If you’re a property manager, then Amazon has delivered one of two challenges.

Running retail? Business has probably slowed down at the shop. Everyone orders everything online, so why would they go to you? You might’ve jumped the bandwagon and become an Amazon vendor yourself.

Managing residential buildings? You have the opposite problem: too much activity. Carriers and couriers come in every day with hundreds of packages. Your hallways are littered with boxes waiting to be claimed.

This is no surprise. Amazon has established itself as one of the biggest e-commerce platforms in the world. They transformed how products move from seller to buyer.

The struggle to catch up is real, but Amazon itself has offered a neat solution for these opposing problems.

What are Amazon Lockers?

Amazon Lockers are a smart business move: an attraction for retailers and a package management solution for residential properties.

The lockers were first launched in 2011 across three cities: Seattle, New York City, and London. They were test-launched without flair or announcement as if to say that they were part of people’s lives the whole time.

People could have their orders shipped to lockers at grocery stores or pharmacies, allowing item collection to be a seamless part of the daily routine.

These lockers became a hit and have spread all over—from Canada to Japan, in universities and transport hubs. In 2017, they established ‘The Hub,’ a specific counterpart for apartments.

The Hub evolved into Amazon Hub to refer to a global network of pickup points (with the term Apartment Locker being coined for those residential-specific options). Today, this hub is made of thousands of Amazon Lockers across at least 90 US cities and almost a dozen countries. Based on LockerMap’s data, there are at least 40 thousand lockers worldwide, with nearly 16 thousand in the States alone.

Diving into the Locker

Amazon Lockers have two main purposes:

• They’re a safe delivery location in place of one’s home or business address (free for Prime members).
• And, they’re a secure self-service package management solution for residential buildings.

How does one use an Amazon Locker?

1. When you check out your orders, you can choose an Amazon Locker instead of your home or business address. The map will identify nearby pickup locations.
   • If a residential building hosts an Apartment Locker, they just select their home address.
2. A confirmation email is sent with instructions on how to open the locker and claim the package. Depending on the property’s set-up, the locker will need either a code, a barcode, or the Amazon Shopping app.
3. Once the carrier delivers the item, you will be notified that it’s arrived. You can claim the item!

Getting the Locker

With that established, how does a property get an Amazon Locker?

1. Organizations like retailers, offices, universities, and residential properties reach out to Amazon Hub. Your goal here is to become an Amazon Hub partner. More on that later.
   • For residences, Apartment Lockers are viable for buildings with ten or more units.
2. Property managers fill out a form on the Hub website and provide information about the property. Amazon analyzes your property’s location against a list of criteria. If the property passes, then you’re eligible for a locker!
3. Amazon will then work with you to figure out the precise needs and limitations of your property, as well as the appropriate product solution.
4. Becoming an Amazon Hub partner is free! Amazon takes care of the manufacturing, shipping, installation, and maintenance of the lockers.
5. To be used properly, people only need to select the locker’s location on checkout. For residents, the property manager has to register their address and email with the Apartment Locker.

When you become an Amazon Hub partner, you gain access to a range of product solutions. Namely, the Amazon Hub Lockers and Apartment Lockers.

• Amazon Hub Lockers are public, self-service, and automated kiosks hosted by organizations. The Amazon Hub Locker+ is a staffed counterpart.
• Apartment Lockers are designed for residential properties and their tenants. Residents can pick up packages from Amazon and other carriers here.

These lockers then have two variants: with screens and without. Lockers with screens come with barcode scanners, while those without are interfaced with using Bluetooth and the Amazon Shopping app.

Amazon personalizes the locker solutions to your organization and property, so you don’t have to worry about finding the right fit. Here are two of the known points of customization.

• Connection: To access the locker, will recipients use Bluetooth or wired connections?
• Location: Installment is simple whether the locker will be inside or outside the building. Just keep in mind foot traffic.

Unlocking the Benefits

What exactly are the benefits of hosting an Amazon Locker?

