Redwood Drop for Azure Standard

This page provides information for Azure Standard customers who are members of the Redwood Drop...

Hi, drop members!

Drop Location

At some point in the future we may try to find a quieter, more pleasant drop location (suggestions welcome), but for the time being:

• Our drop is on the 1200 block of Oddstad Dr in Redwood City.
• This is the shoulder of a paved local street with very little traffic and lots of street parking. The intent is for the truck to park toward the east end of the block, along the north side of the road, but depending on their route they might end up on the south side.
• IF YOU ARRIVE EARLY, PLEASE LEAVE SPACE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ROAD FOR THE TRUCK TO PARK, AND FOR UNLOADING/SORTING ORDERS.
• The nearest address is 1288 Oddstad Dr (part of Wag Hotels, at the east end of the bloc); note the drop is on Oddstad Dr itself, NOT the alley behind the building, despite where Google Maps shows the pointer for 1288 (Google's directions to 1288 Oddstad do the right thing, leading to Oddstad Dr and not the alley).

Important Drop Information

• EACH MEMBER PLACING AN ORDER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ARRANGING SOMEONE TO MEET THE TRUCK AT THE DROP LOCATION AT THE FINAL ANNOUNCED DAY/TIME.
• Please be on time for the drop! The truck usually has other drops, and may leave as soon as 15 minutes after drop time. We try to reach no-shows, but if we can't make contact/arrangements an order may go back on the truck, subject to Azure's return policy. As of November 2024 our route, Bay Tree, is considered "non-returnable", and thus has very limited options for receiving credit for missed pickups (or returns); read their return policy fully/carefully to understand the ramifications of this.
• If you can't arrange someone to meet the truck, contact the "Redwood Drop Pickup" discussion group AHEAD OF TIME (see below), and we'll see if another drop member might be able to help.
• Timing of our drop is not fixed. It's typically morning or midday on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, however the actual day/time is uncertain until sent by Azure and the drop coordinator a few days AFTER the drop cutoff, once the truck is on its way. See here for a history of scheduled/actual drop times for the last few years.
• Actual day/time can also be seen (once the truck is on its way) in your Azure orders by clicking the order number in question (or just click the order number in your Azure confirmation email).
• On occasion, drop day/time may change again AFTER the schedule is sent; Azure and the drop coordinator will provide updates as appropriate. Last minute traffic/truck issues can occur, so please watch for late updates on drop day.

Drop Communications

Drop communications are via two email groups; please add these to your email contacts to ensure they aren't treated as spam:

• redwood-drop-accouncements@gaggle.email
• redwood-drop-pickup@emaildodo.com

• "Redwood Drop Announcements" - A one-way group (only administrators can send) for general drop announcements.
  • Traffic should be infrequent.
  • Membership is optional... new drop members are added upon joining the drop, but group members can modify/delete membership at their discretion (see instructions/link at bottom of emails received via the group).
  • If not in this group but you'd like to be, contact the drop coordinator.
• "Redwood Drop Pickup" - A discussion group for a particular occurrence of the drop...
  • For reminders/info to just those with orders in for the next drop (i.e. who need to meet the truck); more traffic than the announcements group, but again, only for those with orders in.
  • Group members may also send to the group, e.g. if they need help with order pickup or have important drop updates to share.
  • Membership is updated by the drop coordinator each month, once the truck is on its way; group members may modify/delete membership, though at risk of missing important drop updates.
  • Those sending to the discussion group are asked to please be respectful of other members, and not misuse/abuse the discussion group; instances of any such behavior shall be addressed on a case by case basis at the discretion of the drop coordinator.

When possible we'll also try to have a drop helper on hand who can receive emergency calls from members needing to reach us at the drop itself. This info will be given in reminder emails for a particular drop, and should only be used AS A LAST RESORT DURING THE DROP ITSELF.

How Our Drop Works (New Drop Members, Please Read...)

After you've placed an order...

