Extended Amazon Prime Delivery Times Frustrate Bryan-College Station Customers
BRAZOS COUNTY, Texas – Amazon Prime customers in Bryan-College Station are expressing their disappointment over prolonged delivery times. Scores of Amazon Prime customers in this region are currently voicing their discomfort over Amazon’s delayed shipping, quoting examples of delivery estimates spanning five to ten days for items that could be delivered in neighboring towns just within two days.
The bulk of these complaints spiked sometime around summer, after subsiding from an initial outcry in January 2023 when local media conducted several interviews to highlight long delivery estimates.
Amazon Points at Third-party Delivery Services as a Possible Root Cause
Amazon suggests that the fault must not be hastily blamed on them; it implies that third-party delivery services, especially the United States Postal Service (USPS), are potentially behind these delays. Sam Stephenson, a spokesperson from Amazon, said in a recent statement, “like many communities across the country, delivery services in College Station and Bryan are provided by third-party partners, including the United States Postal Service. We’re aware of some issues locally with delivery speeds and are working with our partners to address them. We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused.”
Local Customers Express Displeasure and Concerns
Local customers, however, are far from placated by Amazon’s response. Matthew Marchetti, a Bryan resident, questioned the value of his Amazon Prime subscription, “Why am I paying Amazon $15 a month when you just have to go to the store anyway?” Marchetti, who is expecting a baby with his wife, highlights the inconvenience of the delay with a personal example. He ordered a maternity band for his pregnant wife on Amazon, only to receive a delivery estimate of 10 days.
And he’s not alone in his frustrations. Jay Boney shared a story about potty training his son. They wanted to use a chart, much like they did for their older child. The delay in shipping robbed them of the ability to track progress and celebrate milestones along the way.
The Demand for a Local Amazon Fulfillment Center
Both Marchetti and Boney assert that the persistent problem of slow delivery times should prompt Amazon to establish a fulfillment center in the area, given the significant growth of this region and their central location between Houston, Austin, and Dallas. “We’re a big region. College Station has a deal with Amazon, and we’re not that far from the Houston warehouse. Why does it take half a month for us to get our packages?” Marchetti asked.
USPS Delivery Concerns
The USPS has also drawn flak from residents in the past year due to its long delivery times. Local legislators have been actively seeking to improve the conditions at the USPS processing facilities in Houston, which affect delivery times to Brazos Valley communities.