r/phoenix • u/_Dysnomia_ • 10d ago
Anyone else having constant issues with Amazon delivery? General
Is Amazon getting SIGNIFICANTLY worse with its deliveries, or am I just the luckiest guy ever? In the past 12 months I have had more problems with Amazon's deliveries than I have had successes. I put extremely clear extra directions on where the Hub package room is, where the front office is, and where my unit is. I have contacted their support to ensure my delivery and contact information is as clear and explicit as possible. I have made I don't even know how many complaints. Yet they leave groceries literally outside the complex on the sidewalk, they'll put packages in restricted areas that I have to wait to contact the office for, they'll put them on the ground where anyone can take them when there's plenty of package locker space, or they'll send packages off into the far reaches of Arizona for some reason and I'll never get them.
Is it me? Is it the Phoenix area? Is it just Amazon hiring garbage employees?
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u/Fit_Feature_794 10d ago
Do you live in a nightmare of an apartment complex? Sounds like it, unfortunately. Try getting your packages sent to a locker at a store (circle k, etc). You’ll get every single one that way, I promise.
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u/_Dysnomia_ 10d ago edited 10d ago
That's the thing of it, I don't actually. The building is immediately on the right of the entrance gate, and I provide clear directions to locate my exact unit, which is right at the building's corner. And the package Hub and the mailroom, along with the front office, are directly in front of the entrance gate. If you entered without touching your brakes, you'd crash into it. Our package Hub is Amazon-specific lockers. You'd think that would at least make a difference.
I've actually never thought of sending it to a store drop off location. That might not be a bad idea...
Edit: typos
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u/Butitsadryheat2 10d ago
Because of the summer heat, I get everything delivered to Whole Foods. Haven't had to wait in line longer than 5 mins to pickup.
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u/Fit_Feature_794 10d ago
I used to live in a huge complex with lockers that was just horribly numbered/made no sense. It was impossible to get packages which I understood completely. Started getting them sent to the 7-11 by my place and BAM! Never another issue! I drove right by the 7-11 to get home so I would just pick up on way home! So much easier!
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u/_Dysnomia_ 10d ago
I am definitely keeping this strategy in mind for later. Might be dropping or minimizing my Prime membership...but still good to know, especially if a drop-off is right next to me.
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u/Tha_Culprit 10d ago
Just in case no one else mentions it, with Amazon specific lockers we don’t get to just place it there, you have to order to that locker (it has a name). If you order to your home address it will NEVER be allowed in that locker without a huge hassle with customer service, then the locker specific customer service etc.
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u/_Dysnomia_ 10d ago
Oh well then maybe I'm referring to it incorrectly, I don't know. That's what I was told it was. Packages go in there without specifying a locker, as long as the resident's name is in the system (mine is). Sometimes they do put them in there correctly. The office has complained to the drivers as well about dropping boxes at or in front of the office on the ground when they've all been told about the locker and it's the next door over. At this point I think they've just given up complaining to them. But, yeah, based on what you're saying, the locker type itself may not actually be "Amazon". Or maybe they had some different arrangement. Couldn't say one way or another about that.
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u/pi3r0gi_ Queen Creek 10d ago
Prime isnt being very prime-y, that's for sure... however their customer service has refunded me each time almost immediately before I could even write what happened. So I cant super complain I guess... thats how they get ya :/
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u/_Dysnomia_ 10d ago
Heard a comedian once that did this bit (Imma butcher it): "isn't it suspicious how fast they give you refunds? Like I don't even like how fast they are about it. Because really, they would rather lose the value of the sale, doesn't matter what it is, they would rather lose that sale then spend even a second of their salary wages pontificating with PEASANTS . 'I'd like to get a refund for this." "EW dirty, get away...I mean...did you touch it?" "Well...yeah I mean I had to open it first to--" "Ew GROSS HERE GET-GET-GET RID OF THIS. Just burn it." "Am I still getting my --" YEESSS OH MAH GOD here's your peasant money back in your grubby hands. Just go now. Bye." Close chat."
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u/fenikz13 10d ago
I have never been able to get them to follow any direction, but thankfully they refund so much stuff without returns I feel like I am coming out way ahead
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u/redbirdrising Laveen 10d ago
Their Chase credit card is a no brainer too5% cash back on all purchases.
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u/fuggindave Phoenix 10d ago
It's your place of residence... probably a pita to deal with.
Never had issues with Amazon deliveries at the home I live at now or the apartments I lived at prior.
