It all depends on how much they pay. I mean conventional same-day or next day delivery service isn't exactly cheap. It doesn't seem fair to just assume it won't be worth the price of gas.
YOU ARE THE DRONE in Amazon's rumoured new parcel delivery plan
Amazon looks to be exploring a new way to cut costs by turning you - or anyone willing to deliver parcels - into its drones. In an idea that's most likely a stick with which to beat its delivery contractors, the retail Leviathan reportedly wants Americans to download an app, and if they see a parcel delivery that's convenient …
COMMENTS
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Wednesday 17th June 2015 05:53 GMT Roq D. Kasba
The last few miles are the worst paid in the independent delivery networks, 40p per package is not untypical, so the only way to make anything approaching break even is to have a lot of packages in the same street, and for that to be close to base. Having watched local delivery affects for MyHermes (as I recall) standing in a freezing, unclean, uneven bit of waste ground in front of a local depot, stuffing rusty cars with packages as they scanned them from the cage, on the floor, it was clear this is a Iow-cost operation.
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Wednesday 17th June 2015 10:21 GMT P. Lee
>> "The last few miles are the worst paid in the independent delivery networks, [...]"
>Yet the economics of international container shipping has apparently made "the last mile" the most expensive leg for an individual package.
These two go together. Bulk carrying makes things cheap, especially for uniformly packaged goods; individual package delivery is hard to make cost effective. Standard postmen in the past have cut costs by doing everyone in an area, but couriers have relatively few packages which makes them expensive. Email has cut the number of letters, so now even letters are few and far between, driving up unit costs on letter delivery.
Rather than going for end-user drones, I'd be asking shops (supermarkets?) to become drop-off points though they may see that as self-defeating.
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Wednesday 17th June 2015 12:30 GMT Cuddles
@P.Lee
"Rather than going for end-user drones, I'd be asking shops (supermarkets?) to become drop-off points though they may see that as self-defeating."
They already do that, and have for a while. Supermarkets aren't particularly well set up for it (it involves having shop assistants who can go and fetch packages from a store for you), but I have at least 5 or 6 shops within a 15 minute walk of my house that I can collect packages from. It's a big reason I like shopping with Amazon, since actual delivery companies are almost universally incompetent.
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Wednesday 17th June 2015 11:55 GMT big_D
We have delivery services that use "normal" people to do the last few miles over here in Germany.
The couple of cents they get per envelope means that if they have 1 letter in a remote part of their catchment area (sometimes a radius from 20-30KM), they will hold onto the envelope for a week or so, to see if they get any more for that area. Or they will send it back, because it isn't economical to drive 60KM round trip to deliver 1 letter for a cent!
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Wednesday 17th June 2015 09:41 GMT Robert Carnegie
Re: Umm no
Your name and address aren't hugely private. They used to be printed in the phone book. They're also in the electoral roll. A web site claims to know names of 3 people living at my address, which isn't exactly what I expected. Maybe they're using the electoral roll and they don't know about children.
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Wednesday 17th June 2015 09:42 GMT Ralph B
Re: Umm no
> I don't want a random stranger knowing my address and coming to my door.
Well, thankfully they can't possibly get such information from anywhere else.
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Wednesday 17th June 2015 09:00 GMT Anonymous Coward
Re: Drone uniform?
Amazon logistics, like most of the low cost final stage delivery services aren't uniformed. Plus it you're not in the parcel probably stays in their car boot till the next attempt and the "sorry we missed you" card gives you their mobile number to ring - there's no depot to go to collect it from. Fortunately I have a convenient Amazon locker I use as otherwise not sure I consider them to be "fit for purpose" anymore.
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Friday 19th June 2015 20:16 GMT Michael Wojcik
Re: Drone uniform?
Amazon logistics, like most of the low cost final stage delivery services aren't uniformed
Around these parts, our Amazon deliveries are nearly always made by FedEx Ground, which most certainly is uniformed. Of course, it's a low-paying franchise job and the "independent contractors" have to purchase the uniforms out of pocket, just like everything else they use for the job.
Last-mile delivery services are already exploitative. Personally, I'm not willing to help Amazon make them worse.
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Wednesday 17th June 2015 05:15 GMT Tac Eht Xilef
Never underestimate the human ability to be conned...
>"El Reg can't help but think this idea is somewhat less viable than mass delivery-by-unmanned-aerial-vehicles, as humans will surely realise that the pittance they'll get from the company won't be worth the time or fuel."
Really? I think it's more viable.
