Amazon... well this is a new one!

[seadoug]

So, when I order small items from Amazon I pick them up at an Amazon Locker that is on the side of a convenience store near my home. The placement is bad for starters because when it is hot outside and the sun is shining directly on it the screen goes dark and is unusable.

2 days ago, I received notification that an item was ready for pickup. For 2 days now I've gone to the locker, entered the code and have a received a message saying "code, accepted, please stand back while the door opens. But the door never opens!

I finally called Amazon customer service and they said there are hardware issues with that particular locker and they will return the item and issue a refund. I'm fine with that, but I would think a company as large and ubiquitous as Amazon could at least maintain their lockers.

 

[AnneTeak]

can u tell the convenience store about the problem? maybe they can move the lockers or put up a shade to block the sun.

 

[palides2021]

Sorry you're going through that, @seadoug! I've always had the items shipped to me. Never used a Locker. Maybe you can do the same?

 

[fuzzybuddy]

seadoug, why don't you use home delivery? Not everything you get from Amazon is solid gold ingots, the froggy oven mitts might get swiped by a porch pirate, but life could go on.

 

[Packerjohn]

I once ordered something from Amazon and had it shipped to the locker. BIG MISTAKE! Now, I just have it delivered right to my door. You can keep them lockers using some sort of smartphone "fiddling around" to open it.

Often new ideas are not the best. They want my business, they can deliver right to my apartment door. None of that driving in the cold or rain to some weird location and playing around some sort of lockbox. I leave that to the young boys and girls!

 

[Alligatorob]

Never tried the locker thing. What would the advantage be over home delivery? Assuming it worked.

 

[seadoug]

Never tried the locker thing. What would the advantage be over home delivery? Assuming it worked.

I just never like to have anything left on my front porch because I'm never home during the day. Our neighbors down the street near the entrance of our community went shopping, went inside their house and left the items in the car on their driveway. Someone stole the items right out of their car and drove off while they were in the house.

I live in a decent neighborhood but some of the neighborhoods less than a mile away aren't so nice so we are sometimes a target. Also, our community is not gated so it is "easy in, easy out". One of the joys of living in a suburban part of a big urban area.

 

[seadoug]

can u tell the convenience store about the problem? maybe they can move the lockers or put up a shade to block the sun.

It is Amazon's locker so I don't think the convenience store can do anything about it. The Amazon customer service rep already knew about it so hopefully they will do something about it. When people who use the locker stop ordering from them, they will do something!

 

[ElCastor]

Always do the front door and never had a problem, except one. Doorbell rang and there was a Sheriff‘s Deputy delivering an unopened Amazon box. Seems our package, along with a few others, also unopened, we’re found stuffed into a garbage can a few blocks away. The can was due to be picked up by the garbage collector, but the homeowner opened it to add some more garbage, and there was Amazon. Go figure.

 

[Alligatorob]

I just never like to have anything left on my front porch because I'm never home during the day. Our neighbors down the street near the entrance of our community went shopping, went inside their house and left the items in the car on their driveway. Someone stole the items right out of their car and drove off while they were in the house.

I live in a decent neighborhood but some of the neighborhoods less than a mile away aren't so nice so we are sometimes a target. Also, our community is not gated so it is "easy in, easy out". One of the joys of living in a suburban part of a big urban area.

Makes sense, our house is at the end of a long drive in a semi-rural neighborhood. Only someone who drives down the to our house can see the packages... so far so good.

 

[OneEyedDiva]

I'm sorry that happened SD. I very rarely have Amazon packages delivered to my home. Despite a neon sign on the window of our building's entrance, packages are left on the stoop and a moderately busy street is right there. Anyone can just walk by and take the package. Once a package in a large envelope was left right in front of the door where someone could have stepped on it on the way out. Thank goodness it was only a tablecloth and nothing breakable. One has to wonder what kind of idiot would place a customer's package there!

I use two different lockers. If I'm ordering something that might be heavy or cumbersome, I have packages sent to the locker at a gas station that my son passes on the way home from work. If the package will be smaller and/or lighter, I'll have it sent to the one within walking distance from home...that one is inside. I think the other is too. I assume you really want what you ordered, so hopefully you'll be able to place your order again and by then the problem will have been fixed.

 

[SeaBreeze]

So, when I order small items from Amazon I pick them up at an Amazon Locker that is on the side of a convenience store near my home. The placement is bad for starters because when it is hot outside and the sun is shining directly on it the screen goes dark and is unusable.

2 days ago, I received notification that an item was ready for pickup. For 2 days now I've gone to the locker, entered the code and have a received a message saying "code, accepted, please stand back while the door opens. But the door never opens!

I finally called Amazon customer service and they said there are hardware issues with that particular locker and they will return the item and issue a refund. I'm fine with that, but I would think a company as large and ubiquitous as Amazon could at least maintain their lockers.

How frustrating, sorry you had a problem like this. I always have Amazon delivered to my house, so far no problems. But, we are usually home these days and if it's something important we watch out for it.

I always wondered about those pickup lockers, never used one. When you order online do you get a list of exact address for them, then they send you a code via email?

 

[seadoug]

How frustrating, sorry you had a problem like this. I always have Amazon delivered to my house, so far no problems. But, we are usually home these days and if it's something important we watch out for it.

I always wondered about those pickup lockers, never used one. When you order online do you get a list of exact address for them, then they send you a code via email?

Funny story, I ordered another delivery from Amazon Locker prior to finding out about the problem. I received notification today that it was ready for pickup so I went by this morning. There was a guy working on the main panel so I couldn't pick up the package. Seems Amazon is finally trying to correct the issue.

To answer your question, yes I can find the Amazon Lockers near me with their addresses. There is also a secure one at Whole Foods but it's further so unless I'm going that way it's not convenient. Of course, I can also choose my home address but there are actually Amazon shipments that won't ship to my home address unless they are too large for the locker or too large to fit in my mailbox.

We have a group of mailboxes that covers a few houses and they require keys to open. Our mailman told us the master key was stolen from the large box that handles larger deliveries so I'm always careful what have sent via mail. I know it sounds like crime is rampant in our neighborhood. It really isn't but it is the occasional incidents that make me think twice about how I receive orders.