Amazon drives me crazy.

[warp9]

I ordered 5 items and checked the "ship in as few packages as possible" option. It was already set to ship in 2 packages so I thought I could just delay one of them so they arrive on the same day.

Amazon is now shipping me 5 items on 5 different days.

It's the elevator close button of options.

 

[Erehy Dobon]

I've been an Amazon customer since the late Nineties -- back when they were really just an online bookstore -- but the December holiday season has consistently muddled their normal shipping behavior.

With COVID-19, it's hard for me to criticize Amazon in this instance. They are motivated to clear their deliverables ASAP so they don't get slammed with too many packages late in the holiday season when there might be a dearth of delivery staff because of COVID-19, regular seasonal illnesses, etc.

Amazon is motivated to deliver every single package as soon as possible to clear the backlog because it is not going to get easier until the 24th of December, I guarantee you that.

Since early November, I have selected "free delivery" for all of my Amazon deliveries without specifying "fewer packages".

 

[warp9]

Those all sound like good reasons and probably true. I suspect it's cheaper for them to ship a package when it's ready rather than hold it "somewhere" until the day I choose.

That's the problem though. The option shouldn't be there if it doesn't do anything. It's never worked in the 5 years or so I've tried it, and it probably will never work. I just felt motivated to post because I've never had a shipment be so opposite of what they said it would be.

Maybe they're trying to encourage the "one-click" option since all packages ship randomly anyways.

 

[44267547]

I ordered 5 items and checked the "ship in as few packages as possible" option. It was already set to ship in 2 packages so I thought I could just delay one of them so they arrive on the same day.

Amazon is now shipping me 5 items on 5 different days.

It's the elevator close button of options.

I would be surprised if all five items arrived on separate days. What sometimes happens is, that your items might ship separately from different regional facilities, and then once they congregate into one Amazon fulfillment center, [assuming you have one in your area], then they will all arrive usually on the same day or maybe one or two might arrive on the second day. I’ve had this happen many times, and I order from Amazon every week, where items will ship separately, then group together at different points once they reach closer to your location. Amazons logistics aren’t perfect, but they’ve improved a lot, and it’s a huge help if you have an Amazon fulfillment center near your location.

 

[Erehy Dobon]

Amazon and UPS do not enjoy any monetary benefit from having shipments languish in their warehouses.

Amazon Prime is a farce for three quarters of the year when Amazon is in the driver's seat and can withhold delivery.

Amazon's biggest fear is a backlog of deliveries. In 2020 that's exacerbated because COVID-19 may influence the availability of delivery drivers. When an item arrives at a distribution warehouse, Amazon wants to get this out of the door.

For non-Amazon Prime members, COVID-19 is a once-in-a-lifetime thing: accelerated delivery for free.

I have recently seen items from separate orders consolidated in one faster delivery. I never saw this in pre-COVID-19 days.

Amazon is consolidating shipments to reduce warehouse backlogs. Right now in December 2020. Likely not forever but necessary for them to get through this time.

 

[warp9]

The packages haven't arrived yet so they could be combined still. There's a fulfillment center just down the road from me so delivery times are all over the place. Sometimes it's a week (out of country), sometimes it's an hour.

A year ago I would have been livid about this delivery unpredictability but because of covid, I can buzz in drivers from my phone and they leave it in front of my door.

 

[dk001]

I have a new fulfilment center near me and since that time I have seen an increase in the number of shipments consolidated at the last minute. Biggest pain is when the delivery date given does not match the actual arrival date (usually faster). Still, I can live with it.

 

[Plutonius]

Biggest pain is when the delivery date given does not match the actual arrival date (usually faster).

That's my main complaint during the summer.

I schedule my orders such that I will not be traveling when the order is scheduled to arrive.

It always ends up that it ships really early when I'm away from home and it sits in the unsecured apartment entrance for a few days.

I have been lucky so far and have lost only one order due to theft.

 

[kazmac]

While fewer packages would be nicer, several items showed up before the storm on Wednesday instead of Friday. That helped a lot.