Ask yourself which is more likely:
* cargo & battery capacity, as well as self-navigation & object-avoidance technology, will advance fast enough that drones will soon be able to quickly, accurately, & reliably deliver reasonably-sized packages within metropolitan areas, OR
* some people will do anything to earn magic beans & get items on their Amazon wishlists for "free"?
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Wednesday 17th June 2015 11:30 GMT Anonymous Blowhard
Re: Never underestimate the human ability to be conned...
"cargo & battery capacity, as well as self-navigation & object-avoidance technology, will advance fast enough that drones will soon be able to quickly, accurately, & reliably deliver reasonably-sized packages within metropolitan areas"
Even if this happens, they still have to get CAA (UK) and FAA (USA) regulations for non-line-of-sight operation of drones changed (currently it's not allowed). This could take years, if not decades.
El Reg can't even get approval for launching a balloon in a desert...
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/03/13/lohan_vulture_mug/
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Wednesday 17th June 2015 14:39 GMT Voland's right hand
Re: Never underestimate the human ability to be conned...
they still have to get CAA (UK) and FAA (USA) regulations for non-line-of-sight operation of drones changed (currently it's not allowed).
No, they do not. Just hoist the NOC in a baloon to 3-5km height. That more than covers with direct line of sight a typical "delivery cell". Do you see the drone? Of course you do. The fact that it is 15 km away and is visible only with optically stabilized equipment assistance is not particularly relevant - you comply with the regs and can use it.
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Wednesday 17th June 2015 05:21 GMT Anonymous Coward
Well, it did work for Uber..
As far as I can see, companies that have gotten to a certain size are prepared to do *anything* to scape off a margin here or there, and with their volume they actually tend to get away with it too for a while.
Uber is IMHO in that respect a classic - "We didn't break the law, it's the driver's fault for not having permits/insurance/driving license/car - we just use them".
To me, it gives the impression of desperation. Is it that hard for Amazon to make a profit on their turnover? I can't say I like the idea of
a) strangers getting information on where you live
b) strangers delivering packages that may be valuable
c) strangers knocking on my door alleging to be Amazone delivery people
Let's hope this kite flies as much as much as their drone delivery idea, so not at all.
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Wednesday 17th June 2015 07:40 GMT Roger Greenwood
I think it will also work for small groups - villages, streets etc. who all could co-operate with each other to collect each others parcels as appropriate and drop off/keep safe. It already happens in many streets between neighbours, just add Amazon/Facebook or similar for the co-ordination and notification.
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Wednesday 17th June 2015 08:51 GMT Anonymous Coward
" It already happens in many streets between neighbours, [...]"
It is an unusual week if the postman and various couriers don't ask me to take a package for someone in the street. As they are regular drivers they know I receive lots of deliveries from them and am almost certain to be at home. However I do refuse to take anything for the multiple occupancy Buy To Lets where occupants appear to change frequently.
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Wednesday 17th June 2015 07:52 GMT JimmyPage
If I were devising such a scheme, I'd probably limit it to long-term Amazon customers.
(1) they are more likely to be "up for it" (because they are long term Amazon customers)
(2) they are pretty well known to Amazon (see above).
Is it just me, or is the level of thought commentards are applying *before* posting dropping ?
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Wednesday 17th June 2015 08:18 GMT Phil W
"I'd probably limit it to long-term Amazon customers."
And just how would you define long-term customers?
If you just mean they've had an account for ages then I know plenty of people who've got dormant accounts because they haven't bought anything through Amazon in years. They're not going to be worried if Amazon cuts them off after 1 high value item went missing in their care.
If you stipulate that they have to have bought something in the last few months, fine, but there's plenty more who buy 1 or 2 very low value items every few months. They're not going to care about getting cut off either.
You could perhaps say they have to have spent a certain amount in the last 30/60 days and spread over a certain number of purchases, but their limits your potential human drones significantly.
Maybe just Amazon Prime customers? Even fewer, but at least these people are more likely to want to keep on good terms with Amazon.
Genuine questions here though. In the UK this would be a major problem from an insurance point of view, since by delivering parcels for Amazon for pay would invalidate any vehicle insurance that doesn't cover business use (most people don't bother and just stick with social, domestic, pleasure and commuting cover). Would a similar problem exist in the US?
Also what about parcels which rather than going missing, get damaged while in the care of the "human drone"? Who is responsible for that?
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Wednesday 17th June 2015 08:38 GMT imanidiot
being a long term Amazon customer doesn't automagically make someone more trustworthy. The question still remains, who is responsible if a package disappears? That question is relevant for both the customer as the delivery person. What if I drop off a parcel, but the person receiving claims to have never received it and never to have seen me? Would I be on the hook for lost parcels if I where to deliver packages? If so, better think twice before coming even close to something like this
Also, I'd claim long term Amazon customers are more likely to be cough potatoes prone to NOT going anywhere and thus NOT being the perfect person for this sort of thing.
