Package Holding Services Explained: The Safer, Smarter Way to Receive Deliveries
- Sangeetha Bhakta
- 7 minutes ago
- 4 min read
According to a recent government-white-paper study by the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, at least 58 million packages were stolen in the U.S. during 2024, amounting to approximately $16 billion in losses. (uspsoig.gov & live-usps.oversight.gov)
Another survey notes more than 104 million packages were stolen in a year, with an estimated consumer cost of ~$15 billion. (SafeWise)
The Package Theft Problem Is Getting Worse
The carriers frequently cited? Amazon deliveries top the list: in one breakdown, 33% of theft victims said their stolen package came via Amazon, followed by the USPS (18.3%), FedEx (17.1%), and UPS (15.7%). (Capital One Shopping)
And the anecdotal evidence, painfully familiar to many recipients, adds more colour.
One Reddit user wrote:
“Amazon lost my package, no one has a straight answer.”
Another lamented:
Then there are the package theft stories:
“The guy just walked right up… put my box in his bag and was off.” (West Philadelphia resident)( 6abc Philadelphia)
These are more than isolated frustrations. They reflect systemic vulnerabilities: unattended packages, delivery windows that don’t align with modern lifestyles (especially remote workers), and rigid logistics that leave parcels exposed.
Why Traditional Delivery Keeps Failing Customers
Missed deliveries: You’re not home, the courier drops off, then you watch the tracking say “Delivered” only to find nothing.
Lost packages: Sometimes a package simply disappears because of an internal error, mis-routing, or misdelivery by carriers. “Amazon missing packages” and “UPS lost packages” are recurring themes.
Stolen packages: The rise of “porch pirates” is no joke. Thieves are opportunistic, especially when a package is visible, left unattended, or sitting in a public-facing place.
Carrier-specific issues: For example, Amazon’s massive volume means “Amazon missing packages” tends to get higher mention. Reddit threads show frustration like “Amazon packages always delivered to some random address.”
Limited alternatives: Some try to ship to work, use neighbours, install cameras, but these are patchwork fixes, not seamless solutions.
While tools like requiring a signature, installing video doorbells, or creating “safe spaces” help, they are not foolproof. One survey found that only 20% of people used alternative delivery addresses or pickup points. (Capital One Shopping)
How People Are Trying to Protect Their Deliveries
Residents are getting creative:
Ask neighbours or friends to accept packages.
Shipping to the workplace.
Using carrier-locker services: Amazon Locker, UPS Access Point, etc.
Installing outdoor lockboxes or video doorbells.
But each comes with trade-offs: relying on neighbours is unpredictable; shipping to work might still result in missed pickups; lockers may be far; cameras don’t prevent theft, they just record it.
As one patch-community article put it:
“Some readers no longer receive package deliveries at home when we asked what to do about porch pirates.” (Patch)
And those DIY options don’t fully address the root issue: the parcel arriving when you can’t retrieve it, left unattended, and vulnerable.
The Better Solution: Package Holding Services
A package holding service is where a parcel is delivered not to your home, but to a secure, local pick-up location vetted for reliability, where your item is safely held until you collect it. For many in urban or remote-work contexts, this is a game-changer.
That’s exactly what Stowfly offers: package storage and package receiving services, designed for convenience, security, and flexibility. Whether you’re handling frequent online orders, working remotely, or just want to avoid the risk of theft or missed deliveries, this kind of service fits the modern lifestyle.
Here’s how it works with Stowfly:
Choose a nearby Stowfly location.
Ship your order to that address instead of your front door.
Receive notification when the package arrives.
Visit the location, show your ID/pick-up PIN, and collect your item at your convenience.
No more “Amazon missing packages”, “UPS lost packages”, “FedEx stolen packages”, or “USPS missing packages” nightmares. No more waiting at home or relying on someone else. Just secure, on-your-terms parcel delivery.
Why Secure Pickup Matters for You and Your Neighborhood
Theft-proof drop-off: By removing the front-porch exposure, you reduce the “porch pirates” window of opportunity.
Missed-delivery avoidance: No more reschedule loops because you weren’t home; your parcel is waiting for you.
Carrier-agnostic: Whether the carrier is Amazon, FedEx, UPS or USPS, your item lands at the secure location.
Local convenience: Especially in dense areas or where onsite mailrooms are unreliable, using a hyperlocal pickup point is smarter.
Scalable and community-oriented: Stowfly’s model builds a network of neighbourhood package receiving spots, strengthening local logistics rather than relying solely on national carriers.
Take Control of Your Deliveries Today
If you’re tired of worrying about package theft, of having stolen packages, of dealing with missed deliveries, and of losing time and money over lost packages, there is a better path. The traditional home-delivery model simply doesn’t align with modern realities of remote work, urban living, and online-heavy shopping.
Instead of waiting for the next parcel to disappear or the next tracking update to lie, take control: use a trusted package holding service. Stowfly offers the kind of package storage and package receiving services that turn delivery vulnerability into delivery certainty.
Don’t leave your next delivery to chance. Choose reliability. Choose security. Choose local convenience. Try Stowfly today and transform how you receive your parcels, no more porch-pirate worries. Visit stowfly.com to find your nearest pickup location and sign up for secure parcel delivery made simple.
Discover how effortless secure package pickup can be, try Stowfly free for 30 days!
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