BasicHumanUnit
Diamond Member
I was recently VERY frustrated with UPS when an item valued at around $600 missed the delivery date and as days ticked by, no further information was available. All UPS would say (even when I endured the agony of calling them) was that there was a delay (DUH), and that I would get an update as soon as updated information was available. This ended up being about 14 days past a 4 days delivery service.
If you've never had an important or expensive package suffer an extended delay with no available information, you will have no clue why this might even be helpful. if you have, you will completely understand what I'm talking about.
So here's an idea......
Let's say you have an important package that you have coming from Say, Portland Oregon, headed to Miami via UPS. Some kind of expensive equipment etc. where it's vital to operations and you cannot afford to be unsure of where it is and when it will likely arrive.
In the winter, UPS service can be interrupted by winter weather. But UPS will keep you totally in the dark if there's a delay. At their website you will be lucky if you even get updates in case of service interruptions.
So Shippers on more important packages can offer to enclose a GPS tracker inside your package with a per-determined phone number you can call to get instant location of your package, even when UPS (or any carrier) keeps you totally uninformed. You might be charged a reasonable deposit until you return the device.
Now, I realize there might be some obstacles and difficulties, but in this day and age there is most likely a work around. Skype, VOIP etc?
Also, if it's that important, why not ship it overnight etc? Well, you could, but it can get REALLY expensive and it might not be as important to get it fast as it is to simply know where it is in case the Carriers tracking lets you down.
Once you receive your package, you send the device back to the shipper and receive a refund once they receive it. Better yet, if this became a popular service, there could be return drop off points locally at certain stores or businesses.
So instead of calling UPS and getting a recording saying your now 5 days late package is "In transit", you can tell what's really going on and where it is. While it won't get the package to you any faster, it will give you peace of mind knowing where it really is so you can check on conditions and make adjustments as necessary.
I realize that unless this was VERY economical, it would be available only for deeper pockets.
What would be cool is if there was a way to do this cheap enough for the average person to afford to be able to do it. let's say the deposit was only $20 and the service cost for a 14 day delivery window was only $10.
Lots of money to be made and cheap enough for almost anyone to afford it.
Potential issues......
Package is in a warehouse and no signal can get out.
Possible depending on the warehouse and location of nearest cell phone tower. But in most cases, it is likely that a cell tower will be near a carriers hub and the signal will get out.
The Carrier can install devices to detect signals and jamming devices inside warehouses.
Again, yes possible. But devices that jam or block GPS signals might also interfere with their own equipment making it more difficult for them to do so. Even if they did, the package will at some point move away from that point and into a jam free area during arrival or departure or in transit. . The device could also have an intermittent, momentary "phone home" feature that occurs at random intervals. Or, wake on incoming signal configurations that would only activate a response when it receives a signal from you trying to reach it to get an update.
The package could be inside a truck with metal walls.
True. while not perfect, it is still likely that a signal could be successfully transmitted at intervals throughout the shipment.
Battery Life of the GPS tracking unit could be a problem
The battery would have to be at least able to power the device for 10 - 14 days utilizing a standby power saving algorithm.
It's illegal
If so, quote the law please.
.
.
.
.
EDIT....
Never mind....it's already being done ...just not as affordably as I would like.....
GPS Shipment Tracking | GPS Trackers for assets and vehicles
If you've never had an important or expensive package suffer an extended delay with no available information, you will have no clue why this might even be helpful. if you have, you will completely understand what I'm talking about.
So here's an idea......
Let's say you have an important package that you have coming from Say, Portland Oregon, headed to Miami via UPS. Some kind of expensive equipment etc. where it's vital to operations and you cannot afford to be unsure of where it is and when it will likely arrive.
In the winter, UPS service can be interrupted by winter weather. But UPS will keep you totally in the dark if there's a delay. At their website you will be lucky if you even get updates in case of service interruptions.
So Shippers on more important packages can offer to enclose a GPS tracker inside your package with a per-determined phone number you can call to get instant location of your package, even when UPS (or any carrier) keeps you totally uninformed. You might be charged a reasonable deposit until you return the device.
Now, I realize there might be some obstacles and difficulties, but in this day and age there is most likely a work around. Skype, VOIP etc?
Also, if it's that important, why not ship it overnight etc? Well, you could, but it can get REALLY expensive and it might not be as important to get it fast as it is to simply know where it is in case the Carriers tracking lets you down.
Once you receive your package, you send the device back to the shipper and receive a refund once they receive it. Better yet, if this became a popular service, there could be return drop off points locally at certain stores or businesses.
So instead of calling UPS and getting a recording saying your now 5 days late package is "In transit", you can tell what's really going on and where it is. While it won't get the package to you any faster, it will give you peace of mind knowing where it really is so you can check on conditions and make adjustments as necessary.
I realize that unless this was VERY economical, it would be available only for deeper pockets.
What would be cool is if there was a way to do this cheap enough for the average person to afford to be able to do it. let's say the deposit was only $20 and the service cost for a 14 day delivery window was only $10.
Lots of money to be made and cheap enough for almost anyone to afford it.
Potential issues......
Package is in a warehouse and no signal can get out.
Possible depending on the warehouse and location of nearest cell phone tower. But in most cases, it is likely that a cell tower will be near a carriers hub and the signal will get out.
The Carrier can install devices to detect signals and jamming devices inside warehouses.
Again, yes possible. But devices that jam or block GPS signals might also interfere with their own equipment making it more difficult for them to do so. Even if they did, the package will at some point move away from that point and into a jam free area during arrival or departure or in transit. . The device could also have an intermittent, momentary "phone home" feature that occurs at random intervals. Or, wake on incoming signal configurations that would only activate a response when it receives a signal from you trying to reach it to get an update.
The package could be inside a truck with metal walls.
True. while not perfect, it is still likely that a signal could be successfully transmitted at intervals throughout the shipment.
Battery Life of the GPS tracking unit could be a problem
The battery would have to be at least able to power the device for 10 - 14 days utilizing a standby power saving algorithm.
It's illegal
If so, quote the law please.
.
.
.
.
EDIT....
Never mind....it's already being done ...just not as affordably as I would like.....
GPS Shipment Tracking | GPS Trackers for assets and vehicles