Amazon refunds quickly, so no complaints.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I use Amazon perhaps nearly everyday as they are so cheap and convenient. A friend of mine is leading a boycott Amazon campaign even though our high streets are all closed right now in the run up to Christmas lol. Nah mate, i’ll give my money to Bezos thanks

 

[Huntn]

I've been an Amazon customer since the late Nineties -- back when they were really just an online bookstore -- but the December holiday season has consistently muddled their normal shipping behavior.

With COVID-19, it's hard for me to criticize Amazon in this instance. They are motivated to clear their deliverables ASAP so they don't get slammed with too many packages late in the holiday season when there might be a dearth of delivery staff because of COVID-19, regular seasonal illnesses, etc.

Amazon is motivated to deliver every single package as soon as possible to clear the backlog because it is not going to get easier until the 24th of December, I guarantee you that.

Since early November, I have selected "free delivery" for all of my Amazon deliveries without specifying "fewer packages".

I never say fewer packages as it can cause delays.

 

[Huntn]

I use Amazon perhaps nearly everyday as they are so cheap and convenient. A friend of mine is leading a boycott Amazon campaign even though our high streets are all closed right now in the run up to Christmas lol. Nah mate, i’ll give my money to Bezos thanks

It’s a matter of convenience and offering value for you money.

 

[scubachap]

I use Amazon perhaps nearly everyday as they are so cheap and convenient. A friend of mine is leading a boycott Amazon campaign even though our high streets are all closed right now in the run up to Christmas lol. Nah mate, i’ll give my money to Bezos thanks

I'd like to agree with your friend (I'm personally not a great fan of Amazon) but in my world they've been probably the only company or organisation who've come through recent events with flying colours, while just about everyone and everything else seems to have failed to a greater or lesser degree.

I too remember when they transitioned from being an online bookshop to selling other stuff and I think Bezos at the time said that they'd never been a bookshop really they were actually a super efficent delivery company. They've certainly proved that in the last 6 months here.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I'd like to agree with your friend (I'm personally not a great fan of Amazon) but in my world they've been probably the only company or organisation who've come through recent events with flying colours, while just about everyone and everything else seems to have failed to a greater or lesser degree.

I too remember when they transitioned from being an online bookshop to selling other stuff and I think Bezos at the time said that they'd never been a bookshop really they were actually a super efficent delivery company. They've certainly proved that in the last 6 months here.

I remember the bookshop of the late 90’s too and used them back then for school books etc. The thing with Amazon is you can order things and get them so quickly and cheaper than most shops. If I went to a shop in my town I’d have to pay £4 to park and mix with others which isn’t ideal at the moment. I can’t do that anyway at the moment because many shops are closed and many are only selling essential items. As sad as it is, Amazon have killed off a lot of traditional shops due to pricing and buying power from their supply chains.

My friend is getting quite aggressive online with his posts against them and pretty much arguing and falling out with everybody who admits to using them. I think cabin fever is really getting to some and I’ve seen some very unnecessary conflicts between individuals who are usually great friends. Hey ho

 

[scubachap]

I remember the bookshop of the late 90’s too and used them back then for school books etc. The thing with Amazon is you can order things and get them so quickly and cheaper than most shops. If I went to a shop in my town I’d have to pay £4 to park and mix with others which isn’t ideal at the moment. I can’t do that anyway at the moment because many shops are closed and many are only selling essential items. As sad as it is, Amazon have killed off a lot of traditional shops due to pricing and buying power from their supply chains.

My friend is getting quite aggressive online with his posts against them and pretty much arguing and falling out with everybody who admits to using them. I think cabin fever is really getting to some and I’ve seen some very unnecessary conflicts between individuals who are usually great friends. Hey ho

It's interesting how things have worked out recently. We've managed to preserve a local butcher and greengrocer etc (despite not being some quaint market town) and they've done really well by going the extra mile for everyone while local supermarkets have had issues. Most people I know have been using a mix of them, supermarket deliveries and Amazon.

I think this situation has really tested everyone - in 6 months when hopefully the dust is beginning to settle for better or worse (Covid, Brexit etc etc) we should have some sort of 'attitude' amnesty or reset - where everyone agrees to forget all the bad temper etc they might have either received or dished out in the last year or so...