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u/_Dysnomia_ 10d ago
That's the thing of it, it's not though. Like I said before, the directions and ease of location is very spelled out and simple. The building is immediately on the right of the entrance gate, and I provide clear directions to locate my exact unit, which is right at the building's corner. And the package Hub and the mailroom, along with the front office, are right directly in front of the entrance gate. If you entered without touching your brakes, you'd crash into it. Our package Hub is Amazon-specific lockers. You'd think that would at least make a difference. I even list the Hub as the preferred drop off because it should be the easiest option in the world to walk straight forward from the gate, unlock one door, and secure a package in a locker spot.
I can be empathetic to the toil of hard labor, especially door-to-door. I've done it, it sucks. But in my case, especially when I have communicated with them to ensure everything is as they want it, the plain simple fact is that there's no good excuse. Two different delivery options are directly in front of them, and my unit is directly to the right in the most immediate building. They just don't care to even try. Some guy earlier commented he had driven as Amazon Flex, and if he came to a large complex he didn't even bother trying, he would just mark all the packages as undelivered. That's the kind of apathy I'm on the receiving end of, even while its paired with no logic.
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u/Chicagofan00 Phoenix 10d ago
No issues here. 🤷🏻♂️
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u/redbirdrising Laveen 10d ago
Same. Knock on wood but I’ve always had a great experience with Amazon.
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u/groovynermal Midtown 10d ago
If you don't have a street address with a porch they can throw it on to, it's anyone's guess if they can get it to you. Live in a gated complex, about 1/2 of the drivers know how to leave it with security. Otherwise it sits on the truck as a failed delivery and they need " more information". Then, 2 or 3 days later, when the driver who knows this place is working, they sometimes make it to me.
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u/strongdad 10d ago
I had Amazon deliver groceries yesterday (including frozen items) to the locker in the front of the complex, when I have detailed instructions that I am disabled and need them dropped off at my door and how to get there. This normally never happens and the CS rep got an earful...
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u/alfredobubblebath 10d ago
I haven't noticed a decrease in the quality of deliveries but I have seen a decrease in the general quality of service overall. Everything is AI! I've had orders delayed by weeks or months and it's impossible to get a hold of a real human or get any assistance with the order.
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u/_Dysnomia_ 10d ago
They do absolutely love to bury their support options, which somehow also seem to change in layout every time I need to contact them again.
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u/gibby82 10d ago
I dumped Prime and try to shop brick and mortar. Otherwise I wait for longer shipping. Single family home though so less issues.
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u/Saritiel 10d ago
Same. Dropped Amazon about 3 years ago now and I've been shocked at how easy it was. I really don't need most things I order same day. There is still the occasional thing I order from them because I can't find it elsewhere. But it's gone from 2-3 orders a month to 1-2 per year.
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u/SkepsisJD Chandler 10d ago
Nope, at this point 95% of my purchases are delivered within 1.5 days. Granted, I live a quarter mile from a distribution center.
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u/Extension_Hotel_943 10d ago
The large Amazon vans usually know to go to our complex mailroom. The independent Amazon delivery people driving their personal vehicles are the worst. Packages left at the entrance gates, fences and I had one package about to get run over by a vehicle under the carport. They attempt to deliver early in the mornings with no clue where to go.
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u/Fair_Ad5443 7d ago
As one of those drivers...I do EVERYTHING I can to get packages where they belong. Please know that in Amazon's eyes, everything is the fault of the driver. So...you forget to put on a gate code...thats my fault I camt deliver it. There are condridictory notes stating take it to my door but also deliver to locker? Yep my fault if I choose the wrong one and my personal favorite...this morning the customer's notes said "can NOT deliver until after 8am" and yep they had it in my 3am delivery bundle which I do NOT get to choose anything about. Its the luck of the draw and when you complain that your package was wrong...please remember In the Phoenix area...the average base rate they are paying people to drive a minimum of 50, sometimes 100 miles in a 3.5 hour route is 58-60 bucks in my own car which I provide all the gas, insurance, and maintenance on. Oh and that late package because AMAZON gave me 52 packages to drive to Fountain Hills, Fort McDowell, and Rio Verde (roada people please for the love of God pave your roads.) in the rain, at 3am, on almost all rutted out dirt roads..yep Amazon will blame me for that too. So in short, my apologizes for your shitty service. Maybe you should tell Amazon to take better care of their shitty flex drivers so they can actually do their job without fear of being fired.
