[hmmdiggy]

We've had packages delivered by an individual similar to survelx, and the guy clearly smokes in his car as the package stinks of smoke and it even penetrates the items inside on occasion (clothing). Issue here is that he's not bound by company policy of smoking in a company vehicle, so he's free to smoke away.

[saulrh]

It'd be valuable for you to complain to Amazon when that happens. They probably can't get feedback on a service like this except through complaints like that.

[Someone1234]

Complaining about YODEL in the UK is like spitting in the ocean or saying "Comcast sucks" in the US. Everyone knows it, but yet it continues. Amazon UK has a permanent discussion thread titled "Yodel sucks" that is just stories about how Yodel lost/stolen/damaged/etc people's packages.

Here is today's 44 post discussion:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/forum/amazon/ref=cm_cd_tfp_ef_tft_tp...

[dfinlay]

I had an issue with my local UPS operation marking packages as 'Undeliverable as Addressed' at 20:00 the day they were supposed arrive, to meet their obligation. They would then arrive the next day without issue. I ended up calling Amazon, and they got the local UPS office on the phone and asked for the exact problem with addressing. There was none, and they issue did not reoccur.

[hmmdiggy]

Complained several times but still occurs. I'm stuck in that guy's catchment area so always a high chance it's the same bloke.

[mikeash]

They'll probably get the idea if you start hitting them in the wallet. Any time the stuff you ordered smells of smoke, return it as having been damaged in transit (it's true!) and they should catch on pretty fast.

[enraged_camel]

I don't think the package smelling like cigarette smoke qualifies as "damaged", sorry.

I hang out at coffee shops a lot and often times my bag and clothes end up smelling like coffee. Does that mean they are "damaged"? No. Especially since it's temporary (even more so in the case of the Amazon package, which is disposed of right away).

[mikeash]

If only the packaging smells, then I agree, it's not damaged.

But they also said that sometimes the contents get smelly. That definitely qualifies as damaged.

Coffee smells come out a lot easier than cigarette smells, and you choose to go to those coffee shops, whereas the person I'm replying to does not choose to expose his brand-new clothes to cigarette smoke.

If I buy brand new clothes and they smell of cigarette smoke out of the package, damned right that means they're "damaged."

[enraged_camel]

Sounds like entitlement to me. Wash the thing and the smell goes away. Jeez...

[monksy]

As the user Someone said..

Amazon won't do anything about it. [I feel] If my last experience with Amazon CS is any indication they'll read a script, and just refund your money. (Not reship.. I've had that issue as well) Also, if you're a prime member and have spent quite a bit of money on Amazon.. They still won't care.

I plan on cancelling my prime membership and seeking out alternatives.

[mseebach]

It won't take many packages returned because they smell of smoke for that to become company policy.

[tdylan]

Simple solution = rating system a la Uber.

[hellofunk]

I agree. When Amazon sends an order using one of these type of delivery services, they should send a followup email to the customer in a day or two after delivery asking for a simple rating on the delivery experience.

[ortusdux]

I guarantee that they have this feature planned out and are just waiting until they have enough drivers that firing some is an option.

[hellofunk]

Amazon is a rather wealthy company, are they really cutting corners on this key part of the customer experience because of money? Because good drivers would line up if they paid properly... or just hired a real delivery company.

[blakeyrat]

Unless their copy on the website is a lie, the rates they're offering for courier jobs is actually quite competitive in the Seattle area. It's probably more about being able to control their own delivery experience than it is about cutting corners.

[caskance]

Do they not pay well? The rates in the Flex page look reasonable to me.

[Spooky23]

Great, so now as a customer, I'm responsible for management tasks for Amazon's ersatz delivery service. Umm... no.

There's an easier solution for this problem: Use Walmart, Newegg etc.

[abluecloud]

I thought that because they were making money on the side, and therefore would be either a company, or sole trader, utilising their car that (in the UK anyways) it would fall under the banning a number of years back.

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