Amazon has set its sights on yet another barrier to home delivery: answering the door when products arrive.

The e-commerce giant yesterday launched a new service for its Prime members that will enable them to remotely accept home deliveries by providing couriers with access to their homes.

Called Amazon Key, the service is being touted as a secure option for accepting packages without needing to wait around to open the door or worry that purchases are unsecured sitting on doorsteps.

Once installed into a Prime member’s front door, the system automatically undertakes a “encrypted authentication process” for couriers after customers select “in-home” as a delivery option when making a purchase on Amazon.

The move directly addresses one of the more persistent issues facing Amazon on its quest to dominate the e-commerce market, namely thieves stealing packages left on doorsteps for customers.

But not all customers are convinced. Following the announcement that the product will launch on November 8 in 37 cities in the US, many consumers took to the internet with bewildered reactions.

“Stay the hell out of my house,” one commented wrote on a piece liked several hundred times.

“I can barely accept having to let the maintenance man into my apartment, let alone someone that you contract to deliver packages…it’s only a matter of time when a delivery person steals or worse assaults someone in the house,” another said.

Amazon’s Youtube video promoting the launch has more dislikes than likes, with several hundred thousand views and counting.

Customers are able to track delivery with real-time notifications, watch the delivery live on adjoining CCTV, or review video of the delivery after its been completed.

The service comes at no extra cost to Prime members and works with same-day, one day, two-day and standard shipping.

“Amazon Key gives customers peace of mind knowing their orders have been safely delivered to their homes and are waiting for them when they walk through their doors,” said Peter Larsen, vice president of delivery technology, Amazon.

“Now, Prime members can select in-home delivery and conveniently see their packages being delivered right from their mobile phones.”

Amazon also said the service will enable keyless access to users’ houses for authorised guests such as family and friends, with users able to set the “frequency and length of time a person has access.”

Professional services will also be enabled via the Amazon Home Services vertical.