Amazon.com Inc. said it would offer its employees an array of incentives to help them get their own package-delivery business off the ground, part of a bid to shore up its own delivery network independent of big shipping companies such as FedEx Corp. and United Parcel Service Inc.
The company said Monday it would give Amazon employees up to $10,000 for funding startup costs as well as the equivalent of three months of the employee’s last gross salary if they start their own business.
I use Amazon. We all do. But I step back for a min and think of the thousands of tons of waste every month, week, day?! The cardboard, plastic, styrofoam. What would be amazing is if Bezos could perfect biodegradable packaging or some start-ups that collect the waste and reuse
Sounds like the US post office is finally going to rescind the corporate welfare benefits that they passed onto US consumers and small business. Package mailing costs have risen at least 10x since Amazon got its mailing subsidy underwritten by tax payers and business owners.
But, but -- 'climate change'
Hmm... sounds like a TV series in the works, similar to 'Bar Rescue'.. except for package deliveries... 🤣
We offered to build and provide a fleet of 100% electric CONDOR delivery trucks with onboard solar recharging to Amazon. It would lower their cost to less than 2 cents per mile for deliveries. No response.
I got paid better to work for USPS and they're 'failing' every year.
More cars and trucks, more fuel - -what about ----all that Climate Change? Bezos WAPO AMAZON
Why don't you ask AOC to be a driver. She's pretty useless to be anything else.
This is also known as fuck them over as employees by making them limited contractors.
$10,000 to start a business? Really? did President Taft pitch this while climbing out of his Stutz Bearcat?
_GiftofGab_ This could be a wonderful opportunity for those that would like to start their own business. Hopefully Amazon will support these people since they're giving up their regular paying jobs.
This is pathetic and 10 grand is laughable.
This was the approach used by Boeing to develop the 787. You remember, the big plastic airplane that put a CEO or two out of a job? No, not the one that keeps crashing. The one before that.
**Fine Print** 'AND YOUR ETERNAL SOUL'
as contractors with no benefits- you would really be considered delusional working for this predator... image if you can why Amazon is having a hard time finding drivers NOW ?
Not sure I would want to do it. I suspect Amazon would want them to be wholly dependent on thier business and work at cut rate prices. No thank you. Instead, why not just pay their employees a living wage and decent benefits
or is it something more sinister? maybe a clever way to get rid of employees and their benefits?
I have to deal with these idiots daily. Their new drivers are unbelievably difficult and poorly trained. I will never order from Amazon again.
Ask Uber / Lyft drivers how well this model has worked for them.
I'd be leary about getting screwed by company that uses a giant phallic as their logo. ...just sayin' ;/
This is like paying people to become artists. I will bet anything this has all the success of Oprah's programs.
Gussied-up independent contractors.
Request for Sanctions Against Those Responsible for the Extradition Law Amendment in Hong Kong
Delivery is Amazon's Achilles heel. If amazon's record with employees is any sign, it'll starve them to death.
FORK IT OVER AMAZON WE HAVE BEEN DOING OUR OWN SHIPPING FOR 7 YEARS WE WILL BE WAITING FOR YOUR PROMISE TO BE KEPT
There goes the quality assurance. We'll now be seeing packages hurled to a spin landing at the front door. Then the driver speeding away in smoking, rattling, peaces of un-maintained, over-worked junk cars. Not being their fault, it's just the mission will be impossible
Sure get rid of your employees by making them contractors and then replace them with driverless vans & drones.
WSJ advertising month-old news is SO COOL
Wait till they see the rates they are going to be forced to use, don't quit your day job.
And then they buy them out.
UBER is calling
Bonus to Capitalist Pig Bingo if that money comes in the form of Amazon gift cards.
I don't know what the catch is but you better believe that there is one!
$10,000 isn't enough money to buy a truck.
I love Amazon but their increasing the size of the company across the U.S. has sent me two laptops that are not what I ordered. I'm waiting on my refund so that I can buy from one of the sellers on there and not from the company.
get UBER to do it, get your Christmas packages by July with UBER! no TY
But not a living wage.
