Share

Tech Company Now Taking Pictures of Your Front Door

Share

Amazon delivery people have started taking pictures of customers’ front doors as part of a new delivery service.

The service is designed to help people locate packages left by Amazon employees on their front porch, according to the U.K. Daily Mail.

The picture is included in a shopper’s notice of delivery, so they know exactly when the package arrived and where it was placed.

“It also has the advantage of forcing drivers to prove that they’ve indeed brought the package to a customer’s address,” USA Today reported.

Amazon spokesperson Kristen Kish said, “Amazon Logistics Photo On Delivery provides visual delivery confirmation.”

Trending:
KJP Panics, Hangs Up in Middle of Interview When Reporter Shows He Isn't a Democratic Party Propagandist

“It shows customers that their package was safely delivered and where, and it’s one of many delivery innovations we’re working on to improve convenience for customers,” she added.

The new delivery service is quietly being rolled out in both the U.K. and the U.S. and has raised some privacy concerns because the pictures are stored on Amazon’s servers without the knowledge of many customers.

Although the program has existed for at least six months, Amazon has recently updated the delivery device used by personnel in the Amazon Logistics delivery system so all Logistics drivers can take a picture of a customer’s front door.

Not all Amazon customers receive a delivery photo at this point.

Do you think this is an invasion of privacy?

“The service is only active with packages delivered via Amazon’s Amazon Logistics delivery system, which include Amazon Delivery Service Providers and Amazon Flex drivers,” according to USA Today. “You can tell them apart because Amazon DSP deliveries usually come in white vans while Flex drivers use their personal vehicles.”

Packages delivered by the U.S. Postal Service, UPS, FedEx or OnTrak are tracked by the individual carrier’s delivery routing and notification software.

There is reportedly an option for customers to opt out of delivery photos on the customer service page of Amazon’s website.

USA Today reported that the pictures still do not “thwart thieves,” which has become an increasing problem as more people shop online.

One shopper in San Francisco, Annette Hurst, received a picture confirmation for delivery of her Amazon package, but the box was missing when she got home.

Related:
Following Intense Pushback, Website Scrubs All Info on Gov't Involvement in Surveillance of Gamers

The delivery photo, according to Hurst, seemed to help her when she described the theft to customer service.

CEO of Spend Management Experts John Haber told USA Today that the new service is similar to other kinds of proof of delivery for packages used in transportation management systems for years, but could be a game-changer in package delivery systems because Amazon does not charge for the service.

“For UPS and FedEx, getting a delivery confirmation signature costs about $5, it’s a huge revenue generator,” he said, and then asked, “If Amazon’s just offering it as standard proof of delivery, will the other parcel carriers have to match it?”

Truth and Accuracy

Submit a Correction →



We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.

Tags:
, , ,
Share
Erin Coates was an editor for The Western Journal for over two years before becoming a news writer. A University of Oregon graduate, Erin has conducted research in data journalism and contributed to various publications as a writer and editor.
Erin Coates was an editor for The Western Journal for over two years before becoming a news writer. She grew up in San Diego, California, proceeding to attend the University of Oregon and graduate with honors holding a degree in journalism. During her time in Oregon, Erin was an associate editor for Ethos Magazine and a freelance writer for Eugene Magazine. She has conducted research in data journalism, which has been published in the book “Data Journalism: Past, Present and Future.” Erin is an avid runner with a heart for encouraging young girls and has served as a coach for the organization Girls on the Run. As a writer and editor, Erin strives to promote social dialogue and tell the story of those around her.
Birthplace
Tucson, Arizona
Nationality
American
Honors/Awards
Graduated with Honors
Education
Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, University of Oregon
Books Written
Contributor for Data Journalism: Past, Present and Future
Location
Prescott, Arizona
Languages Spoken
English, French
Topics of Expertise
Politics, Health, Entertainment, Faith




Conversation