It's not the brown truck that we're all used to.
It seems like UPS and FedEx have mostly dispensed with that little formality of knocking or ringing the doorbell when they leave a package. The security camera on our doorbell lets us know when someone gets close.
Last week, Joan said, "UPS just left a package and it wasn't with their brown truck - it was someone in a gray sedan."
I thought to myself, "Self, that seems odd."
Today as we were heading out for a late lunch at the Mexican restaurant just across our bridge, Joan said, "Did you see that?"
"What?" I had no idea what I was supposed to be look at or for.
"There's that car again that dropped off our UPS last week, and it was full of boxes." I was busy looking at the speed bump as you come onto the bridge. She pulled up her UPS app and it said one package was loaded on the vehicle, but not the usual "out for delivery" - no status update on the other package she is expecting.
When we got back from lunch, there were two packages at our front door. No notice of delivery on her app. Oh well, she got the packages she was expecting, even if UPS doesn't have that in their system, yet. I'm thinking this is a new "stealth delivery" being tried by UPS: no big brown truck to draw attention to themselves. I have seen people here stop the truck to ask if their package is on there, even though the truck is blocks away from their house. No guy in a brown shirt. Maybe this is the UPS equivalent of Walmart's "self checkout"?? Maybe it's a slow news day for this blog?
;-)
Just out of curiosity, I had to look it up... yep, UPS is asking some temporary holiday workers to use their own vehicles for deliveries. I read it on the internet, so it must be true.
The best part of getting a UPS delivery... boxes!
It was a good resting place after a nice long walk this evening. Joan put the cushy cat bed in there (that he for some reason doesn't like), and he couldn't get out of that box fast enough. Took the bed out, and he was back in a flash. He's a cat - logic doesn't apply here. ;-)
2 comments:
Jim - I am not sure about UPS or Fed Ex, but with Amazon, my daughter signed up to do what is called "Amazon Flex". You apply, go through an extensive background check, and once approved, deliver packages as a "private contractor". You are not employed by Amazon, and do not get insurance. You download the app on your phone, and daily dozens of "delivery opportunities" are listed. They are usually in 3 hour increments. There is at least 3 Amazon warehouses within 30 minutes of our area, and you choose which one you want to pick up from. They scan you when you drive in, and direct you to a loading area where you scan the bin and every package loaded in to your vehicle. Best to have an SUV but mid-size cars work fine.
You usually pick up 35-50 packages, and then find out your delivery area. The APP gives you specific step by step directions to the next stop, where you take a pic of the package and leave it on the porch. Some deliveries are to businesses, churches, wherever. My daughter does it with a friend and they usually get done in less than 2 hours, but paid for the whole 3 hour stint. All deliveries are within a small few mile radius, so you aren't putting tons of miles on the car. How much can you make? Smallest amount they have accepted is $75.00 for the 3 hour gig. This time of year, they have made up to 195.00 for the same 3 hours. It can be GREAT extra money. She has a magnetic "Amazon Flex" decal for the car and a blue Amazon vest so she is recognized as a delivery driver and not a thief. Amazon allows and driver 2 shifts per day if they choose, and you can drive 7 days a week, all year long.
You of course pay for your own gas and need to save enough to pay Uncle Sam. Tons of people do this as it gives them income and freedom to choose if and when they want to deliver.
Sorry for the long post, but figured UPS and Fed-EX were doing similar.
Merry Christmas
Greg
Hi Greg - thanks for the info! I wasn't aware of this "gig opportunity." Good way for these big companies to handle a delivery crunch without a capital investment, and for the person doing the deliveries to pick up some extra bucks.
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