A system and method uses an appliance for delivery at a home or business when
no
one is home or without the need to disturb persons at the delivery site. The appliance
is a locked storage container connected to remote computers such that access for
particular delivery persons or companies is authorized when the owner of the appliance
has placed an order. The appliance communicates, such as via the internet, with
a remote delivery system computer having a scheduler that schedules deliveries
during particular time intervals. Prior to scheduling the delivery, the delivery
system computer compares the dimensions of the order with the available space within
the appliance of the customer. After a delivery is made, the appliance communicates
via the internet that the delivery has been made and the delivery system computer
then charges or debits the customer's account for the cost associated with the delivery.