Parcel collection points for residents provide convenience and neighborly company, but safety concerns also arise

Both Mr Srinivasan and Ms Erra declined to reveal how much money they made during the month.

According to the Shopee app, collection points that hand out up to 900 parcels a day can earn up to S$5,400 a month, while 60 parcels a day can earn S$360.

Mr Srinivasan added that he also signed up to find “meaning” in his daily life.

“If someone is thinking, ‘Oh, this is going to make me a ton of money,’ they’re in the wrong place,” he said.

Ms. Erra also pointed to intangible benefits, such as closer relationships with neighbors.

“Since I set up this Shopee pickup point, I know more about my neighbors… Surprisingly, I have quite a few friendly neighbors,” she said.

She said people who regularly collect parcels from her HDB flat in Sengkang struck up a conversation with her, something she had never done before.

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

People staying near Shopee residential waste collection points told CNA that most appreciated the convenience.

For example, Raphael Phan, a third-year college student, said choosing Ms. Erra’s pick-up location instead of door-to-door delivery has allowed him to save some pocket money each week.

“If I go (to the collection point) five times, I can save 7 Singapore dollars, and that’s like one meal, which is not bad,” said the 17-year-old, who lives a three-minute walk from Ms Erra.

Aircraft mechanic Hafiz Ismail, who lives in the block next door to Mr Srinivasan, said the collection point had become the norm for him because doorstep delivery “had just become too expensive”.

“It used to be just a few cents, but recently the highest amount has been 1.99 Singapore dollars,” said the 33-year-old.