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Luna delivers your packages when you're home for the night
- ojbyrne 13y agoI find UPS generally delivers to residential areas between 6:30pm and 8pm.
- RaphiePS 13y agoAwesome! I think the landing page could do a slightly better job at explaining the problem Luna solves. "Delivering your packages when you're home for the night" sounds nice, but why would I want my packages delivered at night? I looked at the blog and it perfectly explained the problem: "How many times have you anxiously awaited a package only to come home and find that dreaded little slip hanging from your front door?" Why not put that on the landing page?
- kine 13y agoThanks for the feedback, Raphie
- masukomi 13y agoI'd also note that it saves you from those dreaded days when a new iPhone or similarly expensive device is going to be left sitting on your doorstep while you're at work...
- try-finally 13y agoThis. This is the biggest issue in my mind. I would most definitely pay $7 to make sure they don't just leave my $700 new tech on my front step in full view exposed to the elements.
- cylinder 13y agoUPS/Fedex take all the risk when they do that. The driver is taking the chance in order to clear his truck. Unless you authorize it with a signed note, they should not do that. They don't do it in SF or NYC since your doorstep is the street.
- daxelrod 13y agoIs this true even for packages where the sender specified no signature was required?
- cylinder 13y agoYes, you should have the seller file an insurance claim if it goes missing.
- elliottcarlson 13y agoSadly, I've had plenty of items left at my doorstep even when a signature was required. (in NY)
- jessejkaplan 13y agoWe've heard (and experienced) way too many horror stories of packages stolen off NYC doorsteps. Check out Parcel: http://fromparcel.com http://fromparcel.com.
- jaynos 13y agoExcellent Idea! My Amazon Prime account makes me automatically turned off by delivery charges. $6.99 is too steep per package for me (mainly due to the low cost of the items I purchase), but I would definitely enroll in some tier type pay package. $X for Y total deliveries or $1.75X for 2Y total deliveries. edit: clarity
- fotbr 13y agoLooks like it's $6.99 per delivery, not necessarily per package. Perhaps they can accept & store packages for a couple days, if you know you've got a string of them coming, and can wait until they're all at the luna wearhouse?
- bentcorner 13y agoSpeaking of which, does Amazon batch Amazon.com deliveries with Amazon Fresh deliveries? Might make sense if you don't mind waiting an extra day for a package to get routed through Amazon Fresh's warehouse in exchange for knowing it'll be out in front of your door in the morning.
- doorty 13y agoI like the idea. Though the $6.99/package is more than I'm wiling to spend. I order most of my stuff online and packages delivered to my apartment during the day will be stolen. I currently have to get all my packages delivered to work, but for some people that may not be an option.
- kine 13y agoWork is still a pain in the ass. It sits at your desk or awkwardly in your bag as you make small talk at events after work. We understand that we're not for every one of your deliveries
- ztnewman 13y agoSan Francisco - the delivery driver capital of the world
- tostitos1979 13y agoI guess eventually the market will figure it out. Delivery drivers will make more than programmers and all will be good again :p Anyhoo ... the idea seems cool.
- potatolicious 13y agoSimple and a life saver. I'll be signing up as soon as this comes to NYC. I get most things shipped to the office to avoid sitting around at home, but sometimes you get an item that's just too big - those items also tend to be more expensive, making the $6.99 thing more palatable. I hope their numbers account for this effect (i.e., disproportionately large packages). Dealing with USPS pickup slips is the sort of pain I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.
- kine 13y agoThanks! Office deliveries are still a pain too, they sit at your desk because you're likely busy after work. Coming to NYC soon!
- samspenc 13y ago> Coming to NYC soon! Great to hear! Another vote for NYC. :)
- untog 13y agoAmazon Lockers have saved me numerous times. So very convenient, and I hope to see them expand a lot more than they already have.
- mimiflynn 13y agoCan't get a TV delivered to an Amazon locker and its hard to get large electronics out of most office buildings without security needing to clear it with your employer. Amazon Lockers have been great though, although better when they were in Staples instead of 7/elevens.
- alwillis 13y agoAre there delievery lockers (Amazon or others) in the Boston area? I've looked and can't seem to find anything. Seems like this would be a natural here.
- potatolicious 13y agoGenerally speaking Lockers only accept boxes small enough that I'd get them shipped to work anyways. Also sadly there aren't that many Lockers in lower Manhattan :( Definitely none within walking distance of me... and taking the subway to get your package seems to defeat the point of Lockers. Hopefully Amazon expands the Lockers program.
