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Amazon To Take On UPS, FedEx Via 'Shipping With Amazon' (arstechnica.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the do-it-yourself dept.

According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, Amazon is planning to take on UPS and FedEx with a new shipping service named "Shipping with Amazon" (SWA). The new service will reportedly roll out in Los Angeles in the coming weeks. Ars Technica reports: Aside from first starting in LA, SWA will first serve third-party merchants that already sell on Amazon. The company plans to send drivers to pick up shipments from these businesses and deliver the packages for them. While shipping and delivery will mostly go through Amazon, anything outside of the retailer's reach will be given to the USPS and other shipping services for the "last mile" portion of the delivery. In the future, Amazon reportedly wants to open up SWA to businesses that aren't affiliated with the site -- meaning Amazon could ship and deliver packages from companies of all sizes. Amazon also believes it can compete with UPS and FedEx by making SWA more affordable for business customers, but its pricing structure hasn't been revealed.

60 comments

  1. Yeah right by Toshito · · Score: 3

    It will probably be more "dropping your valuable item on your front porch in view of everyone - by Amazon"

    --
    Try it! Library of Babel
    1. Re:Yeah right by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 1

      It will probably be more "dropping your valuable item on your front porch in view of everyone - by Amazon"

      Solution: Put a lock box on your porch, bolted to the concrete.

      I have had one for years. The delivery guys always use it.

      It only works for the first delivery of the day, but I have never had a stolen package.

      I also have a locking mailbox. The mailperson can put mail in, but I use a key to get it out.

    2. Re:Yeah right by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nah, it's more of a "the driver couldn't find your location -- by Amazon" and / or "the driver 'lost' (read: stole) your package -- by Amazon" variety.

      Source: I'm an unhappy customer. I'd pay extra to guarantee that they don't use Amazon shipping.

    3. Re:Yeah right by freeze128 · · Score: 1

      A couple of times, Amazon reported that my package was delivered, when it was not. One of those times, it showed up the following day with tire tracks on it.

    4. Re:Yeah right by Mashiki · · Score: 1

      Could you post where you live? No seriously that way everyone can avoid living there. I can leave a $20k roller cabinet full of tools sitting in my front yard and nobody will even touch it.

      --
      Om, nomnomnom...
    5. Re:Yeah right by BizX · · Score: 0

      We don't appreciate that kind of attitude. You should apologize as not everyone can decide where they live.

    6. Re:Yeah right by Mashiki · · Score: 1

      Everyone can decide where they want to live. Even those of us who started in abject poverty and climbed our way into middle class.

      --
      Om, nomnomnom...
    7. Re:Yeah right by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I had a package show up as delivered... it definitely was not on my property. Turns out it was delivered... to my neighbor.

      If only there was some sort of system whereby two different locations could be distinguished... maybe large and clearly-posted numerical indicators or something.

    8. Re: Yeah right by Brockmire · · Score: 1

      You must live in a real shit hole that no one wants to go to. Or, on the flip side, you are the poorest in a rich neighbourhood.

    9. Re: Yeah right by Mashiki · · Score: 1

      You must live in a real shit hole that no one wants to go to. Or, on the flip side, you are the poorest in a rich neighbourhood.

      Think you got that backwards. If I can leave something out and people don't steal it because it's not nailed down, doesn't make it a shithole or 'poorest in a rich neighborhood.' Try thinking on this really hard and you should figure out where you went wrong.

      --
      Om, nomnomnom...
    10. Re:Yeah right by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It will probably be more "dropping your valuable item on your front porch in view of everyone - by Amazon"

      I prefer that to "put it in your neighbors mailbox" by USPS. Mostly my neighbors have delivered it to me, but not always.

  2. Re:Like how Moscow Donald takes on America by SimonStu · · Score: 1

    What are you trying to say, in English, please?

  3. Another reason by no-body · · Score: 0

    to avoid this all-compassing octopus....
    Any search for something you do on a search engine, this name pops up on top. Me hates it!

