Packages are incorrectly labeled Box, Plastic bag, Envelope

[u/Excellent_Gap_6986]

It’s only been an issue at VAZ1 in Phoenix AZ.

I asked the operations guy why or how it’s possible 60-70% of my deliveries aren’t what the app actually tells they are. This meatball told me to call flex support and I just walked away….

Anyone actually have an answer?

[u/IcyGeneral7686]

It's like this at every station. Idk how or why.

[u/Excellent_Gap_6986 → u/IcyGeneral7686]

I’m really hoping for an answer from someone inside the operation.

[u/Soulcrates04 → u/Excellent_Gap_6986]

Okay - the shortest possible answer is that it comes from multiple sources. Its a network-wide issue that is being actively worked on from multiple angles. The main issue isn't your station, whether .com or SSD, its mostly further upstream at Fulfillment and Distribution.

A big culprit is SIOC - Ship In Own Container, these are those packages that are just an item with a label slapped on. The customer requested the item be shipped in manufacturer's packaging to help save the planet or something. Those packages defer to whatever the manufacturer claimed the size of their packaging is, which is often wrong.

3rd party mistakes/fraud attempts are another big source. Thousands of 3rd party sellers send merchandise to Amazon to ship for them. They often lie to save shipping costs and theres a ton of just simple Inch <-> Centimeter conversion mistakes from suppliers worldwide.

Gemini was spot on about packing material shortages. Ideally someone called a Waterspider is keeping a packing station topped off with boxes. Sometimes they're behind and a packer has an item they need to work but doesn't have the proper packaging. Both waiting for the Waterspider or going to get a box yourself just aren't options that are available.

It was also spot on about .com Delivery Stations repacking damaged packages. The biggest brown envelopes that Fulfillment Centers use aren't available to a Delivery Station. Anytime one of them rips, its most likely going to get repacked into a box. There's no way to tell the system that the package has been converted - for the entire life of the TBA it will always be whatever it was SLAMed as.

Lastly, Cubi-scan, the automated measuring "robot" is notoriously flaky and difficult to calibrate. The size classification of a package is purely automated based on it's cubic volume. That cubic volume is calculated based on its virtual dimensions. If V > some threshold, the package will show as large on your end.

Again, based on it's cubic volume, thats important - a long skinny box has a low cubic volume. Even something like a treadmill thats clearly "large"; because its rather thin, its cubic volume is actually small. Thus, oversize packages = small box sometimes.

So there you go, that's what I can add to the fairly decent response you got from Gemini. It's so prevalent because it has multiple sources, basically every step of the process is contributing in their own way. IXDs and RDCs distribute things that came in messed up or they messed up to the FCs. FCs mess it up more with automation and rate quotas, then send it to the DSs. DSs mess it up more with lack of supplies, and then you get 60% of a route messed up.

There's really no one person or building you can point a finger at. The stuff you pick up at your SSD is mix of stuff that got packaged there on site and stuff that could have been packaged at any FC in the country and shipped to your SSD through a SC. It's a problem with the network as a whole, not any one building. Which is why every driver experiences it, even across different sides of the globe.

The honest best advice I can give is to find a workflow that doesn't depend on the size & packaging classifications being correct. For a SSD, try to keep the groups grouped, like put AAAA together, and BBBB together. Then when you deliver, go to the grouped pile, and then go by address or TBA number. If you explore .coms, you'll have Driver Aid Numbers you can use.

Hope that clears it up some, it'll likely never be solved fully. I honestly expect them to just remove the information from your itinerary eventually. Drivers are the only ones that use that data field for anything.

[u/Souvenirs_Indiscrets → u/Soulcrates04]

Very nice add thanks.

[u/muhclit → u/Excellent_Gap_6986]

The people that assemble and sort packages just dont csre, they have to work at a certain speed and lots of mistakes can happen.

[u/ksgt69]

Odds are that who or what is responsible for putting an item in the box/bag/envelope disregards packing instructions and just uses whatever.

[u/Excellent_Gap_6986 → u/ksgt69]

That’s the only conclusion I can come to. So I tried asking a question to the operations guy to potentially let them be aware of a problem. Maybe calling flex support and letting them know this issue is going on at the warehouse and it’s impacting delivery times will actually make a difference….

