Amazon Prime popularity sees US universities struggle with high volume of packages

Other universities have been forced to take action and implement changes to handle the surge

(Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

Staff at a university have been left scratching their heads among piles of cardboard boxes after admitting its mailroom has become overwhelmed with Amazon packages.

The University of Connecticut (UConn) in the US has been receiving around four times as many parcels as normal this term, from small packages, like books, to mini fridges and other large items, reports The Daily Campus.

The avalanche of packages coming into the university’s mailroom have been the result of a rising popularity in Amazon’s Prime service, told one member of staff, as around half of the boxes coming in are from the online retailer.

For just $99 (£79), Amazon Prime members in the US can receive free two-day shipping and same-day delivery on a broad selection of items as well which students are increasingly taking advantage of.

Now, though, assistant director of Building Services, Tracy Cree, explained to the paper how the issue has become a big problem now for the more than 100 students who work in the residential mailrooms.

With changes due to take effect over the coming weeks – including extra shelving and a complete rearrangement also due – executive director of the services, Logan Trimble, described how the mailrooms’ original use was to process mail as opposed to packages.

However, acknowledging the change in times, he told the paper: “Over the years, the standard letter has been replaced by package deliveries and we are seeing a record number [of packages].”

The issue, adds The Daily Campus, is not just limited to UConn, but has also affected other large universities across the country, including Binghamton University in New York and the University of Vermont which have already had to take action to deal with the surge by installing warehouses and large sorting centres.

Here in the UK, though, no such issues have been reported as of yet.