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Delivering Amazon Packages To the Top of the World (nytimes.com)

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the aggressive-expansion dept.

Vindu Goel, writing for The New York Times: Perched high in the Himalayas, near India's border with China, the tiny town of Leh sometimes seems as if it has been left behind by modern technology. Internet and cellphone service is spotty, the two roads to the outside world are snowed in every winter, and Buddhist monasteries compete with military outposts for prime mountaintop locations. But early each morning, the convenience of the digital age arrives, by way of a plane carrying 15 to 20 bags of packages from Amazon. At an elevation of 11,562 feet, Leh is the highest spot in the world where the company offers speedy delivery.

When the plane arrives from New Delhi, it is met by employees from Amazon's local delivery partner, Incredible Himalaya, who then shuttle the packages by van to a modest warehouse nearby. Eshay Rangdol, 26, the nephew of the owner, helps oversee the sorting of the packages and delivers many of them himself. The couriers must follow exacting standards set by Amazon, from wearing closed-toe shoes and being neatly groomed to displaying their ID cards and carrying a fully charged cellphone. Amazon began offering doorstep delivery in this region last fall, as part of an effort to better serve the remotest corners of India. Sales volume in Leh is up twelvefold since Incredible Himalaya took over deliveries from the postal service, which was much slower and required customers to pick up packages at the post office.

44 comments

  1. wtf by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    “But early each morning, the convenience of the digital age arrives, by way of a plane carrying 15 to 20 bags of packages from Amazon the convenience of the digital age arrives, by way of a plane carrying 15 to 20 bags of packages from Amazon.”

    1. Re:wtf by BlacKSacrificE · · Score: 0, Troll

      You must be new here. Editorial standards left with CmdrTaco.

      --
      [Sorry, this signature is unavailable in your country/region]
    2. Re: wtf by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This right here ^^^^^^

      Went all downhill once Rob left.

  2. Exacting standards... by aicrules · · Score: 1

    Closed toed shoes...probably lead with something a little more exacting. But I do like that a remote place like this has access to Amazon.

    1. Re:Exacting standards... by jellomizer · · Score: 2

      Professional Image Standard can say a lot about the company.
      If a Guy was dressed in street clothing to a delivery to the Himalayas it is Amazon saying to the customers, "We are delivering this to use as a favor from us, you got your stuff so you should be happy." Vs. Having it delivered with a professional image, which says "We value you as a customer, and are willing to go the extra mile for you."

      In the past I have ordered some goods, and it went to some third party shipping company, So I got a 70 lbs Sun Workstation (in the year 2000 and it came with a monitor too) shipped to me from some guy in the back of flatbed truck, with some disheveled delivery guy. I paid over 3k for this computer, I was expecting a little more professionalism on getting it. Granted they boxes were in clean order and no damage. But it gave me a bit of a sour taste in my mouth from it.

      --
      If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
    2. Re: Exacting standards... by Wycliffe · · Score: 1

      Closed toed shoes...probably lead with something a little more exacting. But I do like that a remote place like this has access to Amazon.

      It is a slightly odd requirement to have for a contractor. It implies that they are treating them more like an employee and extension of Amazon that just another independent delivery service. Around Christmas time, I've had packages delivered from the back of uhauls and pickup trucks by people in street clothes presumably because ups and usps can't keep up so are hiring whatever temp workers they can find.

    3. Re:Exacting standards... by aicrules · · Score: 1

      I'm not saying it isn't a standard for a reason...it's just not that big a standard to live up to. None of the other standards are particular exacting either. They have standards, period. It would be an exacting standard to require them to hop on one foot for the entire delivery...or have the amazon logo tattooed on their face...

    4. Re:Exacting standards... by rojash · · Score: 1

      No steel toe or camel toe ??

    5. Re:Exacting standards... by hackertourist · · Score: 1

      I'd much rather have a disheveled delivery guy who handles my packages carefully and diligently, than someone in a pristine uniform who throws my packages around, leaves them in a puddle on my porch, doesn't ring before slipping a 'not home' notice in my mailbox, etc.
      IOW you're looking at irrelevances.

  3. Mountain canyons. by msauve · · Score: 4, Funny

    "by way of a plane carrying 15 to 20 bags of packages from Amazon the convenience of the digital age arrives, by way of a plane carrying 15 to 20 bags of packages from Amazon"

    And, the Himalayan valleys produce really good echos (another Amazon reference).

    --
    "National Security is the chief cause of national insecurity." - Celine's First Law
    1. Re: Mountain canyons. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's a Slashdot innovation, dupes within a single story.

    2. Re:Mountain canyons. by oldgraybeard · · Score: 1

      This information may have originally been tweeted. In many places today's journalistic standard seems to be, say what the tweet said. Then say the same text from the actual tweet, maybe as a way to prove the first statement.

