5 tips to help keep your home and packages secure while you're on summer vacation
(BPT) - Ready to take that long-awaited summer vacay? Before heading out for fun in the sun, make sure you'll be able to fully relax and enjoy your break by taking a few steps to help keep your home secure — including deliveries that might be made while you're gone.
Here are some tips and tools to help increase your peace of mind while you're away from home.
1. Alert your neighbors — but not social media
Before your trip, chat with trusted neighbors to let them know you'll be on vacation. Those extra eyes on your home can help you feel better about taking off. Just don't post about your trip on social media — there's no need to let the world know you'll be out of your house.
2. Help make your deliveries safe
Instead of worrying about a package arriving while you're gone, use Amazon Key In-Garage Delivery, a convenient, secure way to receive Amazon packages and groceries. With In-Garage Delivery, drivers scan your package to receive one-time access to deliver inside the garage. No need to give out garage codes or let the driver in yourself. Porch pirates don't stand a chance and it also helps protect from weather damage, so you can keep any packages secure until you're home.
Amazon Key is free for Prime members and easy to set up. Plus, it gives you more flexibility and control over your Amazon deliveries by allowing you to select a preferred delivery method and choosing when and where you want your packages delivered — inside your garage or to your doorstep. At checkout, just select In-Garage Delivery and Amazon Key will take care of the rest. You'll receive real-time notifications every step of the way, and by adding a Ring Camera (sold separately), you can even watch your packages be safely delivered in real-time.
3. Monitor your home while you're away
You can set up Motion Alerts to notify you when there's activity at your front door with a Ring Video Doorbell or near one of your Ring security cameras. You'll be able to see what's happening in real-time and choose to use Two-Way Talk as needed to chat with someone on your property. For additional whole home protection, the Ring Alarm Security Kit works on any house, condo or apartment. You'll have peace of mind that your home is always protected, so you can just relax and enjoy whatever you're doing, wherever you are.
"With services like Amazon Key-In Garage Delivery and the Package Detection feature on Ring Video Doorbells, you can worry less about deliveries going missing while you're away," said Paul-David Shrader, Head of Amazon Key for Consumer. "Many customers say just the sight of a video doorbell or camera is enough of a deterrent in getting trespassers to leave their properties."
4. Set timers for lighting
Another important tactic while vacationing is to use lighting to make it appear someone is home. You can connect smart lights to your home security cameras to have lights turn on/off, or set up light schedules with Alexa to turn lights on and off at certain times each night. Even if you just set one lamp near a front window, it will look like someone is home.
5. Pre-set your HVAC
Completely turning your HVAC off to save money can be a bad idea. Not only will it look like nobody's home if your AC unit isn't running while it's sweltering, but you could also damage internal structures of the house due to excessive humidity. On top of that, your AC unit will have to work non-stop to get the temperature back down when you return, eliminating cost savings you hoped for by shutting it off completely. A good rule of thumb is to raise the temperature about 5 degrees from your usual setting when you leave town. To be able to adjust the temperature while you're away, consider installing a smart thermostat that you can control remotely.
Following these few simple steps, you can ensure your home and packages will be safe and secure, whether you're on the road or on the beach.
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In 1983, Bob moved to the Chairman of the Board position, and named Frank the President of Brownells. By then the company was gaining a lot of attention and was considered the undisputed leader in the gunsmithing supply industry. The Research and Development portion of the business was testing models and building the latest, most innovative tools on the market. The now legendary Brownells Gun Techs™, made up of the best and most experienced gunsmiths recruited from across the U.S., made a real name for themselves as more and more customers called seeking their trusted advice. The 1980s also marked Brownells' entry into the gun parts market.
As was the case with many companies, the 1990s ushered in an all-new wave of technology for Brownells. With Bob's passing in 1991, it was all up to Frank, now President/CEO, to oversee this important transition from hand-assembling catalogs and handwriting orders to conducting business using computerized systems and the Internet. Though technology was very much a part of the Brownells culture, Frank continued to insist on open, honest, one-on-one customer service.
Under Frank's direction, the growth continued tremendously throughout the 1990s, and the gun parts and accessories business, along with the gunsmithing supplies continued to thrive. As a result, the company earned its title as The World's Largest Supplier of Firearms Accessories and Gunsmithing Tools™.
The "new era" of Brownells arrived when Frank's son Pete joined the company in 1997. An educated and tech-savvy businessman, Pete saw opportunities to thrust the company even further into the technological age. Named Vice President in 2000, Pete oversaw the successful implementation of the Brownells website, www. brownells.com. This provided customers around the world unprecedented access to Brownells vast selection of products.
