Multi-package delivery methods

• US 20060041481A1
• Filed: 06/03/2004
• Published: 02/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Inventors: Stowe, Robert
• Application Number:
  US10/860,670
• Publication Number:
  US 20060041481A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems

Abstract

The present invention involves methods for the delivery of a plurality of parcels shipped by one or more shippers to a location via a carrier. Methods are disclosed for aggregating parcels shipped by one or more shippers for a single delivery to the location, thereby reducing the need for multiple deliveries to the same location. In one method, the dates of the shipment of the parcels are coordinated such that the plurality of parcels may be delivered substantially simultaneously to the customer. In another method, some parcels are delayed in their shipping route while others may be expedited such that the plurality of parcels are delivered substantially simultaneously to the location by the carrier.

Claims

1. A method of aggregating the delivery of parcels to a customer by a carrier, said method comprising:

placing a first parcel in a first shipping route to the customer, said first parcel having a known first delivery date;

requesting delivery of a second parcel and determining an expected second delivery date of the second parcel in a second shipping route to the customer if said second parcel is shipped essentially at the time said request for delivery of the second parcel is made, said expected second delivery date being different from said first delivery date and said expected second delivery date being earlier than said first delivery date; and

delaying shipment of the second parcel by withholding transfer of said second parcel to the carrier such that the expected second delivery date coincides with the first delivery date and the first parcel and the second parcel are delivered in a single delivery to the customer on the first delivery date.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the carrier provides a shipping rate that is discounted from the carrier'"'"'s normal shipping rate for the second parcel.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first parcel is shipped by a first shipper and the second parcel is shipped by a second shipper and the first shipper and the second shipper share a monetary rebate provided by the carrier.

4. A method of aggregating the delivery of parcels to a customer by a carrier, said method comprising:

placing a first parcel in a first shipping route to the customer, said first parcel having a known first delivery date;

placing a second parcel in a second shipping route to the customer, said second parcel having a second delivery date being different from said first delivery date and said second delivery date being later than said first delivery date; and

expediting delivery of the second parcel by using a higher class of service offered by the carrier for the second parcel at the time the second parcel is transferred to the carrier for delivery such that the second delivery date coincides with the first delivery date and the first parcel and the second parcel are delivered in a single delivery to the customer on the first delivery date.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the carrier provides a shipping rate that is discounted from the carrier'"'"'s normal shipping rate for the second parcel.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the first parcel is shipped by a first shipper and the second parcel is shipped by a second shipper and the first shipper and the second shipper share a monetary rebate provided by the carrier.

7. A method of aggregating the delivery of parcels to a customer by a carrier, said method comprising:

placing a first parcel in a first shipping route to the customer, said first parcel having a known first delivery date;

placing a second parcel in a second shipping route to the customer, said second parcel having a known second delivery date being different from said first delivery date and said second delivery date being later than said first delivery date;

delaying delivery of the first parcel by the carrier such that the second delivery date coincides with the first delivery date and the first parcel and the second parcel are delivered in a single delivery to the customer on the second delivery date; and

providing a shipping rate to a shipper of the second parcel that is discounted from the carrier'"'"'s normal shipping rate for the second parcel.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first parcel is shipped by a first shipper and the second parcel is shipped by a second shipper and the first shipper and the second shipper share a monetary rebate provided by the carrier.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein delaying delivery of the first parcel by the carrier is accomplished by the carrier issuing instructions to a pre-load facility for the first parcel such that the first parcel is held at the pre-load facility until it is consolidated with the second parcel and delivered in a single delivery to the customer on the second delivery date.

