Amazon.com has been experimenting with delivering goods to lockers for more than a year now in the Seattle area, part of a trial by the online retailer to get even closer to customers. Since then, Amazon has announced partnerships with Staples and Radio Shack for its lockers.
Now, it looks like another online retailer wants to follow Amazon’s trailblazing ways.
TechCrunch reports that Overstock is considering a new locker system for customers who order products through its site, with the tech news site obtaining a survey that laid out the company’s potential plans.
The survey even asks customers if they’ve heard of Amazon Lockers, or used them before.
Instead of shipping your packages to your home address, they can be delivered to a specified locker location selected during checkout. There are no additional charges for the service. When the package is delivered to the locker, you receive a confirmation email or text message containing a pickup code. Using the locker’s touchscreen, the pickup code is entered to open the locker containing the package.
As TechCrunch notes, storage locker efforts like these appear to be the “new black” in e-commerce. Late last month, Google jumped into the business when it purchased Toronto area startup BufferBox.
So, what do you think? Would you shop this way? Is it convenient to have a secure spot to pick up your packages?
It is something to think about, especially at this time of year when more packages are being left on doorsteps, creating an easy target for thieves.
Here’s a look at Todd Bishop’s trial of the Amazon Lockers last year, using the service to buy a pack of batteries.
