Perhaps the pandemic was a catalyst for many, but online shopping remains red hot in Canada, with more than 75% of the population enjoying the benefits of “click and ship” shopping today, according to StatsCan.
After all, you can browse and buy things 24/7, in the comfort of your pajamas; you don’t have to fight traffic to drive to the mall and circle the parking lot; it’s easy to compare prices between multiple online retailers; and products are delivered right to your door.
Problem is, it’s summertime, and so you may be spending less time at home to receive the parcels.
The last thing you want is your gifts to be lifted from your doorstep by “porch pirates.”
Sure, you can often specify at checkout when you’d like your package delivered by the courier, or where to leave the package, but we all know this isn’t always adhered to.
While condo dwellers may have added protection if the package is left with a concierge/security in the lobby, those in a house may consider these following ideas.
PERSONAL PARCEL BOX
In the era of online deliveries, perhaps your own lockable parcel box is what you need?
Brands like Danby, Yoobox and Vevor sell a family of solutions for your porch.
Starting at about $150, these weatherproof boxes can accept several medium or even large boxes (some up to 15 x 18 x 22 inches apiece), dropped into an anti-theft drop slot, which you’d open when you get home via a mechanical key, keypad, or your own padlock (based on the brand and model).
For extra protection, most can be bolted to the ground or wall, chained to a railing, or weight can be added to the base of the unit (using sand or gravel).
If you want a high-tech mailbox, there’s also the Danby Parcel Guard Smart Mailbox ($425), a Wi-Fi-connected unit with motion sensor, camera, two-way voice communication, smart home device integration (Google and Alexa), and alarm. Receive real-time notifications on your smartphone app when a courier is there.
To open the electronic lock to access parcels inside, use the keypad or the app. (Note: the Smart Mailbox requires a 120-volt power supply.)
Of course, these are ideal for regular mail, too, should you get letters delivered right to your home where you live.
VIDEO DOORBELLS
While it can’t stop a thief from taking your stuff, video doorbells and other outdoor cameras can act as a deterrent, plus you’ll have clear evidence of any incident.
As you likely know, these relatively inexpensive solutions let you see who’s at your front door – whether you’re home or not – and talk with visitors via the integrated microphone and speaker (and whomever you’re chatting with won’t even know if you’re not at home).
There are several video doorbells and outdoor cameras available on the market.
Starting at about $69, Amazon’s Ring is likely the most popular video doorbell brand in Canada. They’re easy to install, work well, and have a battery that lasts a long time between charges.
Know that for many of these doorbells (from Ring, Blink, or Google Nest), it’s free to talk with a visitor live through the app (or a compatible smart display or television) in real-time, but you’ll need to pay to access previously recorded videos in the “cloud” (stored on the company’s servers). That is, to review what you missed a few hours or days earlier, and access other features (like sharing videos and photos), you’ll need a plan that costs a few dollars a month.
Some brands offer video doorbells that record onto local microSD cards and do not require a monthly plan.
DELIVER TO ANOTHER LOCATION
Another idea is to have the packages delivered to a nearby post office or private companies that offer PO boxes.
Canada Post, for example, offers a range of post office box sizes to hold your mail and packages safely at a nearby facility. Choose the size you want and your desired rental period.
The downside, of course, is that you need to make an extra stop on your way home from work or vacation.
Finally, one other option is if you work somewhere and your boss doesn’t mind, you might also direct online deliveries to your place of business if it’s during working hours.
AMAZON KEY, PLEASE COME TO CANADA!
Our friends to the south have a great service from Amazon – but alas, it’s not available yet in the Great White North.
Snowbirds, however, should consider Amazon Key In-Garage Delivery for their U.S. address.
Free for Amazon Prime members, it allows a (vetted) courier to open your garage door to place packages inside, then close it behind them. Simply select “Key Delivery” at checkout when shopping for items (including groceries) and you’ll receive a notification upon arrival, along with an option to watch the delivery live via a camera.
It works with many smart garages like Chamberlain’s myQ, Aladdin Connect, OHD Anywhere, and others. The driver uses a one-time code provided by Amazon, therefore there is no need to share your garage code.
While Amazon Key In-Garage is not available here, Amazon Canada shared a few suggestions for a smooth delivery experience:
– If you have access to Alexa or an Echo smart speaker or display (from $69), every time a package arrives you can enable notifications directly on the Echo device, so that the moment the package is delivered, you get a notification to fetch it from your doorstep.
– If you don’t have an Echo device, or you’re not at home, you can get notifications on the Amazon Shopping app (iOS or Android) the package has arrived. Maybe you can have a trusted neighbour, family member or friend retrieve it for you if you’re not going to be home for a while.
– Similarly, in most areas the app will also update to show you how far away the driver is with a map, showing where they are right now, i.e. “6 stops away,” and it will still show you the estimated arrival window.