Brownells' success, through both mail-order and Internet transactions, continued past the turn of the century. Frank and Pete began discussions about how to reach even more customers. The natural expansion area seemed to be reloading and longrange, precision shooting. While deciding how best to enter that market, they found the Fort Wayne, Indianabased supplier, Sinclair International - a company that embodied Brownells spirit of offering high-quality, lifetime-guaranteed products and second-to-none customer service. Frank and Pete purchased Sinclair International in 2007, which continues to be a valuable addition to the Brownells family of companies.
Pete was named Brownells President in 2008, as Frank moved to the Chief Executive Officer's position. That same year, the business saw unprecedented growth and again, as Brownells added more employees and products, it faced a familiar problem - not enough space. Though a number of additions and renovations had been made to the building since 1980, plans began for a major warehouse expansion that was completed in 2010.
A direct result of huge amounts of customer input, the company added another major product category in 2011 - ammunition. Until then, Brownells carried virtually every part that one would need to fix, carry or customize a firearm, but nothing to shoot from it. Since its introduction, ammunition has been one of most popular product categories with Brownells ever-expanding customer base. By 2012, Brownells was again running out of room for both employees and products. With no property remaining to expand at its 39-year-old facility in Montezuma, Brownells announced a large warehouse and office facility expansion in nearby Grinnell, Iowa, scheduled to open in late 2013. While the company will remain headquartered in Montezuma, the new facility will give it even more capability to expand its product line and will provide closer, faster access to a major Interstate highway, which will enable a more streamlined shipping process.
With the business continuing to grow at an incredible rate, Frank and Pete decided that a more efficient corporate structure was necessary to continue serving customers to the best of the company's ability. Therefore, Frank moved into the Chairman of the Board post and Pete ascended to the Chief Executive Officer's position.
Selection & Service
Three generations ago Bob Brownell founded our company on those three words Selection, Service, and Satisfaction. More than seventy years later our strong foundation still rests upon those words (read about our history)
For over 80 years, Brownells has been providing quality Gunsmithing tools, gun parts and service to the firearms industry. For all but two of those years, there has been a consistent brand image, the oblong horizontal shape of our catalog and the graphical design of our Brownells logo. For all of those years, these two uniquely, identifiable products have stood for our promise of service, selection and satisfaction.
Selection - Over 90,000 gun parts, tools, and supplies; everything you need all in one place.
- Factory parts from fifteen of the industry’s leading firearms manufacturers
- Rifle, shotgun, and handgun parts, tools & accessories
- Bluing & refinishing materials
- Books, videos, & references
- Sights, scopes, & mounts
- And much more
When you have seen the horizontal catalog, you should know without a reasonable doubt that you are ordering from a company that places customer values first, cares deeply about the selection of quality products and has a deep commitment to customer satisfaction.
Customer Testimonials
"I am a Texas Peace Officer and made my first purchase from Brownells today. I ordered a $20 gun case. Your staff treated me as though I were placing a $10,000 order. I don't see dedication, pride, and service like this every day! I'll be a customer for life! Thanks to all!"- R. Bostic
"It sure is a pleasure doing business with you. Brownells sets the business standard in which every company should try to attain. With that said, Brownells is the only supplier I do business with. My philosophy is that if Brownells doesn't have it, I don't need it!"- Jeffrey G.
"There are many good things I can say about Brownells, but the one thing I like most is that…If you guys sell it…It has to be good. I know Brownells does not sell junk. I can trust your name and your company, and to trust someone in today's business world is a rare thing...Thank You!"- Kevin D.
"After 35+ years in the restoration business, I can sincerely say that Brownells is always top shelf when it comes to service and quality products. May you go on forever!" - William L.
"Thanks for the great service! My products arrived in a timely fashion with a refund check enclosed for my overpayment. You'll be getting more orders from me...Thanks again!"- Mike B.
"Your attention to detail, and professional aptitude are reasons why others and myself come to Brownells for products and service."- Rodman S.
"Thank you folks for your professionalism and continued support. Brownells is the number one company in Gunsmithing supplies and related items in existence. A position you do not take for granted nor boast. You have dealt with me fairly and honestly in every interaction and that is very much appreciated. Please keep up the good work and I look forward to continuing to do business with Brownells in the future."- David L.
"I spoke to a Brownells Gun Technician after having had contact with three other so-called experts from three other companies that day. He was the only tech. person that knew what I was talking about. He was polite, patient, and knowledgeable. He solved my problem. Next time I will call you first!"- George R.
"I have been a Brownells customer for about 5 years and the service you deliver is the very best…I have never gotten anything but a friendly voice when talking to your people and have never been cut short when I needed technical assistance, even on the smallest problem. The products are excellent, but now and then a bad one sneaks through, only to be taken care of in the most convenient way...Thank you for keeping the love I have for guns so pleasurable by your service."- Earl H.
"Often, a customer like myself, the 'little guy,' sends a request for information, like I did, to a company wondering if he will ever hear anything back…you responded to mine in a matter of hours! It's no wonder that your company has the fine reputation that it does, keep up the good work."- Steven W.