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Amazon Prime "doorstepping"

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Today's moral maze.

Twice this week I've had an Amazon Prime delivery driver dump a package on the doorstep (my front door opens directly onto the street), ring the bell and then immediately turn heel and set off back down the street like Usain Bolt.  Unfortunately for them, I have a video doorbell.  Different drivers both times.

I spoke to a mate who's a former Amazon driver.  He tells me that Amazon operates a zero tolerance policy towards "doorstepping."  If I report them, they will likely be fired on the spot.

On the one hand, I don't want someone to lose their job, I want them to get told to knock it off.  On the other hand, if you don't want to be reported for taking the piss then don't abandon deliveries in the street.

WWSTWD?


 
Posted : 06/10/2024 5:53 pm
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I spoke to a mate who’s a former Amazon driver.  He tells me that Amazon operates a zero tolerance policy towards “doorstepping.”  If I report them, they will likely be fired on the spot.

Is that how "your mate" is a former driver?

If Amazon did that, they'd be out of drivers by end of week


 
Posted : 06/10/2024 5:56 pm
ayjaydoubleyou, Merak, kelvin and 5 people reacted
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Report them. You wouldn't be ordering from Amazon in the first place if you actually gave a shit about workers rights, so don't try coming over all righteous now.....


 
Posted : 06/10/2024 5:57 pm
towpathman, reeksy, andy4d and 33 people reacted
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I would report it. I did the Amazon delivery stuff for a short time a couple of years ago. You get sacked immediately if you do age verification incorrectly. If you deliver incorrectly a few times you have to sit through a refresher training session. I’d guess this guy will probably get a refresher course once you report it. Which is probably a good thing in my opinion.


 
Posted : 06/10/2024 6:00 pm
doris5000, pondo, scotroutes and 5 people reacted
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You got the parcels, stop making a mountain out of a molehill.


 
Posted : 06/10/2024 6:12 pm
submarined, timidwheeler, chrismac and 19 people reacted
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Fat chance of you bring able to report it to Amazon.


 
Posted : 06/10/2024 6:13 pm
burntembers, cogglepin, cogglepin and 1 people reacted
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You got the parcels, stop making a mountain out of a molehill.

We had two parcels nicked this week because they were left on the doorstep by Amazon. There's no way to report non-delivery and the retailers covered the cost of replacements because Amazon won't.


 
Posted : 06/10/2024 6:15 pm
 DanW
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That is how all of my Amazon orders arrive. Didn't ever think about it being a problem :shrugs:


 
Posted : 06/10/2024 6:18 pm
desperatebicycle, submarined, andy4d and 17 people reacted
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It looks like there are only 2 options, report or don't report.

That's a shit maze.


 
Posted : 06/10/2024 6:18 pm
funkmasterp, sirromj, chrismac and 9 people reacted
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You wouldn’t be ordering from Amazon in the first place if you actually gave a shit about workers rights, so don’t try coming over all righteous now…..

It never ceases to amaze me, the vitriol, judgement and general unpleasantness the simplest of questions can elicit on here.  Do people hover over their keyboards, constantly refreshing in case they miss the opportunity to demonstrate their moral superiority or tell someone else how shit their ethics are?


 
Posted : 06/10/2024 6:39 pm
 Del
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Most of us probably buy from Amazon. You'd have to have your head in the sand to think they're a good employer. Therefore most of us are complicit. I am.


 
Posted : 06/10/2024 6:46 pm
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Is that how “your mate” is a former driver?

No, he had a mental health breakdown and had to quit.  But thanks for asking.


 
Posted : 06/10/2024 6:50 pm
supernova and supernova reacted
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A least your delivery people press your video doorbell. Round here they deliberately don't press the doorbell because then there would be evidence that they didn't hang around to see if anyone was in. Ours just give the gentlest of knocks on the door before legging it back to the car,leaving the package on the doorstep.


 
Posted : 06/10/2024 6:53 pm
bmw325sport, twowheels, twowheels and 1 people reacted
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We've got a new delivery driver i think, last few have been over the gate jobs, reality is i get the email so just nip out, if it gets nicked or isn't there then i'd be reporting the failure of delivery, bar that, i try and avoid having to speak to online places these days!


 
Posted : 06/10/2024 7:20 pm
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We had 2 parcels left on the front door step at the start of this week.

