4 ms·
I have a lot of trust in USPS too, but ... I feel like USPS is a temporary or secondary measure until Amazon ramps up their own delivery service in big cities.
by silencio 12y ago
I have a lot of trust in USPS too, but ... I feel like USPS is a temporary or secondary measure until Amazon ramps up their own delivery service in big cities. Part of the appeal of DIY delivery is same day/next day and Sunday service, and USPS can't necessarily offer that.
In SF, Amazon already does some of the last mile deliveries, and I haven't been impressed so far. A blender chucked over a ~8 foot gate so it busted the box inside despite a ton of packaging. A package that was left _outside_ the gate - when I live right on Market Street (if you don't know local geography, it's one of the biggest streets in SF)... that was stolen before I even realized it was delivered. Bonus points because it was a birthday gift but Amazon wouldn't rush the replacement package showing up a day late. One package carefully put in front of the basement door, almost missed. Another wedged through the gaps in the gate and damaged. One time a person rang the doorbell and just dropped the box in front of the gate when they heard the buzz. Did I mention I've been home for all these packages and have no idea why people can't just ring the doorbell and wait 10 more seconds? Lastly, I have an order going to a commercial address and I'm worried they might try Sunday evening delivery instead of a saner time like 9am on Monday for all other carriers.
USPS works because the same people tend to work the same routes and end up knowing a lot about when and where to leave things - I also know the UPS guy for my address and when he's doing deliveries, it works flawlessly too. I'm worried that Amazon isn't planning for something like that.
- discardorama 12y ago> I feel like USPS is a temporary or secondary measure until Amazon ramps up their own delivery service in big cities. Part of the appeal of DIY delivery is same day/next day and Sunday service, and USPS can't necessarily offer that I live in SF too (a block from Market), and I totally hear you. The USPS has one thing that none of the other delivery services have: access to the insides of apartment buildings in cities like SF. At best the UPS/FedEx can ring the bell; but they can't leave the package inside. The USPS guy has keys to all buildings (the outside, not the individual apartments), and can leave the package inside. It makes a BIG difference. I don't have to drive over to the UPS warehouse to pick up a package I missed.
- ics 12y agoGive it time and Amazon might start offering electronic locks to landlords free of charge so that they can do just that.
- cowsandmilk 12y ago> Part of the appeal of DIY delivery is same day/next day and Sunday service, and USPS can't necessarily offer that. This reminded me, has anyone actually had a package from Amazon delivered on Sunday by USPS? http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/11/business/postal-service-and-amazon-strike-deal.html http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/11/business/postal-service-an...
- goodcanadian 12y agoYes. My most recent purchase was delivered on a Sunday. I was surprised because I didn't know that was a thing.
- happycube 12y agoYup. From what I can tell/guess Amazon trucks things into the USPS distribution center around here.
- jonknee 12y agoThe last Sunday delivery I had showed up on Tuesday. USPS is a joke.