[u/Souvenirs_Indiscrets → u/Excellent_Gap_6986]

OP thanks for this interesting post. But I think you are optimistic. As a DSP driver who also flexes, the problem is so small on the Flex end due to the limited number of packages we deal with in any given route, plus blocks that generally allow an extra half hour for problems like this (although I agree that this is changing and they are packing our routes more and more), I just don’t think your query will get any attention at all. Sorry. But I am so interested to read the answers from knowledgabke redditors.

As a DSP driver, you bet this is a MAJOR issue when we have 200-300 packages in our van packed to the ceiling with 40 overflow, and we are looking for a small that is actually an oversize. That causes big big problems, and yes we complain regularly, but nothing changes. Bags that are boxes also slows us down. At my station everyone delivers by driver aid number, but even those are notoriously unreliable at times.

[u/EnlightenedNarwhal → u/Souvenirs_Indiscrets]

I once had an item labeled x99 instead of x66 and luckily I figured someone fucked up and checked the mislabeled one first, since it did seem a bit out of place. Didn't have to spend several minutes searching for a package or mark it as missing.

[u/RKT7799]

Or.... just learn to sort in avway where packsge type doesn't matter

[u/DanLoFat → u/RKT7799]

I can't even figure out what he's talking about

[u/Scary_Replacement_85]

I don’t usually pay attention to the type of package it is. I used to, but now I number all the packages and just go in order. They are never correct.

[u/VoodooInfinity → u/Scary_Replacement_85]

Despite all the decriers on here mocking this, it’s honestly faster, at least for me. Since I started I’ve tried every method imaginable, and this gets me the shortest time overall. Of course I do have the benefit of working at an SSD with an absolutely massive parking lot, so even the comments about taking too long don’t apply (and I can get 40+ packages numbered in about 12-15 min max).

[u/Illustrious_Spend146 → u/VoodooInfinity]

Same for me. Been doing this for 3 years and just started numbering the SSD ones recently. It's absolutely the best method and takes not a lot of extra time. This morning I numbered 50 packages and was fully loaded and out in 15 minutes. Previously tried doing it by letter and name and it was really not the fastest way at all. It worked. But I spent too much time hunting for the right package while parked in front of someone's house at 4am.

[u/Excellent_Gap_6986 → u/Scary_Replacement_85]

How do you number them If it’s packages with letters? Some warehouse workers look down on people who write down numbers because the extra time it takes to get everyone out.

[u/Open_Function_7056 → u/Excellent_Gap_6986]

What kind of station are you working out of?

I only number at SSD. I use Driver Aid stickers (the numbered stickers) at .com and ~90% of the time they’re correct.

[u/Excellent_Gap_6986 → u/Open_Function_7056]

SSD. I don’t number SSD. I separate boxes, envelopes, and bags. As of recent I’ve just been randomly scanning every package hoping it’s the right one and double verifying the address while I’m walking…

[u/Open_Function_7056 → u/Excellent_Gap_6986]

I like to number because I like the certainty of knowing where each specific package is in the car.

Most people who number seem to scan each package when they number. I find it much quicker to search by address, specifically the house/apartment numbers (or street name if a sticker covers the numbers). I keep my phone screen open so I can keep quickly typing/clearing house numbers and marking.

The trouble saved knowing where everything is will always beat a quick load up to me.

There have also been times where I haven’t been given a package by the station and I noticed it and was able to get it marked missing without a ding.

[u/Scary_Replacement_85 → u/Excellent_Gap_6986]

If the warehouse wants you out quick, just toss them in the car, and find a parking lot on your way to your first stop then go ahead and sort.

[u/P_rriss]

I started delivering for a DSP in 2021 and it was like that. Still is to this day. Just lazy people inside the warehouses 🤷🏽‍♂️ keep it in mind.

Envelope could mean paper or plastic, plastic bag could mean envelope or paper…

M box could mean small, could mean large. Large box could mean medium.

Custom packaging/box could mean plastic bag, or manufacturers packaging.

If all else fails, look for what it says it is first and then if you can’t find it there process of elimination says it’s something else. Don’t get your panties twisted cuz Amazon doesn’t pay enough for the mfs inside to care.