In the rain.

Despite the designated place to put them is a nice dry greenhouse, literally 5 ft to the side of the front door.

One of the deliveries was recorded as 'delivered to recipient' or something like that.

The other, no knock as I was in the house amd so was the dog who woofs whenever theres a knock.

They were books when they were ordered. Paper mache by the time we got them.

Reported, refunded.


 
Posted : 06/10/2024 7:22 pm
pondo, stevego, twowheels and 3 people reacted
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You got the parcels, stop making a mountain out of a molehill.

I'd take this approach.. it's happened to me a few times, once or twice...once was a £400 phone, lol! if I actually got the parcels I'd just swear and moan a bit and then move on with my life.

If one went missing/got stolen/rain damaged from the doorstep, then I'd report it and get a refund. Driver takes thier own chances when they do that, IMO.


 
Posted : 06/10/2024 7:23 pm
leffeboy and leffeboy reacted
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I'm quite happy for them to leave mine on the door step. Makes life easy.  Sometimes they leave them in the bike shed and other times in the back of the land rover.

When they take them away. That's a pain in the hole.


 
Posted : 06/10/2024 7:24 pm
hightensionline, submarined, scotroutes and 7 people reacted
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Another annoying thing worh Amazon was a pack of new guitar strings.  Got them (not wet).  But they're counterfeit. Look counterfeit when you have a 'real' packet to compare to.

And when they say 'made in the USA' on the printed packet, but the stuck-on label on the back says 'made in China', that's another clue.  Lesson learned, will buy from a proper music shop in the future.


 
Posted : 06/10/2024 7:25 pm
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No, he had a mental health breakdown and had to quit.  But thanks for asking.

Thanks for  telling.......maybe the guy you report also has mental health issues. How do we know?


 
Posted : 06/10/2024 7:27 pm
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It never ceases to amaze me, the vitriol, judgement and general unpleasantness the simplest of questions can elicit on here.  Do people hover over their keyboards, constantly refreshing in case they miss the opportunity to demonstrate their moral superiority or tell someone else how shit their ethics are?

Yes.


 
Posted : 06/10/2024 7:28 pm
oceanskipper, blokeuptheroad, funkmasterp and 13 people reacted
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Before you report anyone, it’s worth remembering that Amazon don’t actually give a flying ****!

I had a good mate who spent a couple of months delivering for Amazon last year. It’s a miserable way to make a living with absolutely insane schedules and very, very long hours. think you’re having a day off tomorrow even though you’ve done ten 12 hour days on the bounce? Not any more you’re not because we’re busy. We’ll let you know that via text at 8pm

You’re subcontracted out so you’re essentially self-employed at their beck and call literally 24/7. They will then fleece you at every turn due to the small print in the contracts which makes you liable for everything while they’re liable for nothing.

His attitude to it nowadays (now he’s got a much better job) is that people would be a lot more sympathetic to delivery drivers (not just Amazon) if they had appreciated the day-to-day realities of that particular job


 
Posted : 06/10/2024 7:33 pm
mattyfez, myti, funkmasterp and 11 people reacted
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Not aimed at anyone, just my thoughts on this.

I'm a hypocrite. I know Amazon is not a good employer but the convenience is a huge plus in my life at the moment due to, "reasons".

So... when a driver does something a bit daft I'll have a moan to myself and then just get on with other stuff.


 
Posted : 06/10/2024 7:42 pm
myti, northshoreniall, Skippy and 5 people reacted
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This seems to be standard practice for all delivery firms since Covid.


 
Posted : 06/10/2024 7:56 pm
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We had 2 parcels left on the front door step at the start of this week.

My delivery pref is just dump in front garden if we're not there. When it raining, they just zip tie it in a plastic bag, which really impressed me, I was expecting to come home to a soggy parcel...


 
Posted : 06/10/2024 7:56 pm
susepic, peesbee, susepic and 1 people reacted
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I like it when couriers leave parcels. Means I don't have to wait around at home for stuff.


 
Posted : 06/10/2024 8:17 pm
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It never ceases to amaze me, the vitriol, judgement and general unpleasantness the simplest of questions

The OP asked a question around the morals of his dealings with Amazon. It wasn't a simple question. Look at the first line ...

Today’s moral maze.

My reply was perfectly valid, if a little strongly worded.