YOU CAN NOT buy a decent delivery truck for that money🤣🤣🤣
that 10 grand won't even cover gas expenses
I ran some calculations a few months back and didn't like the results... I can't remember exactly, but I think it worked if you had more than 18 drivers. Best of luck to those that try!
so they can transfer the burden of a money losing proposition to (former) rank and file employees?
nobody wants a busted up old with some hipster vaping driving it to your house, to drop off a package. People like and respect professionalism.
from what i've experienced of the new delivery system it honestly sucks- miss-delivered and missed deliveries- product just being dropped off at other neighbors houses whose address don't even come close to mine- amazon has gotten to big! they just throw more product at you
PPL complaining that's just a downpayment on a van, but seriously what more do u want? Van PIF, gas for a yr, insurance + salary & benefits? lol
This is the biggest end around of labor law that has ever been concocted. It's a brilliant way to avoid overtime, tax withholdings, safety, insurance and all sorts of other laws impacting employers. I'll wager that California will be the first state to put the brakes on this
You would have to be a special kind of stupid to fall for a scam like that
Great idea, and this picture here is a sign that the employee had to finish this task easy or dry ,it is overloaded and proper handling is required!
gig economy con job......
still trying to undermine the postal service.
Shift the costs of lost packages and the soon to end USPS subsidy to a middle man.
Shit yeah. I'd deliver one package for $10K.
SirChandlerBlog son tus paquetes jajajaja
psdamiani ....
Let's all mow each other's yards and exchange $20 bills.
Their warehouses are full of robots not workers.
Just so they can take advantage of the worker again.
I hope that there's plans to vet these entrepreneurs.
$10k would take you to nowhere lol Powerful money hungry company like Amazon's not gonna give you a descent deal. They got so much economic power for a reason.
EssenceOfTiare
And the contract bidding process?
They Dont want to pay Benefits or Retirement! Bezos is no Foo. You can be your own Union AFLCIO. amazon Amazon
Amazon is trying to by-pass &/or crush USPS, UPS & FedEx employee unions by encouraging their own employees to jump off of Amazon's payroll & become Bexos's endentured servants w/o any labor law protection.
Why can't Amazon just create their own delivery force? There's plenty of people that need jobs. This is a case of a company getting too big for it's own britches. But no, Bezos, arguable the richest guy on the planet won't part with a few million to start up a delivery service.
Right. Make sure you read the fine print first before quitting your day job. Who could possibly believe this is in anyone's best interest other than Amazon?
Having worked for the slave drivers in a fulfillment center They'll probably set the rates so high the drivers will start getting into accidents so they can meet their rates They are a high tech sweat shop Everything you heard about the working conditions is true
Don't fall for it.
Only employees?
Hmmm!!!!! I guess Amazon MAYBE realizes monopolies aren't so great, huh? Or could it just be that Amazon is trying to do what it can so that it doesn't have to depend on other people/businesses for their business?
bc part of Amazons profit comes from usury of delivery services
The biggest mistake Amazon has made to date. First time out with this type of delivery service and they lost the package on the very first attempt with Amazon Delivery. Really bad delivery service.
Didn't they just cancel their contract with FedEx? 🤦♀️
This won't work due to the cost of health insurance because of Obamacare. You can't get cheap health insurance at the end of the day. If someone wanted to form a LLC and tried to insure their family, they can't. This $10k would be swallowed up by health insurance costs.
Great. Now I have to get hired and quit a job I don't even have yet.
Ry_Rebe
The issue is. most are unprofessional and should not be delivering packages. Thats our experience here in Bellevue. We get random people delivering amazon all day.
Amazon Execs 'whats the min. we would need to give to seem like we don't want to have a monopoly and keep the Govt. off our ass?' ....
That is just enough to get some one in trouble
Amazon delivery sucks. Can we not just use the established delivery services that have been around for centuries like the USPS or are pros like UPS or Fedex?
I'll guess the business model: AMZN is going to put 'em on an app & pay 'em as independent contractors. No benefits. It looks attractive without the 'real' costs. They 'don't get' insurance, retirement or depreciation. They 'invest' in their new venture until they go bust.
