Amazon exiles discussion
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Amazon Key - what do you think?
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OMG!!! - allowing total strangers to have free access to your entire house?!! ;oOThis could work very well for Flats with communal areas and no-one around to answer the Intercom Buzzers that release the Doors or perhaps for Houses with large enclosed Porch areas that they like to keep locked, I guess?
Well yes, but that isn't the majority of houses. I have a small porch and could lock the inside door I suppose. But I leave my tiny window open and that seems to work for most packages.
"yes, yes, do make yourself comfortable! no, those aren't leather restraints, no, these are just hipster cutlery, not scalpels at all, and this thing that looks like an industrial size potato peeler? aw **** it, it's an industrial size potato peeler..................relax!
Do you have any industrial sized potatoes? 
Gingerlily - Mistress Lantern wrote: "... I leave my tiny window open and that seems to work for most packages."I'll never manage to get this Elephant through there?!! ;oO
suzysunshine7 wrote: "Gingerlily - Mistress Lantern wrote: "... I leave my tiny window open and that seems to work for most packages."I'll never manage to get this Elephant through there?!! ;oO"
I'll be here if you knock. Don't ring the bell, it doesn't work.
Gingerlily - Mistress Lantern wrote: "Well yes, but that isn't the majority of houses"No. None of the houses round my way have porches: the front doors open into the hallway or directly into the living room.
Amazon has another service that I only became aware of on Sunday while visiting Morrisons (a supermarket than I don't normally use). This is Amazon Locker, which allows you to have your parcel left in a locker outside a supermarket. Amazon then sends you a code to unlock the locker and collect your parcel. I think it costs £1.99 on top of normal delivery costs.
Because it's almost impossible to buy stuff in shops any more (e.g. I cannot get decent shoes in my size for any less than about £80 a pair from a shop) I order lots of stuff online. I'm then faced with the problem that unless the seller uses Royal Mail (which allows me to pick up undelivered parcels from the sorting office) or offers Click & Collect (pick up from Argos) I can't actually get the stuff delivered. Amazon is hopeless unless you are a Prime member: the only things I can order from them are things that will fit through the letterbox and don't have to be signed for. I refuse to buy anything from sellers who use courier services (DPD, etc.), as it is entirely hit & miss whether I'll ever actually receive it: I can't take half a day off work every time I want to get a shirt or a couple of books delivered.
Amazon Locker sounds like a really good idea. We don't have it in Ireland but we have Parcel Motel which does a similar thing. €3.95 per parcel though. I am nearly always at home right now so I can open the door to couriers etc. But if I was working I would use the Parcel Motel.
In our street we take in parcels for each other all the time. Works fine. Mind you, last week I was notified a parcel had been left in my 'designated safe place', to find it propped up against in the front door in full view of the street .
This must be a new meaning of the word "safe".
i always know when the courier has placed any packages in my 'designated safe place', because he walks back down the drive bow-legged!
Does he know the safe word?
nocheese wrote: "In our street we take in parcels for each other all the time. Works fine. Mind you, last week I was notified a parcel had been left in my 'designated safe place', to find it propped up against the front door in full view of the street."I don't like having things delivered to neighbours. My neighbour on one side is a butcher's shop that I don't buy anything from (they're totally decent people but their meat isn't very nice), so I feel very guilty when they take in parcels for me. My neighbour on the other side is psychotic. The person next-door to her is hardly ever at home. I'm opposite a school, which won't accept parcels for anyone and is closed long before I get home. I do have a "safe place" as there is a roller shutter across the drive and I can leave this slightly raised for parcels to be pushed under into a covered space. However, very few couriers seem to read the safe-place instructions, so they either leave things on the doorstep or leave them with the psychotic neighbour, who then leaves them on the doorstep.
I don't accept parcels for my neighbours as I don't know them and hardly ever see them. And I really wouldn't want any of them to accept parcels for me.
What a fascinating glimpse into your home life, Gordon.
Blimey, I don’t know which is worse, a psychotic neighbour or a school!