- chockablock 13y agoIs there any way for you to act as a proxy for users, and pick up their packages from the will-call window at the local UPS warehouse for same-night redelivery? It would be an easier sell at $7+ if you can save your customers a drive across town and a wait in the UPS line. Folks also wouldn't have to plan ahead to delivery to Luna. Ideal user interaction would be: open the Luna app and scan the InfoNotice. Perhaps you could hack/co-opt/use carrier services like UPS' MyChoice service, which allows customers to electronically sign for pacakges, and give special delivery instructions.
- umsm 13y agoIf you ship the packages directly to them, there is no reason to even think about the UPS facility. You're suggesting as a last-minute choice to use luna? That may be harder as UPS checks IDs.
- chockablock 13y ago>You're suggesting as a last-minute choice to use luna? Yes, as an additional source of business on top of those those who have planned ahead and shipped directly to Luna's warehouse. In this 'after-the-miss' case, Luna could offer to solve an acute, possibly unexpected problem, vs. being one of several options for those who planned ahead (many discussed on this thread: ship to work, use Amazon Locker, etc). >That may be harder as UPS checks IDs. That's why I suggested interfacing with carriers. UPS MyChoice allows you to sign electronically for packages and give special instructions. I imagine FedEx has a similar offering.
- sdoowpilihp 13y agoI wonder why the big delivery companies (UPS, FedEx) have not bothered with a service like this (I am aware that you can schedule delivery windows and the like, but we can assume that no current delivery company offers this exact, concierge like service). I can only come up with 2 possible points that would render offering this service not worth their time. First, On initial glance, this appears to be a niche luxury service that skews towards a relatively young demographic. That user base may just be too small to make it worth the big delivery companies time. Also, This business model probably only works in a metro area (I can't imagine the price points needed to make this company viable Batavia Ohio being very palatable to the average consumer). There may also be other concerns, but these are the ones that I would first worry about as an investor. Either way, it will be interesting to see how this pans out. It really is a solution to one of those problem that in retrospect, was so damn obvious.
- kine 13y agoUPS can't because of union agreements. FedEx can't because of contractor agreements. This is a service targeted towards busy professionals. We're definitely urban focused right now
- gibybo 13y agoOut of curiosity, why does this skew towards a young demographic? Wouldn't it be anyone working during the day? Say, ages 22-55?
- roc 13y agoThe older you are, the more likely that you have a spouse or child who can receive said packages, or a suburban home, where leaving a package on a porch isn't (as large) a risk, etc.
- prawn 13y agoI've wondered the same. Less traffic on the roads after the peak rush home so couriers/vans would be able to zip around more quickly. Deliver groceries at 6am, packages at 7pm and onwards, etc.
- ryguytilidie 13y agoI don't mean to be a downer, but stuff like this bums me out. There are so few people working on important things yet half the town is working on delivering food and packages to tech workers who can afford what is genuinely a pretty insane price to pay for these services. I know that this is a pretty awesome convenience, but its just so meh. This is what we're doing with all these resources? Building online delivery service number 45248923942?
- masukomi 13y agoI can empathize, but unless you're growing your own food and meat, you're not in much of a position to complain. Offloading the logistics of resource delivery to allow us to do other things is a massively important part of any advanced society. Do we really need to take it to this level? Probably not. But it's not right to dismiss "unimportant" things like this out of hand either.
- ryguytilidie 13y agoWait what, you're seriously claiming that unless I hunt my own dinner I cannot be dissapointed that some of the brightest minds of our generation are building ANOTHER delivery site? How does this logic work?
- codegeek 13y ago"pretty awesome convenience but its just so meh" You are underestimating how much people are willing to pay for awesome convenience.
- untog 13y agoNo, he isn't. He's saying that he's sad that people only care about how people are willing to pay for awesome convenience and not something more interesting.
- nkrumm 13y agoI also agree, but I think the key here is balance: as pointed out above, convenience services such as these are wanted (i.e., people pay), and perhaps allow for more important things to take place -- however, we should think in terms of social responsibility and greater good as well. In this case, Luna could actually cut down the number of delivery attempts per package, and potentially reduce the carbon footprint of the delivery.
