Well of course, most of HN is extremely privileged and thus isolated from such problems. I wouldn't expect the average tech worker in a gated community or access controlled apartment complex to get it.
Even for the narrow segment of society in that situation, you're not required to give your money to Apple and then stay home 24/7 to immediately scoop up your packages. You could get a lockbox too, and guess what, they're cheaper than phones.
> going door to door between cornfields with a mile between houses
That's not the type of situation most people live in.
>don't assume everyone lives the same life as you
Likewise.
> Overall, total estimated annual losses range from a low of $5.2 billion in 2023 to $16 billion in 2024
> In 2024, the U.S. ecommerce market reached an estimated $1.22 trillion in revenue
So... between 0.4% and 1.3% of packages by value are affected, concentrated in specific geographic areas. A narrow segment of society highly affected, complaining often and making the issue seem wider than it is. The rest of us living our lives as normal.
I would complain very loudly as well.
> 29.7% of U.S. households experienced package theft within a single 12-month period.
That seems like enough households to make tracking an important feature for most retailers.
While many of those packages might be classified as junk, others might contain medicine for your child or an auto part needed to get to work.
https://www.omnisend.com/porch-pirates/?utm_source=gemini&hl...
CTV covered [1] how it was only roughly one-in-ten annually as well, which is again a far cry from the numbers in the states.
Does it happen? Yes. Is tracking a harder requirement for Americans due to a lower-trust society? I would say yes as well. Personally, I consider it nice to have, not required.
[0] https://globalnews.ca/news/6196297/canada-porch-pirates-fede...
[1] https://www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/article/one-out-of-10-canadia...
So the junkies look for the bright yellow letters and open your packages. If it was clothes you will find them somewhere on the street close by
Going back to your original post, now that we have some numbers to work with, do you really believe that 70.3% of Americans are "extremely privileged" people living in gated communities?