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Comment by techdragon | Hacker News Reader

For bonus points they can then point the finger at the local thieves that happily try to identify and then shadow Amazon delivery contractors and steal valuable looking parcels based on whatever gut instinct they have for value based on size/shape/weight of the packages.

Amazon proves the delivery and now it’s the local Polive Department’s problem.

They are literally selling customers an excuse they can use later against the very customer that buys it.

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In a lot of jurisdictions the seller is liable for the package till the consumer receives it, often explicitly calling out doorstep delivery as being insufficient to remove that liability. The seller might separately have a claim against a carrier or thief, but the law is on the side of the consumer regardless of whatever else plays out. Plus, legalities aside, it's usually cheaper to satisfy the consumer than to take the long-term PR hit of their goods sold being costly gambles.

Contradicting myself a bit, I did once have a rather unpleasant experience where I required 4 encounters with Amazon customer service before they would stop charging me for a delivery they failed. It was eventually not a problem, but the hours spent weren't substantially less than a lawsuit for the same (the costs were drastically less at least).

In your example the thieves have nothing to do with Amazon or their drivers. I don’t understand how this could be construed as Amazon selling an excuse for something they’re not responsible for.

Amazon used to get stuck holding the bag. Now they can make the customer hold the bag.

I mean, the customer should hold the bag in that scenario. Amazon completed the delivery.

Does Amazon actually offer the option to sign for the package? (I've never really thought about this, living in a nice neighborhood)

I mean, the customers know what they are getting into I guess but it is still bad if the dominant online store doesn't offer any way to securely get their products.

Amazon doesn't even give their drivers time to piss, they're not going to wait for signatures.

I am sure Amazon sees it that way, but I am not at all sure customers see it that way. The "Buy It Now" button doesn't exactly show INCOTERMS.

Ultimately, this is all a zero-sum BS game until we start talking about actual solutions, but I don't know enough about what Amazon offers to have an opinion about who needs to do better. If Amazon offers porch locker delivery and convenient central locker locations, sure, let's push customers to use them -- but if Amazon refuses to deliver to porch lockers and offers central lockers that are 20 miles away and open 10am-3pm, let's push Amazon to do better.

I once had delivery guy give my package to random kids that were loitering outside my door.

The way I see it, untill i have recieved it, it's the seller's responsebility

That really does sound like one of their incentives for having these... never thought about that.

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