Amazon copying Uber for deliveries

In order to expand its fast delivery service, Amazon will begin to hire independent drivers similar to Uber and Lyft, paying between 18 and 25 dollars per hour to deliver packages with their own vehicles to Amazon Prime Now customers.

This new service, called Amazon Flex, is now available for registration in Seattle and will soon arrive in New York, Baltimore, Miami, Dallas, Austin, Chicago, Indianapolis, Atlanta and Portland. The company did not say whether it will expand to other countries or if it will have an experimental local test run.

To register as a driver in this new service from Amazon, you must own a vehicle, pass a criminal background check and have an Android phone. Those interested can choose to work shifts of two, four or eight hours.

The Amazon Flex site states that although in principle drivers will only take these fast delivery packages, in the future they could make other types of deliveries according to business needs.

“Be your own boss. Make deliveries when you want, for as long as you want” is the company’s slogan. In theory drivers would not be Amazon employees, which could bring the business problems similar to those seen with Uber in various parts of the world where drivers demand they become contractors or full time workers for the service.

On its website, Amazon stated that they currently only offer the program to motor vehicles, but could later allow people on bicycles or on foot carry packages to their destinations.

Amazon has been expanding its Prime Now service for members of its $99 per year Prime loyalty program. The service delivers a wide variety of items, food, drinks, cold or frozen products and electronics within an hour or two.Two hour delivery is free and one hour delivery is available for $7.99.

Source:http://abastomedia.com/en/news/amazon-copying-uber-for-deliveries/