Special delivery (signed for post) is pointless

[The Natural Philosopher]

I can't tell the difference between Trump and Biden in terms of sheer incompetence and drivel.

The only difference is who winds the clockwork keys in their backsides.

[The Natural Philosopher]

Yeah. Get one from any modern car engine that is scrapped.

[Retirednoguilt]

Staples? Really? Around here (DC metro area), Staples web sites display real time inventory, just the same as the Home Depot website for their stores in this area. Both not only tell you how many are available, but in which aisle and bin you will find them. Same for the web site for the regional supermarket chain in our area that has the most stores. I'd expect national chains, such as Staples to have that feature for their web sites for all their stores nation-wide. Saves a lot of time and fuel before leaving my home to know when they are out of stock for an item I intend to buy.

[Bob F]

An easier approach might be to install an IR sensor that activates the doorbell or other noisemaker. I really should do that.

[Scott Lurndal]

I know from experience that Home Depot's on-line store inventory doesn't always match what's actually in store, and I really wanted that 10x10 tamper damnit.

[Ralph Mowery]

I think that is known as 'shrinkage'. Where some things are stolen the computer does not get that information.

Sometimes you have to ask as the items may be in the 'back room' and not moved to the shelves.

[Scott Lurndal]

1) it is quite unlikely that someone would have stolen a 6' long 40 pound tamper.

2) I asked both someone in the aisle, and someone at the return counter.

Both saw that the web site claimed 10 in stock. Not one found in the store.

[Bob Eager]

The door is very near the street, so I would probably get false alarms.

[Ed P]

Don't forget the human factor. I've been involved in inventory in different companies over the years. None are 100%.

[Mark Lloyd]

[snip]

Something I've considered. There's a problem getting the sensitivity right so it doesn't ring the bell every minute or more on a warm windy day.

[The Natural Philosopher]

My doorphone used to ring the telephones on wet days.

[Rod Speed]

Not if you can point the movement sensor at the door from say just inside the porch edge. The Philips Hue movement sensors are very easy to adjust what they look at and are entirely internally battery powered and the battery lasts for years quite literally and have a brilliant mount, so trivial to tweak what they sense.

[Rod Speed]

Not a problem with a Philips Hue movement sensor which looks at the door itself.

[SteveW]

Maybe an IR beam that people break as they approach, rather than an error prone PIR - mounted high enough that cats and other animals won't trigger it.

[SteveW]

From having looked at MegaSquirt in the past, engine knock sensors seem to be just specialised microphones, relying upon software to interpret the signals.

[Bob F]

Good thought.

[Mark Lloyd]

[snip]

That could work for me. I have an about 3 feet wide opening between bushes to get to my front porch.

[Vladimir Putin]

Then you're a pest. If I bought form you, the parcel would be returned to you and you'd be forced to refund me. It is not sensible to expect someone to be in during the day.

[Vladimir Putin]

Which I'm not prepared to do. The parcel comes to my door and is left in my house when I'm out, or the seller has not done what I pay them for.

[Vladimir Putin]

Try being realistic.