Brighton's internet shoppers will be able to pick up goods ordered online at service stations and convenience stores from October.
Dropzone1, a firm which has secured deals with Londis, Spar, BP, Jet and Texaco to deliver internet orders to their stores and stations, said Brighton will be one of the first towns to benefit from the service.
The news came as train operator Connex revealed it was in talks with supermarkets to provide a drop-off service for groceries at its stations.
Books, CDs and games ordered through the internet often end up in post offices when packages prove too big to fit through letter boxes.
Web surfers buying from Dropzone1-affiliated sites would be able to choose a service station or store near to them from which to pick up their order.
Dropzone1 director Lynda Wallace said: "We are aiming for 7,000 sites across the country and hope to have 5,000 working by the end of the year."
Dropzone1 has signed agreements with Crawley based StreetsOnline and three other major internet retailers.
The service will be trialled in Reading at the end of this month.
She said the service would be unaffected by the possibility of a deal between Connex and supermarkets.
Ms Wallace said: "We are not dealing with perishable goods.
"Our aim is to cover people however they travel."
Connex revealed few details of their plans.
Spokesman David Ewart said: "We are talking to a number of interested parties."
Express Diaries also announced trials of an internet delivery service last week.
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