The mail system is a pretty spectacular thing. Most of us don’t sit and contemplate the wonder of it as we’ve grown up with it and take it for granted, but being able to send things anywhere in the world in a relatively short period of time and being able to order things from anywhere in the world for a minimal cost is kind of epic. Of course, the mail system isn’t without its quirks and hiccups. The following will explore one simple solution to a handful of mail-based problems that you’re likely to encounter if you have parcels delivered often.

What Is An Outdoor Parcel Box?

An outdoor parcel box is basically what it sounds like. It’s a container that is kept outside the home or business that is mounted to a wall, the ground, a fence, or even built into the wall. The container is designed to hold mail and parcels should someone deliver mail while you’re away or should your mail system have a policy of leaving parcels out of doors.

Weather Protection

One of the biggest and most obvious benefits of having an outdoor parcel box is the protection your packages will receive from the elements when they’re inside. Rain, snow, hail, sleep, humidity, and other natural forces can seep into packages and warp or damage contents. A parcel drop box will typically come with a lid and will be structured in a way to reduce the risk of damage from the environment. Given that most packages are sent in paper envelopes or in cardboard boxes, water and other elements can cause some serious problems.

Theft Protection

Package theft probably isn’t something you think about until it happens to you. You repeatedly check the tracking number and are informed that your parcel arrived, but it’s nowhere to be seen. You ask members of your household, employees, and neighbours if they’ve seen or moved a package, and no one has any idea what you’re talking about.

It’s estimated that 210 million packages were stolen last year. More than sixty percent of Americans have been the victim of package theft at some point in their lives, and with the advent of valuables being shipped from mega-corporations like Amazon, this is likely not going to decrease any time soon.

Package theft is often a crime of opportunity. A passerby sees a package sitting on a porch or in front of a doorstep and decides to see if they got lucky and found something really valuable. It’s a remarkably easy crime to commit, given how quickly it can be conceived and accomplished. A parcel drop box conceals whether or not you have a package, reducing temptation and decreasing the chances that someone is going to get the idea of package theft in the first place. 

Reduces Confusion In Multi-Unit Locations

Sometimes where you live, or work is excellent for your daily life, but a headache when it comes to receiving mail or packages. Parcel drop boxes with the unit numbers posted on them clearly can help reduce confusion mailmen and women might have when delivering a package. Parcel boxes can also be used to help divide up where mail is sent so that people living in the same apartment building, duplex, or triplex don’t need to be dealing with each other’s mail all the time.

Privacy

Another benefit of a parcel box is the privacy it provides. Packages and mail tend to contain a return address clearly visible on the front, and this means that people in your workplace or in your household or apartment complex are able to figure out where you’re getting packages from. If they know where you’re getting packages from, they might be able to make assumptions about your finances, interests, commitments, and other aspects of your life.

In many cases, this might not cause any problems, but occasionally you might want to keep your personal mail private, particularly if you’ve ordered a gift for someone in your household. Further, if you’re going to be away on vacation, a pile of packages can indicate that your home is empty and increase the risk of burglary in your absence.

Keeping how many packages you have private can help mitigate this risk.

Aesthetic Considerations

As well as the above practical considerations, many people find that a parcel box contributes to the aesthetic appeal of their home or workplace. Rather than a stack of packages, you can have an object that suits your exterior design and contributes to curb appeal.

The above information should have adequately explained some of the benefits of an outdoor parcel box. If space is a concern, it is worth noting that parcel boxes come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, so you’re bound to find something that works with the space you have.