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BufferBox (YC S12) Solves The Problem Of Missing Packages

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Re: BufferBox (YC S12) Solves The Problem Of Missing Packages

#11

Post by rogerbinns »

mirsadm wrote: post #3

I'm not sure I get this one. Why would you not want something delivered to your house? Isn't that what the post office does if you aren't there to accept the package?

Post offices have very short hours. And most packages are delivered via UPS, Fedex etc. Their hours aren't much better and they have far fewer depots. When DHL still served the US I once had to drive 45 minutes (each way) to get to their depot which was only open 9-5.

Re: BufferBox (YC S12) Solves The Problem Of Missing Packages

#12

Post by SeanOC »

mirsadm wrote: post #3

I'm not sure I get this one. Why would you not want something delivered to your house? Isn't that what the post office does if you aren't there to accept the package?

If you have a car, going down to the local UPS or FedEx depot usually isn't too bad but if you don't have a car (e.g. most people in NYC) it can be a real nightmare. In urban areas, depots tend to be in industrial areas with poor mass transit access. Accordingly, having a local, secure, place to have packages dropped would be a great service for the latter group.

Re: BufferBox (YC S12) Solves The Problem Of Missing Packages

#13

Post by colmvp »

nsp wrote: post #10
mirsadm wrote: post #3

I'm not sure I get this one. Why would you not want something delivered to your house? Isn't that what the post office does if you aren't there to accept the package?

In NYC at least (admittedly an outlier in the united states), most apartments don't have doormen and there's no place to leave packages and package pickup locations are almost uni formally in warehouse districts/boroughs hard to access via public transit

Most people I know in NYC get their packages delivered to their office.

Re: BufferBox (YC S12) Solves The Problem Of Missing Packages

#14

Post by GFischer »

nsp wrote: post #10
mirsadm wrote: post #3

I'm not sure I get this one. Why would you not want something delivered to your house? Isn't that what the post office does if you aren't there to accept the package?

In NYC at least (admittedly an outlier in the united states), most apartments don't have doormen and there's no place to leave packages and package pickup locations are almost uni formally in warehouse districts/boroughs hard to access via public transit

Same here in Montevideo, Uruguay.

I actually had thought of a variant on the idea, but never implemented it. I love it, and would like to have it implemented here (maybe if things are going better for me next year, I could partner with them :) ).

There's a lot of potential IMO.

Re: BufferBox (YC S12) Solves The Problem Of Missing Packages

#15

Post by tingletech »

mirsadm wrote: post #3

I'm not sure I get this one. Why would you not want something delivered to your house? Isn't that what the post office does if you aren't there to accept the package?

USPS won't take UPS or FedEx. UPS and FedEx don't have a way into my building. I don't have a car to get out to the airport where the UPS center is. University mail room policy is no personal packages at work. So I basically can't shop online.

Re: BufferBox (YC S12) Solves The Problem Of Missing Packages

#16

Post by woah »

mirsadm wrote: post #3

I'm not sure I get this one. Why would you not want something delivered to your house? Isn't that what the post office does if you aren't there to accept the package?

I actually had to stay home from work today to take delivery of a tent that UPS would not leave, and would not allow me to pick up from the UPS facility. This sounds like a really awesome idea.

Re: BufferBox (YC S12) Solves The Problem Of Missing Packages

#17

Post by stcredzero »

K2h wrote: post #6

I think this is kind of a portable PO box, or PO box you can franchise. It seems there are things moving to kiosk despensers like redbox, blockbuster, even those change counting machines in the supermarket!

So, if your corporate records are stored in a kiosk box, doesn't that mean that you can set up your company's address there?

Could one use this sort of thing to convert any café into a co-working outfit?

Re: BufferBox (YC S12) Solves The Problem Of Missing Packages

#18

Post by scottnyc »

I really like this idea. As someone who doesn't have an office to send packages to or a doorman, I will use it.

I'm actually interested in seeing how they'll address utilization if it gets popular. What if 100% of the spaces are taken, and someone decides to wait a few days to pick up their package. Is there a penalty fee to prevent such behavior?

Re: BufferBox (YC S12) Solves The Problem Of Missing Packages

#19

Post by ryanwlessard »

There's a very big vision here. E-commerce growth provides a tremendous opportunity for this company to not only rethink the end point but the network itself. We have one at my office and it's incredibly convenient. I completely stopped using my home address for any deliveries.
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