Is Amazon’s new car delivery service a security issue?
Apr 25, 2018, 2:12 PM
(AP)
It seems like every other week Amazon is finding new ways to deliver packages. They’ve delivered to designed lockers, inside homes, and recently began testing drone delivery. Simply dropping off a package is just too old-fashioned for nation’s biggest online retailer.
Now Amazon is offering to leave packages in your car, when it’s parked, not when it’s moving, obviously. The car delivery is currently available for free in 37 cities to Prime members who own 2015 or newer General Motors or Volvo vehicles.
As is usually the case, security issues remain a concern. “Yesterday, when I was in the arboretum and there was no toilet paper, I would have enjoyed Amazon coming to the toilet stall and delivering some toilet paper,” joked KIRO Radio’s Don O’Neill.
“But other than that… it sounds like a horrible idea because we have so many people breaking into our cars.”
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The way it works is this: Users download the Amazon Key App and synch it to their vehicle and a nearby address. This must include an accessible area, like a driveway, in front of an apartment building, or in a workplace parking lot. Amazon drivers can’t deliver to hard-to-reach spaces, like private parking garages or an aircraft carrier.
On delivery day, the app confirms that your car’s location is reachable, and then the driver pops open your car and leaves the package in the trunk or somewhere out of sight. Needless to mention, this only applies to items than can fit in your car. No mattresses. Pillows are fine.
Amazon negotiates line between convenience and security
Since Amazon packages are a hot item among thieves, placing them in vehicles could exacerbate the issue.
“Amazon’s in this weird spot, where they prize their customer service so much that they’re writing stuff off when it gets stolen,” said KIRO Radio’s Don Upshaw. “They’re trying to come up with different solutions here… I guess if it’s at your office and there’s security, that seems fine to me.”
Don sees this as a new avenue for car prowlers. “Won’t there be people following delivery drivers around waiting for them to drop these things off and then break in?” he wondered.
Still, with all the talk of security, Don isn’t entirely buying all the reports of package theft. “I think people lie to Amazon all the time. I was thinking about lying to them the other day,” said Don.
He recently ordered a Shark vacuum that has a short in it.
“The stuff that you’ve got to do to return a $99 vacuum is re-goddamn-diculous. It’s so much easier to call them and say, ‘The vacuum just disappeared from my porch.’ I don’t know what my therapist would say about that.”
Ron wasn’t even buying Don’s story.
“Here’s the most likely scenario that happened: that Shark vacuum needed some assembly required, and then you assembled it.”
“That’s probably true.”