Anyone Headed to Amazon Fall 2011? - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Ckerr · RV-Dreams Family Member

Anyone Headed to Amazon Fall 2011?

janieD · RV-Dreams Family Member

John and I are headed to Coffeyville Kansas for Nov-Dec. We have friends from Wisconsin headed there too.

Ckerr · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hi Janie,

How was the process? Have you been there before?

Any info is appreciated.

NorCal Dan · RV-Dreams Family Member

You can read my 2009 Amazon.com review (Click Here)

If you have questions I would be happy to try and answer them for you...

Ckerr · RV-Dreams Family Member

I emailed Phil at Amazon based on the ad in WorkforRVers and received a very quick response. I believe Phil manages the Seasonal Kamper program at the Kentucky location but don't quote me on that. He in turn put me in touch with Paul at the Kansas location. I received a call from Paul within minutes of his receiving my contact info from Phil. I had to call him back as we were on the road and cell phone reception was sketchy. I talked to Paul yesterday afternoon and in less than 30 mins on the phone had an offer and was trying to figure out a start date. Minutes later I had an email with all the required paperwork and instruction.

Whatever problems they might've had last year when first taking over the process seem to have been worked out.

So, we're now trying to figure out which campground to stay at. I'm scheduled to start September 15th.

Looking forward to meeting other Amazon "elves!"

NorCal Dan · RV-Dreams Family Member

Th comments I read on the Big Chief CG across the street from Amazon ran about 50-50. Some people loved it, others hated it. In 2009 they said it was going to open, then the opening date slipped, then nobody talked about them anymore. They never even broke ground for the CG while we were there. So I not exactly sure where it is located, and if it's close enough to allow walking or biking to work. I'm sure it's on the other side of the road from Amazon and I don't think I would want to try walking across 4 lanes of traffic.

We ended up staying at the Elk City State Park and loved it.

janieD · RV-Dreams Family Member

Sorry, I didn't get back to you. Glad to see you you are figuring things out. We and our friends are going to be at the Big Chief campground that is right across the street from the facility. Should be close enough to walk to. It is not the best time of the year to be in Kansas so for the campground we decided on convenience over setting. Our objective is really to make some money so then we can go wherever we want the rest of the winter. Sounds like we may see you there. We won't be arriving until late October/early November.

sirwinston21 · RV-Dreams Family Member

We are going to Coffeeville and staying at Big Chief. I talked to Sharon the manager at Big Chief and many of the problems they had when they first opened have been addressed. Anyway we are scheduled to start on Oct.2 but we will pull in to the campground on Sept.27. Looking forward to meeting everyone.

-- Edited by sirwinston21 on Sunday 10th of July 2011 08:11:40 AM

K & E · RV-Dreams Family Member

We'll be at Amazon in Coffeyville, as well. We're not sure of our exact start date yet. Sometime around the middle of October. It depends on when Kevin's job in Wisconsin is finished. Looking forward to meeting everyone from the forum who will be working there. Hopefully, the work won't be too hard!

Ckerr · RV-Dreams Family Member

We've been calling campgrounds and everyone seems booked. Apparently there's a bunch of folks working a refinery project that are supposed to be done in early September. I hate wait lists in a situation like this. We're going to get on the list at both Big Chief and Buckeye and see what happens.

Sounds like we'll be there first so far. Looking forward to getting to know ya'll in Kansas!

I'm hoping the work is just hard enough to get me back in that wardrobe I seem to have outgrown by Christmas... LOL

janieD · RV-Dreams Family Member

Looking forward to meeting you all in Coffeyville. We will arrive either late October or early November.

K & E · RV-Dreams Family Member

I'm hoping the work is ten pounds worth of hard aww

NorCal Dan · RV-Dreams Family Member

K & E wrote:
I'm hoping the work is ten pounds worth of hard

Shouldn't be a problem, especially if you get there when it's still summer weather. Stay hydrated, it gets very warm in the warehouse. I think pickers get the most exercise walking many miles a day including up/down stairs. Until they learn all the warehouse locations they may do a few extra miles a day :)

Ckerr · RV-Dreams Family Member

Think I will find the ol' pedometer just to see how far I really walk per shift. I told Paul I'd rather have a job with more walking than standing but was flexible on shift. I've never worked a night shift before but think I'd rather go to bed at 4:30am than get up at 4:30am.

I'm assuming there's water available on the floor? The break/lunch schedule is the only thing that concerns me. I've never worked a job with such a regimented schedule.

NorCal Dan · RV-Dreams Family Member

Water is available in the breakroom, and you can carry water bottles with you. Nights is higher pay and cooler temps, but trying to sleep during the day...depends on how noisy the RV park is as dayshift gets up and going, then the park may be making repairs or cutting grass. I'm also wondering how close Big Chief is to the highway and all the noise from vehicles. Amazon is in an industrial area with lots of truck traffic and a small airport.

