Is Amazon.com Building a Private "Uber for Package Delivery"

We're heavy Amazon.com users in our household.  Since I frequently work from my home office, I'm often here when the deliveries arrive. Over the past couple of months (it may have been longer, but that's how long I've consciously noticed it), something has changed.

Prior to this past couple of months, the Amazon packages always arrived via some commercial service (e.g., usually UPS) or via the USPS.  Occasionally, that still happens.  Increasingly, however, the packages are delivered by private couriers in delivery vans or compact, hatchback cars -- in all cases, completely unmarked.

And, often, a day earlier than promised!

In addition, when delivered this way, the Amazon boxes are different.  They're covered with labels full of bar codes, etc., but no "branding" that relates to any courier/shipping service.  "Amazon" is the only brand that appears.

Wonder if Amazon is building/leveraging some sort of "Uber for Deliveries".  They certainly have the 'ooommph' to do so.  Once sufficient scale has been achieved, will Amazon then offer the service to other businesses (or consumers) who need local deliveries, a la the model in which the Amazon 'cloud' originally being used to support internal business functions, but then becoming a hugely successful service available to third parties for a fee?

Comments

[Acgourley]

In the bay area they started using ONTRAC for many deliveries. With them it seems to be the driver's personal vehicle, or a very wonky fleet.

I don't mind, I'm all for innovation in this space. I just kind of wish that they would start by grouping shipments more often. It's not uncommon for me to buy 3x$10 items and get 3 shipments in the day. I don't think they make money off me.

[Allen Morgan]

Thanks for the comment, and the reference to ONTRAC (hadn't heard of it).

Agree with sentiment in favor of innovation in this space.

Would love to see a comparative analysis of landfill use/greenhouse gas emmissions caused by the eCommerce model vs. the old, "drive around in gas cars to stores".

Given the number of factors that would need consideration, got to be difficult, but would be interesting to see someone do a "no axe to grind" analysis. Vehicle fleets more route-optimized? Fleet vehicles maintained better than personal cars (or not)? What is packaging from disti center to store (which consumers never see) vs. the multiple-box problem you mention.

Etc.

Good comment.

[Mike Cornelia]

I too, have noticed that when I place an order for multiple items they sometimes are shipped to me at different times or on different days. I began using home direct amazon to avoid this problem because sometimes I needed the items all at once. It is good that they are outsourcing there delivery service, but I see a lot of issues that could arise from this. Hopefully Amazon has a quality control service to assure these people are doing there job.