YOU ARE THE DRONE in Amazon's rumoured new parcel delivery plan

"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.

Re: Umm no

It's not just knowing a persons address, it's the association of purchases with that address.

That's PI that could be exploited by an unregulated delivery drone.

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.

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.

Re: Well, it did work for Uber..

You'd risk death by snu-snu?

" 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.

"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?

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.

Is it just me, or is the level of thought commentards are applying *before* posting dropping ?

Yes, it is just you :)

"long-term Amazon customers."

Look up long firm fraud.

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.