Hopefully Big Chief has a storm shelter designated for park residents. We had a few mean storms go through in 2009. One weird thing is thunderstorms...we could hear them coming for a long long time, they must have been 50 miles away, but 5 minutes after they pass you can't hear them anymore.

Ckerr · RV-Dreams Family Member

NorCal Dan wrote:
...One weird thing is thunderstorms...we could hear them coming for a long long time, they must have been 50 miles away, but 5 minutes after they pass you can't hear them anymore.

Having grown up in North Dakota (yes, that state that is currently looking for workers) I know exactly what you mean about the thunderstorms. They don't sneak up on you the way they do around here!

Still not sure where we will stay. Like the proximity of Big Chief, but have all the concerns you mention about noise. Leaning toward Buckeye if we can get in. Hear their wifi is much better and that would be good for Johnny while I'm working.

K & E · RV-Dreams Family Member

Kevin and I have both been hired as pickers for the day shift. We didn't think our backs could handle standing in one spot for so many hours. We routinely walk for exercise. I think we can handle the walking, but I'm sure we'll be exhausted by the end of the shift. I'll definitely be using my pedometer to see how much walking we actually do.

If you drink water to stay hydrated, are there bathrooms to use or are you only allowed to go to the bathroom at break time? I would think most people have to use the bathroom more than three times a day.

We'll be starting in mid-October. How will the weather be for fall? What about freezing weather in December? Did you wrap your hose to keep it from freezing? So many questions?

Those of you who have worked there before, would you/are you going back? Why or why not?

NorCal Dan · RV-Dreams Family Member

The pickers I knew all had 3 pairs of comfortable shoes so they could rotate. They liked to use the gel inserts to help cushion the feet, the floor is concrete, and you will also being doing stairs. Amazon does what is called "hardening", you can work a few half days to get your body in shape.

There are bathrooms and yes you can use them at times other than breaks. Pickers, because they walk to all parts of the warehouse, should be able to find a bathroom to use while they walk around the facility. Most of us just sweat the water out and didn't need to use the bathroom. wink

We started early September and it was definitely summer. We left just before Thanksgiving due to a medical issue but I was ready for winter weather. I bought a 2nd water hose and wrapped it with pipe insulation and heat tape with a builtin thermostat. I also fabricated a cover for the water spigot using a tall kitchen garbage can that I insulated with standard house insulation and added a 60W drop light for heat.

For the sewer hose I switched to using the macerator so I could stow it in the wet bay and just pull it out when I needed to dump. That eliminated that problem.

My bays are heated so I didn't need to worry about the holding tanks freezing. But if your tanks are exposed that would need to be addressed. There is a local farmer who will sell you bales of hay to put around your rig. He will also come back and pick up the bales when you leave. I didn't hear of anyone who had rodent or other problem from using the bales to insulate their rig.

The state park used freeze proof water spigots, but they only work if you turn off the water so they can drain. The ranger gave us suggestions for freeze proofing the connection that involved bales of hay and other such items. If you stay at the state park just ask the office for their suggestions on freeze proofing the water line.

We worked Coffeyville in 2009. At that time Amazon hired Express Employment to manage the entire workamper program for them in both KS. and KY. But in 2010 Amazon decided to try and run the program itself. So we decided to take a job for the winter on the Washington coast. This year we are in California remodeling our condo and have decided to spend the winter here. My DW will never work there again. She is not accustomed to factory type work, she's a retired realtor. I would go back if it was convienent for me.

Amazon does hire a few workampers for the Fernley NV. site. I checked into it and it sounds similar to the KS. and KY. programs except you pay utilities for your site.

bzffr8 · RV-Dreams Family Member

We will be going to the Campbellsville Ky center in mid Sept. Not sure what job yet. Looking forward to meeting any other Dreamers that will find their way to Kentucky. If I am smart I should start a conditioning program now to get as ready as I can. Maybe walk a gazillion miles a day :>)

jcrehan · RV-Dreams Community Member

Hi Carol and Johnny,

Have not seen you since you started work on Sunday. Just wanted to let you know that we enjoyed the eggplant. Thanks for a new veg recipe. Hope to see you on Thurs, Fri or Sat. We are in B 18.

Jacque and Jim Crehan

jcrehan · RV-Dreams Community Member

Hi,

We arrived on 16 Sept thinking we were going to start on 18th as that was the agreed upon date but Amazon's needs were for night time employees at that time. We opted to wait a week and start days- so we are starting on 25 Sept. There are about 30-40 rigs here and most of them have been working about 2-3 weeks and they are finally adjusting to the long hours. If you have not arrived yet, I do suggest that you start waling everyday as many miles as you can and to start doing squats to help build up the thigh muscles (of course, you may already be doing this). Most of the people we talk to enjoy what they are doing. The Recruiter, Paul, is really great to work with and if you need any particulars- just email me back.