Lez wrote: "Blimey, I don’t know which is worse, a psychotic neighbour or a school!"I'm out from about 7:30 am until about 7 pm most weekdays, so the school doesn't really bother me. I do work from home occasionally but the noise from the school comes in fairly short bursts. It's a primary school, so the kids are very noisy but not threatening (although some of their parents are a bit scary).
Our nearest neighbours are half a mile away, so it's not a problem if something gets left on the doorstep.Funnily enough, we have a bigger problem with Amazon Logistics finding us. Until late 2015 the depot was in Hemel Hempstead, and they always found us; then it was moved to Luton and we started to have real problems with stuff not arriving when it should until a day or two after the delivery date. I think it's because when you put our postcode into Google Maps or a satnav it only shows the (half mile distant) neighbours who share our code. They have got better since the bad start, but we had a failed delivery last week. It's only Amazon Logistics though; every other courier finds us with no problem.
Amazon are expecting a huge amount of trust from their customers with that set up! I wouldn't let strangers in me crib! If I'm out, then I have a handy outside loo outhouse, which can also serve as a safe place for parcels....and I just leave a note stuck to me front door. That said....I appreciate that not everybody has the luxury of being stuck in the middle of nowhere, like I am, with no neighbours or potential thieves..to nick my stuff. Must be really tricky for folks living in high rise flats or apartments.
Like the idea of the drop off locker though, that's a workable idea, even with the small fee..it's peace of mind at the end of the day.
"If I'm out, then I have a handy outside loo....."the perfect place for all those 'king gizzard and the lizard wizard' records! :)
There was one occasion when I got back from a trip to find a small scrap of paper inside my front door. I was about to throw it away, when I noticed some scrawls on it. I looked closer, and it said "parcel in bin". I went out and investigated, and there was a parcel in my wheelie bin. Not a bad idea, but I could so easily have ignored the scrap of paper, or thrown it away without reading it.
It's interesting to read on and what Amazon hopes this will lead to. Amazon cleaners, dog walking services and pet care, grocery deliveries. Amazon are pretty aggressive in cornering the Internet of Things and this idea all hooks into that. Of course it won't go tits-up and be abused. That never happens ... And Yodel are God's gift to delivery services ...
I'm not buying into all of this daft Delivery by Drone nonsense myself ... Nah! - Teleportation is the only way that I want my Deliveries sent to me from now on ;o>
I have posted this in several different corners of the internet, and not one person has thought its a good idea. I have never seen such a universal negativity towards an idea. Amazon needs to go back to the drawing board on this one! Or maybe just trash it completely.
Tech wrote: ""If I'm out, then I have a handy outside loo....."the perfect place for all those 'king gizzard and the lizard wizard' records! :)"
Oh....go and find a Scottish cliff & launch yaself, ya kilt twirling philistine! :)
Oooh? - but then he might wash up on the Welsh Coast, Duke! ;o>
theDuke wrote: "The blood is on the wall! :)"Its covering the writing.
Our Local Amazon locker is just a one minute walk away, it is great, and I don't think I've ever paid for a delivery to it, unless next day delivery. Mind I'm sure they have these lockers under CCTV, because I'm only 5ft2in and nearly all of my parcels are left in the highest locker. Funnily the last pick up of parcels I collected from there consisted of two packages, one being in the highest locker and the other in the very bottom one. I swear I could hear the faint snigger of laughter..... :-)
You can get a lightweight stepladder that you can carry round with you.
Gingerlily - Mistress Lantern wrote: "You can get a lightweight stepladder that you can carry round with you."Aw, but that would stop the joy of asking a nice tall young chap "can you please help lil' old me?"
I find a long umbrella can come in handy when I can't reach stuff, or my Hubbies walking stick when he is with me, and there is always the odd shop round step stool thingy if I'm lucky.
Well you could try and find a nice tall young man to carry round with you...
Off topic somewhat.The WHSmiths in our town always had the " ??? guide for seniors" bookazines on the highest shelves and the birthday cards and Christmas cards for "Grandson/Granddaughters" on the very bottom shelves ???? What is that all about??? Strikes me as odd.
