Amazon in-van surveillance under fire as videos appear on Reddit

[dirtyferret]

The DSP setup seems like a scheme to remove liability off Amazon and put it on a small company that could just declare bankruptcy and shut down whenever someone sues them. Then they can just start a new DSP company and pick up where they left off.

definitely a scheme but it puts all the responsibility and liability on the contract company

cost of van lease and maintenance - contractors problem
worker issue - contractors problem
can't make ends meet - contractors problem
amazon decides to pull your contract for any reason - contractors problem

 

[waclark]

Er no, most delivery vehicles are owned by the driver, so even more of a violation of privacy.

Most? Have a source for that claim? This is from a CNN article about Amazon delivery services, which seems to dispute your assertion:

"Amazon relied on technically independent businesses, who often rent vans owned by Amazon and are paid by the company for the routes they complete. These businesses, called “delivery service partners,” or DSPs for short..."

 

[waclark]

definitely a scheme but it puts all the responsibility and liability on the contract company

cost of van lease and maintenance - contractors problem
worker issue - contractors problem
can't make ends meet - contractors problem
amazon decides to pull your contract for any reason - contractors problem

I don't know that it puts "all" the responsibility on the contract company, but even if so, how is that a bad thing? Amazon has the responsibility to get the package to you and for that they use a contractor. If the package doesn't get to you then who makes it right? Amazon, so it seems they have some skin in the game.

Shouldn't all worker issues be the responsibility of the company that hires them? And if a company can't make ends meet, how is that Amazon's issue? Why would Amazon arbitrarily pull your contract for no reason? Doesn't seem likely to me. Amazon needs delivery partners so why would they just ****-can companies that are getting the job done?

Most companies use contractors of some sort. Janitorial services, paper products for restrooms and company cafeterias, tax preparation, shipping and more. Calling it a "scheme" seems like you're making it out to be some evil conspiracy.

 

[dirtyferret]

how is that a bad thing?

amazon has some skin in the game but still the vast majority is on the contract delivery company. If the company fails to deliver as Amazon wants them to, they simply give the routes to another delivery contract company.

Calling it a "scheme" seems like you're making it out to be some evil conspiracy.

It's not "evil", plenty of companies have cost cutting schemes and this is one of them.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/03/tech/amazon-dsp-delivery/index.html

 

[waclark]

amazon has some skin in the game but still the vast majority is on the contract delivery company. If the company fails to deliver as Amazon wants them to, they simply give the routes to another delivery contract company.


It's not "evil", plenty of companies have cost cutting schemes and this is one of them.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/03/tech/amazon-dsp-delivery/index.html

But isn't this how all companies (and customers) work? If you buy a product from someone and they fail to deliver, or they don't give you good customer service on the back end, would you keep doing business with them? I'm thinking not. Being Amazon, I think I would expect a certain level of service from any contractor or partner business.

OK, I misread your tone. I think this is a normal business practice and given that there is so much that can and does happen with package delivery, I don't have a problem with Amazon putting video cams into delivery trucks.

 

[dirtyferret]

But isn't this how all companies (and customers) work?

not all but unfortunately too many

 

[waclark]

not all but unfortunately too many

Why is that unfortunate? Isn't this simple human behavior? Take commerce out of the picture, would you continue to have a relationship with someone who consistently failed to deliver on their promises? If it's family, I could see that you have no option, but if it's just someone you know, would you maintain a relationship if they constantly lied to you? I know I wouldn't.

 

[dirtyferret]

you continue to have a relationship with someone who consistently failed to deliver on their promises?

I'm not sure how you got off on this path, what it has to do with anything I've said or the article I linked but good luck on your solo journey.

 

[waclark]

I'm not sure how you got off on this path, what it has to do with anything I've said or the article I linked but good luck on your solo journey.

A business has contractors and partners, or to put it another way, a business "relationship". You said, "Unfortunately some, not all..." in relation to my comment about businesses ending their partnership or contracts when one of the businesses fails to deliver on their business agreement. I don't see why it's "unfortunate" for businesses to terminate their relationship when their business partner is doing a poor job. I was trying to draw an analogy to ending personal relationships when they go wrong.

My journey is far from "solo". I am a business owner who has a very successful business. I can assure you that I end business relationships with any partners who cannot deliver the goods and services they promised when we entered into a business agreement, just like Amazon. I give them a fair chance but after a certain point, there is no reason for me to do business with them anymore.

Maybe I'm not understanding your point, but it seems like you think it's wrong for Amazon (or other businesses) to eliminate delivery partners if they fail to deliver packages, steal packages, or get into vehicle accidents due to negligent driving. Please oorrect me if I'm wrong.

 

[dirtyferret]

"Unfortunately some, not all..."

my comments were to your line and only that line

I was trying to draw an analogy to ending personal relationships when they go wrong.

never brought up by me and if you believe it was that is an error on your part

 

[b1k3rdude]

Most? Have a source for that claim? This is from a CNN article about Amazon delivery services, which seems to dispute your assertion:

"Amazon relied on technically independent businesses, who often rent vans owned by Amazon and are paid by the company for the routes they complete. These businesses, called “delivery service partners,” or DSPs for short..."

Fair comment, but that said there is no way for the average consumer to be aware of this, now I am.