Hope to see you here. We are in B 18.

Jacque and Jim Crehan

jcrehan · RV-Dreams Community Member

Hi,

We thought about doing the Campbellsville but heard it is nights only. Is this true?

Thanks,

Jacque and Jim Crehan

jcrehan · RV-Dreams Community Member

Don't know if anyone responded to your concerns or not. We are here in Big Chief now. We arrived on 16th Sept. The campground is not like a campgroun that you would spend the winter in or even the summer. They do have good ampage and the water pressure is great-the best that we have had in 10 yrs. The park is not noisy at this time but it also is not filled. Yes, there are some refinery people here and they seem to be really nice. The one couple that we met will be here for 7 weeks. There are no restroom facilities, laundry facilities or club house- in fact, there are no amenities.

The park is across the street from Amazon and it is only a 2 lane road. They have moved the highway to behind/in front of the park. You can walk or ride your bike as the only traffic down our way is 18 wheelers. The airport is quite as there are not many inbound or outbound aircraft. Everyone in the park is nice. You do have to respect your neighors or people in the park as there are two shifts so someone will be sleeping at various times within 24 hr period.

We start the day shift on 25 Sept but don't know what we will be doing. We put down that we wanted to be pickers but we will see.

Hope this helps. Please feel free to ask any questions- I am not an expert but can find out the info for you.

Jacque and Jim Crehan

Ckerr · RV-Dreams Family Member

Well, I survived my first week on night shift. Being a night person it's really not that bad for me. The shift starts at 5pm and goes till 3:30am. The biggest challenge for me has been the 30 minute lunch. Just takes getting used to. I'm in Crisplant. I have no idea what the name means, but here's the basics of what we do.

I have a movable workstation that runs along a series of chutes. When a light comes on at the end of the chute that means that all the items for an order are there. I move my workstation to the chute, scan the chute id and it comes up with the order. I make the size box it says to, scan each item as I load it in, add packing material and what Amazon calls a SP00 code to the outside of the box. That identifies the order for the next step. I tape the box closed and send it on its way on the lower conveyor belt. It goes to shipping from there where I guess they put the shipping label on it, weigh it, etc...

There's not as much walking as picking, but the pace is really fast already. I do find there's lots of reaching, bending and squatting as you move the items around.

Week 2 starts on Sunday.

jcrehan · RV-Dreams Community Member

Carol,

Can't believe you and Johnny are parked right across the street from us and we are all heading to Bruams for dinner. Lucky us.

Jacque

NorCal Dan · RV-Dreams Family Member

Ckerr, we worked crisplant in 2009...sounds like they changed things as we didn't add packing material, we just put the items in and folded the top down. I'm tall and I couldn't stand bending over to get the bottom chute. While we were there they started up a separate area for singles w/slam and I really liked that...stand in one place, and every item in the basket was an order. No bending, no walking except to get more boxes. And the scanner was table mounted so your hands were free. Have fun.

Ckerr · RV-Dreams Family Member

So far so good on the bending Dan. Not too much of a problem. And there's some walking which is easier for me than standing in one spot!

To date Big Chief has 2 perks as an RV Park:

1) It's right across the street from Amazon
2) Lots of great Amazon WorKampers staying here! Just came back from dinner with Jacque and Jim. Gloria and Mike are just down the way. So far those are the only RV Dreamers we've found here, but lots of other really nice folks.

Now to organize the pot luck!!!

janieD · RV-Dreams Family Member

Its been great to read these posts. We won't arrive until the last week of October. We will be staying at Big Chief as well. Didn't know they didn't have a laundry, have you found a good one in town? Looking forward to meeting everyone.

jcrehan · RV-Dreams Community Member

Janie, there are two luandrymats in town. It seems that most of the people here in the park that I know uses the one on the western part of town. Amazon is located on the eastern part of the town rather it is about 6 miles east of town. I have a washer/dryer in my coach, so I have never beem. I know that Carol will be going there today. I will ask her to post something on here about the laundrymat.

See you when you get here. We are in B18.

Jacqie

Ckerr · RV-Dreams Family Member

We did laundry today at the laundromat on the south(?) side of Coffeyville -- the one past Braum's. We weren't impressed. It's clean enough, but very busy and expensive. There were lots of washers taken with finished loads of clothes sitting in them and no one around to empty them while we waited. We had a fairly large amount of laundry as we hadn't done it in 2 weeks, but we still think almost $20 was expensive. The dryers took a long time to dry and a single washer was $2.50. A slightly larger front load was $3.50 and a triple loader was $4.50.