Tesco express did have the smaller loaves on the highest shelves until I complained and pointed out how many of their slightly elder customers were of a shortish stature and were more likely to buy those loaves, now they are at my waist height :-) :-) :-)
Letting yourself into a property to make a delivery is not a new concept - nearly twenty years back now, I used to deliver parcels to couriers for onward delivery to customers. We had keys to gain entry to to the designated area, be it garage, shed, porch or even directly into the couriers' house, and even an alarm code for one!
OK, slightly different to letting yourself into every customers' house, but still entailing a fair degree of trust on the part of the courier and the person dropping off their deliveries.
Of more concern to me would be people replicating the signal required to open the front door - you can guarantee that it won't take someone long to work out how to do that and what will the camera see?
Someone disguised with glasses/scarf/baseball hat/ hoodie etc. entering your house and taking more than just the Amazon parcel that has been delivered.
No thanks, not for me. I'll stick with my lockable drop-box at the side of the front porch. Worst case scenario there is that someone either breaks into or steals my drop-box with its' mundane subscribe and save deliveries in it.
OK, slightly different to letting yourself into every customers' house, but still entailing a fair degree of trust on the part of the courier and the person dropping off their deliveries.
Of more concern to me would be people replicating the signal required to open the front door - you can guarantee that it won't take someone long to work out how to do that and what will the camera see?
Someone disguised with glasses/scarf/baseball hat/ hoodie etc. entering your house and taking more than just the Amazon parcel that has been delivered.
No thanks, not for me. I'll stick with my lockable drop-box at the side of the front porch. Worst case scenario there is that someone either breaks into or steals my drop-box with its' mundane subscribe and save deliveries in it.
I'd like to know why the basic 2-litre bottles of mineral water at Asda are on the bottom shelf and pushed right to the back. I'm fed up of having to kneel on the floor and stretch my arm to its fullest extent to get a bottle of water. They've also stopped selling half-litre bottles of own-brand water in packs of anything less than 12, and they stopped selling bottles smaller than 0.5 L ages ago. It's impossible to carry these home in a carrier bag (12 x 0.5 L = 6 L = 6 kg = 13.2 lb). I have to drive to the supermarket if I need to get water for Little Miss D to take to school, or else pay hugely inflated prices for a brand name.
Grizzlygrump wrote: "Letting yourself into a property to make a delivery is not a new concept - nearly twenty years back now, I used to deliver parcels to couriers for onward delivery to customers. We had keys to gain ..."I totally agree with you on that GG.
We live in a large apartment Block, with plenty of spare spaces which could be used as communal areas, one of which could be parcel/delivery lockers.
Hey Uglybug;
While the lockers are a good idea, you would probably find that there are not enough residents in your block who would use it with enough frequency to justify siting one there.
I have seen the Amazon lockers located not just in the foyer of supermarkets but also in the middle of the car park on retail parks as well, places where they will get plenty of use.
Other companies have lockers located at petrol stations and I'll bet a high number of people who use these lockers also fill up their car whilst they are there.
I have delivered to these lockers for DXBD overnight and it is so much easier than going door to door with parcels, knocking, waiting, carding etc. - quicker as well :)
While the lockers are a good idea, you would probably find that there are not enough residents in your block who would use it with enough frequency to justify siting one there.
I have seen the Amazon lockers located not just in the foyer of supermarkets but also in the middle of the car park on retail parks as well, places where they will get plenty of use.
Other companies have lockers located at petrol stations and I'll bet a high number of people who use these lockers also fill up their car whilst they are there.
I have delivered to these lockers for DXBD overnight and it is so much easier than going door to door with parcels, knocking, waiting, carding etc. - quicker as well :)
Gordon wrote: "I'd like to know why the basic 2-litre bottles of mineral water at Asda are on the bottom shelf and pushed right to the back. I'm fed up of having to kneel on the floor and stretch my arm to its fu..."
Hey Gordon;
Can you order in quantities sufficient to justify delivery?