      I don't know, I am not a journalist and my writing sucks ;) Who knows maybe the journalist? is getting paid per word and this gets the word count up.

      Just my 2 cents ;)

    3. Re:Mountain canyons. by rojash · · Score: 1

      nice...(since I cant upvote in a forum I commented on)....weird, /. !

  4. Replace Postal Service by Kristoph · · Score: 0

    If the post office in the US ( and in many other countries ) wasnâ(TM)t heavily cost controlled and subsidized Iâ(TM)d wager Amazon ( and others ) could provide a much more effective and efficient replacement.

    The only problems I ever have with Amazon deliver is when the carrier is the postal service.

    I appreciate that this would reduce postal access to lower income individuals but I should think we could solve that with the $18 billion we give the post office every year.

    1. Re:Replace Postal Service by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I should think we could solve that with the $18 billion we give the post office every year.

      Since the Post Office receives zero tax dollars, I am curious who you think this "we" is.

    2. Re:Replace Postal Service by Nidi62 · · Score: 1

      I should think we could solve that with the $18 billion we give the post office every year.

      Since the Post Office receives zero tax dollars, I am curious who you think this "we" is.

      He probably thinks those contracts the USPS has with the US government are "subsidies". You know, we haven't heard about that in a very long time. I guess they were good deals after all......

      --
      The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for it to be pitted against a slightly greater evil
    3. Re:Replace Postal Service by Darinbob · · Score: 4, Informative

      The USPS is not subsidized. And yet all the anti-government types keep trying to point to it as a failure when it's probably one of the best run government departments. Mostly because the USPS is required to act much like an independent business because of the 1971 Postal Reorganization Act. Tax dollars are only used in limited cases, such as delivery of voting materials overseas. Junk mail actually keeps the system going. Amazon can deliver to this remoate place in the Himalayas, but it won't deliver to some places in the US that the post office does serve. Profit is what matters to Amazon.

      Certainly the postal system could be improved, but I don't understand why it's constantly held up as an example of wasteful government.

    4. Re:Replace Postal Service by rojash · · Score: 1

      Agreed, but well, for people living in those remote areas, or difficult-to-reach area, I think there should be a tax/charge that goes to the USPS warriors. Kinds stupid that people in clustered apartments and those in wannabe igloos 500ft from each other are treated the same.

    5. Re:Replace Postal Service by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The problem with thinking like that is without equel access to the postal system, people who live in rural areas would have to move closer together in areas that are already overcrowded, increasing congestion, housing prices, crime rates, food prices (if they're not on the farm producing food where's the food going to come from?), taxes would go up to accomodate the extra wear and tear on the infrastructure, etc. In other words, the small amount, if any, you pay for there to be equal acess to the postal service is considerably less than you would pay for other things/taxes if there weren't equal access.

    6. Re:Replace Postal Service by Applehu+Akbar · · Score: 1

      In Arizona we have one Indian village deep in the Grand Canyon that has its mail delivered by mule every day. No extra change.

  5. Airports at high altitudes are exciting by magarity · · Score: 2

    At an elevation of 11,562 feet,

    I recommend travelling in and out of airports over 11K for anyone looking for adventure. Make sure to get a window seat. I did it once and it's about the wildest ride you can do on commercial. The landing and takeoff speeds are more than double compared to typical airports.

    1. Re:Airports at high altitudes are exciting by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      that's really cool. as much as i love adventure i'm not sure that's something i'd go looking for. must be getting old.

    2. Re:Airports at high altitudes are exciting by rjr162 · · Score: 1

      Not me. When the last mile is handled by the USPS, it arrives on the day marked in my mailbox or on the front porch as expected.

      The times I tried Amazon delivery, which was to THEIR OWN STORE, it was late every time.

    3. Re:Airports at high altitudes are exciting by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      My bucket list is full of uneventful and unadventurous activities, like sleeping in, walking on a beach, watching a play.

    4. Re:Airports at high altitudes are exciting by Strider- · · Score: 1

      Eh I've been a pax on tactical landings in a C130 and various helicopters. I'm pretty sure that has high altitude airports beat.

      --
      ...si hoc legere nimium eruditionis habes...
  6. Economic position by Okian+Warrior · · Score: 2

    Closed toed shoes...probably lead with something a little more exacting. But I do like that a remote place like this has access to Amazon.

    Closed toed shoes is probably a safety issue, it protects the feet in case you drop something. We have that restriction here in the US in light workshop areas.

    I'm curious about the economic position of the town. Purchasing goods requires money, so money leaves the town, and to be sustainable money has to also come into the town, which means the town produces something that is saleable.

    What saleable item does [a small town high in the Himalayas] produce? Just wondering.