 
Posted : 06/10/2024 9:23 pm
pictonroad, Marko, Dickyboy and 7 people reacted
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Someone at Amazon has worked out the cost of replacing lost parcels is less than the cost of hanging around waiting for someone to answer the door.

high value stuff has a code the driver needs from you.


 
Posted : 06/10/2024 9:47 pm
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It wasn’t a simple question.

My reply was perfectly valid, if a little strongly worded.

OK.  I'm just not sure the perceived complexity of the question justifies the rudeness.  I think most people posting questions on here do so in good faith, even if the question might seem daft or the answer obvious to someone else. And as others have pointed out, we can all be a little hypocritical in our purchasing choices sometimes.


 
Posted : 06/10/2024 10:04 pm
scotroutes, flicker, Poopscoop and 9 people reacted
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While I’m sure Amazon are pretty shit as an employer, much the same can be said of the majority of courier and multi-drop delivery companies - certainly when I found myself out of a job for a while I considered it for all of 30 seconds before deciding that I was way too old for that shit!
Fact is that many things I often want or need to buy are just not possible to get from local shops - the calci worms I buy for the birds and hedgehogs I would buy in plastic tubs from Wilco’s, but they don’t exist anymore, nobody else sells them locally, so Amazon it is, and I buy 5kg bags for around £20, which would have got me 2Kg in town.


 
Posted : 06/10/2024 11:49 pm
Poopscoop and Poopscoop reacted
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dunno you decide


 
Posted : 06/10/2024 11:49 pm
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His attitude to it nowadays (now he’s got a much better job) is that people would be a lot more sympathetic to delivery drivers (not just Amazon) if they had appreciated the day-to-day realities of that particular job

Same as any other life experience.

Someone at Amazon has worked out the cost of replacing lost parcels is less than the cost of hanging around waiting for someone to answer the door.

Amazon replace ****-all - the retailer does.


 
Posted : 07/10/2024 12:00 am
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In the US it’s completly standard, even from reputable delivery firms. Mind boggling.

Ive had an iPhone left on the doorstep.


 
Posted : 07/10/2024 4:35 am
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This seems to be standard practice for all delivery firms since Covid.

Agree, I think that is when it noticeably changed for obvious reasons and never went back because it saves time for the person delivering.


 
Posted : 07/10/2024 6:33 am
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We’ve a curtain twitching neighbour who clears up our drive should anything be accidentally deposited in her line of sight.  It’s not malicious. She’s just batshit. Even weeds aren’t safe.

Most couriers know now to leave parcels in one of the  store it out boxes. Amazon sometimes do, but they have such a turnover of staff it’s random. The main issue with them is they’re generally inexperienced drivers who end up getting stuck in the ditch opposite the drive when turning around.


 
Posted : 07/10/2024 7:49 am
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it didnt stick to my wet gutters, i had to dry and clean them. worked for about a year,


 
Posted : 07/10/2024 8:45 am
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I think it's a good way to deliver. What if you're in the shower or having a dump? Are they supposed to stand there and wait until you've finished, wiped and got ready to answer the door? Makes no difference if you're stood with your hand on the front door handle or got one in the bay doors, you still get your parcel. And the driver gets to meet their (no doubt horrendous) delivery quota.

I thought it was weird, but cool when I was on my way out the other day, when the Amazon van drove up my road, so I turned back, knowing I had a delivery. I got out of my car, said "Number 10?" and he just handed them to me in the middle of the street.. I supposed I could've been anyone, but guessed the right door number lol


 
Posted : 07/10/2024 8:59 am
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This week I had a fancy new camera that was supposed to be signed delivery left by my front gate (not even the doorstep!), in the rain. This was by DPD, and I complained this time. Had i not had a window open and heard the delivery driver doing the beepy thing it would probably have been swiped.


 
Posted : 07/10/2024 9:27 am
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This...

I think it’s a good way to deliver. 

... does not jibe well with this....

... he just handed them to me in the middle of the street.. I supposed I could’ve been anyone... 

What they're supposed to do if you're in the shower or having a dump is look for a safe place, try a neighbour or take with them. Ours was supposed to get proof of delivery but did not, even though that's against their own terms, but refused to countenance a claim for non-delivery because the driver marked it down as delivered "near" the house.


