Anyone working Amazon in Fernley? UPDATE-First week of work completed and what a week of work is was! - RV-Dreams Community Forum

FOSJ · RV-Dreams Family Member

Anyone working Amazon in Fernley? UPDATE-First week of work completed and what a week of work is was!

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

RE: Anyone working Amazon in Fernley?

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

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Hina · RV-Dreams Family Member

RE: Anyone working Amazon in Fernley? UPDATE-First week of work completed and what a week of work is was!

FOSJ · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hi Jane,

I have to say that Steve and I may not be the best people to give advice on Amazon. You can read about our experience on our blog FOSJ. I will tell you that we are not afraid of hard work. You can read about that in the blog starting April 2012 when we were felling trees during our first workamping job in Mt Hood National Forest. That being said I will add that in the end it came down to me not being able to stand on my feet the required 10 hours a day (12 hours during peak if I had made it that far). I was miserable by the end of the day. My feet were killing me! I tried insoles, every pair of shoes I had and even bought an expensive pair of nurses shoes. Nothing helped. I feel that I might have made it if I'd been given the picking job which required walking. Our job as packers was standing pretty much in one spot. We requested a change but they wouldn't move us.

Lots of people do this job. We read many blogs about their experiences such as Wandering Wingers Wish Upon an RV Star! and RV Khronicles of Kevelyn Most people that take a job at Amazon talk about preparing for the job by getting out and walking. I thought about how you could prepare for the job we had or to even know if you could do it. The only thing I could come up with was to tell you to get up and stand from 7:00am until 5:00pm. You can walk thirty feet up and back. You can also bend, squat and reach during that time. Be sure to take a 15 minute break at 9 and 2:30 and a 30 minute lunch at noon. That includes the five minute walk to and from the break room. You can't talk to anyone while you're working because you are wearing earplugs to protect your ears from the very loud machinery. Remember, no sitting accept on break and during lunch!

I don't want to sound like a whiner. The job was just not for me. I have a whole new respect for people who work these type of jobs and have done so for 30 plus years! I'm glad for the experience.

As for now, Steve and I are volunteering for two months at Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Give me the outdoors anytime!

Good Luck!

Hina · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks for the input. Guess I'm glad the industrial revolution is over, and I don't work in China.

FOSJ · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thoughts of China crossed my mind while working at Amazon!

K & E · RV-Dreams Family Member

I saw reference to us above so I thought I'd chime in. We have worked at Amazon in Coffeyville, Kansas for two years. The first year we were packers. Although we did survive it, I just barely made it. Standing in one spot for 10 or more hours in a noisy, dirty environment was awful. I'd never do the packing job again!! This year we were pickers. We walked an average of 6 to 8 miles per shift. Being on your feet for 10 hours is HARD, no matter how good of shape you are in. Some people can do it, some can't. Nothing to be ashamed of if you can't. We will continue to return for at least a few more years. There are not many places you can earn the amount of money we did in the time we did. It allows us to take the winter off. The trade-off is worth it for us. You can read more about our experiences on our blog rvkhroniclesofkevelyn.blogspot.com

Hope this helps. If you have any questions, leave a comment on the blog.

Edit by moderator: Activated link. Terry

-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Thursday 24th of January 2013 07:58:14 PM

Hina · RV-Dreams Family Member

So how much does Amazon pay?

Ckerr · RV-Dreams Family Member

I (Carol) worked with Kevin and Evelyn at Amazon in Coffeyville for the last 2 years. Johnny can't be on his feet for that long so he hasn't worked there. Like they said, being on your feet that long is tough no matter what you are doing!

We worked the night shift and the pay rate was $11/hour with time and half over 40 hours. There was also a $1 per hour bonus paid for each hour you worked if you stayed until your release date. The rate of pay is much better than your average workamping job and with all the standing/walking I lost a few pounds as well. Where else will you get paid to not eat for hours and walk miles??? lol

K & E · RV-Dreams Family Member

We were paid the same as Carol stated in her reply. We liked being pickers and moving around much better than standing in one spot. Other people preferred standing and not doing all the walking. We worked 9 weeks. With the overtime and bonus we earned about $8,500 net between the two of us during that time, plus our RV site was paid for by Amazon and the campground did not charge for electricity. I know the pay is somewhat different depending which site you work at. I also heard you have to pay for electricity as some of the other sites. The year before we worked 10 weeks and earned just under $10,000 between the two of us with a free RV site as well.

Once you start working the 50 hour shifts during peak season, you don't feel like doing much other than sleeping so you safe money by not doing much else :)

We also lost about 10 pounds each so where can you get paid to lose weight :)

Hina · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks for all the info!