Wal-mart considers using customers as (almost) free labor

[Crazedclerkthe2nd]

http://consumerist.com/2013/03/28/wa...online-orders/

Wal-Mart is considering a program where customers could sign up to be "messengers" or basically delivery people for online orders. So instead of a UPS or FedEX truck delivering your package, it could be some random guy in a Ford pickup truck.

Apparently these "messengers" will receive no compensation whatsoever outside of reimbursement for gas.

Yeah, this program won't run into trouble with labor laws at all...

No way I would ever sign up for such a thing.

[bara]

Yeah.. I can see this working really well.

Oh yeah, Ill deliver that 60 inch flat screen, surround sound system, blue ray player.. no problem. (sarcasm)

I guess the old think tank in Bentonville is working really well nowadays.

[TheHuckster]

I'd be worried about the use of random strangers handling my goods, getting my address, and making a delivery to my house. On the flip side, as a random deliverer, I'd also be concerned for my safety. Yes, I understand that pizza deliverers and other deliverers are in many ways the same, but for some reason I feel as though this is even more risky.

Is there anywhere yet that has a full dollar figure of just how much people would be paid for doing this?

[Sarah Valentine]

Me and my coworkers joke around about how the higher ups, especially at corporate get really fucking high at board meetings then toss around ideas. I guess this proves it's not just my company doing it.

[Crazedclerkthe2nd]

I'd really hope these delivery persons would be insured.

[gremcint]

Speaking as a customer who orders stuff online, OH HELL NO. At least fedex and ups have some accountability random joebob who felt like wiping his ass with your package? no way.

[MrsEclipse]

They're not even paying you for the gas. They're giving you a discount on a Wal-mart purchase that covers the cost of the gas.

I really can't see how this is a good idea. I'm trying to imagine the complete disconnect from reality you would have to have for this to get anywhere past the "Hey, what if we did this?" stage. I understand it's still in "brainstorming," but really. This should be the equivalent of someone saying, "Hey, why don't we all just open our own bar, then we could hang out every day and drink together! Ted, you could totally build some stools, and Murry could keep the books," and you know it never happens because as soon as the buzz wears off you realize that you and your idiot friends could never in a million years run a bar.

How are you going to pick these people? How are you going to hold them accountable to make sure they don't steal? How are you going to make sure they don't get screwed over for things out of their control? How are you going to keep track of all this? How is this going to fly regarding labor laws? By the time you sit down and rationalize all those questions, it seems like it would be easier and cheaper to just hire delivery people.

[protege]

I'm surprised that nobody mentioned the obvious. That is, what's to stop the delivery guy...from throwing the merchandise out of their vehicle at 45mph onto the recipient's driveway? How are they going to account for that?

[Ginger Tea]

Why is there a condom on my cucumber?

[mikoyan29]

So they aren't even going to give the person who delivers money? They are just going to give him a discount. What the hell? Although the Wal-Mart Online Pickup is pretty shitty anyway. My mom ordered something from them....they said it was ready, so I went to the store to pick it up for her...it wasn't there. The place to pick up stuff was all the way in the back....and generally crappy service. So screw them.

[Racket_Man]

OK speaking from a purely pizza delivery driver perspective, I see MANY problems with this setup.

1. the "delivery person" is performing a commercial function ie. delivering a product for a company (WM). THis is usually NOT allowed by most private type vehicle insurers.

2. what if any insurance issues can/will there be when an accident occurs?? --- llike a 60 inch TV flying off BUBBAs truck and hitting and possibly damaging another car(s) or potentially injuring or killing someone or causing a multi-car pileup or accident????

3. what kind of mechanism would be in place for lost, stolen or damaged goods on the back of Bubba's truck???

4. the potential PERSONAL losses to the "delivery driver" are astromonical ie. delivery driver's insurance carrier denies ANY claim and Bubba is held TOTALLY financially responcible by being sued ppossibly by multipule entities.

5. will WM have to carry Non-owned vehicle insurance?? any company that delivers product to a customer needs to have this type of EXPENSIVE insurance. Non-owned vehicle insurance is where a company does not actually own the delivery vehicles but its employees use their vehicles but when an accident happens the person suing can go after the "deep pockets" of the company.

6. This means that any delivery made will most asuredly contain a "negative" aspect. by this I mean is any background check made for these "delivery persons", MVRs done, ticket history including OWI/DWI, felony checks, sex offender checks, etc.

7. This may be a case of an independant contractor where the "delivery person" assumes ALL responcibility. This would depend on how WM structures these "deliveries" and how that structure meets the IRS's criteria for independant contractors.

That is all I can think of at the moment.

[HYHYBT]

I think a lot of people would go for this deal. Specifically, burglars. Deliver as you're supposed to, so there's no reason for suspicion, then come back a month later and clean out the great new stuff you know they have.

[Mytical]

Or, you know... "I delivered the item. What do you mean they claim it was not delivered? That's weird. See I have a signature right here...yes it looks like chicken scratches and is not legible, but I thought that was how they wrote."

(Ie never actually deliver the item, keep it, and swear it has been delivered. It is a case of 'My word against theirs')

[Duelist925]

I think a lot of people would go for this deal. Specifically, burglars. Deliver as you're supposed to, so there's no reason for suspicion, then come back a month later and clean out the great new stuff you know they have.

My first thought was "if this gets off the ground, the rate of robberies is going to sky rocket"

[Rapscallion]

Hmm, who pays for damages in transit?

Who collects the goods in the case of returns? Same person?

Rapscallion