 
Posted : 07/10/2024 9:33 am
flicker and flicker reacted
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I think it’s a good way to deliver.
… does not jibe well with this…

Yeah, er, if you have trouble - they are 2 different things. The first part was about the thread's original theme (leaving a parcel on the doorstep). The second was an experience of how a parcel was delivered to me. It was a different scenario. Clearer for you now?


 
Posted : 07/10/2024 9:55 am
Poopscoop, midlifecrashes, midlifecrashes and 1 people reacted
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Was perfectly clear how facile the argurment was in the first place, thanks. 🙂


 
Posted : 07/10/2024 10:29 am
agent_f and agent_f reacted
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I know how Amazon deliver so I generally only buy cheaper items from them (if dearer I would make sure someone is in) I also stay at the end of a cul-de-sac so low volume traffic passing. I wouldn't report unless stuff went missing.


 
Posted : 07/10/2024 10:59 am
 a11y
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I'm guessing Amazon couriers must be on a tight time schedule? Possibly explains the dump n run approach.

I installed a 'LockTin' when we first moved in: big metal cupboard secured to house wall, with electronic lock needing a PIN to access (we include instruction and PIN within delivery addresses). But clearly still too much effort/time-hungry for some couriers (almost always Amazon) who dump n run...

Conscious we buy quite a bit online so trying to make courier's lives easier as well as our own.


 
Posted : 07/10/2024 11:09 am
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I like it when couriers leave parcels. Means I don’t have to wait around at home for stuff.

Yes, we've never had a problem. Fortunately we don't live in a crimey neighbourhood though! I can see how it would not be optimal, if you did.

Interestingly it's totally different on the industrial estate where I work. It's either delivered to you, a neighbour, or taken away again. Nothing is ever just left by the door or bins!!


 
Posted : 07/10/2024 11:13 am
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I wouldn’t report unless stuff went missing.

That's my big problem with it now - I had no way to report non-delivery to them (just that it wasn't where the driver said it was - "thanks for the feedback", they said, no way to escalate further with Amazon), so raised with the retailer who had to fork out for the replacement because Amazon said the driver delivered it "near" to the house, even though they declined to get a POD, which by their own terms they are required to get. If Amazon was paying out for the consequences of their shit treatment of drivers, that would be ok - it's criminal that the retailer has to pay.


 
Posted : 07/10/2024 11:24 am
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tbh i didnt realise this ws an issue. The ones that drop it off at ours literally firsbee it at the door sometimes.


 
Posted : 07/10/2024 11:43 am
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Fair play - Amazon delivery for Mrs Pondo, knocked the door and rang the doorbell, handed the parcel to me. That's more like it. 🙂


 
Posted : 07/10/2024 12:31 pm
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To clarify a couple of points.

As I said in the OP, my front door opens out onto the street.  Any notion of "safe places" like behind a garden wall or installing a drop box is out.  One of the big gripes I had with Yodel at the old house was that rather than dumping a package on the doorstep in full view of the main road I lived on, they could've put it behind a wall out of sight some two feet away but didn't.  I don't have that luxury here.

I've lived here four years.  This is new.  It happened once before also, last month.

I live on a thoroughfare in Burnley, not a leafy cul-de-sac in Tonbridge Wells.  It might be great for you, in which case I'm very happy for you, but it is not great for me.

There is almost always someone home.  There would be something amiss if we weren't at the door within 30 seconds, it's not like we're keeping them waiting.  I've just timed myself walking from my office upstairs to answering the door at 24 seconds, and nine times out of ten I'm barely at the bottom of stairs by the time my partner has already got the door open first.

It's deliberate.  They dump the package, wave their phone around, then the last thing they do as they turn on their heel to scarper is ring the bell.  I can only assume this is to minimise their chances of being caught out and receiving a bollocking.


 
Posted : 07/10/2024 12:44 pm
pondo, Poopscoop, Poopscoop and 1 people reacted
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It’s deliberate.

It is, but I think they are almost forced into operating like that by Amazon's delivery model if they want to earn a passable wage. I have sympathy for you as I've been on the receiving end. But I also have sympathy for the drivers, it must be a rubbish and incredibly stressful way to earn a living.


 
Posted : 07/10/2024 2:07 pm
myti, pondo, kelvin and 3 people reacted
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Twenty four seconds is a long time to get to the door. We were told wait 10 seconds. The guys don’t have time in their schedule to wait 24 seconds at each delivery. I’m not saying that’s a good thing just that the delivery schedule is so tight that the deliveries need to be ticked off quickly to get through the schedule for the day.