- necubi 13y agoThis is great. Online shopping is so much less convenient because I can't have packages delivered to my apartment. Instead I must ship packages to my office, and either muscle them on MUNI or get a cab (which costs more than $7).
- kine 13y agoThanks! Give it a try!
- seivan 13y agoWe solve that by delivering to our office. Works like a charm.
- kine 13y agoBut then you have to lug it home or it sits at your desk. Also totally depends on the package. Give Luna a try, we think you'll like it
- wehadfun 13y agoI think that they are empfasizing the iphone app too much. I do like the service. Delivering stuff when people are actually there.
- kine 13y agoGood feedback. Thanks!
- ah- 13y agoOver here in Germany we have solved that problem with the Packstation. They're everywhere and you can just go there and fetch your packets whenever you want: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Packstation http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Packstation And there's no additional fee and I think sending a packet using them is cheaper than doing it the traditional way.
- peeters 13y agoI've wanted this so badly for so long. Why am I paying such inflated costs for last-mile delivery when it's magnitudes more convenient to just pick up my package at a nearby depot on my way home from work? I've always wanted online retailers to just allow me to ship to a local affiliate for the same or less cost, and notify me when it's ready to pick up. This takes it a step further.
- travisp 13y agoAmazon has been testing Amazon Locker for this, which is similar. The problems with both services are: 1) limited to boxes of the appropriate size (from the pictures of the Packstation, maybe 10-20% of my Amazon orders would not fit) and 2) You still have to go get it. Going to go get it may not seem like a big deal. But, if you're, say, walking home with a 2 year old, or it's pouring rain and you don't have a car (I don't here in NYC), or any number of other reasons, actual home delivery can be a really nice thing to have.
- drstewart 13y agoLooks somewhat similar to Amazon Locker: http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=200689010 http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=2...
- voltagex_ 13y agoAustralia Post is currently doing this with Parcel Lockers, but they're degrading the service to a point where it's less useful (no courier deliveries, limited international deliveries, no paid option, no API to access pending packages)
- mml 13y agoSeems a bit pricey for me. I think the future is Amazon's storage drop lockers in every Super America (insert your regional chain here). Works for we city dwellers (there's one every 3 blocks), and even suburbanites. There's no way Luna will work for those many millions are trapped in the suburbs (though of course, that's not a prerequisite for success either). That being said, i'd definitely use this service in Minneapolis proper.
- jacalata 13y agoIt will combine perfectly with drones. One of the things I think is going to be really hard for drone delivery is the last ten feet - once there's a drone outside my locked apartment building, what's it going to do? Knock and hope the manager is there to let it in? Leave my package on the city street? (fuck no). But combine it with this, delivery at a reasonable hour when I can be home to receive it, and it's perfect.
- repnation 13y agoHow long can packages be stored with Luna before you deliver them?
- kine 13y agoWe prefer same day delivery but can go as many as 5 days
- thoughtpalette 13y agoAwesome idea! How do you guys deal with faulty products? I know UPS and FedEx cover product issues brought on by the S&H process.
- orik 13y agoI'm worried about my security with this application. I'm essentially telling strangers with a delivery van that my home will be empty until this time. I'll deliver to my Office for now. I'm excited about this service but skeptical. (EDIT: Upon re-reading this comment I noticed I came off sounding like this service might be a scam. I'm moreso worried about MITM and subpoenas)
- deleted 13y ago[deleted]
- kine 13y agoThat's an understandable reaction. We need to build trust with our users and with the city. That comes with time and we'll get there. For your peace of mind, our entire delivery fleet is background checked, interviewed and held to very high standards. We log every package that comes to us in great detail for any claims that could be made. Give us a try, we think you'll like it. Your first delivery is free so you really have nothing to lose! Thanks for your comment and for your edit.
- kine 13y agoAlso, my email is zack@useluna.com if you'd like to get in touch/ask questions/learn more
- jodoherty 13y agoI'd much rather have my packages delivered to a secure, conveniently located facility that notifies me of the delivery and that I can visit to pick up my package at my leisure. But then, I'm more concerned with completely offloading the stress over when my package might be delivered, whether or not it might get stolen, and whether or not I have to be there to sign off for it. Still, this appears to be a useful step up from having packages delivered at random times throughout the day.
- marccuban 13y agoBufferBox
- jodoherty 13y agoExactly what I was looking for. Thanks. Hope it spreads, because it's nowhere near my region yet.
