# When did we all agree that "DELIVERED" means "LEFT SITTING ON THE GROUND NEAR YOUR HOUSE?" **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 17, 2020, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-we-all-agree-that-delivered-means-left-sitting-on-the-ground-near-your-house/928272 "2020-12-17T17:10:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2020, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-we-all-agree-that-delivered-means-left-sitting-on-the-ground-near-your-house/928272/101 "2020-12-19T03:52:50Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > > [@needscoffee](#): > > > > No, I’m talking about “Amazon Vendors”, vendors who sell directly to Amazon. I worked for 5 years for a specialty gourmet company that sold hundreds of thousands of dollars of merchandise annually to Amazon, which then sold it themselves. I promise you, we were billed 20% _in addition_ to what we charged them for the products – their standard fee to cover mistakes. Amazon was trying to raise it to 22% when I left in 2017. I don’t know if they ended up doing it or not. > > That sounds like they essentially paid your company 80% of what you wanted to charge. Is that correct? You could see it that way, but I wouldn’t consider that the practical answer. If you know about the 20% fee, then you raise your price to cover that fee. You’d be stupid to not list the product at 125% of what you want, so that you’ll get 100. The 20% fee is just part of doing business with Amazon, and people (sellers and buyers, effectively) willingly pay it for the benefits. The product is more easily found (so more gets sold and more customers are happy), on a site with a known good payment system and warranty, who will apparently eat the cost if something happens to the shipment. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2020, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-we-all-agree-that-delivered-means-left-sitting-on-the-ground-near-your-house/928272/102 "2020-12-19T03:55:36Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > The first thing on the page was **Amazon Live Chat** which led me to > [https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/contact-us/general-questions.html](https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/contact-us/general-questions.html) Thank you so much for this! I needed to contact Amazon tonight about an order that was delayed and could find no way to actually speak to a human. This chat allowed me to get through to a person and he ended up giving me a promotional credit for the delay. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2020, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-we-all-agree-that-delivered-means-left-sitting-on-the-ground-near-your-house/928272/103 "2020-12-19T03:56:31Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > You could see it that way, but I wouldn’t consider that the practical answer. If you know about the 20% fee, then you raise your price to cover that fee. You’d be stupid to not list the product at 125% of what you want, so that you’ll get 100. You have _no_ idea what you’re talking about. Amazon will only pay as much as their algorithms determine they can make enough profit off of. If you go above that, they simply won’t buy it from you. They will discontinue it. So you have to decide if you can afford to sell it to them for that ridiculously low price, or if you’ll lose money and not sell it to them. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2020, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-we-all-agree-that-delivered-means-left-sitting-on-the-ground-near-your-house/928272/104 "2020-12-19T03:58:53Z")
Also, you can only raise your prices at 1 time a year. They may or may not accept it. If they think it’s too high, they’ll reject it and continue to pay the old price. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2020, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-we-all-agree-that-delivered-means-left-sitting-on-the-ground-near-your-house/928272/105 "2020-12-19T04:07:58Z")
I don’t see anything wrong with the OP’s question. It is interesting how things have changed. At one point, the delivery person would arrive, come to the door, knock or ring the doorbell, and wait a certain time to see if you came and got it. Currently, we’ve gotten to a point where they’ll just leave the item out, even if doing so might be a problem (due to theft or weather). Heck, there are stories where the delivery person skips the delivery altogether, saying you weren’t there, because it’s in their personal best interest to move quickly, even if it’s in the company’s best interest to not have to deliver something more than once. What’s more, there often isn’t an option to try and get it delivered to you, even with an increased fee. I haven’t seen such an option on hardly anything I buy online. Most of the time, there’s one shipping option. Maybe a second faster option. But nothing else. It seems that, in the drive for efficiency, we’ve gone a bit too far. It seems a happy medium where they drop of the item and ring the doorbell, and that you can actually pay extra to have to actually be there for the item–that would be ideal. I think it thus makes sense to ask at what point things changed, to get the history, and then see where we went a bit too far, and what we might could do to get things back to something more reasonable, without it costing people more. Not even replacing the item is always enough, BTW. Sometimes the item is time sensitive, or unique or rare. Like I’m right now having to deal with a problem with a seller on Newegg who sent a Christmas present to California instead of the address on the invoice (in Arkansas). And even after I paid for expedited shipping (a welcome option). I may still get the item, but a lot of the value was lost. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2020, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-we-all-agree-that-delivered-means-left-sitting-on-the-ground-near-your-house/928272/106 "2020-12-19T04:08:56Z")
^^ (I don’t think you meant to reply to me on this) ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2020, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-we-all-agree-that-delivered-means-left-sitting-on-the-ground-near-your-house/928272/107 "2020-12-19T04:12:54Z")
[When did we all agree that “DELIVERED” means “LEFT SITTING ON THE GROUND NEAR YOUR HOUSE?”](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-we-all-agree-that-delivered-means-left-sitting-on-the-ground-near-your-house/928272) I think it was when we all agreed we want free shipping (invisible hand for the WIN!) ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2020, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-we-all-agree-that-delivered-means-left-sitting-on-the-ground-near-your-house/928272/108 "2020-12-19T04:29:59Z")
I find it amusing that you mentioned the pandemic as a reason for having items delivered and then complete unawareness why anyone would not be handing something to you during said pandemic. So, yes, during the pandemic especially items are left outside. Some items (ex. I just bought a new phone) require signature/confirmed delivery. Some food delivery requires the deliver driver backing away from the door and texting/calling or ringing the door and verifying you retrieve the food, but they leave the food there and back away first. ---