10. A method of aggregating the delivery of parcels to a customer by a carrier, said method comprising:

shipping a first parcel to the customer, said first parcel having a known first delivery date;

requesting delivery of a second parcel and determining an expected second delivery date of the second parcel if said second parcel is shipped to the customer essentially at the time said request for delivery of the second parcel is made, said expected second delivery date being different from said first delivery date;

if said expected second delivery date is before the first delivery date then delaying shipment of the second parcel by withholding transfer of the second parcel to the carrier such that the expected second delivery date coincides with the first delivery date and the first parcel and the second parcel are delivered in a single delivery to the customer on the first delivery date; and

if said expected second delivery date is after the first delivery date then shipping said second parcel and expediting delivery of the second parcel by using a higher class of service offered by the carrier for the second parcel at the time the second parcel is transferred to the carrier such that the expected second delivery date coincides with the first delivery data and the first parcel and the second parcel are delivered in a single delivery to the customer on the first delivery date.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the carrier provides a shipping rate that is discounted from the carrier'"'"'s normal shipping rate for the second parcel.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the first parcel is shipped by a first shipper and the second parcel is shipped by a second shipper and the first shipper and the second shipper share a monetary rebate provided by the carrier.

13. A method of aggregating the delivery of parcels to a customer by a carrier, said method comprising:

shipping a first parcel to the customer, said first parcel having a known first delivery date;

shipping a second parcel to the customer, said second parcel having a known second delivery date that is different from the first delivery date;

if said second delivery date is before the first delivery date then expediting delivery of the first parcel by utilizing a higher class of service offered by the carrier for the first parcel such that the second delivery date coincides with the first delivery date and the first parcel and the second parcel are delivered in a single delivery to the customer on the second delivery date and providing a shipping rate to a shipper of the first parcel that is discounted from the carrier'"'"'s normal shipping rate for the first parcel; and

if said second delivery date is after the first delivery date then delaying delivery of the first parcel by the carrier such that the second delivery date coincides with the first delivery data and the first parcel and the second parcel are delivered in a single delivery to the customer on the second delivery date and providing a shipping rate to shipper of the second parcel that is discounted from the carrier'"'"'s normal shipping rate for the second parcel.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first parcel is shipped by a first shipper and the second parcel is shipped by a second shipper and the first shipper and the second shipper share a monetary rebate provided by the carrier.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein delaying delivery of the first parcel by the carrier is accomplished by the carrier issuing instructions to a pre-load facility for the first parcel such that the first parcel is held at the pre-load facility until it is consolidated with the second parcel and the first parcel and the second parcel are delivered in a single delivery to the customer on the second delivery date.

16. A method of aggregating the delivery of parcels to a customer by a carrier, said method comprising:

shipping a first parcel to the customer, said first parcel having a known first delivery date;

shipping a second parcel to the customer, said second parcel having a known second delivery date that is different from said first delivery date;

if said second delivery date is before the first delivery date then delaying delivery of the second parcel by the carrier such that the second delivery date coincides with the first delivery data and the first parcel and the second parcel are delivered in a single delivery to the customer on the first delivery date and providing a shipping rate to the shipper of the second parcel that is discounted from the carrier'"'"'s normal shipping rate for the second parcel; and

if said second delivery date is after the first delivery date then delaying delivery of the first parcel by the carrier such that the second delivery date coincides with the first delivery data and the first parcel and the second parcel are delivered in a single delivery to the customer on the second delivery date and providing a shipping rate to the shipper of the first parcel that is discounted from the carrier'"'"'s normal shipping rate for the first parcel.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first parcel is shipped by a first shipper and the second parcel is shipped by a second shipper and the first shipper and the second shipper share a monetary rebate provided by the carrier.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein delaying delivery of the first parcel by the carrier is accomplished by the carrier issuing instructions to a pre-load facility for the first parcel such that the first parcel is held at the pre-load facility until it is consolidated with the second parcel and the first parcel and the second parcel are delivered in a single delivery to the customer on the second delivery date.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein delaying delivery of the second parcel by the carrier is accomplished by the carrier issuing instructions to a pre-load facility for the second parcel such that the second parcel is held at the pre-load facility until it is consolidated with the first parcel and the first parcel and the second parcel are delivered in a single delivery to the customer on the first delivery date.

