New Parcels Business from Amazon?

[kermit]

Is this the sort of good news we've been waiting for?

"Amazon customers will be able to pick-up their parcels from railways stations under a deal struck with a new click-and-collect firm, Doddle.

Doddle is a joint venture between Network Rail and Lloyd Dorfman, who made his fortune from the Travelex currency exchange business.

According to Mr Dorfman, Amazon will begin using Doddle in September."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-27962642

They may have struggled in avoiding the usual "train station" nonsense ("railways station" sounds like a child experimenting with an unfamiliar term), but this could be really good, no??

 

[edwin_m]

Only available initially at about five stations in the south-east.

Probably a more sensible idea than delivering parcels by drone.

 

[SS4]

It has it's uses but why wouldn't Amazon just install lockers?

 

[infobleep]

I wonder what shop in Woking station they will use. Apart from the platforms, it only has M&S.

Wouldn't it be great if this could lead to said parcels being delivered by train but I know that probably isn't practical or economic these days.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[jon0844]

It has it's uses but why wouldn't Amazon just install lockers?

We have those lockers at our local shopping centre, but they're obviously limited in size (both in capacity, as well as how many there are). If the service becomes very popular, as I can see it might, then it wouldn't be practical.

I've also noticed that when delivering to a locker, it usually takes an extra day. Worse still, one order didn't turn up and I got an email saying there'd been a problem (never said what it was) so I had to wait until the following day. That was annoying given the fact I used the locker specifically to make sure I couldn't possibly miss the delivery!

I can also get stuff delivered to a nearby off license. Both that and the lockers are open until 11pm, which is nice, but having one at a train station to collect goods when you get back is a great idea.

And TBH it would be even better if it was a neutral company, so it wouldn't just be Amazon.

 

[Bald Rick]

And TBH it would be even better if it was a neutral company, so it wouldn't just be Amazon.

It won't just be amazon. They were just the first retailer in the Chief Exec's phone book.

 

[Saint66]

We have those lockers at our local shopping centre, but they're obviously limited in size (both in capacity, as well as how many there are). If the service becomes very popular, as I can see it might, then it wouldn't be practical.

I've also noticed that when delivering to a locker, it usually takes an extra day. Worse still, one order didn't turn up and I got an email saying there'd been a problem (never said what it was) so I had to wait until the following day. That was annoying given the fact I used the locker specifically to make sure I couldn't possibly miss the delivery!

I can also get stuff delivered to a nearby off license. Both that and the lockers are open until 11pm, which is nice, but having one at a train station to collect goods when you get back is a great idea.

And TBH it would be even better if it was a neutral company, so it wouldn't just be Amazon.

The Galleria? You're being rather generous calling it a 'shopping centre'

 

[causton]

The Galleria? You're being rather generous calling it a 'shopping centre'

Be careful, some of us have to work there

Don't know if it makes a difference, but as a Prime user I get free next-day delivery to home or my locker, and either seems to get there the same day... not too sure about the extra day!

 

[jon0844]

The Galleria? You're being rather generous calling it a 'shopping centre'

Hehe, yeah. But it's getting better now they're allowed to put ordinary stores there and not just outlet ones.

 

[jon0844]

Be careful, some of us have to work there

Don't know if it makes a difference, but as a Prime user I get free next-day delivery to home or my locker, and either seems to get there the same day... not too sure about the extra day!

That's what I expected but when I've ordered (or been about to) the delivery date has changed. Maybe if you order really early it's the same, but I often buy in the middle of the day or afternoon and still get next day delivery (also a Prime customer).

As I work from home, it's usually okay to just deliver at home although using the locker does mean I can pop out and not be kept prisoner all day. Far too many all day deliveries end up being at 7pm or later.

 

[causton]

That's what I expected but when I've ordered (or been about to) the delivery date has changed. Maybe if you order really early it's the same, but I often buy in the middle of the day or afternoon and still get next day delivery (also a Prime customer).

As I work from home, it's usually okay to just deliver at home although using the locker does mean I can pop out and not be kept prisoner all day. Far too many all day deliveries end up being at 7pm or later.

Interesting as you seem to have the opposite experience! To be honest, I almost always order late in the evening so 'next day' is around 1.5 days away... looking back at my previous orders. But some I ordered around 3-4pm and they came next day! Also, when I get an order delivered to my home address it arrives around 11am. Odd that you would get it delivered so late! Must be an odd routing system!

 

[jon0844]

Depends on the carrier. Royal Mail is around 10-11am. There's one carrier (actually not seen him for ages mind) that I swear does me last, as if he lives nearby. Yup, the same guy each time! And Yodel? Then it's a gamble if it will turn up at all!

 

[Saint66]

Hehe, yeah. But it's getting better now they're allowed to put ordinary stores there and not just outlet ones.

Now we just need to sort the inhabitants out.

Joking, of course!

 

[jon0844]

No, you're not wrong.

