Parcel delivery in an apartment building

Getting parcels delivered in an apartment building can be a challenge especially from businesses that do not use the local postal system. In our building we get our mail delivered to our unit and parcels are given to us if we are home as the postal worker knocks on the door. If we aren’t home, we have a postal box in our lobby and a key is left and we can go downstairs to collect the parcel. 

When it comes to some other businesses that delivery is done so differently. Normally the parcel is simply dropped off at your door and it doesn’t matter if you are home or not. Now when it comes to apartment buildings at least in Toronto, there is an issue having parcels just dropped off at your door. See, it is against fire regulations to have anything outside an apartment unit.

So here are some suggestions that I have regarding delivery of those types of parcels:

• There needs to be a location within the building where these parcels can be dropped.
• If you are ordering from these businesses make sure that you are going to be home the day that the parcel is scheduled to be delivered so you can collect, it when it’s dropped off.
• Track the item if possible as that is one way to know that there is something sitting outside your door. This is a good idea even if you live in a house.
• If you cannot be home when the delivery is going to arrive have it send to another location, example the local postal station or to someone else who will be home.
• Tracking may not be real-time, and your parcel may have arrived before it shows it has been delivered (if possible, listen for something being dropped off).

I understand that not everyone can be home all the time but what is important is to try and know when a parcel is going to arrive and make the necessary arrangements do that a parcel is not left outside your door for too long.

Something that these businesses also need to do is at least knock on the door so that if someone is home, they can quickly collect the item. The simple knock will help quite a bit otherwise unless you keep checking the door you won’t know the parcel has arrived. Another thing that type of business need to improve on is the picture they take when they drop the parcel off. Make sure that the unit number of street number shows in the picture because too often you have no idea where that parcel has been delivered.

So, if you are getting parcels delivered try your best to be around to collect your parcel from outside to ensure that it’s not sitting there for too long so that someone else doesn’t walk off with it.