In France (and I suspect in many European countries), most modern buildings/renovated buildings have large mailbox in which many packages fit (e.g. books). The mailman has a 'universal key' and drop the packages there.
Ask HN: A simple, low-tech way to reduce the package theft problem from homes?
31–40 of 60 posts
Re: Ask HN: A simple, low-tech way to reduce the package theft problem from homes?
#32The solution is to not leave them outside a home. In the two European countries I have lived, if you are not home they take the package back to your local post office to pick up on your own time. Problem solved.
This isn't really a solution when you start multiplying the # of carriers (USPS/UPS/FedEx/Ontrac/etc) that deliver in the US, to the number of packages that heavy e-commerce users receive per month. It's not unusual for people with Amazon Prime accounts to have 10+ packages delivered in a month. If they would have to go to different locations to pick up all these packages, then it quickly negates much of the convenience/experience of shopping online.
Re: Ask HN: A simple, low-tech way to reduce the package theft problem from homes?
#33Always 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…
An easy way to think about this (for me at least) would be to think in terms of transferring liability to another party.
Who's responsible for the package/order when the package gets left with the neighbor? Would the liability/loss transfer to the customer if the package goes missing when the neighbor supposedly has/had it?
If you're a seller on Amazon/eBay and shipped the package yourself, the liability of the total value of the package is with the seller, unless you purchase insurance or signature tracking information.
For packages 13+ ounces (0.36+ kg), USPS automatically provides insurance up to $50 when sending packages Priority Mail (w/restrictions): http://pe.usps.gov/text/dmm300/609.htm
Re: Ask HN: A simple, low-tech way to reduce the package theft problem from homes?
#34Always 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…
c) doesn't work, because the companies don't want to carry the costs associated with it.
If you've ever been to a customer service center (or whatever they call them) at UPS or FedEx, you'll know what I'm talking about. Long lines for the single desk manned by someone who clearly does not want to be doing that job and shows it by every interaction with customers.
Also the important point is that the people who the packages are delivered to aren't the customers. The companies that ship the packages are. So unsurprisingly the carriers don't really give all that much of a shit about how you feel about their service. Unless a really egregious customer service failure goes viral for some reason.
Re: Ask HN: A simple, low-tech way to reduce the package theft problem from homes?
#35Have you seen this guy's solution?
http://www.insideedition.com/headlines/13580-homeowner-gets-...
Pretty humorous but could lead to retaliation.
Re: Ask HN: A simple, low-tech way to reduce the package theft problem from homes?
#36Earlier quoted context omitted.
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)
If people are following around UPS trucks, they already know if something is in there, right? The bigger problem with the plan to me is what happens if you get two packages on the same day?
Re: Ask HN: A simple, low-tech way to reduce the package theft problem from homes?
#37The solution is to not leave them outside a home. In the two European countries I have lived, if you are not home they take the package back to your local post office to pick up on your own time. Problem solved.
This isn't really a solution when you start multiplying the # of carriers (USPS/UPS/FedEx/Ontrac/etc) that deliver in the US, to the number of packages that heavy e-commerce users receive per month. It's not unusual for people with Amazon Prime accounts to have 10+ packages delivered in a month. If they would have to go to different locations to pick up all these packages, then it quickly negates much of the convenie…
Maybe it would be in all these companies interest to jointly set up distribution centers? In Sweden the postal service shut down most offices in the 90s, but instead set up shop in grocery stores everywhere. When you get a package you simply go to the closest store and pick it up. IMO this works much better than the to-the-door delivery in the US (unless you have a door man 24/7). Of course UPS/Fedex don't use these channels, but maybe they should. Getting a package from them means a lot of pain if you don't stay home from work to receive the package. If I miss the delivery I have to travel for like an hour to the pick it up, which is quite difficult since I don't have a car. It's come to the point where I won't order anything delivered by them.
Re: Ask HN: A simple, low-tech way to reduce the package theft problem from homes?
#38In India, Flipkart ( an e-commerce company) gives you an option to leave the package with a nearby shop (which would have signed up as a partner). Maybe you could try working out something with a shop-owner nearby (and one day scale it as a solution :) )
Re: Ask HN: A simple, low-tech way to reduce the package theft problem from homes?
#39UPS, at least, will deliver to my local bodega, which keeps commuter-friendly hours (open till 10pm most days). It's called "MyChoice." It's free, but you have to sign up for it. I typically use it for high-value deliveries; it's worked well so far.
Re: Ask HN: A simple, low-tech way to reduce the package theft problem from homes?
#40UPS, at least, will deliver to my local bodega, which keeps commuter-friendly hours (open till 10pm most days). It's called "MyChoice." It's free, but you have to sign up for it. I typically use it for high-value deliveries; it's worked well so far.
What is a bodega?