Hacker News Reader

Comment by rabidgnat | Hacker News Reader

I think that the rise of Amazon as the primary retailer leaves the delivery market ripe for upheaval. The current delivery model is kind of awkward: they do a first delivery when you're at work, and then trying to coordinate with them becomes a huge hassle. I usually end up having packages delivered to my parents' house, since they won't leave packages at my door at my current apartment (and rightfully so!)

To me, it seems like it's in Amazon's best interest to use a delivery service that is more convenient for the end user than the current model, like picking from available delivery dates and times.

View on HN

In Germany (where Amazon uses DHL), DHL has "PackStations" scattered around the country where you can go to pick up your package if they miss you at home delivery. I think in most cases they're within half a mile of the home they tried to deliver to.

So when Amazon misses me, I just walk over with the DSL slip that says a package is there and scan the barcode on it and grab my package.

The Danish Post has installed such a system for general packages here. If they cannot deliver, they stick it in such a machine (open 24/7) and you can pick it up. But you can also put a special delivery address on your package so it will end up there right away (and you'll get a text message when it's there).

You can also supposedly send packages from them.

> You can also supposedly send packages from them.

In Germany too. Did not try it yet, though.

FYI: I don't know what alternative delivery services exist (the nice thing about living way out in the country is that they'll leave anything at the door if you're not home!), but when I lived in an apt in town, I had an account with the local Mailboxes Etc. (now UPS store) and I just had my packages shipped there and could pick them up at my convenience.

It seems like drop-boxes, like the ones used to return library books, could be built into the rooms in new apartment buildings. That would probably solve the delivery problem except when shipping really big packages (e.g. televisions).

Apartment buildings already have simpler options: an in-complex office that receives all deliveries on your behalf and checks them out to you. The problem is, you've changed the problem to "redoing how the country builds apartments, and rebuilding all the apartment buildings" when the original problem, "find a way to deliver packages at more convenient times", was an easier problem to begin with.

Lots of mailboxes, and not just at apartment buildings, already have dropboxes: http://www.mailboxworks.com/AF_Outdoor_Parcel_Locker.html

You don't really need one for every room because not everybody is going to get a delivery every day. One for every 10 rooms would be enough most of the time.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com