I laughed at Amazon's proposal. The US postal office made a deal with Amazon & it cost them a lot of money so they ended their deal with Amazon. $10,000.00 to start a delivery business isn't enough! Who wants to sign a lease on warehouse, add trucks for delivery & be paid zip?
that's chump change to start a business, what a disgrace Amazon is
Can they do other deliveries for, say law firms, and drop shipments? Or is this like a MLM Amway Mary Kay $h!t?
They all live near the distribution facilities... How many within a 45 minute drive of the facility would they really need?
Times are a changin'
Is this a new form of sharecropping?👀 Asking for a friend.
Sounds great but do you think Amazon who pays zero in federal tax is doing this to help employees? They are attempting to take liabilities off their book (employees and healthcare cost). These employees in turn would become contractors and lose many protections
$10,000. That's not much of a capatal base to operate a business from and pay-scale and expenses make for a hand to mouth existence
hmm, sounds like the scourge of uber drivers flooding the roads. Amazon could do it themselves. But then they might have to pay minimum wage.
Looks like Chewy could be a hot IPO.
'BOYCOTT' Amazon & the WP! TRUMP 2020, 2024 & 2032!!!
Sounds a lot like Amazon is trying to foment an initiative to try an bust the Unions of employees working for the US Postal Service & UPS who are now delivering the bulk of Amazon's 'local' deliveries.
If only there was some sort of office that can handle nationwide post. Would be really great to invest in such a thing. Oh well. I guess we'll have to keep wishing.
Bet a lot of aoc New Yorkers would have liked to do that!
Or they could just pay for drivers themselves. Like a fucking company.
Good thing AOC chased them out of New York. Who needs business opportunities?
Of course it will. Contractors can't unionize and Amazon can take advantage of its size to get 1 sided contracts.
cheaper than paying higher wages and benefits packages, cuts down on HR burden and workplace bullcrap. Unloading the worst part of the business burden.
'let them launch their own...business' in other words, ex's pay self-emp/corp, carrier regulations, taxes--AMAZON wrings every penny out of them as always but w/less responsibility. Run. They'll work you to death.
Don't lie to your workers. DHSgov I cannot find 'SEC' twitter. How can the workers be promised this? Is it a loan or?
USCPSC They don't even honor my Amazon Prime or my Marketplace when it beats them on cost. USPS UPS FedEx
FedEx UPS USPS They don't even honor my 'Amazon Prime' correctly. You sure they aren't Lying?
In writing?
How does that work? Are they under the 1099 or are they amazon employees & their own manager?
So. Amazon won't have to insure, pay, control, discipline their work force...In fact, except for the slave-type laborers in their 'fulfillment centers' they won't have a work force at all. Risk free, out of control, irresponsible capitalism will be the death of this country.
such old news
This I don't get. I order occasionally from Amazon & don't have Amazon Prime but Fed Ex or UPS deliver my order in a timely fashion. Why does Amazon need its own delivery service?
I wonder if you know they're cycling you. Most of those are turned back to Amazon warehouses. oops
Amazon just wants 'independent contractors' that they can pay as little as possible with zero benefits. Gig that!
Why does the word 'sharecropping' keep repeating itself in my head? Could be wrong in my definitions, but that's what I keep thinking...
When most of their businesses fail within a couple of years─as is true for most businesses─if they can get back to Amazon. will they regain their seniority?
Well, they need to pay their delivery people more, because they're not worth a damn. I live in a 100-unit apt bldg...when told by front desk that they have to bring the packages to our doors, they literally throw the packages at the clerk and run. EVERY TIME.
Amazon is the most diabolical yet useful service ever created ....
i wonder what percentage of the business Amazon gets.
Drone, don't fail me now!!
One of the effects of this should be to exacerbate the differences between low cost and high cost delivery addresses. It will be harder to maintain flat shipping charges where 'cheap' customers subsidize 'expensive' customers.
What....the teleporting and drones are not working?