The town centre is an awful, awful place and much of that is down to the people that congregate there.

The Galleria does at least seem to be far enough away to not attract those people, although over the road at the 'District Centre' is another slum in the making.

 

[physics34]

Bring Back Red Star!

 

[kermit]

Bring Back Red Star!

Wait a minute...have I just been hopelessly naive? There was me thinking the only possible advantage of setting up a parcels service in a railway station would be the possibility of sending said parcels along the nice shiny metal things handily (very) near to each of them, rather than battling through congestion, one way systems, parking limitations etc with a lorry!

 

[dysonsphere]

Bring Back Red Star!

exactley used to use it all time was by far the quickest way of getting urgent boxes around the country and they dropped of in the oddest stations but it was a great system never understood why it was closed.

 

[swt_passenger]

Wait a minute...have I just been hopelessly naive? There was me thinking the only possible advantage of setting up a parcels service in a railway station would be the possibility of sending said parcels along the nice shiny metal things handily (very) near to each of them, rather than battling through congestion, one way systems, parking limitations etc with a lorry!

Yes you have been naive, IMHO. This is nothing to do with parcels on rails, it is about renting space to facilitate delivery only. The earlier announcements about 'Doddle' (stupid name IMHO) made no mention of rail use, and that it was just a delivery option - they probably needed a big hitter like Amazon to join to raise its profile.

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/news/2013/dec/Were-trialling-parcel-shops-at-main-line-stations/?cd=1

 

[LateThanNever]

Yes you have been naive, IMHO. This is nothing to do with parcels on rails, it is about renting space to facilitate delivery only. The earlier announcements about 'Doddle' (stupid name IMHO) made no mention of rail use, and that it was just a delivery option - they probably needed a big hitter like Amazon to join to raise its profile.

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/news/2013/dec/Were-trialling-parcel-shops-at-main-line-stations/?cd=1

Interesting trial and certainly worth a try - according to Network Rail:
The Doddle dedicated parcel shops would be open seven days a week, early until late, to fit with people’s busy lifestyles so they can choose exactly how, when and where they send and receive parcels.
Good thing the offices are not run by the franchises because that is so unlike when people want to buy tickets from the booking office!

Also it won't suit every delivery - I wouldn't want to be lugging 12 bottles of wine home unless the station had every easy parking!

 

[Fincra5]

Maybe they'll make use of the old parcel sections that used to be there

 

[tigerroar]

Why is all this necessary? Being a postman it saddens me seeing all these fly by night operations and operators taking a slice while we are reduced to making ends meet by delivering pizza leaflets.

 

[dysonsphere]

Sounds exactly like Red Star

 

[swt_passenger]

Sounds exactly like Red Star

But Red Star actually used trains. It's nothing like Red Star.

 

[dysonsphere]

But Red Star actually used trains. It's nothing like Red Star.

ah sorry misread first post you are correct. Damm Red Star was great though.

 

[DarloRich]

we already have one in Milton Keynes. It is a delivery / collection location that means you don’t have to ask the delivery guy to leave your parcel in the recycle box by the shed because you can pick it up on the way home!

 

[Greenback]

Why is all this necessary? Being a postman it saddens me seeing all these fly by night operations and operators taking a slice while we are reduced to making ends meet by delivering pizza leaflets.

It saddens me too as an ex employee of Royal Mail. But it is yet another example of changing lifestyles. So many people are out now when deliveries are made and while the delivery and collection options offered by Royal Mail are the best in my view, it seems that people might well prefer to pick things up themselves on the way to and from work.

When we were both out of work we always ended up having to drive to the delivery office to pick things from Amazon up, our neighbours were also usually out at work and asking for redelivery was pointless too. So I'm sorry to say that despite my personal feelings this idea is bound to be popular.

 

[GatwickDepress]

Amazon lockers are already in quite a few petrol stations, so it's nice to see parcel collection extend to more hubs, especially public transport ones. Have any been placed in bus stations?

I do wonder whether something like Red Star Parcels would be feasible to do in this day and age. The Red Star Parcels sign still shines merrily over London Euston as well.

 

[pablo]

Gee-whizz. Doesn't life come full circle?

Aaaaaar can remember when.....................

 

[talldave]

So the issue at stations will be where to park all the 4x4s that are calling in to collect a DVD or two?

 

[Skimble19]

Why is all this necessary? Being a postman it saddens me seeing all these fly by night operations and operators taking a slice while we are reduced to making ends meet by delivering pizza leaflets.

Because the service provided by Royal Mail no longer meets peoples needs.. Simple as that. For me royal mail are useless for parcels as they only deliver when I'm out and its a pain in the backside trying to collect from them as I'm not usually around then either.. Sundays would help but I suspect that wont spread, which is a shame. Either way, for me this is much better, as sad as it is that Royal Mail isn't the best anymore for parcels. Letters on the other hand, you cant beat them!