Can This Startup Stop Holiday Package Thefts?

Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.

There's a better than decent chance that you're going to receive a holiday package before the end of the year. If there's a way for UPS or FedEx to leave boxes inside your building or gated entryway, those prezzies are pretty exciting. If you're racing home to intercept a box from your stoop before a thief does, it's a hassle. So Doorman is ramping up in San Francisco at just the right time.

The startup app lets you ship your packages to a central location to avoid those ne'er do wells who steal your unattended stuff. Doorman alerts you when your package arrives, and lets you schedule a delivery time that's convenient for you. The company delivers daily from 6 pm until midnight.

Right now, the service is available at three different pricing levels. You can pay $3.99 per package or commit to unlimited packages for $19 per month. Both of those options come with a two-hour delivery window. For $29 per month, you can upgrade to unlimited packages, a one-hour delivery window, and unlimited pick-up for your pre-paid shipments. Doorman's couriers receive a bonus for each package they delivery, so (like Uber and Lyft), you don't have to tip.

There are, of course, limitations to what you can receive at those price points. Doorman cannot deliver hazardous or illegal goods, and oversized packages —defined as over 40 lbs or over 42" x 18" x 18" combined— may experience a delay in delivery and an additional $30 fee. (Yikes.) Still, the monthly rate sounds preferable to usual delivery waiting game. If you're interested in trying Doorman, you can sign up here. And as a thank you for the vote of confidence, your first package is free.

· Doorman [Official Site]
· "Why can't this be delivered when I'm actually home?" "Doorman" can protect your packages from thieves [Fox 6]