Ahoy, mateys! Holiday shopping season is upon us and your (not-so) friendly neighborhood porch pirates are gearing up to pilfer the holiday treasures being delivered to your doorstep.
The holiday season can be stressful enough with arranging travel or hosting overnight guests; baking; cleaning; shopping and wrapping gifts. You don’t need the extra burden of some crooks stealing your joy and peace of mind.
Here are some ways you can conquer the porch pirates and have the best holiday ever.
Have your packages delivered elsewhere
If you have the luxury of being able to have your packages delivered to your office, this is one of the best options. As a bonus, you can easily hide the gifts from your family. If this isn’t an option, have your orders shipped to a neighbor or family member who is home during the day.
You can also pick up FedEx packages at one of their stores or at local participating Walgreens locations, and arrange to pick up UPS packages at a local UPS Store. Or, you can coordinate deliveries for a day that you are home.
Use smart tech
In a recent survey by PCMag, 25% of respondents had a video doorbell, and 17% had a smart lock. Spending a little extra on these gadgets is worth it for many for added security and to fend off porch pirates.
Smart locks, which range in price from $100-300, allow you to unlock your door from your smartphone or computer. Similarly, video doorbells provide live feed of who is at your door, and allow you to speak through them remotely. These tools can help you instruct delivery people on where to drop the packages and/or lock up after they leave.
Have packages delivered into your garage
Amazon Key allows Amazon Prime members to have their packages delivered directly into their garage.
With their smart technology, Amazon delivery drivers scan your package to receive one-time access to your garage. They also have recommended (but optional) security cameras you can place in your garage, to ensure both your packages and your other possessions are safe and sound.
Track your packages
If high-tech gadgets aren’t your thing, simply use your low-tech skills to track your packages. The U.S. Postal Service, UPS, FedEx, and Amazon all offer online tracking tools.
You can sign up for USPS Informed Delivery to automatically get a daily email containing scans of the mail being delivered and tracking numbers of expected packages.
Additionally, UPS offers the My Choice program. and FedEx’s Delivery Manager can also help you keep track of your packages. Amazon provides tracking information for all its deliveries in your order details.
In short, your special deliveries are at risk, and the porch pirates are sure to be marking their spots of opportunity this holiday season. Use these tips from Elevate Credit Union, and check out more on our MoneySmart Tips blog.