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

It's interesting how things have worked out recently. We've managed to preserve a local butcher and greengrocer etc (despite not being some quaint market town) and they've done really well by going the extra mile for everyone while local supermarkets have had issues. Most people I know have been using a mix of them, supermarket deliveries and Amazon.

I think this situation has really tested everyone - in 6 months when hopefully the dust is beginning to settle for better or worse (Covid, Brexit etc etc) we should have some sort of 'attitude' amnesty or reset - where everyone agrees to forget all the bad temper etc they might have either received or dished out in the last year or so...

We’ve supported our local butcher too and he delivers for free within the town. He’s admitted business is booming at the moment for his local trade but he has lost his restaurant orders in London which was his main income. Home deliveries on all other food has been a weekly thing for me since March.

It has been a truly testing time that’s for sure. Some are coping better than others I think.

 

[hallux]

I got a little frustrated with Amazon back around the time this thread started. I bought two types of items, some electronics and some clothes. My options were ship ASAP, which predicted the electronics would arrive in a couple days with the clothing coming the following week, or ship in as few boxes as possible which meant the electronics waited a couple days for the clothing.

They shipped in separate packages through different carriers (one was Amazon) and the clothing arrived first. Yeah, figure THAT out.

Meanwhile.. I ordered a TV on Monday with an estimated arrival of tomorrow, it shipped yesterday and is on the UPS truck for delivery today, and I'm not there to receive it since I'm at work! I WOULD be home tomorrow though. I had to set a temp code on my garage door keypad so the driver could put the box inside, the path to my front door is narrow because of the snow we got a week ago.

 

[Gregg2]

In a recent order, I got items on at least three different days. I ordered two of the same (just a different color) item, and they came a few days apart. So, yeah, they just want to clear out orders as soon as items are ready to ship. Seems like it would cost them more, but since it doesn't cost me any more, I'm good with that.

 

[mac_in_tosh]

One thing Amazon and most/all delivery services do that bugs me - they will leave a package up against a garage door. Now that's fine if you are coming home and see it, but if you are exiting the house in your car there's a good chance you won't see it and it either ends up flattened or dragged under your car.

 

[C DM]

One thing Amazon and most/all delivery services do that bugs me - they will leave a package up against a garage door. Now that's fine if you are coming home and see it, but if you are exiting the house in your car there's a good chance you won't see it and it either ends up flattened or dragged under your car.

Take a look at delivery settings for your account, there should be some options in relation to being able to pick a place where you want the deliveries to be left (like the front door, for example), and even special instructions that you can specify.

 

[Pilot Jones]

Amazon has gotten to that particular point in an ultra successful company's life when they are legitimately so pervasive that the general public has just begun to adjust to even their grossest transgressions.

Also, when they reach that scale, anyone who does any wrong is simply working as a very far-off distant branch of the company itself, being so removed that technically there can be no accountability for the company itself.

 

[mac_in_tosh]

Take a look at delivery settings for your account, there should be some options in relation to being able to pick a place where you want the deliveries to be left (like the front door, for example), and even special instructions that you can specify.

I couldn't find that other than for business accounts.

 

[mac_in_tosh]

Also, when they reach that scale, anyone who does any wrong is simply working as a very far-off distant branch of the company itself, being so removed that technically there can be no accountability for the company itself.

So true, and often not a branch of the company per se but contractors. In my area, the P.O. also delivers for them. We had a P.O. truck making deliveries in our neighborhood today - a Sunday.

 

[C DM]

I couldn't find that other than for business accounts.

Strange, I've been using that for personal deliveries for quite a while now.

The process might be essentially the same as for business accounts -- take a look at Delivery Instructions section at:

Amazon Logistics Tracking and Driver Complaints - Amazon Customer Service

Discover how Amazon Logistics delivers packages, track your Amazon orders, manage delivery preferences, and find solutions for missing packages. Learn more about delivery options, rescheduling, and providing instructions to delivery drivers.

www.amazon.com

 

[hallux]

I couldn't find that other than for business accounts.

I actually found it on my home-use FedEx Delivery Manager account.