Disinfecting delivery

How long do you let your packages sit in the garage before you dare touch them? Do you wear a mask to get your mail? Wipe down your groceries? Or do you don a hazmat suit and plunge right in?

According to the latest edition of BOXpoll—Pitney Bowes weekly consumer survey on current events, culture, and ecommerce logistics—seven in ten adults say they wash their hands after handling a recently delivered package.

63% of Gen Z uses hand sanitizer when handling packages, and 51% wipe them down before bringing them inside.

It appears our aversion to germy packages may be here to stay. 31% of consumers surveyed said they would wash their hands after receiving a package even when things return to ‘normal.’ Surprisingly, 39% of shoppers aren’t worried about the pandemic, but still are likely to wash their hands after handling a delivery. 

Attributable to factors that won’t be explored here, undecided US voters were 13% less likely to wash their hands and 10% less likely to wear a mask when handling a delivery. 

Gen Z is the most likely to employ more serious disinfection methods:

• 63% of Gen Z use hand sanitizer when handling packages (8% higher than norm). 
• 51% of Gen Z wipe the package down before bringing it inside (11% higher).
• 57% of Gen Z wear a mask when checking their mail (13% higher).
• 38% of Gen Z wear gloves when handling packages or mail (7% higher).