20. A method of aggregating the delivery of a plurality of parcels to a customer by a carrier, said method comprising:

placing one or more earlier parcels in one or more shipping routes to the customer, each said earlier parcel having a known earlier delivery date;

requesting delivery of a last-in-time parcel and determining an expected last-in-time delivery date of a last-in-time parcel in a last-in-time shipping route to the customer if said last-in-time parcel is shipped to the customer at essentially the time that said request for delivery of the last-in-time parcel is made, said expected last-in-time delivery date being different from said each known earlier delivery date and said expected last-in-time delivery date being earlier than said each known earlier delivery date; and

delaying shipment of the last-in-time parcel by withholding transfer of the last-in-time parcel to the carrier such that the expected last-in-time delivery date coincides with one or more of the earlier delivery dates and one or more of the earlier parcels and the last-in-time parcel are delivered in a single delivery to the customer on one of the earlier delivery dates.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the carrier provides a shipping rate that is discounted from the carrier'"'"'s normal shipping rate for the last-in-time parcel.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the one or more earlier parcels are shipped by one or more earlier shippers and the last-in-time parcel is shipped by a last-in-time shipper and the one or more earlier shippers and the last-in-time shipper share a monetary rebate provided by the carrier.

23. A method of aggregating the delivery of a plurality of parcels to a customer by a carrier, said method comprising:

placing one or more earlier parcels in one or more earlier shipping routes to the customer, said one or more earlier parcels each having a known earlier delivery date;

placing a last-in-time parcel in a last-in-time shipping route to the customer, said last-in-time parcel having a last-in-time delivery date being different from said one or more earlier delivery dates and said last-in-time delivery date being later than said one or more earlier delivery dates; and

expediting delivery of the last-in-time parcel by using a higher class of service offered by the carrier for the last-in-time parcel at the time of transfer of the last-in-time parcel to the carrier such that the last-in-time delivery date coincides with one or more of the earlier delivery dates and one or more of the earlier parcels and the last-in-time parcel are delivered in a single delivery to the customer on one of the earlier delivery dates.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the carrier provides a shipping rate that is discounted from the carrier'"'"'s normal shipping rate for the last-in-time parcel.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the one or more earlier parcels are shipped by one or more earlier shippers and the last-in-time parcel is shipped by a last-in-time shipper and the one or more earlier shippers and the last-in-time shipper share a monetary rebate provided by the carrier.

26. A method of aggregating the delivery of a plurality of parcels to a customer by a carrier, said method comprising:

placing one or more earlier parcels in one or more earlier shipping routes to the customer, said one or more earlier parcels each having known earlier delivery dates;

placing a last-in-time parcel in a last-in-time shipping route to the customer, said last-in-time parcel having a known last-in-time delivery date being different from said earlier delivery dates and said last-in-time delivery date being later than said earlier delivery dates;

delaying delivery of the one or more earlier parcels by the carrier such that each of the earlier delivery dates coincide with the last-in-time delivery date and the one or more earlier parcels and the last-in-time parcel are delivered in a single delivery to the customer on the last-in-time delivery date; and

providing a shipping rate to a shipper of the last-in-time parcel that is discounted from the carrier'"'"'s normal shipping rate for the last-in-time parcel.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the one or more earlier parcels are shipped by one or more earlier shippers and the last-in-time parcel is shipped by a last-in-time shipper and the one or more earlier shippers and the last-in-time shipper share a monetary rebate provided by the carrier.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein delaying delivery of the one or more earlier parcels by the carrier is accomplished by the carrier issuing instructions to a pre-load facility for the one or more earlier parcels such that the one or more earlier parcels are held at the pre-load facility until they are consolidated with the last-in-time parcel and delivered in a single delivery to the customer on the last-in-time delivery date.