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Wednesday 17th June 2015 08:32 GMT Anonymous Coward
Money! Kiddie Fidlers! Stalkers! Thieves!
The comment section reads like old men at a bar.
What about the positive human side knowing you actually helped someone and at the same time had a small detour from your work run? Similar motivation to GoodGym, maybe even to somewhere interesting you would never end up but for the task.
Being an honest person and just doing a good deed for the deed over the financial reward?
I'm a miserable old bastard but these responses lead me to feel I haven't totally sunk to bottom yet.
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Wednesday 17th June 2015 20:13 GMT Anonymous Coward
Re: Money! Kiddie Fidlers! Stalkers! Thieves!
@ Doctor Syntax
I don't buy much from them but I would hope my thought process is built on a wider range of experiences.
1. If you pay "good" money you probably can chose a higher level of delivery charge, not everyone has an income that allows them such largess.
2. Someone you don't know, already picks it up.
3. It is probably with the person who last signed for it, one would assume it is possible to verify a person's identity and not just throw it into a crowd with the words "this is for Doctor Syntax!"
I assume the vast majority of people who buy from Amazon are not crooks, but anyone who would be trusted to do a delivery is going to be, my thought process really does struggle with that logic.
If some old guy pulls up with his wife sat in the car and you realise he does it to allow him to fund little trips on top of his pension and he has looked after the parcel like his first born and maybe even waited a while to see if you came home because you nipped out, then you might see another side of life, some have more time than money, enjoy meeting other souls and maybe even get a kick from setting some part of life straight for a few minutes.
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Wednesday 17th June 2015 08:51 GMT Anonymous Coward
Amazon at it again.
They love it. Run completely daffy, unworkable, plain stupid ideas up the flagpole, see if anyone salutes them. Even if no-one does, they get free publicity from sites like el reg, and twats like me who take the time to comment on their latest daffy idea. Next up : Parcels delivered by trained Red Pandas.
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Wednesday 17th June 2015 09:58 GMT Phil W
Re: This sounds exactly like the UK 'Amazon Logistics' operation that delivers prime stuff
Not really anything like that from what the article says. The article implies any one at all who has an Amazon account, delivering a parcel because they feel like it.
In the UK parcels delivered by Amazon Logistics are generally delivered to you by one of three sets of people
A. A courier company employee in a liveried van
B. A contractor working for a courier company in a van, possibly liveried possibly not, which they rent or own (sometimes battered but usually ok, since they're contracting for a branded courier company)
C. An independent individual courier in their own van (more likely to be battered)
In all of the above cases though the person delivering to you is a professional courier (for a given value of professional) who do this for a living and will have insurance of one form or another.
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Wednesday 17th June 2015 09:05 GMT Anonymous Coward
freelancers
A lot companies use freelancers, some (DHL for instance) just insist that the 'freelancer' provides a suitably colour van which they livery. That is why most delivery drivers will do their utmost to deliver a package, which accounts for why its sometimes left in unusual places. They don't get paid for redelivery. Every redelivery comes out of their own pocket.
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Wednesday 17th June 2015 09:12 GMT Tom_
Next Step
Why not just go and pick the parcel up yourself? Maybe they could make the warehouse look a bit more presentable for members of the public and while you're there they could let you have a look round to see if there's anything else you fancy. They could provide a few staff that are able to take payment for these additional items. Hey, if they found people frequently bought a few things they could provide little trollies that customers could fill as they wandered around. A bit of parking outside would be neat too.
I think this might have a future.
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Wednesday 17th June 2015 09:36 GMT Anonymous Coward
Re: Next Step
Nope. I don't like that idea at all. I've heard rumors that entities like the one you describe did exist once upon a time. People used to have to actually leave their bunkers to get stuff. This was both inefficient, and exposed them to the risks of disease from miasma, and the effects of Strontium 90 from nuclear testing and such. I've not left the safety of my fallout shelter for many years. Now, stories of these so called 'shops', are mainly used as cautionary tales, just to scare kids. Like stories of the boogie man, or Jimmy Savile.
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Wednesday 17th June 2015 10:35 GMT S4qFBxkFFg
Re: Insurance
I'd assume Amazon (being careful not to actually say so) is planning on potential drones neglecting to consider that point.
Amazon is happy - delivery gets made for cheap.
Customer is happy - delivery gets made for cheap.
Insurance company is happy - when the drone's car hugs a lamppost, no payout!
Drone is unhappy - no worries, plenty more where that came from.
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