It was a cold, uncomfortable experience. But I had no choice because I wanted to quickly get my hands on the Amazon parcel that I'd missed the day before.
As I work from home, being out when a delivery arrives is a rare event, and on this occasion it was particularly frustrating as I needed the item as soon as possible.
By coincidence, the following day I received a press release for a gadget that promises to solve the problem of missed deliveries.
The exotically named ParcelPal Secure Container is a big metal box with a key-operated door on the front. You attach it to your house or office and go out for the day in the knowledge that when your online shopping or an unexpected lumpy gift from Auntie Mabel arrives, you won't simply recieve a 'sorry we missed you' slip through your letterbox.
The Secure Container is more than just storage box. It comes with an intercom unit, which presumably has a button labelled: 'If we're out press here'. Pushing said button initiates a call to a pre-designated mobile phone number, allowing the delivery person to hold a conversation with the phone user.
Assuming that the phone user is happy to accept the parcel, they use their phone keypad to unlock the Secure Container remotely. The delivery is put inside the container and, I assume, the delivery person is responsible for ensuring the lockable door is firmly closed.
If you only miss parcels occasionally, the Secure Container isn't for you. Because of the mobile phone technology it has to be rented, rather than bought, at a cost of £24.99 per month. Amazon and eBay powersellers are interested in the product, apparently, because of the high volumes of deliveries they receive.
I won't be queuing for a ParcelPal Secure Container. But it's an interesting application of mobile technology and may find a niche with some home-based small businesses.
Want to find out more about the ParcelPal Secure Container? Click here.
Do you have an innovative product that might be of interest to small businesses? We'd be happy to hear from you.
