Handling delivery of packages is sill a major annoyance of online shopping. I love Amazon but consumer-side logistics could use some serious improvement. The drive to reduce shipping prices as much as possible has definite downsides.
- Items consistently damaged/stolen during shipment.
- Delivery of incorrect items/wrong address.
- No place to leave packages during the day if you live in an apartment with no doorman.
- Impossible to schedule delivery, especially before the first delivery attempt. It is unwise to order things while
traveling.
- Carriers lie about delivery attempts and times.
- Distribution center for package pick up is 10 miles away and only open M-F 9-5.
I've incurred some of these. The UPS or FedEx guy (or sometimes both) is at my house almost every day. We order a lot of stuff from Amazon, just general merchandise (Amazon Prime makes this a no-brainer), plus I order a lot of things for work.
Rarely are things lost or damaged in shipment. It has happened, but so infrequently I can't remember the last time.
The pre-signing for shipments is mostly solved, especially if you frequently deal with the same merchants. I'll put in the order notes to not require signature and call or email if this cannot be done. When ordering things from Apple, the send you a release form to sign in advance.
Having a place to leave packages could be a problem for people in apartments I imaging, I don't have that issue.
I've also had the carriers claim to attempt a delivery when they didn't (FedEx holiday fill-in person). For me, this isn't a big deal, I have security cameras covering all areas of my property (a unique case, I'm aware). The one time that happened the driver got to make a special trip back out to deliver my package a 7:30PM...
Idea: a site designed to build and maintain a trusted local network of people who are at home or work all day, and who will receive packages for you, for a small commission.
- Items consistently damaged/stolen during shipment. - Delivery of incorrect items/wrong address. - No place to leave packages during the day if you live in an apartment with no doorman. - Impossible to schedule delivery, especially before the first delivery attempt. It is unwise to order things while traveling. - Carriers lie about delivery attempts and times. - Distribution center for package pick up is 10 miles away and only open M-F 9-5.