29. A method of aggregating the delivery of a plurality of parcels to a customer by a carrier, said method comprising:

shipping one or more earlier parcels to the customer, said one or more earlier parcels each having known earlier delivery dates;

requesting delivery of a last-in-time parcel and determining an expected last-in-time delivery date of the last-in-time parcel if said last-in-time parcel is shipped to the customer at essentially the time that said request for delivery of the last-in-time parcel is made, said expected last-in-time delivery date being different from said earlier delivery dates;

if said expected last-in-time delivery date is before the earlier delivery dates then delaying shipment of the last-in-time parcel by withholding transfer of the last-in-time parcel to the carrier such that the expected last-in-time delivery date coincides with one or more of the earlier delivery dates and one or more of the earlier parcels and the last-in-time parcel are delivered in a single delivery to the customer on one of the earlier delivery dates; and

if said expected last-in-time delivery date is after the earlier delivery dates then shipping said last-in-time parcel and expediting delivery of the last-in-time parcel by using a higher class of service offered by the carrier for the last-in-time parcel at the time the last-in-time parcel is transferred to the carrier such that the expected last-in-time delivery date coincides with one or more of the earlier delivery dates and one or more of the earlier parcels and the last-in-time parcel are delivered in a single delivery to the customer on one of the earlier delivery dates.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the carrier provides a shipping rate that is discounted from the carrier'"'"'s normal shipping rate for the last-in-time parcel.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the one or more earlier parcels are shipped by one or more earlier shippers and the last-in-time parcel is shipped by the last-in-time shipper and the one or more earlier shippers and the last-in-time shipper share a monetary rebate provided by the carrier.

32. A method of aggregating the delivery of a plurality of parcels to a customer by a carrier, said method comprising:

shipping one or more earlier parcels to the customer, said one or more earlier parcels each having known earlier delivery dates;

shipping a last-in-time parcel to the customer, said last-in-time parcel having a known last-in-time delivery date that is different from the earlier delivery dates;

if said last-in-time delivery date is before the earlier delivery dates then expediting delivery of one or more of the earlier parcels by utilizing a higher class of service offered by the carrier for one or more of the earlier parcels such that one or more of the earlier delivery dates coincide with the last-in-time delivery date and one or more of the earlier parcels and the last-in-time parcel are delivered in a single delivery to the customer on the last-in-time delivery date;

if said last-in-time delivery date is after the one or more earlier delivery dates then delaying delivery of one or more of the earlier parcels by the carrier such that one or more of the earlier delivery dates coincide with the last-in-time delivery data and one or more of the earlier parcels and the last-in-time parcel are delivered in a single delivery to the customer on the last-in-time delivery date; and

and providing a shipping rate to the one or more shippers of the one or more earlier parcels that is discounted from the carrier'"'"'s normal shipping rate for the last-in-time parcel.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the one or more earlier parcels are shipped by one or more earlier shippers and the last-in-time parcel is shipped by a last-in-time shipper and the one or more earlier shippers and the last-in-time shipper share a monetary rebate provided by the carrier.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein delaying delivery of one or more of the earlier parcels by the carrier is accomplished by the carrier issuing instructions to a pre-load facility for one or more of the earlier parcels such that one or more of the earlier parcels are held at the pre-load facility until they are consolidated with the last-in-time parcel and one or more of the earlier parcels and the last-in-time parcels are delivered in a single delivery to the customer on the last-in-time delivery date.

35. A method of aggregating the delivery of a plurality of parcels to a customer by a carrier, said method comprising:

shipping one or more earlier parcels to the customer, said one or more earlier parcels each having known earlier delivery dates;

shipping a last-in-time parcel to the customer, said last-in-time parcel having a known last-in-time delivery date that is different from said earlier delivery dates;

if said last-in-time delivery date is before the one or more earlier delivery dates then delaying delivery of the last-in-time parcel by the carrier such that the last-in-time delivery date coincides with one or more of the earlier delivery dates and one or more of the earlier parcels and the last-in-time parcel are delivered in a single delivery to the customer on one of the earlier delivery dates and providing a shipping rate to the shipper of the last-in-time parcel that is discounted from the carrier'"'"'s normal shipping rate for the last-in-time parcel; and

