[Klaustrophobia]

that just doesn't happen here.  occasionally packages will need to be signed for.  i guess that's set by the shipper.  the private delivery companies will leave a package on your doorstep.  hell half the time they don't even knock/ring the doorbell if signature isn't required.  it will only be held at the post office for pickup if it was actually delivered through the USPS.  it seems though that the private shippers do have keys to our mailboxes, because packages small enough will be put in there.  or maybe they hand it off to the local post office if they know it's small enough.

[Lorric]

Do they use drones? Or are you talking about real people? A real person can hide something away, and tell you where it is.

They are talking about real people. And no, a postal worker (Regardless of which service provider) who just "hides" packages is grossly negligent.

Here's a story: Couple months back, I bought a PS3 via Amazon. Delivery was via DHL. The idiot who made the delivery, upon not finding anyone at our home, decided it would be a marvellous idea to hide the package ... in the waste paper bin outside my home.
Now, everything went just fine, I got the package and all, but there are so many things that could have gone wrong. Protocol for this is to first see if any neighbor is available to take the package. If that's not possible for whatever reason, the package is taken back to the nearest post office so that the recipient can get it himself.
By dumping this package in the bin, there was a severe risk of it getting stolen. There are a lot of kids in this street, lots of people goign by, one of them would just have to witness this and see a shiny big Amazon package in the bin. Or, radical thought, what would have happened if these bins were emptied on that day?

Messing with mail is a pretty big offence in most jurisdictions. Ensuring secure delivery is one of the reasons why we pay companies like DHL and UPS for their services.
Part of that is that the deliverer HAS to have positive confirmation that the package has been safely delivered to the recipient or a proxy. "Just hide it"? No, thank you.

So you had problems with your PS3 delivery as well, eh? At least they took it the right address!

I prefer them to hide it I think than have to go to the trouble of going out and getting it. Though in my experience, they've been intelligent about where it's been put.

that just doesn't happen here.  occasionally packages will need to be signed for.  i guess that's set by the shipper.  the private delivery companies will leave a package on your doorstep.  hell half the time they don't even knock/ring the doorbell if signature isn't required.  it will only be held at the post office for pickup if it was actually delivered through the USPS.  it seems though that the private shippers do have keys to our mailboxes, because packages small enough will be put in there.  or maybe they hand it off to the local post office if they know it's small enough.

Ugh, where do you live?

I guess it's more about the people delivering the goods than the policy of hiding things. Though I'm sure some people won't like this no matter how well hidden a package has been.

[Scourge of Ages]

Every delivery company I've worked with will only acquire a signature if the sender has requested the service (unless UPS or FedEx to a business address, where it's included). Signature confirmation is expensive (at least $1 extra to postage), and so most senders will just ignore it, especially for low-cost purchases. Yes, they definitely should spring for it with something like a PS3, but some sellers just don't care that much.

In situations where a signature is not required, it's often up to the delivery person him/herself (or policy) to decide whether to leave the parcel on a doorstep or return it to the delivery office. Since it's often more work for all involved to take it back to the office, most carriers will just leave it if they don't have a very good reason not to (like creepers watching for lost parcels and stuff). And 99% of the time, that works just fine. And the other 1% is not significant enough to anybody but the buyer to really worry about. Sucks to be that buyer though, cause insurance is a PAIN.

[BloodEagle]

Is it just going to drop your package and leave? If you're not there, anyone could come in and steal it.

It seems to be working for UPS.

Do they use drones? Or are you talking about real people? A real person can hide something away, and tell you where it is.

No, they just tend to drop the package at my door and leave.  No matter the cost of the item.  For instance, a complete and working computer in a computer-case shaped box.

Although I will admit that they do ring the doorbell about 20% of the time.

FedEx and USPS don't do this.  Although FedEx tends to stick the 'you were gone sticker' on my door without bothering to check and see if I was actually there.

Postal service ****ing sucks over here.

[karajorma]

Here's a story: Couple months back, I bought a PS3 via Amazon. Delivery was via DHL. The idiot who made the delivery, upon not finding anyone at our home, decided it would be a marvellous idea to hide the package ... in the waste paper bin outside my home.
Now, everything went just fine, I got the package and all, but there are so many things that could have gone wrong. Protocol for this is to first see if any neighbor is available to take the package. If that's not possible for whatever reason, the package is taken back to the nearest post office so that the recipient can get it himself.
By dumping this package in the bin, there was a severe risk of it getting stolen. There are a lot of kids in this street, lots of people goign by, one of them would just have to witness this and see a shiny big Amazon package in the bin. Or, radical thought, what would have happened if these bins were emptied on that day?

So, how tempted were you to keep the PS3 and then report that it didn't arrive "to teach them a lesson"?

[Flak]

Something interesting here, so someone with the right idea can actually ninja your shipments

http://news.discovery.com/tech/robotics/drone-hijacks-others-in-air-makes-them-zombies-131205.htm#mkcpgn=fbdsc17

[StarSlayer]

The best is after you've accrued enough of Amazon's VTOLs and get some heavy lift capacity you can modify them to steal other peoples' stuff.  Send them across town and make off with grills, garden gnomes and lawn furniture.

[z64555]

Something interesting here, so someone with the right idea can actually ninja your shipments

http://news.discovery.com/tech/robotics/drone-hijacks-others-in-air-makes-them-zombies-131205.htm#mkcpgn=fbdsc17

That's only for Parrot drones, you know, the toy drones that can barely hold itself aloft, much less any 5lb packages.

It does however, show that it's a good idea to encrypt the blasted control channels. Bluetooth would be a good choice for short range (like within 1 city block) but they'll need a proper suite of devices to ensure long range safety.

[The E]

Here's a story: Couple months back, I bought a PS3 via Amazon. Delivery was via DHL. The idiot who made the delivery, upon not finding anyone at our home, decided it would be a marvellous idea to hide the package ... in the waste paper bin outside my home.
Now, everything went just fine, I got the package and all, but there are so many things that could have gone wrong. Protocol for this is to first see if any neighbor is available to take the package. If that's not possible for whatever reason, the package is taken back to the nearest post office so that the recipient can get it himself.
By dumping this package in the bin, there was a severe risk of it getting stolen. There are a lot of kids in this street, lots of people goign by, one of them would just have to witness this and see a shiny big Amazon package in the bin. Or, radical thought, what would have happened if these bins were emptied on that day?

So, how tempted were you to keep the PS3 and then report that it didn't arrive "to teach them a lesson"?

Honestly? Not very. The hassle involved in setting up insurance claims etc just wasn't worth it.

[karajorma]

Morality due to laziness! The most effective kind.