UPS would have package centers in supermarkets so you could pickup and drop off packages when you go shopping.
Having packages delivered to the market would be cheaper for UPS because it would be less deliveries, and you would not have to worry about missing the UPS guy.
It also would be a plus for the supermarket (which might give the space for free), because while you are there to pickup a package you can get that OJ and bread that you needed.-- macrumpton, May 24 2004 Similar concept http://www.halfbake...0Delivery_20ServiceBut yours seems easier on the customer. [Worldgineer, Oct 05 2004] Collect Plus http://www.collectplus.co.uk/UK service to collect parcels at a local shop. [rodti, Jul 08 2014] This could be serious competition for chains like Mailboxes Etc. If the supermarket adds some mail boxes for postal deliveries I would even be willing to pay a fee.-- kbecker, May 24 2004 When ordering merchandise, would you specify that deliveries be made to your local supermarket delivery center? Or would this be a default delivery site if UPS was not able to deliver to your home door?
I'm a litle bit confused about the addressing procedure. In nearly every case that I can think of, I would most prefer that a package was delivered directly to my doorstep or driveway. If the package cannot be delivered because it requires a signature and no one is at home, then delivery to my local 24-hour supermarket is a more desirable alternative than having to make a special trip to a less convenient hours-restricted carrier center. But, my point is, how does the UPS delivery driver know which supermarket to deliver my package to on default?
There would have to be an Alternate Delivery Address line specified on each waybill, plus there would still have to be a mechanism --a phone message or doorknob hanger-- advising you that your delivery had been re-directed to the secondary delivery site.
I don't think this system would save the parcel delivery service any money, since most people would prefer the personalized home or office delivery as their first choice. But placing alternate delivery sites in specific local supermarkets seems like a very good customer satisfaction idea for the parcel service, and an equally good idea for the supermarket that aspires to be a full-service destination.-- jurist, May 25 2004 [macrumpton] I reckon you're on to a winner here. Well done (+)-- neilp, May 25 2004 Eh? It would be a University of Puget Sound Uninteruptible Power Source United Parcel Service?-- jurist, May 25 2004 Great idea +
// most people would prefer the personalized home or office delivery as their first choice // - that's true [jurist] but most of the time I already know I won't be there when the delivery comes as its *always* during my working hours, so the opportunity to specify my local supermarket as an alternative would be valuable to me.
Isn't there something about fraud protection involved? I've had trouble in the past getting goods ordered via credit card delivered anywhere but my home address. I suppose the idea is to prevent some scrote who has copied your card details down from buying goods and delivering them to his/her preferred collection point. Presumably the supermarket would require photo-id before handing over your goods.-- dobtabulous, May 25 2004 good idea, does lead to the problem of nearest super market though may require either one chain to take the idea on or for you to specify the chain. i work opposite the local ASDA but live near the TESCOs-- engineer1, May 25 2004 This is baked in Sweden where post offices are a dying species.-- FarmerJohn, May 25 2004 [jurist] //I don't think this system would save the parcel delivery service any money, since most people would prefer the personalized home or office delivery as their first choice.//
I focused more on this in my idea. It would work best as a seperate, less expensive, service. You wouldn't need a large staff of people to deliver packages door to door, just a few to drop them off at the supermarket. Sure, there will be those that want packages delivered to their home, but these people will use the standard UPS (and pay more).-- Worldgineer, May 25 2004 ??? Many of our markets, hardware stores, drugstores etc already have UPS pickup counters. ???-- bobad, May 25 2004 //competition for chains like Mailboxes Etc.// Well, not in that case. Mailboxes Etc. was recently purchased by UPS itself, and all the stores are now called "The UPS Store".
Isn't this idea the same basic idea behind the strip mall? Most of the UPS Stores I know of are indeed attached to the same building as a supermarket. Not sure what the innovation is here, stores have been banding together into strip malls and regular malls to provide customer convenience like this for decades. You can have packages delivered to an address at the store, that's where the "mailbox" part of the old "Mailboxes Etc" name came from.-- krelnik, May 25 2004 I think this idea is missing an the advantage over a UPS store. All you need is a seperate company with a different business model (no door-to-door delivery), and you'll end up with a less expensive delivery service.-- Worldgineer, May 25 2004 My scheme was that you would sign up for the service with UPS, and any package that they recieve with your address/name would be diverted it to the supermarket (with a branch) of your choice.
It would be cheaper for them, as there are less delivery trips and the supermarket likes the additional traffic, and you don't have to be home to get a package.
In many areas delivery services can't leave a package without a signature, so you end up adjusting your schedule to recieve your stuff.-- macrumpton, May 25 2004 Correct me if I'm wrong: part of the business model here is that the rent is free, or at least cheap. [krelnik], the strip mall idea offers the same convenience, but at full cost for rent.-- xrayTed, May 27 2004 Supermarket vs Stripmall: Since I go to my particular supermarket about once a week I know that I can pick up my packages there, whereas while I go to stripmalls there is no one that I always go to every week.
The appeal was that the store would benefit from increased traffic from eager package recievers, UPS would benefit from getting a new way to cheaply deliver packages and having new locations for clients to send packages from, and the clients get the convienience of not having to wait for the ups guy. Everyone wins!-- macrumpton, Jun 02 2004 I believe FedEx does this at the Jewel store at Ogden Ave and Aurora Ave in Naperville, IL.-- supercat, Jun 02 2004 Baked in the UK - Most good delivery companies will leave stuff at the nearest post office. Since they already have the infrastructure to determine where that is, and the post office has facilities to store it securely, verify your indetity and even collect any fees due it works rather well.
Although, the post offices are closing fast, and it seems the supermarkets are sprouting everywhere (and taking their place - you can even do over-the-counter banking at some Tescos I believe)-- Jim'll Break It, Jun 04 2004 Baked in the UK, Collect Plus allows your parcels to be delivered or collected from a participating local shop.-- rodti, Jul 08 2014 random, halfbakery