**Author:** ![ataraxy22](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ataraxy22/32/307_2.png) [@ataraxy22](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ataraxy22)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2020, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-we-all-agree-that-delivered-means-left-sitting-on-the-ground-near-your-house/928272/109 "2020-12-19T04:34:19Z")
I am waiting on a package with a value over $150,000. USPS is now 37 days late. I am extremely angry. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2020, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-we-all-agree-that-delivered-means-left-sitting-on-the-ground-near-your-house/928272/110 "2020-12-19T04:46:27Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > ^^ (I don’t think you meant to reply to me on this) No, but it’s irrelevant as the OP will still get a notification, and that’s the only real difference. And apologies for making you upset with my misunderstanding of how Amazon works. In my defense, it definitely doesn’t seem like that’s how it works, given the prices I’ve seen when I look at non-Amazon sellers. I’ve seen a large disparity in prices, like one seller charging triple the price of another one for the same item. And I know I’ve seen some obvious price gouging on the site. It seems to be a strange algorithm they are using. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2020, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-we-all-agree-that-delivered-means-left-sitting-on-the-ground-near-your-house/928272/111 "2020-12-19T04:57:16Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > given the prices I’ve seen when I look at non-Amazon sellers. I’ve seen a large disparity in prices, like one seller charging triple the price of another one for the same item. And I know I’ve seen some obvious price gouging on the site. > > It seems to be a strange algorithm they are using. Yes, some outside sellers use crazy pricing programs. > [@BigT](#): > > And apologies for making you upset with my misunderstanding of how Amazon works. Well, when you say things like: > [@BigT](#): > > You’d be stupid to not list the product at 125% of what you want, so that you’ll get 100. not understanding that then the final price to the consumer is going to be higher than they’re willing to pay, especially if they can buy a competitor’s product for a lot less. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2020, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-we-all-agree-that-delivered-means-left-sitting-on-the-ground-near-your-house/928272/112 "2020-12-19T13:39:50Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > What’s more, there often isn’t an option to try and get it delivered to you, even with an increased fee. I haven’t seen such an option on hardly anything I buy online. Most of the time, there’s one shipping option. Maybe a second faster option. But nothing else. You won’t see it on the seller’s website- but I know once you have the tracking number, you can arrange on the UPS site to have your package held for pick-up or delivery to an access point. I’m pretty sure you can arrange for a USPS package to be held. There may be a fee sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![Mallard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Mallard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mallard)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2020, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-we-all-agree-that-delivered-means-left-sitting-on-the-ground-near-your-house/928272/113 "2020-12-19T16:56:25Z")
I see this issue being like expecting door to door mail delivery. If you don’t have a mailbox it will be left on the front step especially if you’re not home. Should more be expected out of parcel delivery? Responsibility of the recipient, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2020, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-we-all-agree-that-delivered-means-left-sitting-on-the-ground-near-your-house/928272/114 "2020-12-19T17:56:43Z")
If they leave a package on the ground near my house – say, within thirty feet of it – I am perfectly happy. I think carrying it up the walk and leaving it on the deck is way beyond the call of duty. What I object to is when they dump it on the side of the road near the end of my driveway, which is hundreds of feet from the house and invisible from it. The last Amazon purchase I made was a nice Dewalt cordless hedge trimmer, and it came in Dewalt’s branded yellow and black box. It might have well had a flashing sign on it that said “PAWN BAIT”. So finding it in the driveway near the house was great. Since I live on a country road, a through road, I have to wonder what the chances would be of that box staying on the side of the road for however long it took me to drive in or out. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2020, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-we-all-agree-that-delivered-means-left-sitting-on-the-ground-near-your-house/928272/115 "2020-12-19T19:51:13Z")
Someone shipped an item worth US$150,000 using the postal service? Is there even insurance available at that level? ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2020, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-we-all-agree-that-delivered-means-left-sitting-on-the-ground-near-your-house/928272/116 "2020-12-19T21:10:59Z")
> [@Mighty\_Mouse](#): > > Someone shipped an item worth US$150,000 using the postal service? No, no, it was only like $120! It was just a hedge trimmer! ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2020, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-we-all-agree-that-delivered-means-left-sitting-on-the-ground-near-your-house/928272/117 "2020-12-19T22:04:31Z")
> [@ataraxy22](#): > > I am waiting on a package with a value over $150,000. USPS is now 37 days late. I am extremely angry. This is what I was responding to. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2020, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-we-all-agree-that-delivered-means-left-sitting-on-the-ground-near-your-house/928272/118 "2020-12-19T22:07:30Z")
I too am intrigued about what kind of thing worth $150k anyone would ship via USPS. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2020, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-we-all-agree-that-delivered-means-left-sitting-on-the-ground-near-your-house/928272/119 "2020-12-19T22:13:08Z")
Pre Covid, our parcels were delivered to the front desk of our apartment complex. Now the courier walks 33 stairs and knocks on the door. Suits me just fine. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2020, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-we-all-agree-that-delivered-means-left-sitting-on-the-ground-near-your-house/928272/120 "2020-12-19T22:16:53Z")
> [@ataraxy22](#): > > I am waiting on a package with a value over $150,000. USPS is now 37 days late. I am extremely angry. Always insure your cocaine for its street value. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-we-all-agree-that-delivered-means-left-sitting-on-the-ground-near-your-house/928272.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-we-all-agree-that-delivered-means-left-sitting-on-the-ground-near-your-house/928272.md?page=7)