8 ms·

Generally because people don't want it. Shipping used to be a lot stricter about signatures, etc, but people usually aren't home when the packages get delivere

Generally because people don't want it. Shipping used to be a lot stricter about signatures, etc, but people usually aren't home when the packages get delivered, and package theft isn't a significant enough problem to make the extra security worth the inconvenience.

chrisseaton 8y ago
> package theft isn't a significant enough problem This guy had his package stolen many times in a short space of time. Seems like the problem is pretty bad?
- ionforce 8y ago
  One data point does not suddenly disprove the OP's overall statement.
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]
- CPLX 8y ago
  He left a bright white box out that looked like it contained electronics in a very exposed spot easily visible from the street. Typically it's a more subdued brown box and the delivery guys will try to tuck it in a little so it's not quite as visible. He was hoping for this outcome and that affected the results.
  - VonGallifrey 8y ago
    He did this after he got his normal deliveries stolen as well. Which where presumably packaged in a subdued brown box and then delivered in that same easily visible spot.
- dec0dedab0de 8y ago
  The United States is big, with many different areas that have different levels of crime. Sometimes with affluent areas in walking distance of destitute areas, which is a whole other problem. One location being robbed repeatedly is not surprising, and not significant. If it were, Amazon would be requiring signatures instead of just sending you another one when something goes missing.
  - derefr 8y ago
    Amazon requiring signatures wouldn’t much help in preventing the problem. They’d just get a signature from the thief “just returning home” in the front yard, find out later that it wasn’t a match, and then... nothing, really. They’d know the buyer wasn’t liable, I guess? Doesn’t do anything for them, loss-prevention-wise; they still owe the buyer the thing they ordered. What Amazon is doing is much more clever: whenever possible, they’re now recording the serial number of the product they ship to you. This way, if the police find it when busting a fence, they can (hopefully) get the fence’s providers out of them and then actually bust them, too (because now they have real physical evidence—along with testimony—that that particular person stole a particular thing.)
- mikeash 8y ago
  A park ranger named Roy Sullivan was struck by lightning six times in eight years. Clearly this is a major problem! Roughly one third of Americans have ever had a package stolen. (https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2017/11/20/package-theft-hits-nearly-one-third-americans-video-surveillance-answer/874554001/ https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2017/11/20/package-...) It’s not that big a deal. For people who want to avoid taking chances with it, there are various options to avoid it. Not that they should have to, but there are many bigger problems to worry about.
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]
- rtkwe 8y ago
  It was placed in clear view and wasn't in another box so thieves could see it was an expensive(ish at ~$250) and desirable piece of electronics. Also it's very unclear exactly how long any of this took there's no timestamps on any of the surveillance video. Could have been months.
vhodges 8y ago
I am home during the day (yay remote work!) but they (UPS) give a quick knock and set the package down and go to leave. Genuinely shocked when I open the door.
- jimmaswell 8y ago
  They didn't even knock when they came to collect a return, so I had to take the sticker they left and go find a UPS box.
dingaling 8y ago
> but people usually aren't home when the packages get delivered I still don't understand why this hasn't been 'disrupted' by a company providing evening deliveries. They could do business delivery during the afternoon and then switch to residential. Nightcall! I'll even throw a name in for free.
- jakobegger 8y ago
  Because then they would have only 2 or 3 hours to deliver all their packages? (I'm assuming most people would want to get their packages between 8pm and 10pm)?
- dwighttk 8y ago
  Amazon is renting vans from Uhaul here to get all their packages out to houses. They are delivering (probably) 12 hrs a day not even including the Fedex, UPS, and USPS deliveries (I'm not sure how they decide which option to ship with). There is way too much volume to fit deliveries into times when people are home.

chrisseaton 8y ago

> package theft isn't a significant enough problem This guy had his package stolen many times in a short space of time. Seems like the problem is pretty bad?

ionforce 8y ago
One data point does not suddenly disprove the OP's overall statement.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
CPLX 8y ago
He left a bright white box out that looked like it contained electronics in a very exposed spot easily visible from the street. Typically it's a more subdued brown box and the delivery guys will try to tuck it in a little so it's not quite as visible. He was hoping for this outcome and that affected the results.
- VonGallifrey 8y ago
  He did this after he got his normal deliveries stolen as well. Which where presumably packaged in a subdued brown box and then delivered in that same easily visible spot.
dec0dedab0de 8y ago
The United States is big, with many different areas that have different levels of crime. Sometimes with affluent areas in walking distance of destitute areas, which is a whole other problem. One location being robbed repeatedly is not surprising, and not significant. If it were, Amazon would be requiring signatures instead of just sending you another one when something goes missing.
- derefr 8y ago
  Amazon requiring signatures wouldn’t much help in preventing the problem. They’d just get a signature from the thief “just returning home” in the front yard, find out later that it wasn’t a match, and then... nothing, really. They’d know the buyer wasn’t liable, I guess? Doesn’t do anything for them, loss-prevention-wise; they still owe the buyer the thing they ordered. What Amazon is doing is much more clever: whenever possible, they’re now recording the serial number of the product they ship to you. This way, if the police find it when busting a fence, they can (hopefully) get the fence’s providers out of them and then actually bust them, too (because now they have real physical evidence—along with testimony—that that particular person stole a particular thing.)
mikeash 8y ago
A park ranger named Roy Sullivan was struck by lightning six times in eight years. Clearly this is a major problem! Roughly one third of Americans have ever had a package stolen. (https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2017/11/20/package-theft-hits-nearly-one-third-americans-video-surveillance-answer/874554001/ https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2017/11/20/package-...) It’s not that big a deal. For people who want to avoid taking chances with it, there are various options to avoid it. Not that they should have to, but there are many bigger problems to worry about.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
rtkwe 8y ago
It was placed in clear view and wasn't in another box so thieves could see it was an expensive(ish at ~$250) and desirable piece of electronics. Also it's very unclear exactly how long any of this took there's no timestamps on any of the surveillance video. Could have been months.

vhodges 8y ago

I am home during the day (yay remote work!) but they (UPS) give a quick knock and set the package down and go to leave. Genuinely shocked when I open the door.

jimmaswell 8y ago
They didn't even knock when they came to collect a return, so I had to take the sticker they left and go find a UPS box.

dingaling 8y ago

> but people usually aren't home when the packages get delivered I still don't understand why this hasn't been 'disrupted' by a company providing evening deliveries. They could do business delivery during the afternoon and then switch to residential. Nightcall! I'll even throw a name in for free.

jakobegger 8y ago
Because then they would have only 2 or 3 hours to deliver all their packages? (I'm assuming most people would want to get their packages between 8pm and 10pm)?
dwighttk 8y ago
Amazon is renting vans from Uhaul here to get all their packages out to houses. They are delivering (probably) 12 hrs a day not even including the Fedex, UPS, and USPS deliveries (I'm not sure how they decide which option to ship with). There is way too much volume to fit deliveries into times when people are home.