if said last-in-time delivery date is after the one or more earlier delivery dates then delaying delivery of one or more of the earlier parcels by the carrier such that the last-in-time delivery date coincides with one or more of the earlier delivery dates and one or more of the earlier parcels and the last-in-time parcel are delivered in a single delivery to the customer on the last-in-time delivery date and providing a shipping rate to the one or more earlier shippers of the one or more earlier parcels that is discounted from the carrier'"'"'s normal shipping rate for the one or more earlier parcels.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the one or more earlier parcels are shipped by a one or more earlier shippers and the last-in-time parcel is shipped by a last-in-time shipper and the one or more earlier shippers and the last-in-time shipper share a monetary rebate provided by the carrier.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein delaying delivery of one or more of the earlier parcels by the carrier is accomplished by the carrier issuing instructions to a pre-load facility for one or more of the earlier parcels such that one or more of the earlier parcels are held at the pre-load facility until it is consolidated with the last-in-time parcel and one or more of the earlier parcels and the last-in-time parcel are delivered in a single delivery to the customer on the last-in-time delivery date.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein delaying delivery of the last-in-time parcel by the carrier is accomplished by the carrier issuing instructions to a pre-load facility for the last-in-time parcel such that the last-in-time parcel is held at the pre-load facility until it is consolidated with one or more of the earlier parcels and one or more of the earlier parcels and the last-in-time parcel are delivered in a single delivery to the customer on one of the earlier delivery dates.

39. A method of shipping parcels to a customer, comprising:

placing a first parcel in a first shipping route having a first delivery date to the customer;

evaluating the placement of a second parcel in a second shipping route to the customer, wherein such evaluation includes determining an expected second delivery date if said second parcel was shipped essentially at the time of making the evaluation of the placement of the second parcel;

if said first delivery date and said expected second delivery date are the same, then shipping said second parcel essentially at the time of making the evaluation of the placement of the second parcel; and

if said expected second delivery date is before said first delivery date, delaying placement of said second parcel into said second shipping route until a time that placement of said second parcel into said second delivery route would result in the first and second parcels being delivered the same day.

40. The method of claim 39 further comprising if said expected second delivery date is after said first delivery date, then placing said second parcel into said second shipping route at a higher class of service with a carrier such that delivery of said second parcel is expedited by said carrier and results in said first parcel and said second parcel being delivered the same day.

41. The method of claim 39 further comprising if said expected second delivery date is after said first delivery date, then placing said second parcel into said second shipping route with a carrier and having said first parcel held by said carrier such that said first parcel and said second parcel are delivered the same day and providing a shipping rate to the shipper of the first parcel that is discounted from the carrier'"'"'s normal shipping rate for the first parcel.

42. A method of shipping parcels to a customer by a carrier, comprising:

receiving a first parcel to be delivered to the customer, said first parcel placed in a first shipping route to the customer and having a first delivery date;

receiving a second parcel to be delivered to the customer, said second parcel placed in a second shipping route to the customer and having a second delivery date;

if said first delivery date and said second delivery date are the same, then delivering said first and second parcels accordingly; and

if said second delivery date is before said first delivery date, then holding said second parcel until a time that would result in the first and second parcels being delivered the same day and providing a shipping rate to the shipper of the second parcel that is discounted from the carrier'"'"'s normal shipping rate for the second parcel.

43. The method of claim 42 further comprising if said expected second delivery date is after said first delivery date, then receiving from a shipper of the second parcel said second parcel at a higher class of delivery service such that delivery of said second parcel is expedited by said carrier and results in said first parcel and said second parcel being delivered the same day.

44. The method of claim 42 further comprising if said expected second delivery date is after said first delivery date, then holding said first parcel until a time that would result in the first and second parcels being delivered the same day and providing a shipping rate to the shipper of the first parcel that is discounted from the carrier'"'"'s normal shipping rate for the first parcel.