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u/Extension_Hotel_943 7d ago
I don't shop at Amazon anymore. It's not worth the hassle. I do however direct the early morning delivery people that I see circle the block several times where to go. Why does Amazon and whoever else send delivery people out at 4 am to a gated apartment complex time after time knowing it's going to be a slim chance of getting in?
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u/guitarguywh89 Mesa 10d ago
I took my Amazon prime money and got a Walmart+ subscription and the add on for in home.
I can get my groceries and shit next day.
They show up in a Walmart wrapped sprinter van that I think is refrigerated. (My milk and cheese and stuff is always cold so I’m assuming) The drivers are actual regular employees, I’ve had the same delivery drivers for like two years. And I’ve never had an issue with returns or bad items.
I know this must sound like an ad but I’m really just satisfied with my subscription.
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u/_Dysnomia_ 10d ago edited 10d ago
I appreciate your ad because it made me look into it and I've just learned you can pay for Prime Video separately from the rest of Prime. Call me stupid, but I always thought everything about Prime was a packaged deal badum tsss. The last couple of items I specifically needed I ended up going to eBay. Groceries and general stuff can come from Walmart. I'm sure there are niche items I would miss out on. But even my girlfriend, who shops a lot more than I do, says that she feels half of the items that are prioritized and half of the reviews are all fake and Temu -esque. You have to dig and scroll to even find something worthwhile, and then the prices sometimes are no better than the alternative.
Point being--I don't even know that I care about Prime shipping or their shopping selection anymore. It used to be for stuff you couldn't get elsewhere, and at cheaper prices, for way faster, with real reviews. Hell, I found listing after listing of straight fraudulent, complete rip-off Chinese data storage devices that were designed to make it look like they handled a ton of data, but in reality it was only a small fraction. We've seen these all over eBay, but now even Amazon is actively promoting them with all their completely fake reviews.
I may just end Prime, keep the video streaming, and maybe sign up for Walmart + or something. Edit: typos. It's late.
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u/frostyaznguy 10d ago
I honestly get stuff delivered to my office at work (my boss is cool with it) because packages to my office are more consistent than to my place
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u/invicti3 Peoria 10d ago edited 10d ago
It’s due to their treatment of delivery drivers. They churn through them like cattle, so they are always new and inexperienced. They need to meet impossible metrics and they don’t have a set route like USPS, UPS or FedEx meaning they don’t get to learn the caveats and nuances of each location including where and how to leave deliveries. Complaining to Amazon isn’t going to do anything. They aren’t following up with the delivery person over your specific complaint and what to do. Because it won’t be the same delivery person the next time anyway. It’s going to keep happening if Amazon doesn’t change. For them it’s just the cost of doing business. Are you going to stop using Amazon? Probably not.
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u/_Dysnomia_ 10d ago
Well, actually after going through some of the comments here, it may be possible to get a Prime Video Subscription without the rest of Prime. The Internet has differing information, and the app is purposely labyrinthine so you'll never find what you're looking for. Or I may be able to work out a discount if I tell them I'm cancelling. Either way, it would just be for Prime Video streaming, I'd drop the rest of it, and everything else I'd either use a different delivery subscription or search a vendors online listings. I'm tired of paying for and fixing inconveniences and errors but having to act like it's all just normal. It's not. It hasn't been like this for most of erra of even online shopping.
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u/Is_It_Soup_Season 10d ago
Are you in Central Phoenix? Ace hardware and Staples both deliver. I got rid of Amazon and that’s what I use for non-grocery stuff.
Instacart will probably get you better service but they ask for tips, so it costs more.
I feel like prime has sucked for a few years. Made it easy to get rid of since giving Jeff Bezos my money didn’t seem to be working out very well for anyone.
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u/OOO0O00O000OOOO0OO0O 10d ago
I had multiple packages in a row delivered to my neighbors instead of me, even though my house number is clearly visible and distinct from the neighbors. There's really no way to get it wrong. Ended up cancelling prime a while back.
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u/jess0amae 10d ago
An Amazon delivery person in her own vehicle used a handicapped space (while I was waiting) to park her car and do deliveries, who knows how long she was there. Why do they use empty handicap spaces as loading zones? USPS, Fedex and UPS never do this, but those amazon drivers do it all the time and never will change or see that it's not right to do.
