USPS Braces for New Amazon Delivery Hub in East Wenatchee

All things being equal, East Wenatchee will soon be home to a sprawling Amazon delivery hub.

In March, KPQ reported on a transaction between the e-commerce giant and a private landowner. This parcel of land, nestled in Batterman Industrial Park just north of Pangborn Airport, will house the 45,000-square foot delivery hub, which ostensibly opens this year; we're awaiting specifics from the Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority.

What are the ramifications for postal workers and customers? That remains an open question. But Wenatchee Local APWU president Ryan Harris objects to certain realities, or perceived realities, of the Amazon-Postal Service relationship.

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"From our standpoint, we actually lose money on a lot of Amazon packages," Harris says. "They set up a national contract, saying, 'Oh, we're already going to that house to deliver.' The problem is, carriers have to go out there two or three times. When they were drawing up the contract, they didn't figure in the factor of having to drive from one side of town to the other, which adds a couple of hours of commuting time."

By the same token, Amazon's distribution network does apparently take some of the heat off.

"They'll drop off maybe 10, 15 pallets in the morning," Harris says. "The post office always pushes Amazon as the primary to get out. They tell the people to leave some of the local stuff behind and push the Amazon to make sure the Amazon packages get out first. But we can't control how management chooses to do things."

Steve Kelly of Amazon PR disputes this characterization.

"Amazon packages are not prioritized by the USPS," Kelly writes via email. "Moreover, the USPS approves our forecasts and they’re are shared weekly for visibility. We also adjust volume when needed in partnership with the USPS."

"We are planning to open a last-mile facility in East Wenatchee. A lot of work is going into getting the facility operational and we look forward to sharing more soon.”

USPS spokesperson Kim Frum echoes that sentiment, writing, "The Postal Service’s agreement with Amazon continues to add value and convenience for our customers. The Postal Service is committed to meeting the evolving needs of our customers and exceeding consumer expectations."

"The Postal Service does not prioritize the delivery of packages from Amazon or other customers. As one of the largest delivery networks in the United States, USPS plays a crucial role in facilitating e-commerce and supporting businesses of all sizes. Our partnership allows us to leverage our extensive infrastructure and dedicated workforce to ensure that millions of packages reach their destinations efficiently and effectively."