AOC will put an end to that. It is too much like Capitalism and it might give too many Black citizens a chance to escape Democrat control.
Who wants their packages delivered by any tom, dick, or harry that wants to start their own business. Deliver MY packages either postal mail or UPS.
So that Amazon will no longer have to pay salaries and benefits?
Wow! How many delivery trucks will that buy?
So they can just turn around and crush them? Yeah, great idea!
Uber and Lyft drivers earn little money now.
Crap website. Requires subscription.
🤔... are they also giving them business counseling and banking services? This sounds like it could be awesome for those who understand the systems. But absolutely fatal for those who don't. And how are they ensuring Quality Control?
1099 serfdom awaits. Join the new peonage.
Or; and I know this is a crazy idea, they could just pay employees to deliver packages.
Do they know how much a delivery van costs?
I don't trust them. You know they will come out on the winning end, and the 'independent contractor'? Not so much.
it always says up to. that means they could really give you like 1000
BailingWire Dow Dumps Into Close, 'recovers' after hours. 3-hours of difference. SamAntar 3-Day Delay. PentUpMomentum Lower Open? TripleDip SupportBroken?
🤮
Amazon delivery people are the worse ever! I'm a Apartment Leasing Agent..ADP leave packages for customers who live in apartments everywhere and anywhere.ADP even steal packages too. Billion dollar company who hires unqualified people. Amazon background checks are a joke!
Mail sexy in a box💃🕺🕵️♂️😍Bezos already shot us down.
Just don't creep up to Ice-T's crib you might get shot.
Paying your employees to start companies to service you, an e-commerce site reliant on package delivery, is vertical integration through another name.
And we're supposed to grant these people access to our homes? I mean, not me, but those who let Amazon drop packages inside...
Here is an objective analysis of Amazon's proposed business opportunity.
I want to give some extra food for thought here for anybody lured by this small sum. You -lose- money working for uber usually. Seriously, look up the math and overall cost breakdown. You take full responsibility as the company/courier and its employees. 1 day delivery is coming
Sounds good, but that means no employee benefits and no guarantee of future business.
I hate this idea. As a freelance audio engineer, this is part of the 'gig' economy that is allowing huge corporations to take advantage of workers, not give them benefits or stable work, and to also not even GUARANTEE them work. Wanna see the unemployment numbers 🔼? THIS.
Or they could pay taxes in ways that allowed expansion of the post office?
Not even tempting. I'm afraid the smart business minded people have noticed you are not an employee friendly partner.
They want to 'uberize' it so they can sit back and make more money while the delivery people make none
What if Uber, but with couriers?
But they need to start wearing identifying clothes. They are starting to show up, late, in neighborhoods and when they deliver, people don't know who they are & fear them. This could lead to a dangerous encounter. There's a reason carriers wear postal or UPS uniforms.
Amazon says it will give employees up to $10,000 for startup costs if they launch their own package-delivery business.🌎🇺🇸😀🥳💋
Ship US POSTAL SERVICE. Your BEST OPTION.
So they're asking amazon employees to quit their job and take up a company that Amazon controls with their inventory and deliveries? You're still working for amazon regardless - They can't compete with the USPS who delivers prime on Sunday. Keep your job. Don't quit.
Do research about brokers in the logistics and transportation industries. You'll run yourself into the ground.
Johnaveli_12
Stop paying poverty wages and the problem will disappear.
Make it 50k if you have a solid business plan. You can afford it JeffBezos.
How do I get in on this?
_imgoinin
Why does Someone like FED EX or UPS or USPS not step it up? Are they dropping the Ball on something here? 🤔 Why does Amazon not just start their own in house division that strictly focusses on delivery?
Or they could go back to UPS and Fedex that they burned and left.
How do I get in on this? I'm not an employee, but I would start a package-delivery business. I already do food delivery
Sounds like a 60 hour a week minimum wage job
$10K won't cut it. They need to ante up more cash for this. Like maybe a living wage.
They better have some kind of uniform & vehicle that identifies them as Amazon. People coming up to your porch wearing a t-shirt and jeans isn't going to work.
