An uptick in package thefts is harming the trust between customers and retailers, as porch piracy has ramped up during prime shopping seasons.
According to a survey of 1,000 U.S. consumers from delivery software provider HubBox, 36% of respondents said that they've been victims of piracy in the last 12 months, including more than half of Gen Z consumers and 47% of millennials. Those who've had a package stolen averaged six instances of theft over that period, with the average value of stolen goods totaling $315 per shopper.
“Porch piracy is becoming an increasingly pervasive issue for shoppers and retailers alike, and this epidemic of doorstep theft is undermining consumers’ perceptions of trust and safety when having their online orders delivered to their porch,” HubBox CEO Sam Jarvis said.
HubBox found that 46% of consumers said stolen packages damaged their relationship with a retailer, while 37% said they were deterred from shopping with that brand again following a theft. While 63% also felt as though retailers responded swiftly to resolve an instance of theft, 50% also claimed that they had to eat the cost of the stolen package.
The survey also revealed that porch pirates have focused the bulk of their efforts around events such as Amazon's Prime Day, Black Friday and Cyber Monday. In 2023, 16% of consumers had a package stolen directly following Prime Day, while 80% of all victims were hit by porch pirates between Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
