Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: A simple, low-tech way to reduce the package theft problem from homes?

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 60 posts

Re: Ask HN: A simple, low-tech way to reduce the package theft problem from homes?

#21

Post by chipperyman573 »

saulr wrote: post #9

Always found this problem quite interesting. In the UK, parcels are rarely if ever left on the porch. If you aren't in there's a few options: a) they deliver it to a neighbour and post a card through your door saying "it's been left at number X"; b) they leave it in a safe space (typically throw it over your garden fence); or c) return it to the delivery office for you to specify when to redeliver or pick it up yours…

a. People don't know/trust their neighbors enough for that. In fact, in a lot of places it'd be safer just to leave it on the porch.

b. If someone threw a package over my fence and risked breaking it I'd be pretty pissed.

c. They do that sometimes but in my opinion I'd rather risk having it stolen than have to go to the post office, it's a huge hassle and there's always a line.

Re: Ask HN: A simple, low-tech way to reduce the package theft problem from homes?

#22

Post by monk_e_boy »

reustle wrote: post #5

This makes me think about low tech solutions to the problem. What about a simple box (maybe 1 meter cube) that is unlocked until it is closed. Once closed, it must be opened with a key. A simple plate on the top can explain to the delivery man to place close the door when a package is placed inside, not very complicated. It doesn't scale to >1 package a day, but it is something.

Just an open padlock and a note to the delivery person to snap it shut when the parcel is in the box.

Re: Ask HN: A simple, low-tech way to reduce the package theft problem from homes?

#23

Post by MichaelBurge »

Could you buy a mailbox for them to drop packages into? And then you could bolt it onto something firm.

Doesn't stop people from watching for deliveries, cutting the mailbox open, and stealing packages inside; but if that happened to me I'd consider moving.

Re: Ask HN: A simple, low-tech way to reduce the package theft problem from homes?

#24

Post by clarry »

lowglow wrote: post #4

Just have them delivered to your office, or have them hold the packages at the post office?

Everyone has an office? Nope.

Couriers here refuse to leave a parcel at the post office. Couriers are such a pain..

Even if it works for me, the post office isn't a good choice for everybody. It might be a long distance away. Enjoy walking 10 kilometers (or more) while carrying a big, heavy package for half the trip?

Re: Ask HN: A simple, low-tech way to reduce the package theft problem from homes?

#25

Post by ajuc »

Why would you leave package on the porch?

In Poland postman has to contact someone in the home, and if nobody's there he leaves a note in the mail box "come to the post office and get your package - we will keep it for 2 weeks and then return it to the sender".

And right now there's "packageomats" operated by some other companies - you can ask for your package to be delivered there and you need a passsword to take it out https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fc/Galeria_...

That's for people that don't have time when post offices are open, and aren't home when postman comes.

Re: Ask HN: A simple, low-tech way to reduce the package theft problem from homes?

#26

Post by pbhjpbhj »

cperciva wrote: post #17
saulr wrote: post #9

Always found this problem quite interesting. In the UK, parcels are rarely if ever left on the porch. If you aren't in there's a few options: a) they deliver it to a neighbour and post a card through your door saying "it's been left at number X"; b) they leave it in a safe space (typically throw it over your garden fence); or c) return it to the delivery office for you to specify when to redeliver or pick it up yours…

Most people don't know who their neighbours are, never mind trusting them with their packages.

We take parcels in for people we don't know (UK). Why do you need to know them?

Yes parcels sometimes go missing (suspected stolen) but delivery drivers have a pretty good idea where not to leave packages if they care.

Re: Ask HN: A simple, low-tech way to reduce the package theft problem from homes?

#27

Post by jackweirdy »

monk_e_boy wrote: post #22
reustle wrote: post #5

This makes me think about low tech solutions to the problem. What about a simple box (maybe 1 meter cube) that is unlocked until it is closed. Once closed, it must be opened with a key. A simple plate on the top can explain to the delivery man to place close the door when a package is placed inside, not very complicated. It doesn't scale to >1 package a day, but it is something.

Just an open padlock and a note to the delivery person to snap it shut when the parcel is in the box.

But then you could tell from looking at the box whether there was anything in there (if it's locked, it's got something). Probably enough to deter an opportunist, but a determined thief might bring bolt cutters (or just take the box)

Re: Ask HN: A simple, low-tech way to reduce the package theft problem from homes?

#28

Post by kwhitefoot »

thisone wrote: post #18

An easier option is to have your items delivered to a local pickup location Amazon offers it https://www.amazon.com/b/ref=amb_link_366591722_2?_encoding=... as well as having other pickup options in the UK (though I see in the US, there are not as many parcel dropoff services! is this an area for growth?) Another UK example is Argos which has some partnership with eBay where you can have some purchases delivered to a…

Here, in Norway, parcels are delivered to a supermarket or petrol station nearby and either a paper slip is delivered or a text sent to announce the delivery. You then go and pick it up.

Re: Ask HN: A simple, low-tech way to reduce the package theft problem from homes?

#30

Post by GameTheory8 »

From my consumer perspective (mostly Amazon Prime packages):

I've probably had 1 or 2 random lost/stolen packages over the last 6-7 years, from a handful of locations. There's more that randomly go missing for a day or so but those are usually carrier issues, and not lost, but delayed.

From my business perspective:

We're a semi-large FBA seller on Amazon and have had 100,000ish orders over the last 2 years. I've received many messages before where customers claim to have packages go missing, but a quick reply notifying the customer that we'll get x carrier to investigate usually gets a quick reply that they found the package.

To us, this is more of a numbers game where we allocate 0.x% of revenue to lost/stolen/damaged packages and then just try to minimize the losses on a case by case basis. Our main goal is to have happy customers that receive what they ordered, so if there's any delivery hiccups, we always take the liability and quickly replace or refund.

Bonus Amazon tip:

Delivery confirmation w/tracking information isn't proof of delivery for packages, and they'll refund/replace orders even if the tracking details say "Delivered". This makes sense when a package gets delivered and someone steals it before the customer takes possession of it.

As a seller on Amazon, in the event of a problem/claim, Amazon requires signature confirmation to guarantee that the package was actually received. Signature confirmation is expensive so it then only makes sense for packages valued at $300+. (Products in Electronics might be different w/higher loss rates)

IMO, damaged packages are a bigger issue, but then that becomes mostly a packaging, then carrier issue.

What's the solution? No clue, but adding friction points such as giving a package to a neighbor, or having to go somewhere else to retrieve your package just slowly adds to a negative customer experience over time and should be avoided whenever possible.

Post reply on HN