45. A method of delivering parcels, comprising:

placing a first parcel in a first shipping route to a location, said first parcel having a first package tracking identifier and a first delivery date placing a second parcel in a second shipping route to the location, said second parcel having a second package tracking identifier and a second delivery date;

delaying either of said first or second parcels along their respective shipping routes so that they arrive at the location at substantially the same time; and

providing a shipping rate to at least one of a shipper of the first parcel and a shipper of the second shipper that is discounted from the carrier'"'"'s normal shipping rate for the first or second parcel, respectively.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein said first shipping route and said second shipping route are different routes.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein said first shipping route and said second shipping route are the same route.

48. The method of claim 45, wherein either of said first or second parcels are delayed at a pre-load facility controlled by a carrier.

49. The method of claim 45, wherein said first and second parcels are delivered to the location in the same carrier'"'"'s package car.

50. A method of delivering a plurality of parcels to a customer via a carrier, comprising:

coordinating a shipment date for each of a plurality of parcels shipped by one or more shippers to a customer on a substantially consistent time interval such that the plurality of parcels are delivered to the customer by the carrier at substantially the same time; and

receiving the plurality of parcels that are shipped from one or more shippers on each parcels designated shipment date and delivering said plurality of parcels to the customer at substantially the same time.

51. The method of claim 50, further comprising the customer subscribing to a program that authorizes the carrier to coordinate the shipment of the plurality of parcels shipped by the one or more shippers.

52. The method of claim 50, further comprising the carrier providing a discounted shipping rate to the one or more shippers for the plurality of parcels shipped by the one or more shippers.

53. The method of claim 50, further comprising the carrier providing a monetary rebate to the one or more shippers.

54. A method of delivering a plurality of parcels to a customer via a carrier, comprising:

subscribing, by a customer, to a program that authorizes the carrier to coordinate the shipment of a plurality of parcels shipped by one or more shippers to the customer;

coordinating a shipment date for each of a plurality of parcels shipped by the one or more shippers to the customer on a substantially consistent time interval such that the plurality of parcels are delivered to the customer by the carrier at substantially the same time;

receiving the plurality of parcels that are shipped from one or more shippers on each parcel'"'"'s designated shipment date and delivering said plurality of parcels to the customer at substantially the same time; and

providing a discounted shipping rate to the one or more shippers for the plurality of parcels that are shipped by the one or more shippers.

55. A method of delivering a plurality of parcels that are shipped to a customer via a carrier, comprising:

receiving a plurality of parcels that are shipped from one or more shippers via a carrier and to a customer on a substantially consistent time interval with the plurality of parcels having more than one delivery date;

coordinating a preferred delivery date with the customer such that the plurality of parcels are delivered to the customer by the carrier at substantially the same time; and

holding one or more or all of the plurality of parcels until the preferred delivery date and delivering the plurality of parcels to the customer at substantially the same time on the preferred delivery date.

56. The method of claim 55, further comprising the customer subscribing to a program that authorizes the carrier to coordinate the delivery of the plurality of parcels shipped by the one or more shippers.

57. The method of claim 55, further comprising the carrier providing a discounted shipping rate to the one or more shippers for the plurality of parcels shipped by the one or more shippers.

58. The method of claim 55, further comprising the carrier providing a monetary rebate to the one or more shippers.

59. A method of delivering a plurality of parcels that are shipped to a customer via a carrier, comprising:

subscribing, by the customer, to a program that authorizes a carrier to coordinate the delivery of a plurality of parcels shipped by one or more shippers to a customer;

receiving the plurality of parcels that are shipped from one or more shippers via a carrier and to a customer on a substantially consistent time interval with the plurality of parcels having more than one delivery date;

coordinating a preferred delivery date with the customer such that the plurality of parcels are delivered to the customer by the carrier at substantially the same time;

holding one or more or all of the plurality of parcels until the preferred delivery date and delivering the plurality of parcels to the customer at substantially the same time on the preferred delivery date; and

providing a discounted shipping rate to the one or more shippers for the plurality of parcels that are shipped by the one or more shippers.

