London ( CNN ) -- In May , I experienced what 's known as a `` failure to deliver . '' Then again last week , it was `` failure to deliver . '' The first fail was a maddening experience with FedEx , the next a worse experience with Amazon . These occurred after I relocated to a flat , and discovered the pain of not having a front porch , plant pot or friendly neighbor . How do you apartment dwellers handle this ? Thankfully I bullied Fedex into a Saturday morning delivery at no charge , and Amazon reprinted the book I ordered and delivered to my office . But many companies ban personal deliveries -- and this is where what 's being called `` click and collect '' comes in . Click and collect allows shoppers to pick up their shopping when and where it suits -- and Britons are leading the way . According to Planet Retail , 35 % of Britons who shop online click to buy , then have the goods delivered to a location that suits . Only 5 % of Germans and 13 % of Americans do the same . When consumers first started online shopping , the collecting was n't expected to be harder than the clicking . `` Even five years ago , the concept of ordering something online and then having to collect it at a store seemed ludicrous , '' Natalie Berg of Planet Retail told me . `` It takes the whole concept of convenience out of online shopping . '' But by 2017 , according to Berg , the number of Britons collecting after clicking will soar to 70 % . Companies including Argos , CollectPlus , MyHermes and The Post Office are capturing this trend , as are newcomers such as Doddle . In a joint venture with National Rail , Doddle is using the rail stations ' extra space as delivery shops , which will be open between 6:00am and 9:00pm seven days a week . This will allow millions of commuters to collect and -- maybe more importantly -- return products bought online . `` Most of the people who travel by rail , to big cities , are n't at home during the day , '' Tim Robinson , CEO of Doddle told me . `` They have that 'sorry you were out ' card when they get home . There is a big opportunity to fill that gap . '' Ebay will soon allow its online shops to deliver goods through the thousands of Argos outlets . The Post Office also plans to deliver to small independent stores , some of whom have joined the delivery networks CollectPlus or MyHermes . Doddle is touting a twist though . Robinson says 40 % of clothing bought online is returned . Many of the 300 Doddle stores planned around rail stations will have changing rooms . `` You do n't actually have to take the goods home . You can try it on here and send it straight back . '' No more calling in sick , waiting for that new purchase to arrive .
` ` Click and collect '' is becoming an increasingly popular way to get good bought online . More than a third of Britons use click and collect , far more than their European counterparts . Newcomer Travel is now partnering with Network Rail to provide online pick - up spots .