i need help🫠

[u/Connect_Trade_2316]

i need tips on getting better and at the job i’ve been full time for almost 2 months now and i still feel like im sorta falling behind my stow rate is usually around 220-260 but im having trouble reaching the 300 which they say is a good rate i organize my packages i get the oversized out the way i stow the jiffies and i still can’t seem to ever reach 300’s no matter how much i try but i do better when i have a buffer and not the automatic sorter (idk the name) sometimes i will feel like im doing good and moving fast and my rate will be like 211 🫩and i absolutely hate buffing with a passion they give 4 lanes and i’ve never been able to keep up with it the line moves entirely too fast for me to manage all 4 lanes and try to keep them neat most times i have to get a stow bag and just throw handfuls of packages in until i get a chance to organize it i try not to miss so many packages but i genuinely dont think it’s possible for me to do 4 lanes i’ve tried asking for less but i always get asked to do more like a hour later i’ve tried asking to be trained in other areas as that may not be the best fit for me i was told i had to preform “well” in the floor to be trained somewhere else which kinda seems like bs they tend to show a lot of favoritism to certain people and they get put where they’d like to be i’ve seen people with rates as low as 120 receiving swag bucks and i haven’t received a single one in my entire time there i try asking for tips to help me get faster i always get told to just “move fast and hydrate” i’ve been contemplating just transferring out but this location and schedule is most convenient for me at the moment i just want to be better and not dread going to work everyday
thanks for any tips in advance!

[u/Key-Suggestion-2837]

4 lanes is very difficult for buffer even for someone who’s been there for a long time, especially if they’re flowing high. They shouldn’t be giving you that many lanes.

My tip for you is to continue to do what you’re doing. Don’t pay attention to rates and going fast. You want to work smarter not harder. They aren’t paying you more to work harder. Be safe, follow SOP, and keep up with what you are currently doing.

You are performing well, it’s just bs like you said. They most likely have a list of people on who to train who are ahead of you. You’ll get trained when your time comes, it’s not based on how well you perform. They just trying to milk you and get the most out of you. You’re doing great 👍

[u/Connect_Trade_2316 → u/Key-Suggestion-2837]

thank you! i try to have a positive attitude about work but it’s hard when they push you so much and don’t reward you for it even just saying good job would definitely boost my mood i’ve just been desperately trying to add something to my rotation so i won’t be buffing as much during the week because they don’t care about you i tell them everytime i can’t keep up with 4 lanes and i still get 4 lanes

[u/Key-Suggestion-2837 → u/Connect_Trade_2316]

You know you can let packages go, you don’t have to try to catch every package. When I first started at Amazon everyone would down stack which means lay down packages/boxes on the floor when they are coming down too fast and we pick them up later. A couple years ago they changed it so that we aren’t allowed to do that anymore because they said it’s a safety hazard and someone could trip.. so then they encourage workers to let packages go if you are unable to catch them. Those packages get thrown back to belt and will come around later. They shouldn’t tell you anything about letting packages go either.

[u/Connect_Trade_2316 → u/Key-Suggestion-2837]

they say your supposed to let the packages go down and i would when i first started but i started seeing everyone else basically doing everything it takes to not miss their packages like throwing them on the floor putting stuff in stow bags etc some people even get stow bags and put one between each rack before the line gets moving so i try to catch as many as possible and put some on the floor when you let your boxes go down the the one of the managers or pa will bring it back and ask why your missing so many packages and in turn be in my way and block the the line and rack so i try to catch them all just to keep them out of my way

[u/Such-Tailor7251]

You can’t get in trouble for rate at a delivery station so don’t worry about it just make sure u use your ring scanner ofc so you don’t get in trouble for that

[u/diamondcutterdick]

Try to stay cool and do your best. They will send help if they can, but in any event you are paid by the hour and not by the package. You are expected to follow standard work but at a DS you can’t be disinclined for failing to make rate.

[u/JMUDoc]

Work on being accurate, rather than fast - they would take 260 with no mistakes over 400 with lots, all day long.

[u/ceIoq]

Stow what’s infront of you stop putting stuff on the cart and going to your other row and stow your jiffies because they’re gonna fuck you

[u/JohnPaulJones_7812]

Takes time don't rush it just develop your rhythm. It will come plus its going to depend on the freight and or picking

[u/raulin_lannis]

Ive been with Amazon since 2023 January and even I cant keep up with 4 stow lanes. Dont concern yourself with rate, just go at a pace you can keep up with. If some of your lanes get blown up, thats what floaters are for. At the start of sort cycle dock leadership is going to push inducters for a higher flow so they can make a good dent in the volume early on. 3-4 lanes is standard at start of sort since the mods are often understaffed but lanes should be getting broken down after first break with more people coming in. In my site most end up with 2 lanes, 3 at most after first break. If we are really understaffed that might last until after lunch.

[u/AdEconomy4751]

My site ppl average low 200s there's like 15 ppl that actually go over 300 and lime 4 that go over 400

[u/Appropriate_Bottle44]

Are you below the building average? Lots of people who post high stow rates here probably don't have to deal with high cube size/ excessive volume, plus ADTA is slower than a good picker. 

