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>…[Amazon] dictates almost every aspect of that operation, down to what drivers wear, what vans they use, what routes they follow, and how many packages they mu

>…[Amazon] dictates almost every aspect of that operation, down to what drivers wear, what vans they use, what routes they follow, and how many packages they must deliver each day. >Amazon says its role is to lend entrepreneurs a hand as they build small businesses and not to control their companies, equipment, or labor force. It said it does not make personnel decisions for them, and while it offers them the opportunity to lease vans, purchase insurance, and manage payroll through its preferred programs, they are free to use whichever vendors they choose. That sounds alot to me like the relationship that Uber/Lyft/Instacart/etc. have with their drivers, but at the business level. That being said, I don't think it's too unique. For example, if you take a close look at a FedEx Ground delivery van (not FedEx Express, FedEx Ground), there'll be a note that the vehicle is actually being operated by a separate company, under contract to FedEx. Comcast, AT&T, et al also use contractors for end-user work; you'll see their vehicles have some sort of company logo, but also some text like "under contract" or "installers for". So I'm genuinely curious, especially when thinking about FedEx Ground, how is Amazon different here?

dsfyu404ed 7y ago
>So I'm genuinely curious, especially when thinking about FedEx Ground, how is Amazon different here? They're an entire step down market, they run cheaper crappier trucks with cheaper and crappier drivers. This means they can offer cheaper prices but the downside is they make mistakes more and are generally less professional. It's like the difference between the low class landscaper who shows up in a 30yo truck and lets loose half a dozen felons with week whackers in the industrial park and the high class landscaper who shows up in the kind of truck that won't make the secretary clutch her pearls with a crew who've only been arrested for misdemeanors to cut the grass outside your office. They both do the same job. One of them does it cheaply. The other looks professional doing it and is probably more consistent and actually has something you can sue them for if they really F up. Everyone says they prefer the latter one but the former isn't lacking for business. (Yes, I'm stereotyping here but you get the picture.)
- ctvo 7y ago
  [Citation Required]
  - dsfyu404ed 7y ago
    Source: Been a landscaper. I'm exaggerating about the ubiquity of criminal records but not by as much as most people here want to think I am.
- zarkov99 7y ago
  What an hilariously honest comment. Have an upvote.

dsfyu404ed 7y ago

>So I'm genuinely curious, especially when thinking about FedEx Ground, how is Amazon different here? They're an entire step down market, they run cheaper crappier trucks with cheaper and crappier drivers. This means they can offer cheaper prices but the downside is they make mistakes more and are generally less professional. It's like the difference between the low class landscaper who shows up in a 30yo truck and lets loose half a dozen felons with week whackers in the industrial park and the high class landscaper who shows up in the kind of truck that won't make the secretary clutch her pearls with a crew who've only been arrested for misdemeanors to cut the grass outside your office. They both do the same job. One of them does it cheaply. The other looks professional doing it and is probably more consistent and actually has something you can sue them for if they really F up. Everyone says they prefer the latter one but the former isn't lacking for business. (Yes, I'm stereotyping here but you get the picture.)

ctvo 7y ago
[Citation Required]
- dsfyu404ed 7y ago
  Source: Been a landscaper. I'm exaggerating about the ubiquity of criminal records but not by as much as most people here want to think I am.
zarkov99 7y ago
What an hilariously honest comment. Have an upvote.