Would you give Amazon the key to your house?

[cypher1]

Sounds like way too much of a liability. I don't have a family, and if I did, there's no way I'd let a stranger potentially come inside anytime with kids at home.

[rennigade]

From Amazon?

Yep. They always use massive boxes for the smallest of things. Seems wasteful to me but there must be a reason from their pov.

[disneysteve]

Yep. They always use massive boxes for the smallest of things. Seems wasteful to me but there must be a reason from their pov.

Yep. The boxes are often way, way bigger than the item being shipped. I assume it's just an efficiency thing. Grab a box and ship. Don't waste time trying to find the right size for every item.

What bothers me more is that they often don't adequately pad items in those big boxes. It's not only important for fragile things. I hate getting a book, for example, with the corners all bent because it was banging around in a big box. And at least twice, we've had bottles of shampoo or conditioner leak in the box, probably from getting knocked around without adequate padding.

[disneysteve]

there's no way I'd let a stranger potentially come inside anytime with kids at home.

They wouldn't need to come in while you're home.

Still, I agree that I wouldn't do this. I'm not giving some stranger a key to my house.

[Nutria]

Yep. The boxes are often way, way bigger than the item being shipped. I assume it's just an efficiency thing. Grab a box and ship. Don't waste time trying to find the right size for every item.

Interesting. I've always had exactly the opposite experience with Amazon.

What bothers me more is that they often don't adequately pad items in those big boxes. It's not only important for fragile things. I hate getting a book, for example, with the corners all bent because it was banging around in a big box. And at least twice, we've had bottles of shampoo or conditioner leak in the box, probably from getting knocked around without adequate padding.

The opposite problem is why I stopped buying jarred and some bagged stuff from Walmart: they wrap it up in so much brown paper , it'll survive a five story fall, but it's a waste for a single jar.

[scfr]

I wouldn't give them a key to my home, but if I got a lot of packages (I don't) I'd be willing to re-key my garage door and giving them a key to that so that they could set packages inside the garage.

Other options to make package delivery more secure short of handing over a key to the home: Key to the shed, key to the gate to access the courtyard, or key to backyard gate to leave packages on back porch, etc.

I wonder if more houses will start to be built with vestibules (not sure if that is the right word) where you have an outer door, a very small space where deliveries can be left, and then an inner door with a different key leading to the main house?

[creditcardfree]

No way.

[rennigade]

Not to mention UPS drivers work 12+ hour days. They practically run packages to doorsteps because they have so many to deliver. Do you really think they want to deal with fumbling with keys, typing in a special code to unlock door or contacting the homeowner and having them remotely open/unlock a door with a smartphone. UPS will need to hire a lot more drivers if thats the case. There wont be enough time in the day for them to deliver all the packages.

Although if amazon continues to grow and take over...they'll probably start their own delivery service and cut out ups/usps. Like everything else it will start in major metro area/major cities and spread like wildfire.

[Thrif-t]

Not to mention UPS drivers work 12+ hour days. They practically run packages to doorsteps because they have so many to deliver. Do you really think they want to deal with fumbling with keys, typing in a special code to unlock door or contacting the homeowner and having them remotely open/unlock a door with a smartphone. UPS will need to hire a lot more drivers if thats the case. There wont be enough time in the day for them to deliver all the packages.

Although if amazon continues to grow and take over...they'll probably start their own delivery service and cut out ups/usps. Like everything else it will start in major metro area/major cities and spread like wildfire.

Yep they are already on it https://flex.amazon.com/

[Nutria]

I wonder if more houses will start to be built with vestibules (not sure if that is the right word) where you have an outer door, a very small space where deliveries can be left, and then an inner door with a different key leading to the main house?

Everything old is new again.

[Budget Kitty]

Not a chance. The last thing I want is people coming into my home when no one is there. Or imagine they come walking in while you are home...you step out of the shower and find someone standing there holding a box! No thanks.

[disneysteve]

Everything old is new again.

I have absolutely no idea what that photo is supposed to represent. Obviously some reference I'm not getting.

[Nutria]

I have absolutely no idea what that photo is supposed to represent. Obviously some reference I'm not getting.

It's a little milkman's door.

[disneysteve]

It's a little milkman's door.

Sorry, I don't know what that means. Did the milkman deliver the milk through that door?

I'm old enough to remember home milk delivery but it was to a rack on the front step, not inside the house.

[Nutria]

Sorry, I don't know what that means. Did the milkman deliver the milk through that door?

Yes. There's also the iceman's door, which is probably more relevant to Amazon.

I'm old enough to remember home milk delivery but it was to a rack on the front step, not inside the house.

Different systems in different areas.