Sam’s / Walmart / O’Reilly deliveries

[dennishoddy]

We are getting private contractors delivering packages to our home. Mostly Amazon as they opened up a small distribution center in Ponca last year. Not sure I like that.
We are very isolated. The normal UPS, USPS and FedEx drivers know to just leave the packages at the garage, but the new contract drivers deliver them to the front door which requires walking past our front windows that are from floor to ceiling and 10' wide. Some avert their eyes, but most take a look and some even wave at us inside.
I've usually got the shop doors open during the day but have got into the habit of keeping them closed now so nobody can see what's inside them.
Our "isolated" location is pretty much under observation by people that we don't know which makes me uncomfortable. We have a great security system that covers inside and outside the home but you never know who may bring a package and come back later for a second trip to do/steal whatever.
We don't have any of the Amazon lockers in Ponca that I'm aware of, but if there was, I'd be a user to stop this traffic.

 

[Camo]

My friend has an APP on his phone and just got into delivering goods.
Lots of car parts.
OKC to weatherford with 4 car tires in his trunk 70 miles 1 way and he got 45 MPG.
Figure 3 gallons round trip so 10 bucks or a bit less for fuel and he got paid $35 for the delivery.

He thinks that is great.
Maybe so but you better have a good car.

He lost money.

 

[trekrok]

I’ve had people, driving personal vehicles, show up at my place to deliver something I bought. Yesterday I was doing some wood work in my porte-cochère and Sam’s delivered a couple cases of oil I bought online the day before.

There was a sticker on the box that said thank you for supporting my small business. The delivery lady was driving a Nissan Rogue.

How do these delivery folks make any money? Am I supposed to tip them?

I learned to watch Sam's. I do the Plus membership for the 'free' shipping. What I didn't realize until recently is that they adjust their prices depending on whether you are picking it up or getting it shipped. So, my item is 16.98. Click the ship button and the price goes to 18.98. I think it's slimy.

I played with the same day option and the item price stayed the same with an $8 delivery fee. I didn't think that was terrible, but then on the next step we got to the 15% recommended tip. That's quite a tip on a sam's order.

 

[SlugSlinger]

I learned to watch Sam's. I do the Plus membership for the 'free' shipping. What I didn't realize until recently is that they adjust their prices depending on whether you are picking it up or getting it shipped. So, my item is 16.98. Click the ship button and the price goes to 18.98. I think it's slimy.

I played with the same day option and the item price stayed the same with an $8 delivery fee. I didn't think that was terrible, but then on the next step we got to the 15% recommended tip. That's quite a tip on a sam's order.

I’ve seen the same price adjustments for shipped items and that irritates me to no end. I was surprised when I chose the shipping option for the oil that it would deliver the next day. I thought that was a joke because they miss the delivery date all the time using fedex.

I don’t shop at Sam’s for the convenience, I shop there for the prices. I’m not going to pay extra to have an item delivered. Sam’s business model sucks for price conscience customers all the way around. Quick delivery and low prices don’t mix and Sam’s is going to find that out the hard way.

 

[swampratt]

My son got all kinds of deliveries from Amazon and other places working on his rice burners and things.
He had a covered porch and a bench on the porch where items would be placed.
Also on the bench was a gift basket with bottled water and assorted bags of chips and above that a sign that read in bold : Thank you for the delivery please help yourself to a drink and a snack.

 

[jakeman]

The one that gets me is apps asking if I want to add a tip when I'm ordering take-out. Umm, I'm providing the service on that deal, so why would I leave a tip for my work?

Someone prepared your order, put it in a sack and brought it to you at the door, or wherever you picked it up. I don't leave 20%, but I'll tip 'em 5 bucks. YMMV

If you're using the same place most of the time, you'll get better service if you tip, even just a little, for take out.

Lord, I hope that doesn't turn this into a tip/don't tip thread. It's just my observation, but I even tip the carry out kid at the local grocery store. Most of them recognize me and a couple of them have lightly competed to get to the end of the counter to bag my stuff a couple of times. I find it kinda funny, but it makes me think not everyone tips the carry out kid. This day and age, if someone is getting off their ass and going to work, I'm proud of them. I've got a couple bucks I can spare for 'em.

 

[jakeman]

My son got all kinds of deliveries from Amazon and other places working on his rice burners and things.
He had a covered porch and a bench on the porch where items would be placed.
Also on the bench was a gift basket with bottled water and assorted bags of chips and above that a sign that read in bold : Thank you for the delivery please help yourself to a drink and a snack.

That is a great idea. I think I'll adopt that myself. I know when I've got something coming. I bet it is really appreciated in the heat of the summer.

 

[swampratt]

That is a great idea. I think I'll adopt that myself. I know when I've got something coming. I bet it is really appreciated in the heat of the summer.

During big trash pick up or many times regular trash here in OKC in the heat of the summer I take soda and water out to the trash men/women.

Got to keep your trash pick up guys happy.
Mailman gets the same treatment.
I did build the mail man an ice chest AC and taught him a little cool down trick I used in my Hot Rod Nova.

Sweltering hot outside I went out and gave the mail man an ice cold soda.
I told him it looks like a soda but do not drink it it is to cool you off.

He looked at me funny and I said stick it between your legs right against your nut sack.
WHAT!! He said.
Yea do it. It will cool you off I guarantee it .
If your balls are cold the rest of you will be cold.

He said it actually cooled him down.
Yea I know.
I used to do that driving that Black No ac no carpet no firewall insulation Nova to the fishing hole.

 

[Chief Sapulpa]

Like the signs inside NYC cabs say “tipping is not a city in China”…

 

[wawazat]

The one that gets me is apps asking if I want to add a tip when I'm ordering take-out. Umm, I'm providing the service on that deal, so why would I leave a tip for my work?

Someone prepared your order, put it in a sack and brought it to you at the door, or wherever you picked it up. I don't leave 20%, but I'll tip 'em 5 bucks. YMMV

I typically tip 10% for take out. When I worked at Henry Hudson's the person that rang up the to go order had it added to their sales numbers. They assume you get an average of 10% of your sales in tips and declare that as your taxable income. I just try to help them break even because I HATED ringing up to go orders.