• Convenience: People can claim their packages without having to worry about delivery schedules. Residents can even pick up parcels from other carriers.
• Security: The lockers are designed to keep packages safe from theft and the elements. Only the people who are supposed to receive the packages can claim them.
• Cleanliness: Packages are neatly arranged in the lockers, reducing clutter around the property.
• Streamlining: The risk of misplaced packages and other delivery-related issues is minimized. Reception no longer has to process the delivery and collection of these items.
• Time and costs saved: With package management out of their hands, residential staff can dedicate their efforts to improving their quality of work.
• Support: Amazon’s customer service is available 24/7 for assistance for both lockers hosts and claimants.
• Added revenue: With more people visiting your business, they are more likely to make purchases or avail of your services.

Amazon Lockers also pair well with Key for Business, which is great for residences.

Amazon Key lets drivers enter a partner property and make deliveries without having to be buzzed in. It verifies that the driver is at the right address at the right time and grants them temporary access. Even third-party carriers can be given access with Key, and installation is free! The stress of deliveries is alleviated even further.

Frequent Asked Questions (FAQs)

What Items Can be Sent to a Locker?

The locker’s compartments vary in size, so it can accommodate many types of packages. But there is a limit.

The product must weigh less than 10 pounds, be smaller than 16x12x14 inches (40x30x35 cm), and be sold or fulfilled by Amazon. As mentioned before, Apartment Lockers can accept packages from other carriers.

You can access the list of full eligibility requirements here.

How Long Can Items Stay in the Locker?

Parcels are stored for three days. If they’re not picked up on time, an Amazon driver will retrieve the item during the next delivery run. The item will be returned to the seller, and the buyer will be refunded.

Who Can Claim the Packages?

The person who made the order, of course! But they can forward the confirmation email with pick-up instructions to another person.

What are the Accessibility Features?

Amazon lists three main accessibility features:

• Talking Lockers: The locker provides audio instructions and prompts.
  • The locker with a screen is equipped with a 1/8” (3.5 mm) audio jack, a keyboard, and complete Braille instructions. The recipients only need to plug in their headphones and use the keypad.
  • The locker without a screen requires people to use the screen reader built into their smartphones. The instructions for claiming will include a “Start pick up” prompt. Upon connecting to the locker via Bluetooth, recipients can start the prompt and receive their instructions verbally.
• Screen Font and Contrast: By default, the locker screens display large and high-contrast text.
• Lower Locker Preference: When choosing the shipping address on checkout, people can select “Use lower lockers.” They’ll be assigned a locker 15” to 48” (38 to 122 cm) from the ground.

The Reality Check

Now, let’s answer the tough question: What are Amazon Lockers' drawbacks?

• Selection process: It may take a while to get your locker since you need to submit an application and wait for approval. Even then, you’re not guaranteed to be selected as an Amazon Hub partner.
• Storage space: The lockers can only hold items of a certain size, so oversized orders like furniture or appliances may need alternate storage.
• Placement: You need to be careful with the locker’s location. Place it in a high-traffic area, and the locker may become an obstacle. Place the locker inside the building or behind the gate, and couriers will need extra access. Amazon Key is a great solution, but it might not be viable for every scenario.
• Third-party carriers: Some carriers may not be compatible with the lockers, especially if they require signatures.

Claiming Other Options

Amazon Lockers are not a “one size fits all solution.” They are personalized, sure, but they’re not for everybody. Your property or organization may not be qualified to become a Hub partner. The lockers may not even suit your specific needs. That’s okay.

Luckily, there are a few alternatives:

• You can invest in modern solutions like parcel management software. Equip your front desk or reception with automated technology to streamline how you process packages and notify residents.
• You can set up a package room (a dedicated space for parcel storage). Like a locker, these rooms encourage self-service. Couriers and claimants alike can access the room when necessary. But you can tailor the package room to your wants and needs without Amazon’s oversight. The drawback is that it’s financed entirely by the organization.

See how package rooms and lockers measure up to each other here.

Found the Key to These Lockers?

Amazon Lockers are an excellent product. They tackle different problems as an elegant package management solution and as a convenient amenity for attracting customers. But they’re not the only solution to our modern problems.

Sign up for Parcel Tracker’s free trial to see what solutions are on offer.