Casper and Gillette, two cities in Wyoming, are now home to new Amazon facilities that promise faster package deliveries to customers living within a 60-mile radius. These centers are part of Amazon’s effort to improve delivery speed, although it’s unclear if more warehouses will open in other cities like Cheyenne or Jackson. Amazon’s decision to open new centers is based on customer demand and data.
Weather-related issues were not the main reason for these new centers, even though weather has caused delivery problems in the past, such as when 13,000 packages got delayed in Cheyenne one January. In those cases, the U.S. Postal Service had to step in to help handle the large number of packages.
In addition to new centers, Amazon is adding secure lockers and drop-off points for customers who might not be home or are concerned about package theft. These locations can be chosen during the order process.
Amazon’s “Flex” drivers, who operate independently much like Uber drivers, are responsible for delivering packages from the new centers. They use their own vehicles and are paid per route, covering their own costs like fuel and car maintenance. The delivery process is tracked through an app to ensure packages reach the right address.
Since the new centers opened, deliveries have significantly increased. On their first days, Casper and Gillette delivered a combined total of around 1,300 packages with just a few drivers, but now each center delivers around 4,000 packages per day, especially during peak holiday seasons.
However, some customers have had mixed experiences. In Gillette, some people complained about packages being delivered to the wrong address, while others had positive experiences. Similarly, in Casper, there have been reports of missing or mis-delivered packages. Some customers are frustrated with the new system, especially as the holiday season approaches.
One person in Cheyenne, John Ramer, expressed frustration over frequent delivery issues, particularly with UPS, and hopes Amazon will open a center in Cheyenne to improve deliveries in the area. Despite paying for Amazon Business Prime, Ramer has had problems with delayed deliveries, which has made it harder to rely on quick shipping.