    Convenience is one thing, to do the right thing is something else and our world would be a different place..

  4. Can they doo eet ??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Will be intresting if Amazon can out-logistics UPS & USPS ...

    i dont think they can but will be an interesting endeavor to watch .

    1. Re:Can they doo eet ??? by darkain · · Score: 3, Informative

      Have you actually seen the internals of UPS? Their technology is actually an absolute fucking JOKE. USPS and FedEx are both light years ahead of UPS, which isn't saying much, since they all use old and clusterfucked technology.

    2. Re:Can they doo eet ??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In-source or out-source? That is the question. Whether 'tis nobler to cut out the middleman or sticketh to one's core competency.

      First health care and now shipping.

      Can they do it? They think they can. They think they can.

    3. Re:Can they doo eet ??? by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 3, Informative

      Will be intresting if Amazon can out-logistics UPS & USPS ...

      For UPS, that is easy. Their operations are not very efficient. Ask anyone who has worked there ... or dealt with them daily. For a fun activity, try to get your incompetent and arrogant UPS driver fired for negligently causing thousands of dollars of damage to deliveries. Despite dozens of video recordings from your loading dock security camera documenting his behavior, he will keep his job, and his attitude and surliness will get even worse.

      USPS is much better run, and Priority Mail and Media Mail are great deals for delivering small packages. But for anything big, or express, they are not so good.

    4. Re:Can they doo eet ??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If you truly have 'thousands' of dollars worth of damage on video, and UPS has done nothing, it's time to lawyer up.

    5. Re:Can they doo eet ??? by omnichad · · Score: 1

      Your lawyer could get the insurance coverage paid, but not this person fired. We only know they didn't get the latter. They may already have the former.

    6. Re:Can they doo eet ??? by CaptainDork · · Score: 2

      I don't want to see inside anyone's underwear and I don't give a shit about what's behind UPS's curtain.

      All I want is delivery.

      I get that from any of the services I use.

      --
      It little behooves the best of us to comment on the rest of us.
    7. Re:Can they doo eet ??? by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 2

      If you truly have 'thousands' of dollars worth of damage on video, and UPS has done nothing, it's time to lawyer up.

      UPS has reimbursed us for the damage, so we have no grounds to sue. But they didn't fire the guy despite our videos clearly showing him tossing packages out of the back of the truck in an arc with an apogee more than 8 feet AGL.

      I understand that UPS is unionized, but there is still no excuse for keeping this jerk on their payroll. He still does our deliveries, and he no longer tosses our packages, but he does look up at the cameras and sneer almost everyday.

    8. Re: Can they doo eet ??? by javaman235 · · Score: 1

      This is the real elephant in the room:
      https://www.bizjournals.com/da...
      Bezos and Buffet have buddy buddy in some interesting ways lately, if the blockchain supply chain fires up under Amazon, it's a done deal. Forbes on same thing:
      https://www.forbes.com/sites/b...

      --
      -The art of programming is the pursuit of absolute simplicity.
    9. Re:Can they doo eet ??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      For a fun activity, try to get your incompetent and arrogant UPS driver fired for negligently causing thousands of dollars of damage to deliveries.

      You're trying to get a dues-paying Teamster fired. You may prefer playing the lottery. Your odds will be better.

    10. Re:Can they doo eet ??? by q_e_t · · Score: 1

      UPS has reimbursed us for the damage, so we have no grounds to sue. But they didn't fire the guy despite our videos clearly showing him tossing packages out of the back of the truck in an arc with an apogee more than 8 feet AGL.

      8 feet? Yes, sue his ass for not really even trying.

    11. Re:Can they doo eet ??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      USPS and FedEx are both light years ahead of UPS, which isn't saying much, since they all use old and clusterfucked technology.

