EVERETT — If you can’t get your name on a Hollywood star, how about an Amazon locker?
They’re big, bright yellow, and here’s the kicker — the online retail giant names nearly every one: Tara, Eddie, Brett, Chuck, Andrea, Robert, well, you get the idea.
Seattle-based Amazon has so far rolled out lockers in more than 900 cities and towns across the U.S. at grocery stores, gas stations, malls and other locations — although GeekWire says there are 2,800 across the globe and some are bright blue.
(Paved paradise and put up a package locker?)
Local merchants, who can apply online to have one of the self-serve bins installed, say the lockers are helping drive traffic and boost sales.
“People come in and pick up a package or make a return and they want something to snack on — delivery drivers, too,” said Chris Gholson, assistant manager of a Chevron gas station and convenience store at 4101 Rucker Ave. in Everett.
The station receives a small, monthly stipend from Amazon — “about $50” — to host Amazon Locker King, which has about 40 drawers,Gholson said.
But the real payoff is the spike in the number of folks stopping by, he said.
Amazon says that christening its lockers makes it easier for customers and package delivery drivers to locate them.
First names are popular, but animals, minerals, vegetables and the special theory of relativity are also fair game. (Amazon Locker Emc2 in Los Angeles. )
Call me Ishmael? Boston. Amazon Locker Grandmother? Atlanta.
Does adding a name help with navigation?
“We’re given all the addresses and information to find them,” said Logan Hutton, a delivery driver who was piling packages into a non-Amazon locker at an Everett apartment building.
“But, yeah, the names are pretty cute,” Hutton said.
The local roll call includes Cowbell, Sparky, Seaweed, Zeus, Nimble and Pascaline (after the 17th century calculator by French mathematician Blaise Pascal )
You’ll find Crableg in Edmonds, Seaweed in Everett, and Kraken, the giant cephalopod, lurking in Bothell.
Farther afield, Spokane boasts Amazon Locker Nettie, Nandan, Corella and Whale. Wait — why does the Inland Empire get Whale? Maybe for the same reason that Amazon Locker Orca is in landlocked St. Paul, Minnesota, Seahorse is in Colorado Springs and Tugboat docks in Las Vegas.
To find who’s who, check the top, right hand bin and you should see something like: “Hello, my name is Iggy (Mountlake Terrace) or Hello my name is Giddy Lynnwood).
King
Amazon says it has been naming its lockers since it began deploying them in 2011.
“A team at Amazon uses a variety of ways to brainstorm new names for lockers ranging from personal things like pet names (Buddy) or cities they were born (Detroit) to food staples (Quinoa) and even common names (Katie),” an Amazon spokesperson told The Daily Herald.
Not a fan of formalities? There’s a Nickname in San Diego.
Moving into the couples’ column, Amazon Locker Samson is in London while Delilah resides across the pond in Philadelphia.
Washington, D.C., houses Scarlett, and Rhett is ensconced near a 7-Eleven in north Seattle.
Thelma is on Staten Island; 3,000 miles west, Louise is in Sunnyvale, California.
Could visiting the Amazon locker that shares your name or the name of the street you grew up on be the next big thing? One can Hope (Rainham, England)
I couldn’t find an Amazon Locker Jeff or Donald, but my editor cut my search privileges and is yelling “stop already” (There is, however, a Rockstar in El Cajon, California, a Steamroller in Salt Lake City and a Shareholder in Philly.)
Seeking Publicity — Carrollton, Texas. In need of Pizzaz? Try Dallas. Prefer to keep it Private — Manchester, England.
If you wonder where old delivery lockers go to die — here’s a guess — Amazon Locker Heaven, New Braunfels, Texas.
jpodsada@heraldnet.com; 425-339-3097; Twitter: JanicePods, Amazon Locker Janice – Chicago
For a nearby bin go to amazon.com/Locker
For hours of on-the-job fun, search by city — type Amazon Locker (city name)
Everett: https://bit.ly/2SHidFw
Lynnwood: https://bit.ly/2F9mCJy
Seattle: https://bit.ly/2Qz65E0
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