Comment by hackermailman | Hacker News Reader

Comment by hackermailman | Hacker News Reader

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Mailman and software developer here. Of course all these problems can be fixed with a simple db that tells the delivery agent upon scanning any customer specifics like no safe dropping, go to rear door, ect. Weird individual access problems like gates or hidden doors could also be entered by agents to keep an up to date personalized delivery schedule. Right now the process is a bunch of cards that get lost and are outdated and take a lot of time to check for every delivery.

Agents should be able to see a complete overview of delivery that day, in order of route, and consistent metrics taken to better the service over time. Staffing could get weekly info of inbound parcels for each route and determine staff levels needed as compared to now which is just fly by seat of your pants. Of course CanPost who I work for don't do any of this, don't talk to any employees and make all these decisions far away from the people who have to implement them. The routes they design are ridiculous and nobody follows the official version. It seems trivial to solve since it's just a plaintext database and updates, plus talking to the agents to average time values and build efficient routes but for whatever reasons they don't even try. The DbaaS startup I work for remotely is constantly asking me ways they can improve, nobody at CPC has ever done so.

I was surprised when Amazon delivery appeared on the streets and they were run just as poorly as us, assumed they would 'disrupt' delivery instead of carbon copying an already bad service with UPS/Post/DHL ect.

> Of course all these problems can be fixed with a simple db that tells the delivery agent upon scanning any customer specifics like no safe dropping, go to rear door, etc.

That's a feature that UPS My Choice and FedEx Delivery manager have had for a long time. UPS even lets me permanently divert all deliveries to my address to a nearby UPS store.

Anecdote, the UPS driver I see everyday claims all sorts of problems with their hand helds giving incorrect info or seizing mid route. They are also all working heavy overtime, min 12hrs a day to finish their routes here. That said they are probably the best out of the usual big delivery companies but that's not saying much since just in this thread they also have consistent problems. Amazon likely hired managers from these companies so they just implemented a carbon copy

I noticed that too. They are being overworked. They are still relatively happy, but I see their stress levels rising.

I know UPS has a few different modes of employment. Some guys supposedly lease their vans, and are kinda self-employed. I'm not sure.

I see my UPS driver still delivering packages at midnight.

I have never had much of a problem with UPS. I just hope they arn't taking advantage of their employees.

I have thought about making a better, smarter, bigger mailbox. A mailbox that would be more secure. I don't want to give away details, but would what do you guys think?

Say if you could buy a mailbox that would scan your mail, and alert you you through an email? A larger mailbox you could lock remotely after recept of a important delivery. Or, is it a bad idea?

I've never had a problem with shipping insurance, or a company replacing an item that was stolen. I have never had a problem with stolen mail, but it's a problem in certain areas. I'm just throwing it out there, is it a bad idea.

The typical UPS driver here with some seniority is making $150k/yr if they do a lot overtime everyday, which they all seem to do.

Mansions here with people who run some kind of home finance business getting dozens of cheques a day and gigantic amounts of legal docs have special boxes that lock once you close the lid, so they leave the lid open and once closed it's self locking. Can't remember who makes them.

Combo lock you can securely change remotely would be good for airbnb rentals or self service po boxes, like German packstations.

> I have thought about making a better, smarter, bigger mailbox. A mailbox that would be more secure.

Like this? http://www.steelmailbox.com/html/dvault.html

> Say if you could buy a mailbox that would scan your mail, and alert you you through an email? A larger mailbox you could lock remotely after recept of a important delivery.

All that technology-stuff seems like extra complexity for little value. Why lock it remotely when you could design it with a one-way door and regular key lock and have it locked all the time? What use are the email notifications/scans of the outside of the items if you can't do anything until you're at home anyway? There might be a small amount of benefit to being notified if the mailbox has items in it to retrieve, but I'm not sure if it's enough to justify the cost and complexity of the feature.

Or Volvos trunk delivery box? :-) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2566930/Now-y...

Thanks!

> I noticed that too. They are being overworked. > They are still relatively happy, > but I see their stress levels rising.

Don't feel too bad for them. Drivers are the most desired position. When I worked there guys were waiting 10-15 years to make it to a driver.

They bid on routes, based on seniority. Some bid on late routes (i.e. boxes where the last pickup is 7:30pm, etc.) on purpose as anything over 8 hours was time-and-a-half. Back around '00 they started at $50k for drivers, so it adds up.

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