It seems like Amazon is developing a aplicación móvil through which it would pay individuals, instead of transport companies, for the delivery of packages, as reported from the Wall Street Journal. This has reminded me of a project that we talked about last April, specifically about PackagePeer, a platform that collaborative economy that put people who needed to pick up a package with others who were willing to pick it up and deliver it in exchange for a previously stipulated amount of money. It seems that having users to take care of collecting and delivering packages.
In the case of Amazon, it appears that the company would enlist the help of retailers in urban areas to store the packages, probably by renting the space or paying a commission per package. However, it seems that Amazon has not wanted to comment on the matter. The talk is that the service would give Amazon more control over the shopping experience and help it keep shipping costs at bay, which rose notably last year.
The big question is: would this really be effective? As a user of Amazon Premium in Spain, I have to say that I am very satisfied with the service. Sister He informs me as soon as the package is delivered, I can change the delivery date if I am interested and I know the delivery man, who, on the other hand, is perfectly identifiable, with his uniform, his van, his little machine to mark the receipt, etc. And this without paying shipping costs and receiving the package the next day if I do not spend more than 6 or 7 in the afternoon in the order.
But why do I have to trust a person who I don't know who he is and where he came from to receive the merchandise? In the case of PackagePeer, for example, this is a deal that you establish because you are interested, and you do it with someone in particular. But this seems to me as base on the part of Amazon (in relation to its relationship with transport professionals) as absurd.
We will be waiting to see how this story unfolds.