• A few days after the order cutoff date, once the truck is on its way, you should receive email from Azure (with a subject like "Your Azure Standard Order Is On Its Way!") confirming your order shipped.
• The confirmation email, just under the "Items Ordered" subheading, should list "Total Cases", which is the total number of separate boxes/bags/packages to expect off the truck.
• FYI, Total Cases may not match the number of individual items ordered; Azure often packs multiple items in larger boxes (each labeled "Repack Box").
• If you don't clear the flier/catalog checkbox when ordering they'll include one in your order, possibly in a separate envelope and counting as an item in Total Cases (if not in a Repack Box).

At the drop itself...

• Drop members help unload/sort all the Cases from the truck.
• Each Case has an order label, with member name at TOP, ABOVE drop name.
• Rarely, labels get misprinted; if member name is elsewhere (maybe label bottom) let the drop coordinator know (the Case may be for a member other than shown).
• We sort Cases into piles by VERY FIRST letter of member name on the label (whether a first, last, or single name)... same order as the drop's master order sheet.
• Typically, non-frozen Cases come out first, then frozen Cases at the end.
• Each member is responsible for ensuring they have the correct number of cases, WITH THE CORRECT MEMBER NAME, before departing the drop!
• At the drop itself, focus is just on expected number of Total Cases, NOT the individual items you ordered; if you end up with fewer/more Cases than expected let the drop coordinator know (sometimes we can sort that out, sometimes not).

After the drop...

• Check your Case contents (particularly Repack Boxes) against your confirmation email, to ensure you received the items you expected.
• NOTE YOU MIGHT NOT RECEIVE EVERY ITEM REQUESTED IN YOUR ORDER; if an item ran out when they packed your order for the truck it'll show in your confirmation email as 0 units shipped (and nothing charged).
• At the end, if you don't have the expected number of Cases, or if ordered/billed items are missing, damaged, or not as advertised, report that to Azure customer support ASAP; they're generally quite good about removing charges where appropriate.

What The Drop Coordinator Does

FYI, your drop coordinator is not an Azure employee... just a customer like you! They volunteer to alert members about drop time/location, and help coordinate at the drop itself; in return they receive a very modest credit (around 1% of the drop's order total... which may end up shared with other members who fill in for or provide major assistance to the coordinator).

In particular, here are some of the things your coordinator does...

• Agrees to be listed as the Redwood Drop contact on Azure's Redwood Drop page (must be logged in to Azure).
• Sends welcome emails to new drop members, with info on how the drop works, and what the member responsibilities are.
• Sends reminders/updates to drop members about the drop location and actual drop date/time, once the truck is on its way.
• Meets the truck for each drop (or, if unable to do so, arranges for someone to fill in).
• Coordinates the unloading process, helping sort out any problems that crop up along the way.
• Coordinates contacting no-shows at the end of the drop, and when appropriate/feasible, waits with the driver for late comers to arrive.
• Acts as the point of contact with Azure and the truck driver regarding overall drop issues or concerns.
• Sets up and maintains the Redwood Drop website and email groups.

And on the flip side, just to be clear about things, the coordinator...

• Doesn't provide or arrange pickup/delivery of orders for other drop members (unless the member is truly in a bind, AND specific arrangements can be made ahead of time).
• Doesn't wait indefinitely at the drop for late comers; we do our best to contact no-shows, but if arrangements can't be made and the truck needs to leave, nothing more can be done.
• Doesn't look after consistent late comers or no-shows; yes, sometimes things come up and you just can't get there... we try to accomodate that as best we can, but if it's a consistent pattern there'll be much less tolerance.
• Doesn't deal with things like Azure ordering, product offerings/suggestions, order issues/errors, or the like... for those things, please contact Azure customer support.

Help Keep Our Drop Healthy!

Our drop is only as viable as you, our drop members, make it...

Your help, patience, and understanding in keeping things running smoothly are much appreciated!