Mrs Grizzly works as a CSTM for Ocado carrying out 20 - 25 drops a day and often delivers heavy/bulky items that customers don't want to or are unable to carry back from the supermarket.
I find myself doing this more often these days, but that's due to the fact that I've either finished work before the local supermarket opens or I can't be bothered after a 14 - 15 hour shift; getting lazy in my middle age :)
Hey Gordon;
Can you order in quantities sufficient to justify delivery?
Mrs Grizzly works as a CSTM for Ocado carrying out 20 - 25 drops a day and often delivers heavy/bulky items that customers don't want to or are unable to carry back from the supermarket.
I find myself doing this more often these days, but that's due to the fact that I've either finished work before the local supermarket opens or I can't be bothered after a 14 - 15 hour shift; getting lazy in my middle age :)
I have bad enough health that I physically cannot do a supermarket shop (would be able if I had a car), so the Tesco delivery service is a lifeline. I get about one delivery a week, and its so easy! I pay €10 per month which is more than worth it. And I don't have to carry anything.
Gingerlily - Mistress Lantern wrote: "I have bad enough health that I physically cannot do a supermarket shop (would be able if I had a car), so the Tesco delivery service is a lifeline. I get about one delivery a week, and its so easy..."
Do they bring the shopping right through for you and offer to put it away as well? Every Tesco delivery I have had has always been a doorstep delivery - I have invited the drivers to step inside, to be out of the rain and the reply is that they are not allowed to do so. It makes no difference to me as I am capable of lumping the shopping around in the totes that they use for delivery (never have bags for home delivery, but I don't like to see them standing there getting wet.
I know that Mrs Grizzly frequently takes shopping through and puts it away for elderly and disabled customers, but I think that is policy for Ocado.
Do they bring the shopping right through for you and offer to put it away as well? Every Tesco delivery I have had has always been a doorstep delivery - I have invited the drivers to step inside, to be out of the rain and the reply is that they are not allowed to do so. It makes no difference to me as I am capable of lumping the shopping around in the totes that they use for delivery (never have bags for home delivery, but I don't like to see them standing there getting wet.
I know that Mrs Grizzly frequently takes shopping through and puts it away for elderly and disabled customers, but I think that is policy for Ocado.
Ours is delivered in crates and they come into the house (they ask first). I ask them to leave the crates on the kitchen floor, so all I have to do is unpack them at my leisure. And they pick up the crates on the next visit.
I have delivery from Sainsbury’s, they bring the crates into the kitchen and help me empty them. All the drivers are friendly and pleasant. If there’s a smashed egg (only happened once) they don’t charge for the pack.There’s a range of delivery charges depending on the time, sometimes only £1 and after 2.00pm Mon -Thurs, delivery is free if you spend over £100 which I usually do as I bulk buy once a month. There’s ‘green’ delivery too, a green van icon means they’ll already be in your area at that time, also you can choose not to have any plastic bags.
There’s also a price-check where they match any lower price from Tesco etc.
OK, where’s my commission? 😀
We don't have Sainbuggy's here. Its either Tesco or SuperValu. If M&S did deliveries my grocery costs would be higher...My Tesco deal is that I pay €10 a month and any delivery at any time over €50 is free, which all of my weekly shops are. but that includes everything, as I can't pop to the shops easily.
I'm impressed ginger that you pay 10€ for one delivery a week,Our tesco deliveries are £6-£7 each,although following on a previous poster the delivery guys ,ladies always bring ours inside.Just seen any delivery over €50 is free?nice
What's an Amazon key, and why do they need to keep it in a holding pen?
It's a brainstorm of an idea, that allows Zon's couriers to have access to your home, to deliver your parcels, when ya out! Count the holes in that plan! :)
theDuke wrote: "It's a brainstorm of an idea, that allows Zon's couriers to have access to your home, to deliver your parcels, when ya out!
Count the holes in that plan! :)"
Just the one hole - but it's big enough to drive the couriers' van through! :)
Count the holes in that plan! :)"
Just the one hole - but it's big enough to drive the couriers' van through! :)
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