Amazon Key Expands to In-Car Deliveries in Select U.S. Cities

[MacRumors]

After first launching the "Amazon Key" service for users to allow delivery people to enter their home and drop off packages, Amazon today has revealed the expansion of the platform into "Amazon Key In-Car." Now, when Prime members in select cities checkout on Amazon, they will be able to choose an in-car delivery option.

The company says that the service is available at no extra cost for Prime members, and it is limited to certain vehicle brands: Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac and Volvo. Users can check their vehicle's eligibility on Amazon.com, and then download the Amazon Key iOS app [Direct Link] to complete setup.

"Since launching Amazon Key last November, we've safely delivered everything from cameras to collectable coins inside the home. Customers have also told us they love features like keyless guest access and being able to monitor their front door from anywhere with the Amazon Key App," said Peter Larsen, Vice President of Delivery Technology, Amazon.

"In-car delivery gives customers that same peace of mind and allows them to take the Amazon experience with them. And, with no additional hardware or devices required, customers can start ordering in-car delivery today."

Afterwards, customers shop as normal on Amazon.com or in the Amazon mobile apps, select an eligible address, and then choose in-car delivery at checkout. The app gives customers a 4-hour time window for delivery, and requires the car to be parked within two blocks of the selected address.

Then, as the delivery arrives, Amazon says that it authorizes the delivery driver prior to unlocking the vehicle, and that "no special access or keys are given to the driver." The app then alerts customers that the package is in their car and their vehicle is relocked.

In a frequently asked questions section of the Amazon Key In-Car page, Amazon explains how the platform uses an active connected car service plan (OnStar or Volvo On Call) to communicate and lock/unlock a vehicle:

Amazon Key enables in-car deliveries by linking your Amazon Prime account with your Chevrolet, Buick, GMC or Cadillac Owner Center account and active connected car service plan. If you do not currently have an active connected service plan, just push the blue OnStar button inside your vehicle to activate service. Services vary by model, and most 2015 model year and newer retail Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles qualify for a standard connectivity plan at no additional charge.

Amazon says this process is secure thanks to multiple layers of verification in the in-car delivery process. Each time a driver requests access to a vehicle, the company verifies that an authorized driver is at the designated location with the correct package, "through an encrypted authentication process." After that's complete, Amazon unlocks the car, sends customers a notification, and relocks the car after the package is secure.

There are some limits to the location of the parked car, with Amazon stating that in-car deliveries can only be made to a vehicle in an "open, street-level, and publicly accessible area," so no parking garages. Still, customers can order "tens of millions" of items on Amazon and deliver them to a vehicle, according to the company. Amazon Key In-Car launches today in 37 cities and surrounding areas across the United States.

Article Link: Amazon Key Expands to In-Car Deliveries in Select U.S. Cities

 

[bchery21]

Wow. I'll stick with the 2-day Prime shipping to my front door...

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

So now not only will your Amazon package get stolen but your car broken into also. Awesome.

What's wrong with having it delivered to your house or office?

 

[Blackstick]

I think this is trying to solve a problem that very few have. Not sure what’s worse, an Amazon driver letting themselves into my house... or putting something in my trunk that some unknown criminal might be watching.

I rather enjoy receiving my packages at work from the mailroom clerks.

 

[Kaibelf]

Wow. I'll stick with the 2-day Prime shipping to my front door...

I’d rather have my box in my trunk than left out on a porch or sidewalk (in cities). It’s a serious problem!

 

[ThunderSkunk]

For those of us who live in a van, down by the...

 

[dcnupe3]

So now not only will your Amazon package get stolen but your car broken into also. Awesome.

What's wrong with having it delivered to your house or office?

People steal packages from your doorstep. I have had two stolen in the past 3 months and I don't even order online that much. It is a serious problem and is frustrating when you're depending on the item to be there and it isn't. Then you have to call Amazon to resend it and hopefully they will replace without them thinking you are scamming the system.

And having things delivered to work is fine unless you live in a city and use public transportation. The last thing I want is a large sized box being brought to my office and then I have to carry it on a train or bus. I like the idea of having access to the trunk instead of the home. Good job, Amazon.

 

[anek007]

With the industry of everything getting delivered there’s a new on growing crime of people just walking up to your front door and stealing your packages. Working in logistics I see this way too common.

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

People steal packages from your doorstep. I have had two stolen in the past 3 months and I don't even order online that much. It is a serious problem and is frustrating when you're depending on the item to be there and it isn't. Then you have to call Amazon to resend it and hopefully they will replace without them thinking you are scamming the system.

And having things delivered to work is fine unless you live in a city and use public transportation. The last thing I want is a large sized box being brought to my office and then I have to carry it on a train or bus. I like the idea of having access to the trunk instead of the home. Good job, Amazon.

I guess I just choose not to live in a ****** area where people steal everything. I get countless packages and haven't had issues.

 

[dcnupe3]

I guess I just choose not to live in a ****** area where people steal everything. I get countless packages and haven't had issues.

****** area? I live in second wealthiest county in the United States and is by far one of the most desirable areas to live. Stealing from your doorstep doesn't mean you live in a crime ridden area.

But according to your logic, Beverly Hills must be crime central since Hollywood stars have their homes broken into constantly and require things like fences, cameras, alarm systems and guards...

 

[linkmaster02]

I guess I just choose not to live in a ****** area where people steal everything. I get countless packages and haven't had issues.

Ah, the good old reliable sample size of one.

 

[dcnupe3]

Ah, the good old reliable sample size of one.