What does a driver make an hour? You're a billionaire giant. Pay your damn employees so you're not in this position constantly.
for a delivery business that can only deliver for amazon, and amazon can cancel contracts whenever they want Great!
I will go buy a white diesel Sprinter today
Nice strategy to leverage the value network for larger revenue streams for Amazon. This is a win-win-win anyways unless Amazon employees transform their business into middle-men with additional cost for final consumers.
WHY SHOULD THEY WORK WHEN THE GOVERNMENT GIVES THEM AN AVERAGE OF $60-70,000 A YEAR FOR FREE? NOW, SIT BACK AND WATCH THE IMMIGRANTS COME IN AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OFFER AND BECOME BILLIONAIRES!!!
Amazon can / should do this themselves, but they have done the cost estimates and realize it isn't going to work in their favor. No way I'd do this without a guarantee of revenue and a guarantee of return to position if I go under. Insurance alone is too prohibitive.
JustTuMuchNash
If it sounds too good to be real.......
amazon drivers will likely start off with massive amounts of debt if the become drivers and be likely trapped at amazon to pay off that debt
Yeah, 7 days a week. They neglect to tell you that part
I can only imagine how many trips and long days UPS drivers are having these days. I bet it's like the holiday season in volume, but year round now due to amazon
Here's someone who'll delivery your packages for you Amazon!
as opposed to just hiring drivers?
Given the touted plans for drone delivery in the future, I wouldn't do it.
Take heed of Wal-mart suppliers who were propped up in the beginning only to be driven out of business by demanded price cuts. Don't ever make Amazon your only client and trust them. They will force you all to eat yourselves.
you know there is a catch, right?
hellfirre
It's almost as if they have zero concept of money.
If you want something the same day, go buy it from a brick and mortar store.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Doing it the 'MickyD' way
$10k For self delivery startup? Call me a cynic, but that's basically a small tax break. Vans/logos/outfits/employees/repairs/etc hell even solo would overshadows this figure dramatically. Unless you are already in process and need a handup, it's basically like Uber's issues.
Greeeeasy hmmmmmmm
Sounds like Amazon wants to convert employees into an army of cheaper independent contractors. Companies have been playing this game increasingly for the past 30 years.
Note that Amazon will do almost Anything to avoid actually Hiring People and paying them a living wage. 😏 Not to mention they keep the enhanced liability of having a horde of (mostly untrained) individuals driving around off of their Insurance 🤔
lol my timeline
Small price to pay to strip them of all benefits.
This reminds me of when I dated a guy who insisted I do the dishes because I was 'better' at it and I'm not falling for that one again.
Maybe if they paid their drivers fair wages and expected them to keep reasonable hours...
might be a workable concept for use in small, rural areas(like mine).....if someone could just figure out the logistics of this......
... then amazon will buy it out and own your business eventually.... ITS A TRAP!
The most innovative Amazon employee policy I've heard of is the several thousand dollar incentive for an employee to quit, IF they know they will never be rehired by Amazon. It's a win-win I believe bc a marginal or disgruntled employee may take that reward and just leave.
promoting that win win entrepreneurial spirit
Every headline of the form 'X company can't get people to perform Y labor' should be read as 'X company isn't willing to pay enough to get people to perform Y labor.'
Oh boy oh boy! Ten grand! But... hear me out: What if they just paid enough in tax to actually support and grow the local infrastructures they routinely (and nigh-unavoidably) overawe by their very presence? What if... they PAID THEIR GODDAMN SHARE FOR FUCK'S SAKE GRAAAAAAAH!
is Bezos the greediest POS to ever exist?
Have homeless people deliver packages. They are not busy and the booze money will come in handy.
Wow! That's a used Hyundai, right there!
When you combine the way delivery places typically treat their drivers with the way amazon treats its employees, I can't imagine why anyone would want to deliver for Amazon. They have an established history of not caring about the people who make them rich.
Bezos doesn't need more of anyone's money. Ever.
Amazon is trying to squeeze out UPS, FedEx, etc. Jeff Bezos can get bent.
