Will you let Amazon unlock your front door for deliveries?

[harley]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dvalley Yeah but my idea is slicker The container/box will be at your front door step that only the major delivery services could unlock using their handheld electronic device (which changes the code (rolling code) automatically each time its used)

And I'm sure they'll store those codes and it's algorithm securely, maybe on the Equifax servers. I'd give that about a week.

[audreyh1]

No

[meierlde]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dvalley What would be nice is if the major delivery services agreed to and provided a container/box with an electronic lock that only they and the owner could unlock. You set the box outside, chained or bolted to the floor. No more stolen packages- personally I've been lucky since 1999 getting stuff from amazon, walmart, macys etc all online services I've only lost two packages. In my experience UPS is awesome, FedEx is a hit/miss, USPS is awful when it comes to damaged boxes, ripped open boxes and contents inspected.

Actually there are establishments that provide this service essentially the private mail box companies such as the UPS store, who will accept deliveries from anyone. When I lived in Houston I did this to avoid the packages walking off or waiting 1/2 to 1 hour to pick up the package at the post office.
For non perishable items of course if you have a cluster mail box there are typically a couple of parcel lockers and when you get a parcel the key is put in the mail box.

The only issue is that some places won't ship to a place that is not the billing address.

In any case I am retired and home most of the time, and not in a city where Amazon is ever likley to provide
its own delivery most of my Amazon Packages now come via the USPS. (Amazon drops them off at the local post office)

[6miths]

Why would they have to unlock it... they can just turn the knob like anyone else.

[Ronstar]

No. We don't have a problem with thieves snagging packages. But I wouldn't have a problem with them putting packages in my garage. They do that now if the door is open.

[Koolau]

No option for me based on where we live. Also, I rarely order from Amazon. If I need the occasional item, I find it locally or have it delivered (and held) at USPS. Not quite a Luddite, but pretty close to it.

I used to deliver for my DW's (actually family's) business at holiday time. You would be surprised how many people did not lock their doors when they left (for work or whatever.) If possible, I would open the door and stick the delivery inside when people were not home. Only had one dog escape (and I coaxed her back in.) One time, I was taking something to a rear door and found that the resident's dog had hanged himself by vaulting a fence while tied up. I decided to return the delivery to home base and wait until the next day after the dust had settled.

Fortunately, never walked in on anyone or had any complaints. I wouldn't do it today with all the alarms folks have. YMMV

[ls99]

I prefer not to deal with amazon, the very rare occasion I might, they can leave the stuff outside. As for them unlocking the door, hell no.

[jetpack]

Funny, I just used to leave my front door unlocked. Packages would be delivered inside the front door. No need for all this fancy lock stuff!

[MichaelB]

A few weeks after we moved into our current address we received a priority mail package. The carrier just opened the front door and set it inside. At the time we had a dog, and even from another room she attacked and almost bit him. There was no mistaking her threatening demeanor. She was a small dog but believed and behaved as if she were the last line of defense. He ran down the walkway back to his truck, and she barked furiously every time he cam by after that.

Package theft can be a problem, but so can opening doors and entering homes where one does not reside.

[Chuckanut]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodi Our neighborhood has had a rash of stolen amazon packages. Nextdoor.com is full of reports, pics of the perps, etc. The habit is for the thieves to follow the amazon truck... and get the package soon after it is delivered... Even with that - I wouldn't sign up with this product. Our porch has hedges in front... so packages aren't visible from the street... And our dog would not be so happy.

My city has the package thefts also. I know that since I have seen dozens of videos on Facebook showing the perps getting out of their car, taking the package and driving off with it. Some even capture the license number of the get-away car. Hey, anything to make the job of our hard working police force easier.

[Dash man]

We captured a video of a UPS truck stopping in front of our home and a package being scanned as delivered, where the driver saw the sender was a pharmacy. He never left the truck to deliver the package to us. We called UPS immediately and they just told us the package had just been delivered. When I explained we had video of the driver never leaving the truck and the package was medications, they got the driver turned around and back to our house in twenty minutes. I’ve never seen that driver since.

[Jerry1]

I've never had a problem and my front door has enough overhang to keep packages out of the weather. As has been said, if it was a problem or the item was of high enough value, I would have it held at the carrier and pick it up. I'm in a city that has main depots and their stores within a couple miles.

[timo2]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Senator I put a deck box outside my door on my driveway. UPS and everyone else generally uses it. It works great to keep stuff out of sight and out of the weather.

I don't know why the delivery companies don't provide a box to put their stuff in, like the old milk delivery boxes.

[Moemg]

We have a box to put delivery items in . They never use it .

[timo2]

I can see an Amazon driver getting shot by a forgetful or drunk home owner or some other family member unaware of a package delivery.

And then, as others have said, the number of cats and dog that escape the house, or the critters that run in, like wild cats.

and then the people that will hack the amazon database, or just follow the delivery truck and push past the driver and break in (mostly ex spouses I imagine)

[timo2]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moemg We have a box to put delivery items in . They never use it .

I'm expecting that a company provided box would be more utilized?

we had an large empty flower pot by the door for a while and some of the items were put in there, or behind it out of view. But some were left out and about, like the letter size package left on the doormat on a really windy day!

[dvalley]

Quote:

Originally Posted by harley And I'm sure they'll store those codes and it's algorithm securely, maybe on the Equifax servers. I'd give that about a week.

Haha, nothing is 100% and not to get too deep into the weeds here the codes will be calculated each time based on the algorithm. Even if the algorithm is hacked it's still better than the way things are now which is packages thrown at your door step in plain sight. I personally wouldn't allow Amazon to have access to my house.

A container to me is a great convenient option.

[Cobra9777]

I'm not opposed to this. Just don't have a need. One of us is usually here during the day and of course we don't schedule deliveries when we're traveling. We also have an aggressive dog and security system, which would be problematic.

Also, we've never had a package stolen. I thought we did once, but it was left at our neighbor by mistake. Our front porch is covered and about 150 feet from the street with lots of trees and shrubs so it's near-impossible to see a package sitting by the door.

Finally, we rarely if ever have anything delivered of great value. But if we did, and it was stolen, I'm sure Amazon would send a replacement. I think this is just a clever way to sell cameras and door locks.

[rayinpenn]

I’m sure my dog dusty would love a nice amazon delivery man. maybe she’d eventually let go of him.

[Ready]

I'm usually an early adopter of technology, but this one is too radical for me. I think Amazon is going to regret going down this path and we will likely see the product eliminated without notice in short time.