If Youtube has taught us anything it’s that no one’s Amazon packages are safe. Danby Appliances aims to put an end to this with the latest in smart tech: the Parcel Guard smart mailbox! Until Amazon drones can direct a package directly into our home, packages will always run the risk of being stolen. While it’s not necessarily the nicest looking addition for your lawn or porch, it’s got an awesome amount of tech to keep it usable, safe, and kinda fun too!
Parcel Guard looks like a big black trash can and stands over 3 feet tall. It works like most mail drop boxes — place the package in the drop compartment and it drops into the secure bottom compartment. It’s made of an industrial grade plastic and keeps your packages safe from all kinds of weather. What if a porch pirate tries to take off with the whole mailbox though? Well, there’s a built-in tamper alarm, a weight monitor, and a motion-activated IP camera. There’s an iOS/Android app that will keep you posted of updates in real time. The secure tamper-proof compartment that houses your precious packages can be unlocked from the app over the cloud.
Outside of it being a bit of an eyesore, the biggest drawback is package size. It will fit most standard parcel sizes, but not the large boxes. Your 8 pack of paper towels won’t fit, but packages up to 8x10x15″ will. There’s a feature to scan a barcode or give your mailman a one-time use code that will open the bottom container to store larger packages without using the chute.
We love the concept, and the camera and alarm alone make it a pretty useful addition to your front porch. Is it overkill though? Probably, but it depends on your packages and your neighborhood. It’s also a neat way of sharing packages/items with friends — just send them a one-time use code and you have a smart lockbox on your doorstep. While there’s no official release date, pre-orders begin this week and there’s officially a price tag of $399 USD.
For more info, check danbyparcelguard.com