      Have you used UPS's and FedEx end-user shipping products? I have, for the past fifteen years or so, and neither of them have changed much. FedEx may have slightly better internal tech, their web based stuff may be slightly better, but the primary software they ship their larger customers to use to directly create and manage shipments simply gets left in the dust by the stuff UPS ships, particularly so when it comes to managing batch shipments. It is mind-numbing how much more time it takes to work with the FedEx software and how much more consistent the UPS software is. UPS Worldship is just a tank when it comes to importing and especially exporting shipment data.

      I wrote several paragraphs here describing the key frustrating differences but upon review I realize that it's pretty much the same complaints I've been sending to FedEx for years, and there's several employees there who would probably immediately recognize me. I just can't post it.

    12. Re: Can they doo eet ??? by Brockmire · · Score: 1

      Purolator left my area after years of shitty service. Really, really shitty. FedEx Depot is an hour away and not open late hours or Saturday. They charge to change destination and only sender can change that. UPS has a pickup location nearby, but barely any place I buy from uses them anymore (a third party seller is apparently sending the $2.99 HDMI cable by UPS). I otherwise like the local drivers and have no real complaints with UPS. Amazon has taken an order on Saturday and had it at my local post office 10:36am on Monday. For no additional cost above Prime membership. Any other courier would pick it up Monday evening, transfer it a few times, and it's Wednesday to Friday to get the same thing for more shipping cost. At my work location, we used to think Digikey was the shit when we'd place an order at 5pm and get next day by 11am, but we qualify for same day delivery with Amazon and if ordered by noon, often gets delivered same day by 7pm. That's fucking awesome. Canada Post has some shitty systems and dumb employees (they've given my brother's packages away 3 times in December/January to other people, despite having ID policies...). I'm hoping Amazon takes over for Canada Post to make it cheaper to operate and make it better service. Canada Post outlets have weekend hours and open til 9pm during weekdays. A Canada Post/Amazon provided service would be welcomed by me. Fuck Purolator.

    13. Re: Can they doo eet ??? by Brockmire · · Score: 1

      FedEx Canada shipping site is different than the US one. It's buggy as shit. Different browsers run into different bugs, so it's whack a mole. One time we couldn't select pickup schedule and complete order (fucking dynamic redrawing of options would make things appear and disappear). Called in, they acknowledged the problem and gave zero fucks with no ETA of fix. I was mostly pissed they had a known problem but kept the thing running so everyone wasting time hitting this block instead of throwing up a maintenance indicator.

  5. Probably just buy the USPS by jfdavis668 · · Score: 1

    When the postal service goes bankrupt, Amazon will pick it up for a song.

    1. Re:Probably just buy the USPS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      the only problem is that Bezos is currently not on the Administration's friend list.

    2. Re:Probably just buy the USPS by SimonStu · · Score: 1

      He's rich and powerful enough to get there, if he wants to play ball.

    3. Re:Probably just buy the USPS by q_e_t · · Score: 2

      Since the constitution mandates that the government provide a service, won't it need an amendment for Amazon to purchase it?

    4. Re:Probably just buy the USPS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      The postal service is doing just fine. Well, it was doing just fine until the Bush-era neocons passed a law mandating it to fully fund pensions for 70 years. That's right, your pro-corporate welfare Congress is busy sabotaging the USPS because it actually works and it's against the narrative for government to do anything right. So when government does do something right, especially with good employee benefits and such that actually manages to fund itself without tax money, offers useful (and nationwide to any citizen) services at a reasonable cost, well, that's got to be done away with somehow.

      No sane entity, public or private, tries to fully fund pensions for workers who haven't even been born yet--but that's what the Post Office has to do thanks to GWB and his corrupt minions. Please notice that Obama and the Democrats totally did not fix or address this issue when they were in power either, so it's fair to blame them too. I'd like to hope Trump fixes this because he's smarter than that, but of course the Dems keep flinging stuff at the wall hoping it'll stick with him, which it won't, but that does get in the way of correcting not-urgent problems. That and way too many corrupt congresscritters who were around when GWB was president are still around now.