It’s a tough gig. I remember having 220 items to deliver starting out of the depot around 10:30/11:00. I used to stop for 5 minutes to have a quick swig of tea and sandwich once I got down to 100 items to go. Some days I didn’t have time for a five minute break. Then when you’ve finished your schedule you have to do re attempts. Every non delivered item had to have at least one re-attempt. I’d often call the customer but it just rang out because a lot of people don’t answer calls from numbers they don’t recognise.

Anyway you then head back to the depot to return the van and any undeliverable items, usually around 19:30. The boss is not happy if you bring more than a few items back to the depot.  You get home about 8pm knackered to get back up the next day and arrive at the depot ready for loading about 09:30. If you get one day off a week you’re lucky.


 
Posted : 07/10/2024 2:33 pm
myti, pondo, Akers and 5 people reacted
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It is, but I think they are almost forced into operating like that by Amazon’s delivery model if they want to earn a passable wage. I have sympathy for you as I’ve been on the receiving end. But I also have sympathy for the drivers, it must be a rubbish and incredibly stressful way to earn a living.

+1

It's a loathsome expression, but I'll use it anyway:

The behaviour of your delivery driver is baked in to the Amazon business model.

What exactly did the OP expect the driver to do given the constraints and expectations imposed upon him?


 
Posted : 07/10/2024 3:08 pm
squirrelking, kelvin, squirrelking and 1 people reacted
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220 deliveries a day?  Over 8 hours that's one every 2 minutes! Including travel between drops - I hope they give you a fastest route map for that!  What area would that cover?


 
Posted : 07/10/2024 3:32 pm
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I'm not without sympathy for the drivers - believe me, I'm not. But the corners they have to cut to adhere to Amazon's principles mean extra cost to smaller retailers. The issue here is 100% Amazon as a company.


 
Posted : 07/10/2024 3:41 pm
funkmasterp, 10, cinnamon_girl and 3 people reacted
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Get yourself a nice big flower pot for outside the front which deliveries can be hidden behind. You could even order one from Amazon... no wait, what will the Amazon driver hide the flower pot for hiding things behind behind?

Move house.


 
Posted : 07/10/2024 4:49 pm
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Twenty four seconds is a long time to get to the door. We were told wait 10 seconds.

How long does it take to get back to the van and drive off?

What exactly did the OP expect the driver to do given the constraints and expectations imposed upon him?

Call me wild and crazy but, I expect them to deliver the parcel rather than dump it in the street and doing a runner. Ringing the doorbell as Step One rather than it being the last thing they do at arm's length as they're leaving would be a start.

I hope they give you a fastest route map for that!

Going back to my mate who's a former Amazon driver, he had an app with the optimum route pre-planned.

Get yourself a nice big flower pot for outside the front which deliveries can be hidden behind

That would be obstructing the public highway.


 
Posted : 07/10/2024 4:58 pm
pondo, zomg, 10 and 3 people reacted
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Sounds like you have unrealistic expectations given the constraints the driver is working to. I remember a customer in a similar set up to you who realised delivery drivers could not be expected to wait for her to finish a call and walk from her upstairs office to the front door so she had a delivery box at the side of her house. Her delivery instructions explained the arrangement. I suggest you think of an alternative arrangement that will work for you and speed up the process for the driver.


 
Posted : 07/10/2024 5:17 pm
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I suggest you think of an alternative arrangement that will work for you and speed up the process for the driver.

So, just to check - the customer has to find the solution for the driver?


 
Posted : 07/10/2024 5:21 pm
supernova, 10, supernova and 1 people reacted
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Sounds like you have unrealistic expectations given the constraints the driver is working to.

I don't think that "delivering a parcel" is an unrealistic expectation of a parcel delivery service.  Any "constraints" are between Amazon and its drivers and not my concern.

I suggest you think of an alternative arrangement that will work for you and speed up the process for the driver.

I'm open to suggestions above and beyond "answering the door as quickly as possible only to find them halfway down the street."  Seriously, how is this a "me" problem when I'm paying for a service?  What if I was elderly or infirm?

If anything I'm more inclined to complain to Amazon now.  If enough customers moan maybe they'll set more realistic targets for their drivers.


