The story behind the Middlesex Amazon Lockers

New Technology powering the school behind-the-scenes

Photo by Leighton Glass

If you told the graduates of the Middlesex class of 1980 that students less than 50 years later would be receiving their packages from a robot, they would likely have called you crazy. Some systems, however, simply have to modernize to meet new student needs.  The newly-introduced Amazon Lockers are a key example of technology helping to streamline student life. “You can go at any time of day,” says Sue Hayashi ‘27.  

Before the lockers were installed, students could only retrieve their packages during specific mailroom hours. “It is easier to get a package quickly,” explained Caroline ‘27 adding that the lockers are convenient when trying to get clothing for upcoming school events. Students can now get packages the day they arrive. 

Although new to Middlesex, The Amazon Locker Program has existed for a while. Starting off as a simple test project, the lockers were introduced in September of 2011.  They first became available in New York City, Seattle, and London but they are now in stores across the country and around the globe including Whole Foods, 7-Eleven, and Rite Aid. So how did they end up on our campus? “At first we had meetings to learn about (the lockers) in December 2022,” said Ben Gilmore from the Middlesex Mail Room. Gilmore and his colleagues met with Amazon and two other companies to explore the costs of such a program and whether lockers would truly alleviate pressure in the mailroom. They ultimately decided that Amazon was the best choice. 

Since installation, the lockers have become a “nice, secure way for people to pick up packages twenty-four-seven, and “they’ve done a great job of keeping clutter down in the mailroom,” said Gilmore. This being said, the lockers still aren’t as fully integrated into the mailroom system as the Mailroom Team would like. “Ultimately we would like the drivers of UPS, Amazon, and FedEx to put the packages in the lockers themselves because that’s what they’re intended to do,” said Gilmore during our interview. Since the installation of the lockers, Ben and James have been filling each locker spot themselves, but if the package delivery services would load the machine themselves, it would further streamline the system. Middlesex has been fortunate to have few problems with the lockers other than the occasional lost student package pickup code or stuck box in the compartment. “Amazon’s customer service is pretty awful which I’ve learned from working with them,” commented Gilmore reflecting on multiple instances where he was referred to a 1-800 number or AI Chatbot instead of a real Amazon representative. These minor problems aside, the Amazon Lockers themselves have been a positive addition to the campus and will continue to serve as an example of how technology can enhance Middlesex. 

Diana Davidson