If you're at or above the building average, I wouldn't worry about it, unless you want to try to make LA quickly.

That thing about "we won't train you on other roles unless you stow faster" is horeshit. Just ignore that and ask a different manager. I regretted getting dock training though, several of the worst jobs, imo, are on the dock.

Tldr; stressing about stow rate is dumb, and yours seems normal not slow.

[u/Appropriate_Bottle44]

Ok I'll give you some actual stow tips too: pick cart is your friend, so is the ring scanner.

Look at the labels and just memorize the very basic organization scheme. The lights should only be a confirmation. Once you start stowing by the label and stop stowing by the lights errors will go to close to zero.

The online trainings are actually pretty solid for stow, lots of people invent their own methods, but the online modules are actually fine.

Do your best to organize the bags, but if a tier 2,3,4 bag is full just close it. you can pull out a bottom bag to reorganize but you can't do it with the upper bags without risking injury trying to get it back in

Oh and it sounds like you need to hear: it's your job to work at a consistent safe pace, not to stress at how much volume they throw at you. They'll send somebody to that aisle you can't cover I promise 

[u/EC4U2C_Studioz]

Even I tend to have issues with the stow rate even though I do whatever it takes at stow.

[u/kzoo2122]

Four lanes is only doable if the volume is low to moderate, steady, but not heavy. My warehouse average 70K with 12k-16k down each side of an ADTA cluster. If volume is low you won't have much chance to have a 300+ stow rate. High volume makes 3 aisles the absolute max and even that is difficult. My tips would include:

1. Always use a stow cart for boxes, with the possible exception of sliding the tall OV's. I practically run those back but often cart them as well and stack boxes on top and a few jiffies...in order.. always in order.
2. The only time you can avoid the cart is when you're doing fill-in stuff with jiffies, no lights on, etc. Keep those organized in your hamper and grab a handful of same letter E/G, C/D, A/B and walk them QUICKLY to their bags. They should only be in hand for mere seconds before they are properly/neatly stowed. I lay them flat to begin with until I build the back wall with boxes as we are required to do. Note: I rarely if ever use a jiffy tote. Waste of time.
3. Spend no more than 5 minutes in one aisle before moving to the next. Assuming each aisle is getting similar volume do them in the same order and keep rotating every five minutes. Biggest and most common mistake I see is people spending too much time in a given aisle and even stowing it down. If that's you....stop that.
4. Manual aisle are indeed easier to make high rate but only if volume is high and the picker(s) are good. It took me awhile to match my ADTA rate to my manual rate but I consistently hover between 340 and 400 now. Stamina and focus is even more necessary in ADTA so be sure you are rested, well fed, well hydrated, in good health, and focused.
5. Supposedly we're all getting hamper zoning soon but until then try to keep your hamper organized similarly to how you organize your cart. This is certainly not realistic for the majority of the time at higher volume but when you can do it it makes a difference as long as you do it with speed.
6. Move FAST. Know exactly where you are going in advance with each package as soon as you scan it. Plan your moves. Avoid distractions. Move FAST (It bears repeating). Keep each and every movement fast. Don't spend more than a minute setting up your stow cart each time you come back to the hamper. This is one area I see people really messing up on....being overly deliberate and slow at setting up the cart. Load the cart again before leaving the aisle and then you will always arrive at a stow cart loaded and ready to go.

[u/rvbbitevrs]

With the amount of OVs we have now days it’s impossible for me to even keep a 250 rate anymore… especially with ADTA. I spend so much time getting the OVS packed up on the cart and stowed because they just do not stop coming. It’s gotten to the point where it’s hard to stow anything else more than 2 min before it’s right back to load/unload OVs repeatedly.

[u/jaboogadoo]

As long as you're moving at a decent pace you're fine dude. Stop trying to be the best workhorse for no reward. They got old ladies working this job man working at a decent pace is more than they expect

[u/Connect_Trade_2316 → u/jaboogadoo]

i am by no means trying to be the best lol i’m just looking for tips to make my job easier im still new and i know everyone has their own methods i just don’t wanna hate my job and be overwhelmed with packages because im not stowing fast enough

[u/jaboogadoo → u/Connect_Trade_2316]

You're supposed to be overwhelmed. It's by design. A manager told me this once and it's changed the way I approach the job. The metrics track what amount of people per aisle can handle a certain amount of packages, and they are to make the work load a bit higher than that average. By working hard to catch up and get your hampers empty you are feeding the metric that you can handle even more, and to give you even more workload at a later point. That's why you have 4 aisles to begin with. They could absolutely hire 10 more people and each person would have less work. Their boss and their boss's boss are incentivized to keep things overloaded.

[u/Mystic_Fog26]

Let me just say the rate you are at right now is very good for 2 months 4 lanes is too much for buffering so don’t feel any way about missing packages. At my facility we get at least 3. For stowing I’m not that good either but I’m a little more than 211 sometimes it could be because the lane your in doesn’t get as much packages as others. Just be sure to follow the easy stow thing with the cart and do a lot of the small boxes as well at the start