New company offers after hour delivery options to New Yorkers

A new shipping service is bringing after hour convenience shipping to New Yorkers.

Similar to the San Franciscan delivery service MyDoorman, Parcel will allow 9-5 working New Yorkers to place orders and have it delivered to their doorstep at a time they are more likely to be home. Parcel’s working hours are 7pm to 11pm Monday through Friday.

Users interested in having packages shipped at more convenient hours will have to pay an additional $5 shipping fee. When users sign up for the service they will receive an alternate shipping address that needs to be entered on the selected online store. Once the package reaches Parcel’s facility an SMS text message is sent out to set the most convenient timeframe.

The idea behind Parcel originated from the founder Jesse Kaplan’s frustration when he received a “UPS sticky note” on his door and all the woes that followed at the facility itself to retrieve his online purchase. The company was founded in August 2013 and by December supports the entire Manhattan area, with over 500 users using the service.

After packages arrive at Parcel’s facility, it is loaded on the corresponding route’s shipping vehicle. When more users sign up, and the company grows route optimization will become a key focus.

"Each time we make a delivery, we record how long it takes. It varies widely, according to factors like the unit’s location within the building and the building layout. These delivery times are incorporated into our future routes in order to optimize our operations," Kaplan added.

With firms like Parcel and MyDoorman, it is only a matter of time until more widespread convenience shipping is made available in more areas. These companies may also encourage online stores themselves to begin offering convenience and personalized shipping options.

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