That's because shippers often have a narrow window in which to make these types of deliveries. At least two box makers plan to roll out services this year. Another company, San Francisco-based Parachute Inc., is using a different approach to tackle failed deliveries. So far, Parachute has been working with a number of offline merchants, including Neiman Marcus in Palo Alto, FAO Schwarz in San Francisco and Godiva Chocolates in San Francisco. The company is also working with wineries such as Robert Mondavi and Trefethen Vineyards, which like the service because alcohol cannot be delivered without the recipient's signature.
Some retailers pay the cost themselves.
Others pass it along to the consumer. The service is clearly targeted at expensive, high-end purchases that can't just be left on a doorstep. Robert Smelick, Parachute's founder and chief executive, added that the service can be a nice touch when sending a gift. Parachute hopes to be in 15 markets, including Los Angeles and Seattle, by the end of the year. E-Business Buzz appears every other Wednesday.