We're giving Santa a run for his money with all of our resident's packages!

With the increase in people shopping online, we've also greatly increased the time we are dealing with resident packages. We are receiving upwards of 300 packages a week! I certainly want to continue to offer to sign for and hold packages for our residents, but the time and space it is consuming is getting out of hand. Does anyone have any suggestions for dealing with the volume of packages we are getting every day?

Oh my goodness! Three HUNDRED packages?! Could you bar code each and scan the package? Where do you store them all? This obviously boggles my mind. Anyway, using the bar code scanner is easy!

Hey Stacy,

What a funny way of describing this common problem! The trick to dealing with such an influx of packages (and you know it will only get worse come December) is to keep them moving through the office quickly, so they don't get backlogged.

One way of doing that is to use software that is designed specifically for the residential industry to handle package tracking. These programs allow you to record all of the packages in your computer or on your iPhone/iPad, scan in the barcodes as Mindy suggested, trigger emails or SMS notifications to residents so they are instantly aware that their package has arrived, and also provide a tv screen in the lobby/office/clubhouse that will remind residents as they are coming home that they have something waiting for them in the office. (My company, BuildingLink, offers one such product - message me if you want me to send you some info.)

Whatever you end up doing, make sure to come up with an organizational system to help you stay on top of what's come in, what's been picked up, and what's still sitting in the office. And you will also want a communication system so residents know they've got something and can pick it up as soon as possible.

- Zach

I noted on this topic in another thread and it is seemingly all over the recent posts.

Yes, all managers are prone to help our residents to the maximum extent possible. However, your office is not a post office. In small complexes you can do most anything easily enough, even sell stamps to the resident, wrap their packages, and take them to the post office for them. I know I have. I had a lot of elderly/disabled tenants, and some without cars. And, it may shock some of you, even Mindy, but after all I am a nice guy believe it or not.

In a large complex, maybe one short of help, I would make a policy the UPS man delivers to the door. Tenant not home? Card the door and have them call UPS for a re-delivery. Or take a chance of leaving at the door (not recommended in some cases). Or leave with a neighbor (not recommended in some cases).

I live in my house, I order something, I have a porch and a door and UPS leaves my package at my door unless a signature is required. In my case the UPS guy will find me wherever I am in town during the day, the hardware, the coffee shop, or the complex. I realize large places are not home town friendly with all the UPS people so something has to work out. I would not want to get in the post office business in a large operation.

Time for a letter to all residents!!! I would explain the situation and ask them for the months of November and December, when packages are at their highest, to change their shipping address to either their work address or a friend/family member, even a neighbor who is at home during the day for delivery.

I just ordered an IPad that requires signature upon delivery. I changed the shipping address to my office so I could get it on time.

Also mention it is the holidays and the office could be closed when the package is delivered, especially if it's at the last minute for Christmas.

Most residents are understanding, but also mention that, if they have no one they can have it shipped to or, they can't receive packages at work, to call and let you know and you will accept their package.

Just ask them to help you out and I'll be a lot of them will.

Herb said: "Yes, all managers are prone to help our residents to the maximum extent possible. However, your office is not a post office. In small complexes you can do most anything easily enough, even sell stamps to the resident, wrap their packages, and take them to the post office for them. I know I have. I had a lot of elderly/disabled tenants, and some without cars. And, it may shock some of you, even Mindy, but after all I am a nice guy believe it or not."

Now, Herb, I KNOW you are a truly nice Southern gentleman! After all, we share a like view on many topics and I absolutely love readng your opinions and advice. I am still waiting for you and your wife to come for supper some night! Y'all don't even have to call first, just show up! My porch light is always on for friends - some of the nicest people ever are people on this forum.

Thanks Mindy for the undeserved comments-- they were kind. While property management was not my primary career (US Army 30 years) I decided to play in it from age 58 to present (age 68) for some quality time filler. I had thoughts of mowing a property, and then sit, spit, and whittle in front of the office with the other old codgers and swap lies with them. My fate has been an inability to stop at a given point. I started doing a complex, that led to another and another, up to six of them. I seem to keep getting drawn deeper and deeper into whatever I do. I always find something to change, fix, improve, do different, or screw up worse than I found it.

Old people live in the past, young people worry about the future, but few live for the moment.
All we really have is "now". I don't want to waste it.

On my headstone:

"A loving husband and father----He lived for the moment"

On my wife's headstone:

"A loving wife and mother---but stylist could ever fix her hair to suit her"

To The Moderator: Don't panic, this is just an old man's rambling.

okay, bare with me on this.

One of the best ideas I ever heard was to use the packages as advertising boards. You just use post its, do not write on the boxes as we do not know what the intent is for the box.

We did this last year, we wrote on an entire pad of post its a reminder about resident referal incentives and stuck the brightly colored post its on the boxes near the return address. Everyone looks to see who the package is from.

If you are recieving 300 packages a week that is a lot of marketing opportunity. You might even mention renewals if the resident recieving the package is up for renewal they could sign when they pick up the package.

We also call each resident and tell them they have a package so that the packages don't sit for a long time.

This was very useful for us.

Amy, I'm *not* an expert but that seems like a great way to maximize the package-pick-up opportunity. Plus if they're picking up presents chances are they're already in a good mood, too. I've seen a lot about package management this season and it seems to be all about the mindset; is it an opportunity or a nuisance? In your case I'm very impressed with the ability to recognize the opportunity. A+ for a great idea.

Additionally, though, 300 packages is a lot! Perhaps a tracking system like those mentioned above is a great way to go about it. What options are being used that work best?

Great idea, Amy!!!

Thanks guys, I cannot take the credit for this idea. Check out Lia Nichole Smith's website. www.notjustonedoor.com

I ordered her book 101 Marketing ideas and although some of them are simple and to easy to believe work they really do. She was a speaker at our Apartment Association last year so I do not know if she still has this site up but I would try it out.