Pictures of cell phones hanging in trees first appeared on discussion forums of couriers working for Amazon. Some drivers have alerted Amazon to the unfair practices of their colleagues. In an internal correspondence online store, he wrote to the drivers that he would investigate the matter, but at the same time pointed out that he could not inform the couriers about the result of the investigation due to internal rules.
The core of the problem is that the online store assigns orders to couriers using Amazon Flex. The offer for the delivery of orders intended for fast delivery will be displayed only to those drivers whose mobile phone is located near the place of loading the goods.
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Cheating couriers therefore synchronize the cell phones they have with those in the trees. As a result, Amazon Flex determines that the relevant driver is directly in front of the dispensing point and will offer the immediate delivery order to him first. Only if he does not accept it, he will show it to other couriers, who can wait in the car, even just around the corner, describe the operation of the Bloomberg source system.
In addition, according to some couriers, mobile phones in the trees also function as a distribution point, which automatically accepts the offered orders and distributes them to several couriers conspired together, which contradicts Amazon’s internal rules.
In addition, the intermediary controlling the phone can distribute orders to couriers who would not otherwise meet the conditions of Amazon – they do not need a valid driver’s license or work permit. Intermediaries collect commissions for securing the contract.
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According to one of the couriers working for Amazon, the company quietly tolerates fraud. “Amazon knows about it, but it doesn’t do anything about it,” he lamented.
As described by the television station at the beginning of the year CNBC, couriers bypass the system even in the case of classic delivery routes of consignments from Amazon. They install applications on their phones that automatically accept any orders, while other drivers have to confirm them manually. This gives them a major advantage in a system where seconds decide to award a contract.