60. A method of delivering a plurality of parcels that are shipped to a customer via a carrier, comprising:

receiving a plurality of parcels that are shipped from one or more shippers via a carrier and to a customer on a substantially consistent time interval with the plurality of parcels having more than one delivery date; and

coordinating a preferred delivery date with the customer such that the plurality of parcels are delivered to the customer by the carrier at substantially the same time by accelerating the delivery of some parcels that comprise the plurality of parcels and delaying the delivery of delaying the delivery of some parcels that comprise the plurality of parcels until the preferred delivery date and delivering the plurality of parcels to the customer at substantially the same time on the preferred delivery date.

61. A method of aggregated delivery for ordered items, comprising:

accessing a first vendor'"'"'s website and ordering one or more items that are shipped via a carrier in at least one first parcel having a first package tracking identifier, wherein said first parcel has a known first delivery date;

receiving from the first vendor the first package tracking identifier;

accessing a second vendor'"'"'s website and ordering one or more items that are shipped via the carrier in at least one second parcel having a second package tracking identifier, wherein said second parcel has a known second delivery date that is different from the first delivery date;

providing the second vendor with the first package tracking identifier;

agreeing to have the second vendor delay the shipment of the second parcel if the second delivery date is before the first delivery date, wherein said first and second parcels can be delivered substantially simultaneously on the first delivery date; and

agreeing to have the second vendor ship the second shipment using an expedited class of delivery service of the carrier for the second parcel if the second delivery date is after the first delivery date, wherein said first and second parcels can be delivered substantially simultaneously on the first delivery date.

62. A method of aggregated delivery for ordered items, comprising:

accessing a first vendor'"'"'s website and ordering one or more items that are shipped via a carrier in at least one first parcel having a first package tracking identifier, wherein said first parcel has a known first delivery date;

receiving from the first vendor the first package tracking identifier;

accessing a second vendor'"'"'s website and ordering one or more items that are shipped via the carrier in at least one second parcel having a second package tracking identifier, wherein said second parcel has a known second delivery date that is different from the first delivery date;

providing the second vendor with the first package tracking identifier;

agreeing to have the carrier delay the delivery of the second parcel by holding said second parcel until the time said second parcel is aggregated with said first parcel if the second delivery date is before the first delivery date and providing a shipping rate to the second vendor that is discounted from the carrier'"'"'s normal shipping rate for the second parcel, wherein said first and second parcels can be delivered substantially simultaneously on the first delivery date; and

agreeing to have the carrier delay the delivery of the first parcel by holding said first parcel until the time said first parcel is aggregated with said second parcel if the second delivery date is after the first delivery date and providing a shipping rate to the first vendor that is discounted from the carrier'"'"'s normal shipping rate for the first parcel, wherein said first and second parcels can be delivered substantially simultaneously on the second delivery date.

63. A method of choosing the service level for delivery of a parcel by a carrier, said method comprising:

placing a first parcel in a first shipping route to a customer, said first parcel having a known first delivery date;

determining an expected second delivery date of a second parcel in a second shipping route to the customer if said second parcel is shipped immediately using one or more service levels for delivery offered by the carrier;

choosing a service level for delivery offered by the carrier so that if the second parcel is shipped immediately sing the chosen service level of delivery offered by the carrier, the first and second parcels are delivered in a single delivery to the customer on the first delivery date; and

shipping said second parcel using the chosen service level for delivery.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein the carrier provides a shipping rate that is discounted from the carrier'"'"'s normal shipping rate for the second parcel.

65. The method of claim 63, wherein the first parcel is shipped by a first shipper and the second parcel is shipped by a second shipper and the first shipper and the second shipper share a monetary rebate provided by the carrier.