    1. Re:Economic position by AvitarX · · Score: 1

      Based on TFS, religion and military?

      I don't know how economically participating the monks would be, but I suspect the military brings a sustainable economy to the town.

      --
      Wow, sent an e-mail as suggested when clicking on "use classic" banner, and got a fast response that addressed my msg
    2. Re:Economic position by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Tourism/mountaineering in the summer.

    3. Re:Economic position by kaka.mala.vachva · · Score: 1

      In the case of Leh, tourism and military.

    4. Re:Economic position by nospam007 · · Score: 2

      "What saleable item does [a small town high in the Himalayas] produce? Just wondering."

      They produced children and grand-children, who work in New Delhi and send money back too peepaw and meemaw.

  7. All fine by no-body · · Score: 0

    I still despise Amazon and avoid it!

    1. Re:All fine by nospam007 · · Score: 1

      " by no-body ( 127863 )
      I still despise Amazon and avoid it!"

      Nobody does that.

  8. The Himalayas... by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 2

    Mount Everest. Forbidding, aloof, terrifying. The mountain with the biggest tits in the world.

    --
    #DeleteChrome
    1. Re:The Himalayas... by sconeu · · Score: 1

      Start again!

      --
      General Relativity: Space-time tells matter where to go; Matter tells space-time what shape to be.
    2. Re:The Himalayas... by rojash · · Score: 1

      dont u mean biggest TIT ??

  9. Repetition in the Slashdot story: by Futurepower(R) · · Score: 1

    From the Slashdot story:
    "... plane carrying 15 to 20 bags..."
    "... plane carrying 15 to 20 bags..."

    RAID 1 information transfer? Gotta have a backup. Suppose something disturbed the electrons delivering the 1st phrase?

  10. How many bags? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    by way of a plane carrying 15 to 20 bags of packages from Amazon the convenience of the digital age arrives, by way of a plane carrying 15 to 20 bags of packages from Amazon.

    I'm sorry, that wasn't clear... who was delivering how many bags again?

  11. exacting standards indeed by cascadingstylesheet · · Score: 1

    The couriers must follow exacting standards set by Amazon, from wearing closed-toe shoes and being neatly groomed to displaying their ID cards and carrying a fully charged cellphone.

    In our brave new world, these are exacting standards ...

    Well, I suppose they are. In parts of the US, Amazon will let any slob deliver who can pony up the money for some vans ...

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  13. Lucky Eshay by DrXym · · Score: 1

    He has exactly one client that happens to be one of the most evil. It's a nice business, it'd be a shame if anything bad happened to it.

  14. Who lives at the North Pole exactly? by xxxJonBoyxxx · · Score: 1

    >> Delivering Amazon Packages To the Top of the World

    Who lives at the North Pole exactly? Or did someone's PR team shoot their load five months too early?

    1. Re:Who lives at the North Pole exactly? by Applehu+Akbar · · Score: 1

      Who lives at the North Pole exactly? Or did someone's PR team shoot their load five months too early?

      Becvause of thinning polar ice and the elves” recent unionization vote, the toy manufacturer you’re thinking of has already relocated to Shanghai.

  15. Oops, wrong address! by az-saguaro · · Score: 1

    The irony of this story is that I just walked in from running a special errand. Four days ago, Friday, the Amazon delivery service dropped off a box at my house. It was addressed to someone else. I live in a large metro area. The intended recipient is in the same metro area, but a neighboring town 14 miles away. Our names have no resemblance to each other, none whatsoever, nor was there anything else that could have caused confusion. The shipping label said (paraphrasing) deliver to Fred, 123 Main St., Othercity. The Amazon delivery guy was nowhere close, and he apparently did not even look at the label address, or my address where he delivered it, or used any GPS or other tracking or location confirmation. I am not anticipating any packages, so it is not as though my own package got swapped or has gone missing.

    I called Amazon customer service, gave them the tracking number, and they found it right away. They then said "We would pleased for you to keep the item, and we will order a replacement for the buyer direct from the vendor." After verifying that the buyer would indeed get a replacement item, that was the end of the call. I do not know what is in the box, but it would be a long shot that what Fred ordered is something that I could use. Since coincidentally Fred at 123 Main St. is just a short side step on my way to and from work, I dropped it off at his house today. Lucky Fred will now get two of what he ordered. I just returned from that errand, just to read this article.

    I can only imagine that the Amazon rep looked at the order details, and if the item was below a certain cost, it was easier for them to authorize a replacement rather than pick up and redeliver the original item. But what if it was an expensive item, or perishable, or a one of a kind antique? I have read various stories of problems with Amazon's own home brewed delivery system that they are trying to build out. What if the package that should have gone to Leh went to Mumbai or Mombasa or Minnesota, or vice versa? Here's hoping that those nice folk at the top of the world all get what they ordered.