Nearly everyone shops online these days, but deliveries can be awkward. You’re generally not at home to sign for packages and you might not want to be getting lots of deliveries at work. Now you have a third option – the parcel motel.
Delivery company Nightline have already installed 20 such ‘motels’ and thanks to a €5 million investment plan to have 100 by the end of the year and create 50 new jobs in the process.
Each parcel motel which will be located at petrol stations and convenience stores around the country consists of 80 self-service storage lockers. Once users set up an account at www.parcelmotel.com, they select their desired delivery location for the parcel where it will be stored for up to two days. The customer then receives a unique code to their mobile phone which allows them to open the locker any time 24/7.
Items must be no larger than 41 X 38 X 64cm, and no heavier than 10kgs in order to fit in the lockers. When buying a product online users simply enter the delivery address for parcel motel and the package will be sent to the appropriate ‘motel’. Interestingly there is a postal address in Northern Ireland as well as Dublin, which would allow ROI customers order items online that are for UK delivery only.
Upon signing up the first two deliveries are free and then there is a charge of €3.50 per item thereafter. Customers have the option of pre-paying into their account or simply paying separately for each delivery.
“We believe that we are offering a practical, easy to use service for online shoppers that offers convenience and security,” said Nightline CEO, John Tuohy.
