UPS (NYSE:UPS) is expanding the UPS Access Point™ network, a local solution for consumers and small businesses who need convenient access to UPS.
UPS Access Point locations offer convenient package pickup and drop off. UPS Access Point locations are local businesses, primarily neighborhood convenience and grocery stores, dry cleaners and delicatessens with extended evening and weekend hours. All 4,400 The UPS Store® locations throughout the U.S. are also part of the network.
For some consumers living in densely populated areas, receiving packages can be difficult if they are not home to accept the delivery and UPS is unable to leave the package in a secure location. UPS is already solving these consumers’ delivery challenges with UPS Access Point locations in Boston, Chicago, New York City, and the Washington DC and San Francisco metropolitan areas. Later this summer, consumers will be able to pick up or return packages at UPS Access Point locations in approximately 100 cities around the U.S. including Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Seattle, St. Louis and Tampa, Fla.
The delivery solution helps consumers receive their e-commerce orders following the first home delivery attempt. When unable to make a delivery at a consumer’s residence, UPS drivers will leave a note indicating when and where the package will be available for pickup at a UPS Access Point location. Consumers will need a photo identification to obtain their packages.
Consumers around the world also use UPS My Choice® to manage their home deliveries. Members can reroute their deliveries for free to a UPS Access Point location prior to the first home delivery or select to have all of their deliveries taken directly to the location as their preferred delivery address.
More than 16 million UPS My Choice members receive delivery alerts letting them know when their packages are on the way.
During the summer, members can activate a vacation setting to have their packages held at a UPS facility and delivered when they return home.
Earlier this year, 33% of U.S. online shoppers participating in the 2015 UPS Pulse of the Online Shopper™ study, said they want their packages sent to locations other than their home, compared with 26% in 2014, showing a rising preference for alternate delivery locations.
“We listened to consumers who said they were not buying online because they didn’t have a secure delivery location,” said Alan Gershenhorn, UPS executive vice president and chief commercial officer. “By providing local options, we are improving the e-commerce delivery experience, which helps retailers and UPS.”
UPS technology gives e-tailers the ability to offer consumers the option to ship their orders directly to a UPS Access Point location during checkout. Small business owners and consumers can process shipping labels on UPS.com and drop off packages at any UPS Access Point location.
By the end of 2015, UPS expects to have more than 8,000 UPS Access Point locations in the U.S. and 22,000 globally.
The UPS My Choice and UPS Access Point combined service is available in Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Mexico, Poland, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States.