 
Posted : 07/10/2024 5:24 pm
supernova, pondo, funkmasterp and 11 people reacted
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I think it's the price we pay as a society for cheap/free delivery, not saying I like it, mind, from a customer perspective, or a driver safety/sanity perspective if they are rushing to meet their delivery targets.

Are Amazon lockers an option for you for larger or expensive items? they have them at my local Sainsburys.


 
Posted : 07/10/2024 5:34 pm
myti, funkmasterp, squirrelking and 3 people reacted
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Are Amazon lockers an option for you for larger or expensive items?

It's technically an option but not a particularly convenient one.  And in any case, I fail to see why I'm paying for a premium subscription service in order to go fetch my own deliveries.  That's the Ticketmaster "£2.75 to print your tickets at home" service model.


 
Posted : 07/10/2024 6:11 pm
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That would be obstructing the public highway.

Which you're already doing by ordering stuff. Someone I know has added a large sign pointing to their doorbell to solve this problem. The sign says "doorbell".


 
Posted : 07/10/2024 6:17 pm
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And in any case, I fail to see why I’m paying for a premium subscription service in order to go fetch my own deliveries.

You’re not paying for a premium service though are you. You’re paying for a company that makes the retail experience worse for almost everyone involved including the consumer (you, who has had to navigate both their horrible website and is now complaining about their delivery service), warehouse workers, people making these deliveries, and even people who don’t even work for or with Amazon because they have such outsize power in the market.

You’re not going to win here, and the only modicum of control you have over it is to not play the game.


 
Posted : 07/10/2024 6:26 pm
supernova, andy4d, funkmasterp and 7 people reacted
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Beautifully put soundninja


 
Posted : 07/10/2024 6:43 pm
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It’s technically an option but not a particularly convenient one. And in any case, I fail to see why I’m paying for a premium subscription service in order to go fetch my own deliveries. That’s the Ticketmaster “£2.75 to print your tickets at home” service model.

I agree with you, but (there's always a but!) ..I ordered a small item yesterday about mid-day, and it was delivered about 7pm yesterday evening. Most 'prime' stuff is next day at worst..but to be fair the driver did knock on the door and I answered it...

also..

If you think about the logistics of how that is physically possible, ten quid a month is not going to cover that if you order (I dunno, say) more than one very small thing a month, hence the reports of overworked drivers and warehouse workers, something has to give to provide the service so cheap.


 
Posted : 07/10/2024 6:55 pm
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If anything I’m more inclined to complain to Amazon now.  If enough customers moan maybe they’ll set more realistic targets for their drivers.

Yep.. the man who has absolutely committed to ensure that no Amazon workplace will ever recognise a union, under any circumstances, is bound to do exactly that

Then he’ll end his space programme and commit to giving all his billions to charity

Meanwhile, back in the real world…. I’m afraid that the only language Mr Bezos understands is for you to take your custom elsewhere. And even that’s kind of academic when you’re already richer than 95% of the world combined


 
Posted : 07/10/2024 7:02 pm
funkmasterp, cinnamon_girl, funkmasterp and 1 people reacted
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Someone I know has added a large sign pointing to their doorbell to solve this problem. The sign says “doorbell”.

This has crossed my mind, but a) it's a Ring doorbell, it's hard to miss and b) if I did that, every **** and their mother would press it out of devilment as they walked past. Lols-o-plenty at pub chucking-out time.

You’re not paying for a premium service though are you. You’re paying for [blah blah corporate greed]

It's simply not relevant. I'm paying a subscription to receive a service. If I'm not receiving that service then that is my problem. If Amazon are sending small boys up chimneys then that is Amazon's problem.

ten quid a month is not going to cover that if you order (I dunno, say) more than one very small thing a month

Yet I can get free delivery from places like AliExpress. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Look. This is getting (predicably) silly now. I didn't ask for a Panorama documentary into Amazon's business practices, I asked whether people thought I should complain. It's a simple question or so I thought, more fool me it seems.


 
Posted : 07/10/2024 7:09 pm
pondo, Poopscoop, twistedpencil and 3 people reacted
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It’s a simple question or so I thought,

Are you new around here? 😀


 
Posted : 07/10/2024 7:14 pm
pondo, twistedpencil, twistedpencil and 1 people reacted
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It’s simply not relevant. I’m paying a subscription to receive a service. If I’m not receiving that service then that is my problem. If Amazon are sending small boys up chimneys then that is Amazon’s problem.