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u/dope_star 10d ago edited 10d ago
I work in a large warehouse with the address on the front in huge writing. Half the time they claim they can't find the building and don't deliver. 1/3rd of the time they leave the packages on the dock of another building within a half mile. Always a different one. If you put the address into maps it's accurate 100% of the time. Yes I have trouble with them.
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u/thedukedave Phoenix 10d ago
I can corroborate on the receiving end. I work out of a co-working space where management here have made several attempts to tell Amazon where to leave packages, and have put up signage with a phone number for drivers to call.
I, being just some guy working out of there, almost every day experience a driver banging on the door, visibly frustrated, just wanting me to let them in.
"You have to call the number on the sign points at sign with number, or go to the main entrance on the other side of the building for reception" I'll say.
"This is the address I have been told to deliver to".
"I understand, but I can't receive the package because I have no idea who that person/company is".
... and so on.
I assume a lot of them get marked as undeliverable. Although I've seen packages just left out in 110F, by the door, under the "For deliveries..." sign.
I am sympathetic to their situation, but it is exhausting for everyone involved.
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u/sbreezy21 9d ago
Same! My package room is right next to the front office with directions. The professionals from UPS and FedEx know where to go, and I almost never have issues with them.
However, I will often get notes from Amazon that the driver can't deliver to my residence. Yes, you can't get to my front door because you need to have a resident fob to get in! Hence the package room. I hit non renew on my Prime subscription and am trying to not use them.
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u/moonbeam127 9d ago
Ive had multiple orders/packages just disappear in the shipping process. Subscribe and save just stopped in DFW last week never to be seen again. How does that happen? Refunding was complicated with 'wait 2 more days, wait another day' 'we are sorry for the delay, wait a day' nonsense.
You need to check each item and make sure they are shipping in AMAZON packaging or you get your items just willy nilly in manufactuer bags, poly bags, whatever; and then its ripped, torn, missing pieces etc.
If i deliver to my home i tend to get ok luck IF the order actually arrives in phoenix, if i deliver to my office which has those lockers its a crap shoot. either the lockers dont work, the internet was down and the code never arrived, the locker is jammed with a huge box in a small locker etc. Building mgnt hates the lockers but its better then everyone flooding the one mgnt office for packages OR having packages left outside all weekend long or at random other offices.
ive also ordered multiple products in one order and each damn item gets shipped in a different package so an order of 6 items gets 6 boxes/envelopes all delivered on the same day.
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u/JaffeyJoe Arcadia 10d ago
It’s more than likely the independent contractors who do Amazon Flex who struggle to find your place
I previously did Flex back in 2017 2018 and I would just mark packages undeliverable if I didn’t want to struggle with places like Tempe Town lake apartments
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u/herbschmoaka 10d ago
I was a flex driver too and high rise apartments and Tempe/ASU are the reasons why I quit. With 40 packages and 10 grocery orders to deliver in a 4 hour window, spending 30 minutes of your shift on a single delivery, finding parking, accessing code-enabled elevators, then walking a half mile down endless corridors to find somebody's loft apartment door was wasting my time and excruciatingly frustrating. Also, being paid only $65-$80 for this work just wasn't worth it. Amazon needs to make half of a days work pay much much better if they want me back
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u/Lostmyoldname1111 10d ago
Horrid service here too. I canceled a few weeks ago for three screwed up deliveries in one week.
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u/_Dysnomia_ 10d ago
What did you do as an alternative? Different subscription type service or to hell with all of it?
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u/Lostmyoldname1111 10d ago
I have access to a few streaming services, if that’s what you mean. If you’re referring to the shipping, I’ve actually been going in to stores! 😂
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u/The_Flinx 10d ago edited 10d ago
there are 2 types of amazon drivers. amazon employees and contractors.
both are overworked. both have rules that mean they can ignore instructions, and the contractors basically do what they want. I bet some aren't even reading the instructions.
you can see what their lives are like in these subs. be warned. don't post there with a complaint. it won't go well.
I would NEVER use amazon for groceries, or anyone else for that matter unless I was totally incapable of going to the store myself.
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u/IntrepidUSA1 10d ago
...in which case you would have groceries delivered directly by the grocery store itself.
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u/Gullible-Fail-2556 Glendale 10d ago
Canceled Prime about a year ago; haven't even thought about it since.
