Why can't Amazon do a visual over 18 check for alcohol deliveries?

[Houseplanter]

I do realise it isn't the drivers fault I have to hunt for ID but it's so annoying and I won't order alcohol again from them but I'm in my 60s!

If supermarkets can do a visual check does anyone know why Amazon can't?

It's because Amazon don't trust their drivers, but it is infuriating.
I find the easy way to deal with it is to take the parcel from the driver, say 'thank you' and then close the door. It infuriates them for a while until they realise that the solution is to make up a date to put in their device and then off they go.
No need to cooperate with nonsense.

I imagine it’s to force the drivers to actually do their jobs and deliver it to the right (legal adult) person. Our Amazon driver seems to leave most of our parcels shoved in the neighbours hedge on the main road because they don’t want to actually drive down the lane to our house. There have been a few I only discovered about 6 months after they were ordered (and marked as never received, refunded) because they were just in a random hedge down the road, not even a hedge on our property. 🤷🏻‍♀️

The latest one clung to the parcel and wouldn't let go til I had actually shown him photo ID.. a date of birth wasn't sufficient.

Tbh I'd have told him to take it away if it hadn't been a present and I'd have been sure of a refund

Here they just ask for year of birth, I've never had to hand them ID. I'm only in my 40s.

In fairness they do tell you this when you order, I usually pop my drivers licence by the door when i know alcohol is being delivered. Although my driver recently only asked for year of birth. I think as soon as I said "19" he had left 😆

That's just rude.

I'm in my 60s but just have my driving licence ready for age related sales, last time though driver just wanted year of birth.

They can and do. Was just asked for me year of birth this morning.

Well that’s the law. Don’t order booze if you don’t want to show ID.

if you can’t be faffed, go to the shops, but going after a poor Amazon driver who is paid a pittance because you are so lazy that you can’t even bother to go pick up an ID when they come to deliver goods at your door, it’s baffling.

Delivery drivers are not the nicest people, they don’t always do their jobs correctly, it’s not because they re sadists, it’s because their working conditions/pay are truly horrendous. And this whole exploitative economy exists only for your comfort.

So, for the privilege of letting people be exploited so you can get your booze via Prime in your pjs, have to grace at least to get your ID ready by the door without feeling your human rights have been breached and without making a fuss on MN.

As for slamming the door on a delivery driver who’s trying to take the picture they need to get paid, that’s vicious, really.

@nfkl where did I berate the driver? I actually acknowledged it wasn't his fault.

I was asking if anyone knew why Amazon had that policy.

Perhaps we should all stop ordering everything from Amazon and then the poor drivers won't have a job at all. Would that make you happier.

Your assumptions are a lot ruder than my conversation with the Amazon driver.

I've never had an Amazon driver ask me for ID when buying alcohol (or a bread knife). It's possibly my harried face when I answer the door and try to stop my nosy children from letting the dog out.

@Houseplanter - I don't think that was aimed at you. The post immediately below your OP, the poster described snatching the parcel out of the driver's hands and slamming the door on them so that they couldn't complete the delivery process.

This would result in them potentially not being paid for the delivery.

Good grief, it's hard enough being an amazon driver without that degree of unreasonableness from customers. The poor souls are just trying to do their job - under a lot of time pressure too.

I guess the reason for the tougher checks is that staff instore are observed and directly supervised, making it easier for the shop to be able to demonstrate to regulatory authorities that necessary checks are made. Very different on people's doorsteps.

Maybe because the drivers don't need the aggression and rudeness from customers? I worked in a supermarket many years ago and the abuse and cheek I got from people when I asked for ID was appalling - I hope the drivers push back on this if Amazon ever try and force them to do so. My son worked as an Amazon driver for a little while after he left university and it's tough enough as it is.

I think i would contact Amazon as they have not followed the training. If they can visibly assess that you are over the age of 25 they can just enter your year of birth, it's only under 25 they need to see ID and enter full DOB

Pretty sure they are only supposed to ask you your date of birth for their records, they dont have to check ID. But I imagine that some of them have the wrong end of the stick and thik they have to check everybodies ID.

Thankfully I have never been asked for ID because I dont have any!😄
I was asked my date of birth once though. I ordered some xmas presents and the package got split up. The driver handed me the alcohol without question and came back the next day and asked for my date of birth for the paperback book!!LOL😂

@ilovedogsme thank you that's helpful. If I should be asked again I will point this out to the driver.

I have no objection to giving a date of birth.

It's their job at risk - and they shouldn't physically hand over or put the parcel down until they have done ID check.

If they don't do the check it is instant dismissal, your DOB is on your amazon account and can be checked.

It's not just alcohol that needs age verification, they sell vapes, over 18 films and computer games,,,,,,, and kitchen utensils, as in knives and other sharp objects that could be used as a weapon if some little idiot deems it necessary.

But if you are visibly above 25yrs old they only need to ask your year of birth.

Obviously they need to ask for yours, you being a child - or is that just the way you act?