Lol. I disagree, I think it’s entirely relevant. The reason you’re not receiving the ‘premium delivery service’ (double lol) you’re paying for (triple lol) is because the corporate greed business model means that the small boys up the chimneys aren’t paid to do a particularly good job. So they don’t. Meaning you have a crappy time of it.

So in answer to your question, nah mate save your energy it won’t make any odds. HTH.


 
Posted : 07/10/2024 7:28 pm
supernova, andy4d, andy4d and 1 people reacted
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Yet I can get free delivery from places like AliExpress

Probably not the best benchmark to choose when the issue of employment practices is an issue.

Tax-free shopping direct from Chinese sweatshops


 
Posted : 07/10/2024 7:28 pm
mattyfez, soundninjauk, Poopscoop and 3 people reacted
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I think the question of complaint is more a question of what you're happy to support or not hence the dive into Amazon and the enshitification of courier services (literally if they're working to that tight a schedule).

Yes it sucks but FWIW a complaint isn't going to change things except for the person that's trying to make up time and isn't paid enough to care how. Amazon don't give a single solitary **** as long as you keep paying for Prime, look at the ad bullshit for another example. Late stage enshitification, isn't the world wonderful?


 
Posted : 07/10/2024 7:30 pm
 zomg
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I came here wanting to read how Amazon’s sharp practices are the OP’s fault, actually; and I am not disappointed.


 
Posted : 07/10/2024 7:48 pm
burntembers, pondo, 10 and 3 people reacted
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Think I'm siding with that crazy wild man Cougar expecting delivery drivers to do their jobs properly. Just because dump and run has so far worked for some of us because we're too lazy to give a shit that it might not, doesn't mean it works at all for people the less able, vulnerable, or those in areas with higher crime rates, etc, etc.

Might not make a difference, but maybe it will.

Amazon (and all the other online outfits I use) suit my lifestyle; working 9-5 and cycle commuting, out of town village location, limited time at weekends, 1 car family of four, it's just easier and less hassle to order online, even if the delivery drivers do dump and run.


 
Posted : 07/10/2024 8:03 pm
burntembers, pondo, burntembers and 1 people reacted
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Look. This is getting (predicably) silly now. I didn’t ask for a Panorama documentary into Amazon’s business practices, I asked whether people thought I should complain. It’s a simple question or so I thought, more fool me it seems.


You are right it really is very simple. People do jobs like this through need not choice. So no don’t complain just cancel your subscription. That is all.


 
Posted : 07/10/2024 8:03 pm
myti and myti reacted
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Just for info, I ordered directly from the retailer - Amazon was their delivery solution of choice. That'll learn 'em.

I actually spoke to the driver (or A driver, I imagine turnover is pretty high) over the summer when they left another parcel on the doorstep - asked him not to do it, he just said sorry. I said don't be sorry, just don't do it! He said he thought there was someone in - that's a shit reason to leave a parcel on the doorstep without ringing the bell or knocking the door.


 
Posted : 07/10/2024 8:04 pm
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He said he thought there was someone in – that’s a shit reason to leave a parcel on the doorstep without ringing the bell or knocking the door.

I totally agree... but the delivery driver isn't the problem here, its the courrier, be it Amazon, DPD, Evri, or whoever...

My eyes really got opened a few years ago, I'd ordered something, not amazon, it may have been DPD, but I honestly don't remember.

What I do remember is they had a really shiney looking tracking website... and my delivery said something like... driver on drop number 30, you are drop number 128. (it didn't say how many drops they had that day in total...delivery expected between X & X....

That's when it really hit home how much these drivers are overworked, not to mention it pushes them to not take breaks, drive tired, break traffic laws etc. to get their target for the day.

It doesn't matter if its amazon or some other courrier, they are all basicaly the same in terms of pushing their drivers over the sensible limit, IMO.

Getting the driver fired doesn't mean shit to the courier company, there's ten more zero hours contract, owner/drivers where they came from. What it does mean is that driver might not be able to pay thier bills that month.

So if we are all going to get on our moral horses, we should be cancelling our subscriptions and get used to paying for delivery according to size/weight/value of item.