Next week we think we'll try the one in Independence. Or the other one in Coffeyville if we're in a rush.

Looking forward to seeing the new folks.

We're in A21.

K & E · RV-Dreams Family Member

Glad to hear the first week went well. Did you work a full 40 hour week right away, or did you do a 20 hour week to get used to it? What happens at the social they have on your first Sunday? Do you know what the day shift hours are?

Our start date is October 16th, so we'll be there soon. It would be nice if the campground had laundry.

jcrehan · RV-Dreams Community Member

We had our orientation today= they call it a social but they hit you with all the HR stuff. Paul is great and he is funny as you probably already know when working with him on the phone. The day hours could be 6-4:30 or 6:30 to 5PM. There are no laundry facilities in the campground but there are two in town. Most people go to the one on the west end of town. I have have w/d in my coach. We are both tired today but more mentally with information overload.

We are in B18- stop by when you get in. We work Sun-Wed from 6:30-5:00.

See you the middle of Oct. I suggest if you can get here a few days early if you have to pay the $20 per day for extra days. Just helps to get in relax and search out the area for your needs.

Jacque

sirwinston21 · RV-Dreams Family Member

We will be at Big Chief on Tuesday and we have orientation on the 2nd

jcrehan · RV-Dreams Community Member

Stop by B 18 after 6:30 and say hi. Safe travels

K & E · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks for the info. We'll be arriving on Friday, October 14th. See you then!

Ckerr · RV-Dreams Family Member

Word on the street is that the best place for laundry is Tidy Whitey (sp?) in Independence. It's about 15 miles away, but word is the Walmart is larger and it's the closest Walgreens if you need that.

We're in A21 -- I'm working nights Sunday through Wednesday, but Johnny is here. It's the Fuzion with with red slide ends and the white King Ranch F350 out front.

Glad we have the same days off Jacque! Maybe we can play golf before it gets cold!

K & E · RV-Dreams Family Member

I'm wondering what you wear. Do they have a dress code or anything like that? Also, has it been hot in the warehouse? I'm just full of questions :)

Ckerr · RV-Dreams Family Member

It's warm in the warehouse all the time. Shorts are allowed. The dress code says they must be mid thigh length, but from my observations that is not strictly enforced. No matter what job you have, make sure you have good shoes that you've broken in and are comfortable standing in for 10 hours. There's no sittin' jobs at Amazon.

Oh, and the 20 hour hardening off weeks seem to be a thing of the past... no one has mentioned them since I've been here and it wasn't presented as an option.

Looking forward to meeting ya'll!

jcrehan · RV-Dreams Community Member

Glad I am able to share with you what I know. You can wear anything you want as long as it has no holes, political, religious, or obscene information, and no t-straps. Most people wear shirts and jeans or shorts. Don't plan on wearing anything good as you do get dirty. Get good walking shoes as you are on your feet all of your shift. There is a lot of standing in one place in several of the job positions. A lot of repetitive work.

Jacque

GiniaJ · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hubby begins work at Fernley (NV) next Sunday (Orientation) and we are staying at Sparks Marina RV park. Anyone else going there?

janieD · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks to all of you already working for giving us all this helpful info to get ready. Looking forward to meeting all the Coffeyville people.

becks · RV-Dreams Community Member

Just want to say thank you also to all who have shared info. Nice having some idea what to expect when arriving. We plan to be there Friday the 30th for a Oct 2nd start. Looking forward to meeting everyone soon.

Gary and Dar

jcrehan · RV-Dreams Community Member

We are in B 18- stop by and say hello. We are probably playing golf Fri morning but should be back by 4 or 5 PM. See you then. If you need anything, let me know.

becks · RV-Dreams Community Member

Jacque and Jim, thanks for the invite. We won't have far to go as we will be in B-17. See you after golf.

jcrehan · RV-Dreams Community Member

Welcome. We look forward to meeting you. What is your first names?

becks · RV-Dreams Community Member

jcrehan wrote:
Welcome. We look forward to meeting you. What is your first names?

Gary and Darlene

jcrehan · RV-Dreams Community Member

Travel safe.

K & E · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks for the helpful information. We look forward to meeting all of you soon!

Ckerr · RV-Dreams Family Member

We're thinking it's time for a fire this evening. Join us in A21 sometime later. Bring a chair and your favorite beverage. Johnny thought he'd put the tv outside with college football on if anyone is concerned about missing the game!

becks · RV-Dreams Community Member

Carol, thats more good news. We did'nt think fires were allowed at the Chief. Wish we were already there. Hope to see you all Friday.