- Nicholas_C 13y agohttp://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=200689010 http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=2... Amazon locker is great for packages that aren't too large. Of course, only works with products from Amazon.
- dingaling 13y agoA good idea and it illustrates the growing trend of proxy-services. That is, traditional services are so inflexible or inconvenient that the best way to deal with them is to decouple them from the individual and insert a proxy that buffers the service. I've noticed this with banking too, people decoupling the payment mechanisms ( card accounts, direct debits etc ) from their main accounts. Edit: I wonder what non-IT people make of such patterns.
- djhworld 13y agoWhat if the traditional service starts performing the same service, rendering the proxy a meaningless middleman? I applaud these guys for recognising a gap in the market, but it seems quite risky to me.
- Nicholas_C 13y agoIndeed. It would take relatively very little investment for UPS and gang to start doing night deliveries. I think the barriers to entry are pretty low for the big boys.
- autoreverse 13y agoThere is a comment above explaining that union and contractor agreements would hamper the major incumbents. I'm wondering if UPS etc. would be interested in partnering with or investing in Luna instead.
- sirmarksalot 13y agoThis is a cool idea, and one that I would definitely pay for in certain circumstances (basically any situation where I end up having to drive to the UPS facility). However, I'd want to be sure that I can actually use the service under those circumstances. My difficulty is when a company like Apple sends a package as "signature required." First, will I be able to specify the Luna address, or will I be required to have the billing and shipping addresses match up? Second, will the Luna representative's signature be counted as an authorized signature for UPS's purposes? Both of these things are mostly out of Luna's control, unless they enter negotiations with these companies. And while this should be a no-brainer for UPS from an efficiency standpoint, you really can't underestimate their ability to make bad decisions.
- kine 13y agoLuna can receive packages that require your signature. You may have to make a note on the UPS or FedEx site but it's totally doable.
- chiph 13y agoI just spent 10 days playing Whack-A-Mole with UPS to get my "Signature Required" package. Just one issue with them after another. I was even thinking of asking them to direct me to where the driver was on his route, and I'd go meet him somewhere. So $6.99 to ensure I got the package when I was home? Yes, I'd pay it. Luna: Come to Austin next.
- primitivesuave 13y agoI'd just like to point out to all the downers out there: the pricing on this service is easily justified if you compare it to the cost of having to drive all the way to a Fedex facility, wait in line behind other similarly inconvenienced human beings, and drive all the way back. Even if you work for minimum wage, the cost of gas plus the value of your time far exceeds the $7 delivery fee. I'm pretty excited to try this out!
- kine 13y agoPlease do! I look forward to it!
- untog 13y agoI know I'll just sound like another grumpy Android user here, but why launch with an iPhone app only? Why wouldn't you start off with e-mail and a mobile-responsive web site? I can't imagine what functionality a native Luna app could provide that couldn't be done over the web. I know that being in the App Store is a status symbol and so on, but most of my online shopping is still done on the web, and I sit in front of a computer at work - so most of the time I want to interact with Luna I'll probably be wanting a desktop experience. I'm in NYC, so I can't use the service right now anyway. But if it launches here I'd be an absolute sucker for it, except that I won't be able to use it.
- alwillis 13y agoPerhaps it's because as a group, iPhone users are more lucrative than Android users, for example: Apple's iOS brings developers 5x more revenue per download than Android http://appleinsider.com/articles/13/11/27/apples-ios-brings-developers-5x-more-revenue-per-download-than-android http://appleinsider.com/articles/13/11/27/apples-ios-brings-...
- untog 13y agoWhy make it an either/or argument? I didn't suggest making an Android app. A mobile-responsive web site would work great for both iPhone an Android. And desktop. That article doesn't really apply here - it's discussing in-app advertising, app purchase fees and in-app purchases. I hope for Luna's sake that they aren't going to charge that $6.99 delivery charge as an in-app purchase, because they'll lose 30% instantly.