  6. This'll suck by rsilvergun · · Score: 2

    UPS and FedEx pay alright. I know some folks who 'ship' for Amazon. It's like Uber. Crap pay, psuedo contact work and no benefits. Something to do when your full time job isn't enough to make rent. Welcome to the new economy.

    --
    Hi! I make Firefox Plug-ins. Check 'em out @ https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/youtube-mp3-podcaster/
    1. Re:This'll suck by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Welcome to the new economy.

      Amazon needs to stop expanding, or better yet we need people willing to break up companies this big. This kind of control is dangerous. They sure as hell don't need to be into shipping to.

      FWIW, Walmart.com is another source. It isn't much better, but avoiding buying everything at amazon is likely a good idea. Shirts were reasonable and way less annoying that searching through stacks for the right size.

      Perhaps there needs to be some number that a single company cannot grow beyond a certain percent of the economy?

    2. Re:This'll suck by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Wait, hang on... you think Amazon is too big, so you're recommending that people use Walmart?

      Walmart posts almost 4X the sales volume per year that Amazon does.

    3. Re:This'll suck by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      Welcome to the new economy.

      In the new economy, none of these jobs will exist, because robots will do all of them. And good riddance. FedEx destroyed a radiator I had shipped so that delayed a repair job four days. Put a big fat hole through the side of the box. UPS tried to destroy the replacement, but they only managed to accordion the box around the edges a bit, and not to actually penetrate it, and the packaging was sufficient that this doesn't seem to have broken anything. It's not necessarily the workers' fault, they may just not be given enough time to do their jobs correctly, but it's still pathetic.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  7. AMZL already here... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Want your Amazon order delivered? Well wait no longer. We'll ship that $4000 laptop using our AMZL team. We'll promise it in 2 days, and on the delivery day we'll send you an email stating there was an unknown logistics problem, and that your precious order will take an additional 4-5 days, and is your address correct? On the actual delivery day, we'll send our plainclothes delivery driver in an unmarked rice burner Honda with loud exhaust to the house across the street and deliver the package thru the side gate, to the back door, and we'll make sure your neighbors back door is locked. Either that, or your order will disappear and you'll have to re-order.
    This is all true stories from Amazons customer discussions about AMZL. There were thousands of complaints there. Many cancelling Prime membership over this. Amazons response to the problem by shutting down Amazons customer discussion boards.

    1. Re:AMZL already here... by LBt1st · · Score: 1

      I've had pretty much all of those things happen with AMZL delivery. I have my street number posted in FOUR places around my corner lot and they still manage to screw things up regularly. I don't have much faith in Amazon competing with existing carriers. Not with the caliber of their current drivers.

    2. Re: AMZL already here... by Brockmire · · Score: 1

      When they failed to bring the 2nd Instant Pot I ordered ("it says it's here in the van, but I can't find it"), a few days later without it showing up, they sent it again on my request. A full week later after the first delivery, the original missing one got delivered. That's three for the price of two ($100ish). I treat those like Community Chest cards, where an error in my favour occurred.

    3. Re:AMZL already here... by nwf · · Score: 1

      Of the packages I've had shipped by AMZL, at least 50% were either late or damaged. They have more mechanical problems than any company I've ever seen.

      Mostly, they just have unexpected issues that cause a day or two delay. However, both AMZL and UPS will change your package tracking information after the fact, which is rather dishonest. They'll say it went out for delivery, but when it doesn't make it, all that info will be wiped. Amazon has "guaranteed two day delivery" but their guarantee is worthless because it just claims they'll refund your free shipping. I've complained to "customer service" about this and they just apologize and move on.

      I had a monitor delivered 6 days late, and only when I called them. Their excuse, "it wouldn't fit." Odd that the other identical one I ordered fit and arrived on time.

      --
      I don't know, but it works for me.
  8. Re:I shall ship my balls by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Elon, is that you?

