Hassle-Free Guide to Ensuring Your Gifts are Actually Received
In the busyness of the approaching holiday season, online shopping can be a quick and convenient option for many. Not only does it allow you to buy for multiple people at once from the comfort of your couch, you can also search for discounts and compare prices with other stores. In fact, based on data from credible sources such as Experian, Deloitte and the National Retail Foundation 55 percent of all holiday purchases take place online. That inevitably makes December the season for doorsteps full of goodies. There’s been recent talk of package theft in the news, so here are four ways to ensure YOU are the one who ends up with your holiday shipments:
Make Use of Your Community
If you know a neighbor who is retired or is frequently at home during the day, ask them if they would be willing to do you a favor by keeping an eye out on your front porch. Likewise for nearby family members. Perhaps they might be willing to put your packages inside your house for you while you’re away. Another option might be to ship things directly to their house. Remember, this type of favor will likely merit some kind of “thank you” for the hassle. Think cookies with a little handwritten note. It’s the little things!
Shipping Alternatives
Explore a different shipping option than the standard delivery methods. Many places offer alternatives like shipping to the store for pick-up. If that’s not an option or you don’t want to venture out to the store, consider shipping packages to work if that’s okay with your employer.
Surveillance & Technology
The “Ring” doorbell and similar technologies are making it easier to monitor your home and protect your packages. With this technology, you can receive instant alerts when anyone rings your doorbell or is detected by motion sensors. Some even offer two-way talk which allows you to communicate to the courier where to place your packages. Perhaps you have a special hiding place like behind the shrub to the left of the door.
Retailer Accommodations
Look into the perks of each retailer you’re shopping with. It’s common for stores to offer features that make tracking and monitoring deliveries a breeze. For example, if you’re an Amazon Prime member you can choose the day of the week a shipment is delivered, maybe you’re always home on Tuesdays! Signing up for delivery alerts is also a great way to keep a hold on things. The United States Postal Service offers a service called “Informed Delivery” which allows packaging-tracking via email or text notifications indicating delivery status. Likewise, you can also sign up for “UPS My Choice” for shipping notifications. Amazon offers something called “Key by Amazon” for Prime members as well; this allows you to set Amazon couriers up with direct access to your garage or home allowing you to rest assured that your packages are safe and secure in your home right away.
All in all, online shopping helps to take the stress out of holiday shopping. We hope this article will help you take it a step further this year with a few extra precautions.
Sources:
Schäferhoff, Nick. “Holiday Ecommerce Shopping & Marketing Statistics [2018 – 2019].” WebsiteSetup.org, Website Setup, 11 Mar. 2019, websitesetup.org/holiday-ecommerce-marketing-statistics/.