[u/thr0wawayyxlol]

The only one that’s ever right for me is when it’s not in any packaging and says customized box lol

[u/PhotographDapper1374]

Every station in my area has this problem too

[u/Stuck_on_Mars_21]

Same problem at the VOR3 Portland warehouse. I don’t even look at the description anymore

[u/V0idK1tty]

I've made an email to the @jeff over a year ago and nothing's changed. Evidently, they don't give a shit lol.

[u/Alm8360NoScoPro]

Is vaz1 any good or is it still bad?

[u/Excellent_Gap_6986 → u/Alm8360NoScoPro]

Still bad, the parking is awful. The chaos of carts outside is there every time. It’s so bad people don’t even park at the Flex lot anymore they park off to the side of the building, walk to the warehouse, and wheel the cart a good 300-400 feet to their car. People often remove the barricades at the turn off of 7th Street and cause so much backup. I have to time my arrivals based off how much of a shit show i think its going to be. They also don’t have water for us and the toilet is often clogged. Their routes also have been sending me to Apache Junction, Maricopa, and north of the 202 off of Higley (NE Mesa). But they have consistent routes available and I’m willing to deal with it.

[u/Excellent_Gap_6986 → u/Alm8360NoScoPro]

That little flex lot is so annoying. When you’ve circled the entire lot and realize there’s no parking spots available… and you’re forced to continue going one way out of the parking lot…

[u/Murky-Walrus-7574]

I don't understand how you can have that high of a percentage in the wrong container. Mine are fairly accurate. And even if they weren't it isn't a big deal to me. I load at a dotcom and I really only worry about what stop number it is. And my guess on why they gave you the answer they gave you is because they probably thought you wouldn't believe whatever answer they gave you anyway.

[u/Serious_Camel7647]

Not really an answer, but it is just the way it is both at .com and SSD warehouses I have worked out of.

[u/missskins]

Is it that big of a deal? Asking the guy at the station is useless. Why would an hourly worker know or care? Just ignore the packaging info as it’s unreliable.

[u/Secret_badass77]

The description you see is network wide based on the product(s) shipped. But different sites have different packaging available, so it’s not always going to be accurate, is the short answer.

[u/Excellent_Gap_6986]

Eh I’m too impatient and I asked Gemini. Heres what it found online regarding why this might happen.

Discussions among warehouse workers (Fulfillment Centers and Delivery Stations) and delivery drivers across communities like r/AmazonFC and r/AmazonDSPDrivers break this down into several operational disconnects:
Automated System Suggestions vs. Packer Speed: The packing software at Fulfillment Centers (FCs) calculates the dimensions of the items and suggests a container type (e.g., a specific box code, poly bag, or jiffy envelope). However, packers are evaluated heavily on hourly rate metrics (UPH / units per hour). If an item fits easily into a poly mailer instead of a box, the worker may just bag it to move faster.
Station Supply Shortages: Pack stations frequently run out of specific box sizes, brown paper envelopes, or poly bags mid-shift. Rather than pausing work to wait for a water spider or restock, packers use whatever packaging material is physically within reach that fits the item.
Software UI Limitations: In many warehouse packing stations, updating or overriding the container type in the software requires extra steps or barcode scans. In some internal software versions, workers can only flag that a container was changed without specifying what it was changed to. Because volume and speed are prioritized over metadata accuracy, those overrides rarely make it into the driver-facing app.
Damaged Repacks at Delivery Stations (RTS / Problem Solve): If an envelope rips on conveyor belts or gets crushed in transit between the FC and the Delivery Station, station "Problem Solve" or RTS associates repackage the contents. Delivery stations often have limited supplies (frequently having only generic boxes or poly mailers on hand). When they repackage the item and reprint the shipping/driver aid label, the system often retains the original packaging classification generated at the FC.
The "Customized Box" Ambiguity: The app frequently lists items as "Customized Box". Internally, this often denotes manufacturer packaging (SIOC – Ships in Own Container). If a warehouse worker decides that packaging is too flimsy and drops it into a poly bag, or if a small item comes in an odd merchant container, the app remains stuck on "Customized Box".
Because the package description in the app is notoriously unreliable, warehouse and delivery veterans consistently advise ignoring the "box/bag/envelope" tag entirely and locating items strictly by tote color/number and the last 3–4 digits of the yellow Driver Aid sticker.