WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Each morning around 11:30 UPS drops off packages at Hatfield's on Dixie Highway, but the deliveries are not for owner Yujel Akdeniz or his store.
"It will be growing during the week and become maybe 50, 60, 70 boxes," Akdeniz said about a stack of deliveries. "We accept boxes for UPS when there's nobody at home and the package is delivered. Then it is immediately brought to Hatfield's for a pick up by the customer."
Instead of leaving packages at your door, which could end up in the hands of a thief, UPS will leave a slip on your door that says you can pick up your package at a nearby access point; like Hatfield's.
"When people come in they are very happy to have a neighborhood place that they can pick up their packages from," Akdeniz explained.
When a customer comes in to pick up a package they need to bring their UPS slip and their identification.
"When they come in they're usually face to face with a big surprise," Akdeniz said about his store. "They think that it's a little pick up place, but when they come in and see the merchandise, they're likely to become the next customer."
UPS started the access point program four months ago. Akdeniz says Hatfield's started participating three months ago and he can already see it's having a positive impact on his business.
"Since the program began we served hundreds of customers. As a result we also added to our sales," Akdeniz said. "I think we will continue. It not only it helps the neighborhood, it helps our bottom line too in business."