 
Posted : 07/10/2024 8:23 pm
myti, squirrelking, cinnamon_girl and 3 people reacted
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I don't know if this will help, but if you're at home expecting a Prime delivery, track it on the website, counts down delivery number and shows map and location of van. (Just like DPD), Usually driver is 10 drops away and in our street already, takes him 10-15 mins to get here from end of road. Just go and stand outside, or leave door open. Having said that some Amazon stuff comes via Royal Mail - now thats a whole new kettle of fish! 🙂


 
Posted : 07/10/2024 8:24 pm
sirromj, kelvin, kelvin and 1 people reacted
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Think I’m siding with that crazy wild man Cougar expecting delivery drivers to do their jobs properly

That's not an unreasonable expectation. How much are you actually willing to pay to ensure that's the case?

Prime is priority dispatch but it's the same shitty service once it leaves the warehouse, it's not in any way tied to the method of delivery. Disabuse yourself of the notion that it is and set your expectations accordingly. How many decent deliveries would you expect for a few hours wages?


 
Posted : 07/10/2024 8:40 pm
kelvin and kelvin reacted
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Been an Amazon delivery driver and it’s more than possible to do the Job properly, Amazon clearly state how they want you to deliver the parcels, only using drop boxes etc when it’s on the account, how to deal with IDs for alcohol, plastic bags for wet weather etc what most drivers seem to forget as soon as they start is the routes are planned to your previous drop rate to fill a days work, IF YOU RUN AROUND AND DROP AND RUN AND FINISH EARLY ALL YOU GET IS MORE DELIVERIES TO DO TOMORROW, when I worked there you where paid for a days work, not numbers of delivery’s made, yes it’s a long ass busy day but that’s the job, finding a place to pee was always my biggest problem, they clearly tell you to never ever, ever, ever, ever leave the engine running, still one guy I knew did it in Nottingham city centre and was surprised when the van got stolen and he was fired.

The guy who does ours is one who follows instructions and has been around for years at this point.

in short, report the drop and runners, maybe they will slow down and deliver as they have been trained to


 
Posted : 07/10/2024 9:56 pm
burntembers, pondo, funkmasterp and 9 people reacted
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Alright, enough now.  I asked whether people thought I should complain or not.  I didn't ask for a critique on my shopping habits.

Ethical shopping is a sliding scale trading off against price and convenience; or if you like, it is a luxury that not all can afford.  I can only assume that those bleating on because I dared to shop at Amazon don't own a mobile phone, buy all their food from the local farm shop and spend most of their life naked whilst sneering at those living hand-to-mouth because they aren't eating organic gravel.

So please, knock it off before I get vexed.  If you want to go full Paul Hibbert about how many yachts Jeff Bezos needs then go start your own ****ing thread to argue about it and stop derailing mine.

if you’re at home expecting a Prime delivery, track it on the website, counts down delivery number and shows map and location of van.

That's great and I do already except, these were deliveries ordered by my partner, I can't track that and she's working 12+ hour days non-stop.


 
Posted : 07/10/2024 10:21 pm
mattyfez, pondo, Poopscoop and 3 people reacted
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Cougar
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Alright, enough now. I asked whether people thought I should complain or not. I didn’t ask for a critique on my shopping habits.

On the political threads there have been arguments about what constitutes an argument! I agree, it gets a bit much.

We are all hypocritical unless we are living in a cave and foraging for food... and even that could be dissected and hypocrisy found if enough time was spent.


 
Posted : 07/10/2024 10:26 pm
pondo and pondo reacted
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when I worked there you where paid for a days work, not numbers of delivery’s made, yes it’s a long ass busy day but that’s the job,

Aye, this is consistent with what my friend told me.  You do an eight hour shift in ten hours, sucks to be you.  You do an eight hour shift in four hours, pub lunch and then home.  He was routinely doing 8-hour days in 6 hours and I have little reason to suspect that a) he was shirking or b) he was lying.  He took a pride in it.

Which is why I have less sympathy for the knock-a-door-run drivers.  I know that putting last-mile drivers under the cosh is typical for bottom-feeder couriers like Evri.  But to the best of my anecdotal knowledge from speaking with Amazon driver(s) this isn't the case, Amazon knows exactly how long a delivery should take and those  drivers playing silly bastards just want to knock off early.


 
Posted : 07/10/2024 10:32 pm
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