- matthewbadeau 13y agoHere are a few reasons why they probably chose to write an iOS app: -Apple is known for rejecting apps that mimic the functionality of the website (even the mobile version) -The lead developer is probably more comfortable using Obj-C than web technologies -The business is designed specifically for mobile users. Services like Luna already exist; they're trying to tap into a different demographic -As such, iOS development is cheaper than both iOS and Android
- jawns 13y agoOne thing that jumped out at me in the FAQ: You tell Luna when you'll be home, and the delivery will happen between that time and midnight. I'm sure there are a ton of folks who wouldn't mind a midnight delivery -- I used to be one of them -- but there are probably a fair amount who would like to get a package at 7 p.m. but would definitely not like to get a package at 12 a.m. Perhaps as Luna expands, it might consider shifting to a model that allows a smaller time window for the folks who get home earlier. For instance, it might use a two-hour window, so people who get home at 7 will receive their delivery by 9 and people who get home at 10 will receive their delivery by midnight.
- roberthahn 13y agoNow this business is a breath of fresh air. No "social". No "you are the product, not the customer". No "ads as a business model". In fact, I see a clear business model. And having the price on the site? On the front page? holy cow that's awesome. A wise businessman I know used to say "Think like a customer, always anticipate, and have fun!" Take that to heart and you'll do just fine. Good on you for getting this far, and best of luck for the future!
- malandrew 13y agoI could see this working for very large bulky things you don't want to carry home, but for all small to moderately sized items, you can just have stuff shipped to the office.
- bobzimuta 13y agoI snubbed the idea until I realized the obvious acquisition target is Amazon. How long are you estimating until they offer? After the NYC rollout?
- athst 13y agoThis is a cool service for urban areas, but I wonder if it's really true that UPS or FedEx wouldn't just do this if it became popular. For example, I recently discovered that with FedEx you can now schedule a delivery for 5-8PM for $5, and often UPS will deliver things during the evening, I assume because people are more likely to be home then.
- djhworld 13y agoThey're solving an issue that's been slowly building over the last 10 or so years. I love online shopping, but the fatal flaw has always been the delivery process, which is heavily geared towards those who work at home, or have a partner/family member available in the house during the day. Most of the time I get stuff delivered to work, but quite often we get angry emails from postroom staff who are swamped with packages and can't determine what's "business critical" post and just people ordering personal items off the web. I can sympathise with that a bit.
- robomartin 13y agoWhy so many delivery startups? Are these real problems needing solutions or entrepreneurs chasing the perception of a market that, in reality, does not exist? Quick story: A good friend of mine thought he saw an opportunity to make money when 3.5 in floppy disks came out (yes, this is ancient). He found a supplier of bulk disks and placed ads in several magazines offering 50 and 100 disk packs at a good deal. One of the magazines printed weekly. A week after he placed his first ad a competitor came out offering a similar deal. A couple of weeks later, another. And then another. And so on for several weeks. At the conclusion of his agreed-upon twelve week run for the ads he did not renew the contract. He sold exactly ZERO disks. He watched as every single one of his competitors pulled out as their contracts ran out. His conclusion was that these entrepreneurs simply followed each other into a non-existing market. He was first. Others saw what he did and thought there was money to be made. They all followed each other taking a virtual dive off the edge or a cliff. Nobody make a dime. Ever since he told me that story years ago I've kept an eye out for that kind of behavior. I've seen it many times and in different industries, some with massive capital investments. One such example is the consumer 3D madness that keeps coming back to bite those who try it. But they keep trying! Amazing.
- rickyc091 13y agoI have to say this is pretty awesome. I currently pay $8/mo for my USPS PO Box, but I'm wary to send expensive packages there since they have a tendency to misplace packages. So far, they've only lost one package, but there are many times where I'll go there and they can't locate a package. If I return several weeks later, they managed to find it. I'm not a big fan of one time fees, but I can definitely see myself paying for a monthly subscription plan, similar to Amazon prime. Any thoughts of this in the near future?
- minor_nitwit 13y agoI'm not sure that people will go through this app and pay another $6 on top of the original shipping fee, and enter an oddball shipping address. They may pay it if it's an option at checkout, as at that point they are weighing the shipping costs as a total and looking at things like overnighting a package, or two-day shipping etc. If it was a markup for nighttime delivery at checkout, and you just enter your home address one time, that would be the most painless implementation. To get there, that means they'll need to partner with Amazon, UPS, FedEx, etc, rather than acting as competitors. If these companies are not interested in night-time delivery or unable to do night-time delivery for labor reasons, they may be quite willing to earn a markup by partnering with Luna. They already have similar relationship with USPS which handles last mile deliveries, which is what it looks like Luna is going for.
- tyrelb 13y agoI would use this in Canada (Vancouver!)