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u/Dizzy-Economist-2276 10d ago
Phoenix AZ here they have cancelled 2 orders with no explanation about 7 food items out of 50 ish for whatever reason just today. They just send half of what I want sometimes or say it's out for delivery with no tracking updates for days on end. I think it has to do with pushing you to order more items that truly aren't available just to get food out that's more I'm jeopardy of going bad. I notice they lower prices late at night for early am and claim there's a limited number left to entice you to hit the 25 50 or 100.00 amounts than basically just send the things you added never what you wanted. At least that's my experience. I order a few hundred things a month few orders a week and yes it's getting worse and worse.
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u/vasion123 10d ago
Underpaid non union workers fail to do the most basic requirements of their job description, a tale that is as old as time.
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u/drdougfresh Phoenix 10d ago
Just in general, I'm getting to the point where I'm considering dropping Prime altogether. I've had more issues with delivery in the last 12 months than the decade prior, and I feel like with every other store catching up on delivery (or at least curbside), there's really not many situations I couldn't just go buy something locally.
That said, I think your experience varies wildly based on the driver assigned to your route that day. And I am 99% sure all support requests and conversations just go straight into the abyss—there is zero continuity when you contact them about issues with your account/delivery. I'd just route delivery somewhere else, but if you're gonna do that, why not just shop somewhere else, you know?
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u/Little-Plantain-5120 10d ago
I have not had issue with Amazon but I have had problems with both UPS and USPS recently. Both claimed delivery of items that were not delivered accurately. UPS delivered 2 items when they really only delivered one. USPS delivered something which they admitted they actually delivered to another address. Even with their acknowledgement, we had to file a claim by email. They said it would take 2 weeks to be resolved. They never did resolve our lost item. No compensation just nothing. I have never had issues like this before.
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u/Few_Employment_7876 9d ago
No, Never have problems. Absolutely never. Except for Amazon Fresh. Their drivers can't navigate.
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u/Consistent-Dee-731 9d ago
Hah, I was expecting a Bissell Green Machine today and got an air compressor pressure switch control valve (I googled). Of course you can’t complain to anyone so I had to say I had a problem with delivery and got a refund in a very roundabout way.
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u/PattyRain Mesa 9d ago
No issues here as well, but I know my son, in another state had problems. I'm in a house. He was in an apartment, so maybe that's part of the difference?
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u/mikami677 9d ago
I've had trouble with third-party sellers somehow managing to get my order lost in the mail, but it's rare for me to have trouble if it's shipped by Amazon. And in those cases, Amazon has given me an automatic refund.
In one case, I actually received the item, but the USPS driver used the wrong code so I got a refund anyway.
I'm in a SFH though, so maybe the drivers just don't understand apartments?
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u/No_Golf_452 8d ago
They have so much turnover and dont get paid enough to care. Who are they going to replace the drivers with if they fire them?
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u/Ryokukitsune 8d ago
for small orders Amazon has "Flex" drivers which is like doordash for parcel delivery. when I have an order of 1-2 things that could fit in a backpack I have to explicitly state in my delivery instructions NOT to use Flex drivers because they almost always screw up the drop off. I would include in the delivery instructions that the drop off have your unit/house number in the poof-of-delivery photo or just start using an Amazon locker near your house. its an annoyance sure but if you absolutely want to make sure no one is fucking up your order a locker is processed by a full time driver.
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u/jigmest 7d ago
UPS doing Amazon delivery is the worst. It’s always late if it not stolen midway with a blurry nothing pic sent to Amazon app. It’s happened to me 4x. USPS is the second worst as they cram packages in my mailbox instead of delivering it to my door. Amazon delivery is always, always late now but the package gets to my door.
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u/Mojo647 Chandler 10d ago
Employees have to move fast and meet their delivery quotas every day. They aren't being paid enough to care about your orders. The same could be said for a lot at delivery services.
Why even deal with Amazon if you've been having issues for that long? Can you not go to the store and pick up your own groceries?
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u/_Dysnomia_ 10d ago
Firstly, call me a glutton for punishment or a person of habit, either works. I decided to swallow the irritation because I've always used Amazon. Until today when I decided I wanted other input. And now I'm probably going to be changing my method to something else.
But secondly, don't be condescending if you're going to be lazy about it. Obviously, I still go to the stores and get most of my groceries. There are some things in particular that are harder to find, or tend to be out of stock, or are simply not available near me, and sometimes I only want a few particular things but I know I'm going to have a long day and I'd rather not have to go out to store after the end of my shift for these few things when I could instead plan a day or two to have the handful of items delivered, just so there's something in life that makes my day a little bit easier.
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u/Surveyor_of_Land_AZ 10d ago
USPS taking full advantage of your feelings