How do you manage parcel and package deliveries if you are mobile?

[Martyn]

I just wondered how you manage this if you are mobile and work from home. As I get busier and busier I'm finding planning my days more difficult. Up until now there has always been someone at home but this has changed and it is just me during the day. Yesterday I had three deliveries and today I've got three coming but I've got two calls to go to. I know sometimes they will leave the packages in a place for you to pick up and sometimes just a card so you have to go and pick it up but it's time consuming wait in the queue at the post office sorting centre. There is problably no easy answer to this just thought I would throw it out there.

 

[4ycr]

I am lucky just now as I have someone that can take them but have you looked at a virtual office? They can take mail, usually they just send it to you but you might be able to just ask them to keep it until you pick it up.

While it might cost some ££'s a month it might be easier for your deliveries.

 

[Kitten Kong]

For me, I find it all depends on who the carrier is. I know all the courier drivers, and even the special delivery royal mail driver.

They each do different things for me. UPS always comes to the workshop, City link, always leaves the parcels by the back door. DPD always comes to the back door, or the workshop. (DPD are the only ones who turn up around 5.30-6pm).

With the normal postie, they drop the card off. Then its usually Sat morning before I can get to the PO, as the main office is just over 3 miles away.

Could you not leave a note on your door etc, asking for the drivers to do something similar, ie leave safe place, or a neighbour?

 

[anglian]

Whilst I do not have this problem now, I did used to.
I solved it by putting a large plastic box (mine was fixed to the wall) where parcels could be placed inside. Most firms will leave parcels without a signature if they have your instructions to do so.

 

[coreyspeed]

Could try one of these, not sure how it would work with anyone other than royalmail but leaving instructions should secure they leave them for you

http://www.hippo-box.co.uk/hippo_default.aspx?pg=h1

 

[MotzTech]

You could try partnering with a local business to accept your deliveries. In some places their are even businesses that do just this, kinda like a PO box for your packages. The UPS store comes to mind.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

This was one of the reasons we moved our office to some professional center suites...our old location, if we were on the road, made for difficult send/receive of packages. New location..plenty of people around here to receive our boxes if we're not here. Plus we hired a full time office manager girl not long ago.

But while you're in the growth stages...one option for you, there are often private "parcel centers"...or "mailbox" stores. They are a place you can go to ship boxes...and you can open up your own PO Box there and have stuff waiting for you. Basically you can come and go to ship/pickup at your convenience. You may have some in your area....I have 2 within 5 miles of my office.

 

[rsarceno]

I used big PO Box. My PO box is accessible 24x7. But if I received a parcel bigger than the box then I have to go in during business hours.

 

[NerdDetective]

If your local post office tends to be very busy, you might consider favoring a private courier for orders and requesting all of your packages to be held for pickup. If you can swing by and get them during your daily routine, it might ease the pain of a long line at the post office. Of course, that depends on what you have available and your timing. Back when I used to work as a bench tech, I'd sometimes be sent the nearby FedEx center to get a bunch of packages that we'd held for pickup.

 

[cantech]

I do it two ways. When I place my orders over the phone with a rep, I ask for Hold for Pickup. Both UPS and Fedex allow this as a free option. Then I go pick it up bright and early. You usually need to know the address of your local center which is available on their prospective web sites. I usually receive packages from UPS, so I got it down to a science. It works for me anyway.

If I order online I enter "hold for pickup at ups center" and enter their address under special instructions. If that isn't available, once I have my tracking number, I logon on to UPS MY CHOICE which is free to sign up. I enter the tracking number and then change it to will call(free). When tracking you will then see that it is waiting for you or you can setup an email alert for status updates.

These options allow you to pickup your package before a first attempt at delivery is made. Just take your tracking number with you to pickup and your license. I also make sure my name is on the attention, because if its just your company name, some ups employees might give you a hard time as the company name isn't on your license.