"Signature Required"

freelanceterry · July 5, 2007

What to do if you can't be there when the ups-man commeth

So I have a big lot of golf clubs arriving Tue the 10th. Just in time for men's night Wed. so I'll see everyone there who made orders through me.

Problem is that neither I nor my wife will be at the house on Tue.

My question is: Is there a way around the "signature required" thing? (it's FedEx actually...)

Couldn't I just leave a signed note giving them permission to leave it on the porch....or in the rear entry.....or whatever?

I live in a small small town and know the usps carrier. He knows to just leave the stuff - no biggie.
I've missed one already and it was a big pain.

Maybe there is a fedex employee among you?

Thanks

bcpuck2 · July 5, 2007

I just had this happen to me last week. I ordered a rangefinder online, and the company enabled the signature required feature on the package. Fed Ex wouldn't leave it unless I signed, and I left them notes with my signature as well and told them it was fine to just leave it. They give you about 3-4 chances and then hold onto it for a week at a local Fed Ex location. After a week they ship it back to the sender. So at least if you miss them the first time, you will have a few more chances. Hopefully it all works out.

GolferGal2009 · July 5, 2007

I'd just pick it up another time, it is not cool to get stuff stolen which has happened to me when they leave it. THey'd proabably leave it if you left a note though...

belote · July 5, 2007

Fedex is the worst, and I've gotten into some pretty heated discussions about this with the manager at the local dispatch office. First of all, the home delivery is different than regular fedex, so if its coming to your house, you have to deal with a whole other group of idiots, one of which actually told me that the stuff that doesn't get dropped off stays on the truck and the driver takes that truck home to his house, so even after hours they cannot find it. Unfortunately, there is no way they are going to leave it without a signature. I'm sorry, I have felt your pain on numerous occasions, so from now on, unless the shipping is free, I use UPS because it is the only option with a decent tracking system and courteous customer service.

freelanceterry · July 5, 2007

Shipping was free and the signature required thing was automatic from the company over a certain dollar amount.

Damn.... Darn.....

Maybe I can get someone to "house sit"...and be me for the afternoon....

This town is like 1200 - not worried at all about getting the stuff pinched.

Rules are rules I guess though.

Stupid rules.

bcpuck2 · July 5, 2007

Ya, best way to go would have someone wait at your house if you can. That's what I eventually had to do. PITA.

Charlie_Foxtrot · July 5, 2007

After they leave a note on your door telling you that they "missed you", call in and tell them that you want to pick up the package at the FedEx facility. They will hold it there for you. I've done that before. Hopefully it's not too far away.

Not sure if they will do it before making a delivery attempt. Couldn't hurt to call and ask.

idrive · July 6, 2007

Fedex has a "form" you can sign before hand authorizing them to leave the package without you being there. Go to the station and ask them about it. The drivers also carry the form. Once signed all packages will be dropped whether a signature is required or not. That includes all future deliveries as well.

I have done this.

freelanceterry · July 6, 2007

idrive - you are a life saver.

I'm going to see about this "form" tomorrow over lunch.

Great call.

Thanks,

crew_138 · July 6, 2007

I'd just pick it up another time, it is not cool to get stuff stolen which has happened to me when they leave it. THey'd proabably leave it if you left a note though...

Agreed.

Fedex won't help you either if your stuff is stolen when they said the "left it at the door".

I will never use them, and prefer noone send via them to me.

freelanceterry · July 6, 2007

If you saw where I lived you'd know that having something stolen is not a contributing factor in this discussion.

dfung · July 10, 2007

This is always a bit of a pain...

It's too late for Tuesday delivery, but I believe what you could try to do is contact the seller and ask for the FedEx tracking number (they probably sent it to you already). Call FedEx with that number and ask them to hold it for pickup. Then you go get it at the distribution station.

They should be able to do this without making an attempt at home delivery, but you may need to let them try once. The FedEx tracking system is pretty much real time, so it's really a question of whether you can hit the window before it's headed out to a truck. Of course, the distribution station may be a big drive away depending on where you live.

The shipper can pick whether they will allow it to be left with an authorized signature, and, if the shipment is valuable at all, they may well not allow it. If you go this route and the package is stolen, FedEx has no obligation after the driver leaves.

If you aren't there when they attempt delivery, they will leave a post-it with the tracking number so you can have them hold it at the station.