Skip to main content

It seems like the majority of Americans aren’t quite ready for Amazon Key

amazon key home delivery survey
Adrianhancu/123RF
Most people seemed to be intrigued when they first heard about Amazon Key last week.

The service, which launches in just a few days, gives Amazon delivery personnel access to your home so they don’t have to leave your package exposed on the doorstep if you’re not in when they call.

Recommended Videos

Amazon Prime members can use the service for free, though first you’ll have to fork out $250 for the Amazon Key In-Home Kit. This has the necessary smart lock and security camera that allows the in-home delivery to actually happen, with the customer able to control precisely who enters their home while the camera records the visit should there be any issues about the delivery.

Curious to learn more about how the idea of allowing delivery personnel into their homes sits with Americans, polling company Morning Consult asked them a few questions about it.

Well, seems like the majority of American citizens aren’t quite ready to have strangers stepping into their houses when they’re not around. Indeed, 68 percent of the 2,201 adults polled nationwide said they’re not comfortable with the idea, with 53 percent claiming to feel “very uncomfortable” about it.

Not surprisingly, younger folks — who’re generally accepted to be more receptive to new technology and services — were more into the idea of a delivery driver entering their home to drop off a package, though even then only 33 percent of those aged between 18 and 29 said they were cool with it. At the other end, just 14 percent of those aged 65 and older said they felt OK about the idea.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Looking at the survey’s results, Brad Russell, research director at the market research and consulting company Parks Associates, told Morning Consult, “Obviously, this is crossing a new line.” He added that while keyless entry to homes has been around for years and embraced by a good many homeowners, “that’s not to say there aren’t real concerns” among the general public, Russell said.

In a piece examining the idea of Amazon Key, DT’s Kim Wetzel said that while it certainly offered an effective solution for scuppering the loathsome antics of porch pirates, she still had concerns about the possibility of a rogue delivery driver doing something they shouldn’t while inside her property. “No matter how much I desire to have my stuff delivered safely, I value the sanctuary of my home more,” Wetzel wrote.

It’s certainly going to be fascinating to see how many online shoppers end up trying Amazon Key, and, more importantly, whether they stick with it.

Walmart is also conducting trials of a similar system, partnering with smart home specialist August. Walmart’s idea, however, goes one step further, and involves the delivery driver actually placing your ordered items right inside your refrigerator or pantry.

Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
Black Friday battery deals: Save on AA and AAA batteries
AmazonsBasics AA batteries being inserted into a game controller.

Black Friday may be one of the best times to buy electronics, but it’s also one of the best times to keep them charged up. Today’s early Black Friday deals include all sorts of rechargeable batteries, so if you’re looking for some spare AAAs or AAs to keep around the house, now’s the time to save. But there’s plenty of devices that run on battery power and plenty more battery sizes out there, so we’ve rounded up all of the best Black Friday battery deals you can find in the lead up to Black Friday. Reading onward you’ll find all of those details, as well as some information on things to look out for when shopping Black Friday battery deals.
HiQuick AA + AAA combo pack with charger — $21 $26 20% off

With this battery combo you’ll get four HiQuick AA batteries and four AAA batteries, as well as a wall charger that’s capable of charging both sizes. The charger has fast-charging capabilities and can charge all eight batteries at once. This deal is good for $5 in savings, which is 20% off the regular price.

Read more
Early Black Friday chest freezer deals: up to 40% off today
The Insignia 7-cubic feet chest freezer placed in a garage.

Update 10/29/24: This starts our Black Friday coverage of chest freezers, and we like what we see so far. The following deals are from a variety of good brands, show a wide range of prices, and most importantly come in various sizes, so you can pick what is right for your home.

While Black Friday officially starts on November 29, retailers are getting started early this year. That means great early Black Friday deals, including on things like chest freezers. Here, we search high and low for the best deals on chest freezers to hit the market. That means we're looking at sources like Walmart's, Amazon's, and Best Buy's early Black Friday deals among others to get you the best deals possible. Whether you're wanting to store ice cream, meat, or a party's worth of frozen pizza, these are the best chest freezers for you.
Hisense 5 cu. ft. Garage Ready Chest Freezer — $165 $189 13% off

Read more
Best cordless drill early Black Friday deals: DeWalt and more
A DeWalt drill being used.

Update 10/28/24: This marks the beginning of our drill coverage for 2024's Black Friday shopping season, and all of the major brands have at least one great deal. While we're excited for what is to come, this is a fantastic start and there's really no reason to not go ahead and get prepped by buying something now.
If you're buying anything this Black Friday, there's a big chance you might want a drill/driver to go with it. A drill/driver is one part drill, one part (screw)driver and it can help out in many situations. For example, say you take part in one of these early Black Friday TV deals, you very well might want to wall mount it. Then, say you grab up an easy coffee maker from Keurig's early Black Friday deals. An extra side table in your study would sure go nice with that and a drill/driver could very well make the table's construction much easier.
Really, with so so many of your early Black Friday purchases, there might be a chance to pick up a cordless drill or driver and get to work. As such, we've compiled a list of the best cordless drill deals throughout Black Friday deals that are available now, so you can get a head start on prepping for the savings that are to come.

Skil Pwr Core 12 Drill/Driver — $50 $59 15% off

Read more