The unprecedented number of packages sent during the pandemic has definitely exacerbated the porch pirate problem—ecommerce spending was up over 30% quarter-over-quarter during Q2 of 2020 at the pandemic’s start, more than anyone could have predicted.
As the pandemic stretches on, 43% of consumers claim they’ve had a package taken by a porch pirate. This number has risen from previous years; only 36% of consumers had a package stolen in 2019. Package theft will even lead to about half of consumers avoiding the purchase of expensive goods online.
However, not all packages are created equal. Some are more at risk of theft than others. Your packaging plays a part. For example, flashy packaging, like placing loads of logos on the box, can lead to higher theft rates. Brands should save the branding experience for the inside of the box to avoid stoop cruisers looking for hot and trending brands.
And when your store is shipping to areas with denser populations, it’s a given that facebook database metro areas are, of course, more at risk of package theft. You can see in the map below from Shorr Packaging Corp. depicting where package theft is highest when it comes to Amazon purchases alone.
map of package theft occurrences in the US.
The rash of theft has left a lot of shoppers scrambling, but remember that your customers are doing as much as they can. They’re doing their best to be at home during the expected time of their delivery (when it’s communicated), but it seems like no level of presence, security cameras, or smart doorbells is enough to dissuade the boldest burglars among us.
And even if every trick in the book was at the disposal of consumers, there still needs to be an earnest effort at preventing and resolving the problem at its core by ecommerce brands. After all, the online stores that band with shoppers in this modern-day plight are going to earn the trust and loyalty of folks long before apathetic or uncaring brands.