Amazon’s warning to Royal Mail

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2013 ... oyal-mail/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Mere weeks after Royal Mail was sold for billions of pounds, the march of technology has shown it must not rest on its laurels.

The online retailer Amazon is developing a way of using unmanned drones to deliver its parcels.

It is the stuff of science fiction.

Just half an hour after ordering goods, those who are prepared to pay a premium will see their item dropped by a robot to their home or workplace.

The technology is still very much in development, but it is only a matter of time before it becomes a reality.

In the meantime, Royal Mail continues to try to position itself as a forward-thinking business.

If this is the case, why must customers endure the gruelling process of queueing up at a small sorting office, staffed by three people squeezing through the same delivery window and working off a hand-written paper ledger?

Customers who have ordered things online, because they work when the shops are open, come home to find their item is being kept miles away at a delivery office accessible only by car.

If they want their item delivered to a local post office, which is open after business hours, they have to pay £1.50 for the privilege even though they will have already paid for postage and packaging when they ordered it.

Managers of Royal Mail will claim their efforts at modernisation have been hampered by the strong trade unions.

Workers will say they are saddled with short-sighted management.

Whatever is to blame, Royal Mail is operating in a very competitive world. If it does not meet the challenges of the 21st century, someone else will.

There will be plenty of problems to spot with the current proposals developed by Amazon. Will it lead to a rise in crime with people shooting down these expensive drones? Will it serve to accelerate the decline of the already struggling high street?

These are matters that the hugely profitable Amazon will seek to address as it works to tighten its grip on retail.

Royal Mail is a huge beneficiary of Amazon, having seen a surge in the number of parcels and packets to offset the decline in traditional letters.

It must adapt to the changing world or risk being seen as second class.

[bustedflush]

Thanks for the news item but the drones are complete bollox. Do you honestly think the CAA would sanction lads in front of TV screens flying drones in UK airspace? A disaster waiting to happen. And that's without one on the buggers going wrong and landing on someone or their property, or losing a parcel from 200 feet up. Maybe in the Aussie outbacks but not in the UK. We'd see Christmas abolished first.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

When I post stories from the Internet I am not endorsing, agreeing or even condemning them. I merely post them as information in the hope of 2 things, attracting more members and getting some discussions going.

[noggin1969]

[fishtank]

Customers who have ordered things online, because they work when the shops are open, come home to find their item is being kept miles away at a delivery office accessible only by car.

Alternatively if you use another courier you come home to find it..

a) Up a tree in the neighbours garden.
b) Left at the local crack house/neighbour 3 streets away.
c) Taken back to the "local" depot 60 miles away on an industrial estate only accessible by two trains,a ferry and a 4 mile hike.

[BernardBresslaw]

Wouldn't it just be cheaper for them to roll out their own distribution network beyond where it is now? Hell it would probably have been cheaper to just buy out Royal Mail!

[demon]

well don't put crap on then look for something of interest

[TrueBlueTerrier]

well don't put crap on then look for something of interest

We don't force you to read it, and I wasn't aware that I had to get pre-authorisation from you on whats interesting and what isn't. Lighten up please.

[fishtank]

well don't put crap on then look for something of interest

Go on then....
Let's have something of interest from demon..

[disheartened]

When I post stories from the Internet I am not endorsing, agreeing or even condemning them. I merely post them as information in the hope of 2 things, attracting more members and getting some discussions going.

TBT....I thought it was a great story,i was watching it on the bbc news,the builder who was doing a quote for me thought I was mad,because I was giggling away at the thought of drones I did check the date on my calander,April comes round so fast these days

[RTP]

I can just imagine gangs of scallies armed with pockets full of stones after having bets as to who will be the first to down one of these things.

[freelunch]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/expd/11175317823" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[k979aaa]

More pie in the sky.

[Godric]

drones would be a waste of space on the west coast of Scotland due to the strong winds .... another scaremonger story from a global online bully

[bluealbert]

Ffs I just pissed myself