5 ms·
As is so often the case, this is already a solved problem in Japan. When a package arrives, I'm alerted to its presence when I RFID my key to open the lobby doo
by nihonde 9y ago
As is so often the case, this is already a solved problem in Japan. When a package arrives, I'm alerted to its presence when I RFID my key to open the lobby door. Then I RFID my key again on the package locker and the locker with my stuff pops open.
The issue with lockers filling up too quickly or packages sitting in them too long is handled by the shipping company, which has sufficiently good customer service to contact me about re-delivering items that aren't reaching me. Also, my neighbors would be mortified if their deliveries ever inconvenienced someone else in the building, so it's somewhat self-policing in that sense.
The amount of over-engineering that goes into overcoming the shortcomings of customer service and lack of basic etiquette in America is amusing and sad. Amazon seems to be an emerging leader in finding solutions for social breakdowns that could be easily solved if people cared more about doing a good job or about extending basic courtesies to their fellow citizens.
- kalleboo 9y agoAnd even if you don't live in some fancy apartment building with RFID locks you can just get a box that you chain to your front door and the delivery services will respect that and put your packages in there, use your seal for a signature, and then lock it after they're done https://direct.sanwa.co.jp/ItemPage/300-DLBOX001 https://direct.sanwa.co.jp/ItemPage/300-DLBOX001
- gehwartzen 9y agoWhat's the "seal" you speak of?
- tuna-piano 9y agoHaha, that's a cute little lock. I suppose that could work in resident-entry-only buildings, but America can be pretty bad-ass: http://telzilla.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/video-bulletproof-glass-at-detroit-wendys-burger-king-taco-bell-2.jpg http://telzilla.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/video-bulletp...
- nihonde 9y agoIt also works in a country where crime is basically negligible. It's amazing how many conveniences emerge from people behaving themselves.
- pluma 9y agoThat photograph describes everything that's wrong with the US from a foreigner's perspective.
- scient 9y agoAnd yet where I live I get packages left at my door for days, noone is touching them, there are no bullet proof vending machines and people generally are well behaved and courteous. This just to remind you that the US is huge, consists of 50 states and in most cases the states are very different from each others. I'm not even an american and I'm offended about the generalization.
- bsder 9y ago> The issue with lockers filling up too quickly or packages sitting in them too long is handled by the shipping company, which has sufficiently good customer service This is the crux of the issue. US companies don't want to have good customer service. They want to charge you for every single piece of customer service above the absolute minimum.
- dlubarov 9y agoWe have similar locker systems in the US, e.g. Luxer One and Parcel Pending.
- shawnps 9y agoIn my experience, it is way more common in Japan to have one of these than it is in the US, though.