Walmart asking employees to deliver packages on way home from work

[Jimbuna]

If financial renumeration hadn't of been involved I would have said this could be the thin end of a very thick wedge.

[Mike Abberton]

Wait until the first employee gets in an accident on the way to deliver a package (or God forbid attacked by the recipient) and files a workers compensation claim. They might rethink using unscreened, untrained employees to perform deliveries.

Mike

[Gargamel]

There's nothing new or controversial about this idea.

First off, a lot of the major carriers (Fedex, UPS, etc) sub contract in some areas to private citizens using personal vehicles. As long as walmart is entering into the correct legal agreements with the employees, and they are not being forced to do this, then this is no different than that.

This is not the first major supplier to do this either. I used to order from McMaster Carr a lot, a major industrial supplier. Their catalog is many many times larger than walmarts. I happen to live about 20 minutes from one of their four national distribution centers, so this is unique to my area, but I could order something as late as 2pm and have it hand delivered to my work or house by 4-5pm. Apparently they have employees that volunteer (for extra pay) to deliver stuff on their way home.

It's a great boost to customer satisfaction, knowing there is a good chance to get something within a few hours, or the next day. And in my case, the guy delivering it might actually get to know what I/we are doing, and might be able to help customize our next order for our project.

[em2nought]

Originally Posted by Gargamel

And in my case, the guy delivering it might actually get to know what I/we are doing, and might be able to help customize our next order for our project.

...or he might case your joint.

I don't see anything wrong with it, employees should be thankful for a paycheck. As an owner I have to do little things on my way to and from work for my business every week. Businesses get a bad rap from one side of our government all the time. Who did more "good" for this country, Henry Ford or Obama?

...and they get paid overtime for it? Sign me up, I might make more than I do here. lol

[Mike Abberton]

Originally Posted by Gargamel

There's nothing new or controversial about this idea.

This is not the first major supplier to do this either. I used to order from McMaster Carr a lot, a major industrial supplier. Their catalog is many many times larger than walmarts. I happen to live about 20 minutes from one of their four national distribution centers, so this is unique to my area, but I could order something as late as 2pm and have it hand delivered to my work or house by 4-5pm. Apparently they have employees that volunteer (for extra pay) to deliver stuff on their way home.

It's a great boost to customer satisfaction, knowing there is a good chance to get something within a few hours, or the next day. And in my case, the guy delivering it might actually get to know what I/we are doing, and might be able to help customize our next order for our project.

I order from McMaster Carr as well. Local warehouse is in New Jersey, and just about anything I order before 4-5 pm is at my office the next day. Amazingly good service from MMC.

Mike