Could Amazon Become Our New Postie?

Amazon delivery vehicle

Professor Joe Goldblatt

My feet were killing me after hours and hours of walking along Princes Street in search of a plain leather man bag. The bags I found cost too much money and none of them had a matching leather strap.

I finally went to the dark side and from my lap top computer searched Amazon. com for a male leather satchel. Within seconds I found the perfect bag at a cost of £7.00 plus delivery and the promise of an arrival the next morning. As I pressed “enter” my heart sunk because I knew I was contributing to the death of the high street and also ruining the environment. Ahhhh, but my feet felt much better!

The next morning at 8am my front door buzzer rang loudly and low and behold it was the friendly Amazon man delivering my new prized possession. It was genuine leather, including the important strap that had been impossible to find upon the high street in Edinburgh.

I soon began to notice, starting with the pandemic, a rapid increase in the number of Amazon delivery vans in my neighbourhood. I decided to conduct some independent research and began to interview Amazon drivers to learn more about their endless growth.

One driver told me that most of the Amazon vans used diesel fuel although more and more were electric. He also said there were thousands of Amazon vans based in depots in Bathgate and Dumfermline and so many were being added that the parking lots were continually expanding. He said that the typical delivery day is 8am to 10pm.

I was curious as to how the growth of modern Amazon compared with our ancient Royal Mail service. Interestingly, the Royal Mail has 90,000 employees in the United Kingdom and Amazon has 75,000 workers. I then began to wonder if one day perhaps Amazon may become a partner or the successor to the Royal Mail?

After all, both businesses provide essentially the same service of moving goods from A to Zed through a computerised delivery system. Each service still uses vehicles and increasingly those vehicles will most likely be battery operated. Therefore, could they perhaps work together or could Amazon with their for profit capitalistic heritage in America become the arch rival and later successor to His Majesty’s once all powerful postal delivery service?

If this were to happen, it will surely mean that the cost of delivery will rise due to the lack of competition and it may also mean that we will pay a premium for weekend deliveries. Regardless, I believe this is an evolution to look out for.

In the meantime, I have found on the high street a comfortable pair of walking shoes to ease the discomfort of my ageing feet as I stumble and bumble to local shops to collect my messages. I do this to support my local traders but also to serve as a steward of the natural environment. I would rather admire the trees and roses rather than see another Amazon van roll into my street. After all, it is bringing more that precious goods. It is bringing degradation to our natural enviroment. Therefore, I have chosen, more often than not, to suffer a few more corns and bunions in service to and respect for my travel upon spaceship earth.

However, there was that pair of red satin pajamas that I could not find anywhere in Edinburgh and they would bring me such nightly joy that for a moment I lost my way whilst deciding between a local trader and Amazon. If I am not careful, it might just happen again … and again!

Professor Joe Goldblatt is Emeritus Professor of Planned Events at Queen Margaret University. His views are his own. To learn more about his views visit www.joegoldblatt.scot