Quote:
Originally Posted by tnkrdrvr
WJ,
You read my post correctly. It appears I did have a misconception of Amazon’s current usage of its air network. Not withstanding that, my guess is that they will do as you say and try to build a next day capability. It makes sense to do so after FEDEX declined their business and UPS has begun jacking up the rates of high volume shippers. Even so, the question Amazon execs will have to answer is do they want to build a network able to handle all of their own volume plus some outside volume or do they merely want to be able to handle most of their own volume and push the overages to UPS, USPS, etc. I suspect that they don’t see being a logistics integrator for other businesses as part of their long term strategy, but only time will tell. There is room in the US market for a third major player. If they do choose to go after this market they may decide the costs of building an in-house airline are preferable to the inherent inefficiencies of managing subcontractors.
Personally, I like where they are now: they do provide a lot of logistics and shipping to other businesses, and want to do more, but the key is they're focusing on business shippers and -- importantly -- on carrying stuff that Amazon boxes up and labels in its own facilities. That gives them knowledge of the contents (important for safety) as well as control over package size, space waste, proper labelling, addressing, etc., which are luxuries that FedEx and UPS don't have. If I were Amazon, I would shoot myself in the head before becoming an integrator that will carry anything that a member of the general public would bring to me, like FedEx, UPS and DHL do. Blecch. So much hassle, for so little return, even if the rates that the general public pays are higher. As an example, have you ever seen how much space in a box Walmart often wastes? Compare a typical Walmart-packed box to a typical Amazon-packed one. Amazon obsesses about size, shape, weight, composition of packaging; Walmart less so. What's the difference? Walmart's folks are packing boxes that will all be hauled away by others; they are incentivized differently than a shipper that is also a carrier.
Not to say they won't try being more of a carrier to the world, but I like the space they have carved out for themselves now.
I do think that they're never going to try to bring it all in-house. Just the lower-hanging fruit, although they are definitely moving up the tree. There are places in the US that it just makes more sense to serve through carriers that are already going there, given the volume they do or don't generate.
And remember, guys, this wasn't originally about saving money. It was about having control over their reputation and destiny. I think the senior folks at Amazon were horrified to realize the full extent to which they were entirely-dependent on others not to destroy their reputation for reliability and quality, when UPS screwed them one year by deciding not to deliver on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day after an operational meltdown, and sent their folks home. Amazon paid out a kazillion dollars to ****ed-off customers who didn't care that UPS screwed up; they blamed Amazon. This whole thing started because Amazon wanted control over at least a little of its destiny, and it has ramped up and up. If President Trump hadn't tried to screw Amazon at the behest of his real-estate buddies by trying to push up USPS rates, when USPS was the primary last-mile provider, I don't think Amazon would have forayed as heavily into last-mile itself. USPS was doing generally a very-good job, and appreciated the business. Try to say Amazon was taking unfair advantage of USPS? Okay, we'll do it ourselves instead. Sorry your revenue from us will now be cut dramatically. Really unfortunate for USPS and its employees.
On the discussion about whether they'd take the air ops in-house, I think that will only happen if the egos of certain folks in Seattle are able to persuade powers that be that they should be running an airline. It's not rational, but neither are most folks who want to start an airline. Presumably, smarter heads will prevail, because it's an insane idea. But assuredly there are folks Amazon hired along the way who are dying to have it have an in-house airline, regardless of whether it makes any sense, which it doesn't. ABX, ATI, Sun Country, Atlas and Southern are doing a good job, so the airline work is being left to airline professionals.
In other places, I have noted how the way Amazon structured this financially was smart. That is, they put the capital risk (a gargantuan commitment) on Amazon, through long-term dry lease contracts with no outs, and the operational performance risk on the carriers, who can readily be replaced in whole or part if they don't perform. This is the optimal and fairest placing of risk for both parties.