redelivery attempt for the parcel. (Carrier contracts and line-item fees are quite negotiable, even way below Amazon’s scale.)

cbhl 7y ago

Not doing retries is a cost thing -- last mile is expensive (human drivers, fewer packages) and retrying delivery multiplies that cost 2x, 3x or more. Bufferbox (YC Summer 2012) was trying to reduce this cost before Google Shopping acquired and shut them down.

alistairSH 7y ago

USPS does the same thing for me. Pretty annoying. That said, whoever does the last-mile delivery in the Amazon-branded vans seems to do a good enough job for my easy-to-find house. And they tend to deliver in the evening, when I'm home, so the package isn't sitting out all day (though I'm sure this is a quirk of my location and the driver's route, not a feature).

howard941 7y ago
I've found USPS service to my residence is fantastic when it's my regular letter carrier but I do give a $100 tip every year. Nothing fits in my tiny street mailbox (thanks HOA, I had a nice big box at one time) but she walks parcels to my door even if it's pouring buckets.

fancyfish 7y ago

I got fed up with this since it was happening for about half my deliveries. I ask for a refund and let them return to sender after the package is done sitting at the storage location.

Spivak 7y ago

I actually prefer this than the re-delivery attempts. Look, if something was "wrong" the first time it's probably going to stay wrong the next n times they try. I would just rather it be in a fixed location that I can pick up any time than wait another week or so until they give up.

noncoml 7y ago
What’s the point shopping online then? You might as well go out and buy it if you have to drive.
- kevin_thibedeau 7y ago
  Retail stores don't stock most of the things I buy online. Sometimes I try to find something local and give up. I need a 5mm glass fuse for a shredder. All the auto parts stores only carry 6mm. Box stores don't have small fuses. Amazon got the sale.