Shoppers are putting themselves at risk of being burgled in their desperation to get their Christmas shopping delivered on time, according to a new survey.
The survey, commissioned by Shutl, found that almost one in four (18%) shoppers said that they would leave a window or door unlocked simply to ensure delivery of an online item they had ordered as part of their Christmas shopping.
Similarly whilst 42% asked family or friends to wait in for a delivery on their behalf more than a third (36%) said that they would give their house keys to someone they didn’t know very well in order to ensure that a gift was successfully delivered.
Others got a little more creative in order to ensure that it was them that took delivery of parcels with one in 10 (9%) of people having pretended to be sick so that they could wait at home for a delivery already this year. This is nearly double the rate of last year when 5% said they would wait in.
Company directors were deemed the worst offenders however with nearly a third (29%) having pulled a sickie in the past to wait in for a delivery and all of them prepared to do the same again.
Jason Travaria, head of delivery, Shutl, said that with the technology to divert parcels such instances can be avoided. “Delivery should ultimately be about getting something from A to B, not detrimentally impacting someone’s quality of life in the process. These findings reflect the frustration online shoppers feel when it comes to getting their hands on their online purchases and the desperate measures they are prepared to take. Thankfully technology means that it’s easier for shoppers to look around for an alternative retailer who can deliver according to their needs, without the risk of theft or a workplace disciplinary in the process.”
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