Buy out, Uber, their stock is tanking...
I love Amazon.. when you are disabled and cant walk, well you shop online.
They just want people to start companies so they can put them out of business. They get a kick out of it.
How about the United States Post Office? Amazon wants tax breaks to seems like a logical ask...
The rushing these drivers are going to do it going to cause accidents. Our next day delivery is going to come at a cost.
So they are offering around 17k-19k for people who want to start up. I'm guessing this is a small fraction of the cost, and they will need to get a bank loan as well. How much would it cost?
Based, I'm guessing, on the theory that no one will work harder for less that the self-employed because, as they never fail to repeatedly tell you, now you will be in charge of your fate. What they don't tell you is that you had sure as hell never get sick or be injured.
cops will have field day writing speeding tickets...12 points and you're walking
Is this a great country or what? My employer gives employees a ~$20 fruit basket or box of chocolates every Christmas. And a minimum wage increase when applicable.
Done. We deliver one package a month.
I don't work for amazon but I'd deliver the heck out of some packages.
I worked for a company that would finance people to start a business & sell our product. That's the only way they were sold, except in catalogs. It can be done. Amazon is a huge enterprise. It's only fair the package delivery folks would also~like Bezos~not have to pay taxes.⚖️💰
Amazon says it will give employees up to $10,000 for startup costs if they launch their own package-delivery business........so give up your benefits and start a low paying business undercutting Fedex/UPS so Amazon can benefit......
$10,000 wouldn't pay for their health insurance premiums for 1 year.
Maybe they shouldn't have bitten off more than they could chew.
This is sort of like what the Chinese do now. Keeps shipping costs low.
All those billions of dollars and they won't invest in a fleet, maintenance workers and hire employees? Fuck them
$10K? why not give drivers their own vehicle?
MORE EMPLOYER MANIPULATIONS TO MAKE PEOPLE THINK THAT THEY ARE HIRING WITHOUT FIRING PEOPLE FIRST. ALL FAKE NEWS.
This is gonna be GREAT for New Yorkers....🤣🤣🤣
It should be $50k, so they can buy a sprinter.
Sounds like a deal to me. Be your own boss.
just anothe capitalist scam, in the end they will get about $6 hr like Uber drivers
I have never seen so many people quit in one day.
Wow that's like...1/3rd of a van!
lol.. f*ck Amazon.
If you decide to jump on in this one...please use your common sense in creating a business that will no longer be needed in the capacity within 5 years...🙏
for 10, 000 you can NOT buy decent delivery truck!
I guess that will buy some scooters.
jajajajajja u gonna buy any kinda good vehicle for ten grand lololz
.Total scam/deception by Amazon. Just way for Amazon to not have to pay minimum wages and benefits to regular employees. Reduces Amazon's payroll.
A great idea to incentivize entrepreneurs but tough to maintain quality control GrowthManagement
'Cheat me in price but not the kind of goods.' - Spanish Proverb
In related news, Amazon warehouse workers do not earn an actual living wage to seriously consider such a venture. This is therefore form over substance.
Maybe you should just hire and pay actual Amazon employees instead of whipsawing every aspect of your business
And in other news, UPS 🖕Amazon.
Amazon already has contractors in my neighborhood delivering their packages in their personal vehicles
Amazon exploding in revenues & also in impact on business world. U can buy everything from food to religious items on Amazon & now they r dominating peripheral industries such as shipping. Amazon business money Amazonprime online Marketing delivery shipping ecommerce
That’s inclusiveness
Well the first days are the hardest days...
BreakupAmazon Warren2020
some suckers will bite the bait, go out and get into debt by purchasing a reliable delivery vehicle, think they're a business owner but treated like a contract employee with no company benefits.
Ankit21963129
Because package delivery is a loser for Amazon. That last mile is kicking their ass.
Amazon will then use and abuse you by nickel and dining you as you descend into bankruptcy. Then they move onto the next victim.
Hey look, Amazon is escalating their war on USPS, UPS, and FedEx to create an industry dependent on them destroying the competition of the market. Hard pass.