LOL exactly! It amazes me how many people struggle to look beyond their current situation and see if something is good (or bad) for others.

 

[Blakjack]

Don’t get the negative comments here. Think this is a great idea. You’re giving the delivery driver access to your trunk only. I’d rather have items delivered to my trunk while I’m at work rather than my front door where it may be stolen. Unfortunately, my job doesn’t allow items to be delivered. Therefore this would be a great workaround that policy. Also, if you have a car that stays at the house while you’re out, the delivery driver can use it as a locker so to speak. That way the package isn’t just sitting out in the open on the porch

 

[5105973]

I have no idea how this would work when right now there seems to be no consistency to their delivery service. Sometimes I get a notification complete with a picture of my front door that my package was delivered. That’s lovely and I’d like that option all the time, but it only happens rarely.

TL/DR edit: I find their tracking system to be highly inaccurate and is apparently confusing to their customer service personnel who have attempted to help me with various and numerous delivery snafus encompassing an endless variety of customer-unfriendly behavior on the part of their delivery services.

 

[erinsarah]

I think this is trying to solve a problem that very few have. Not sure what’s worse, an Amazon driver letting themselves into my house... or putting something in my trunk that some unknown criminal might be watching.

That's my thought as well - granted there are areas of the country like San Fran that I'm sure have issues with stuff getting swiped from porches, so I understand what's driving these types of projects. Personally, my little cul-de-sac in the east coast suburbs has no such problems.

However, I always tell my kids about how, a few years after college, a friend and I went bar-hopping in NYC one night, and decided it was a nice enough night to leave our jackets in the car. Popped the trunk, tossed the coats in there, and came back a few hours later to find the coats and the trunk lock gone. Yeah, they are DEFINITELY watching. Nowadays when we visit NYC by car I tell my kids while still in New Jersey to get everything out of sight, and don't even THINK about opening that back hatch for any reason once we are parked. So this solution solves a problem yet creates a different, possibly WORSE one. No thanks.

That being said, technologically it's a neat idea, and might work for some who work in a place that has a safe parking area. But I'd never do it while the car was parked in the city. If I had a problem with porch theft, I would simply find the closest Amazon Locker and ship to there.

 

[4jasontv]

People steal packages from your doorstep. I have had two stolen in the past 3 months and I don't even order online that much. It is a serious problem and is frustrating when you're depending on the item to be there and it isn't. Then you have to call Amazon to resend it and hopefully they will replace without them thinking you are scamming the system.

And having things delivered to work is fine unless you live in a city and use public transportation. The last thing I want is a large sized box being brought to my office and then I have to carry it on a train or bus. I like the idea of having access to the trunk instead of the home. Good job, Amazon.

I agree, but I have to ask. Don’t you solve the problem about boxes on the bus by having a car?

 

[aristobrat]

I have no idea how this would work when right now there seems to be no consistency to their delivery service. Sometimes I get a notification complete with a picture of my front door that my package was delivered. That’s lovely and I’d like that option all the time, but it only happens rarely.

Well, once nice thing is that Amazon is fully in control of their delivery service. So if one their delivery folks throws a package on your driveway during the rain (because they don't want to run it up to your house), I'm guessing they have a lot more control of that employee's future vs. when it's a UPS/USPS employee doing the same.
[doublepost=1524580431][/doublepost]

I agree, but I have to ask. Don’t you solve the problem about boxes on the bus by having a car?

I guess it can depend. I used to drive my car to a commuter train parking lot, then take the train (and hop on a quick bus) to get to work.

 

[dcnupe3]

I agree, but I have to ask. Don’t you solve the problem about boxes on the bus by having a car?

Nope. Having a car is great but it's not worth sitting in traffic for 45 mins to an hour (each way), then having to pay for parking ($23 a day). I guess I could "tough it out" and drive to work on the day the box should be delivered to the office. But it's much easier to continue my routine and just have them put it in the trunk at the house.

 

[erinsarah]

And having things delivered to work is fine unless you live in a city and use public transportation. The last thing I want is a large sized box being brought to my office and then I have to carry it on a train or bus. I like the idea of having access to the trunk instead of the home. Good job, Amazon.

Of course, if you regularly take public transport, the likelihood of owning a car high-tech enough to be a part of this is lessened. Wait...wait, this is America. What I just said makes no sense. Of COURSE I need a really nice car with all the bells and whistles to drive myself to the train station down the block (note the sarcasm).

 

[Regime2008]

My Jeep doesn't even have a trunk . Nothing but batteries, amplifiers, and several, thick runs of 2/0 gauge wires.

 

[BeefCake 15]

All car thieves will start wearing Amazon delivery uniforms

 

[nburwell]

Wow. I'll stick with the 2-day Prime shipping to my front door...

Same here. This doesn't sound very appealing at all to me at least.

 

[subjonas]

I guess I just choose not to live in a ****** area where people steal everything.

Yeah I don’t know why people choose to live in bad areas. It’s like, just make more money and move somewhere nice. So simple.

 

[imronburgundy]

Wow, some of these comments are the most ignorant things I've read on this site in a while...

 

[sykeward]

The assumption by a lot of people is that package theft is an urban problem, but theft rates are much higher per capita in rural areas. According to this report (CNBC), package theft is actually most common in North Dakota and Vermont. Anecdotally, I live in the Portland, OR metro area and I've never had a package stolen from my porch, but my parents in rural Montana have had packages stolen more than a dozen times in the past 2-3 years, including an iMac that was supposed to be signature-only delivery. It's become a huge problem