  9. Competition is good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I look forward to Amazon adding some competition in this field. My recent encounters with FedEx and UPS have been terrible. Packages left outside in the rain even when I'm home, charging me for import duty when I've already paid on-line, returning my package claiming my address doesn't exist are just some examples. Anyone who actually gets my package to the door and doesn't destroy it in the process will be a step up.

  10. Meanwhile in the middle of the country by rossdee · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Your Amazon packages will still come in the mail

    1. Re:Meanwhile in the middle of the country by Comrade+Ogilvy · · Score: 2

      Just wait until the crusade to eliminate gov't tyranny (in the form of useful public services) bequeaths flyover land the end of Mail Neutrality.

    2. Re:Meanwhile in the middle of the country by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Your Amazon packages will still come in the mail

      Unless you live near a fulfillment center, I live outside of Chicago and they've been delivering via a plain white van with an "Amazon" decal on the side for nearly a near now. I guess this announcement is just making the service "official" in a really big city and acting like it's something new.

  11. Great - more trucks on the road by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What was Amazon's position on global warming again?

    Oops, I almost forgot their push towards driverless trucks

    What was Amazon's position on AI eliminating jobs again?

  12. Amazon delivery sucks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    They just toss the boxes in the yard. On concrete. Wet grass. In the rain. They don't even bother honking the horn so you can come out to get it.

    1. Re:Amazon delivery sucks by nwf · · Score: 1

      Sometimes their app notifies you it was delivered. About 15% of the time, that is. Their delivery service is really bad, and I didn't think anyone could remain in business being as bad as FedEx, but they proved me wrong.

      --
      I don't know, but it works for me.
  13. Every shipment comes with a free Amazon sticker by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Every shipment comes with a free Amazon sticker, which they lovingly call, "stikas".

    Enjoy your SWA stikas!

  14. "Global Warming Is Upon Us!" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Social responsibility for corporations goes down the tubes when the corporations become hypocrites. "We care about our environment, so we're going to make yet another redundant shipping service so that we can pump more CO2 in the air while telling everyone else to use less oil."

  15. AWS by WinstonWolfIT · · Score: 1

    I like Amazon's delivery model. They sent me a router in its box, rather than a box in a box. They have options for sign on delivery which is a hassle compared to they don't quibble about packages not received. I ordered a router that didn't do what I thought it would and they paid for the return shipping and when it was scanned into UPS my refund showed within the hour. (Still hate them for the 1-click patent). Compare that with driving to a box store and getting raped on price and getting raped on return hassles and try to tell me Amazon isn't delivering excellent value.

  16. How much do the spend on lobbying by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Answer, not enough or weâ(TM)ll have to break you up

  17. Ah finally improvement. by Teunis · · Score: 1

    UPS can't deliver to correct addresses on a regular basis.
    Fedex doesn't deliver at all here.

    Amazon gets it right every time.
    *shrug*

  18. Brilliant Branding of "SWA" by thechemic · · Score: 1

    SWA delivery driver attempts delivery with signature required but nobody is home and leaves sticker on the door
    Ethnic man calls in to SWA

    Customer Server: "How can I help you?"
    Ethnic Man: "Who can I make a complaint to?"
    Customer Service: "What seems to be the problem sir?"
    Ethnic Man: "One of your delivery drivers left a fucking SWA stickah on mah door!"

    --
    Let's make like a bird... and get the flock outta here.
  19. usps' job by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "Amazon reportedly wants to open up SWA to businesses that aren't affiliated with the site -- meaning Amazon could ship and deliver packages from companies of all sizes."

    oh, so what the usps should have been doing a few years ago. not that it's all their fault. congress has hamstrung them too.

  20. Too big by BoFo · · Score: 1

    What is this? Is Amazon turning into frikkin' Standard Oil? Somebody please exercise the Sherman Act. It hasn't been invoked in like 50 years and it's long overdue.