Caution When Shipping
#12
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Houston, AK
Posts: 2,126
We have a PO Box for our mail for this reason. It is relatively rural where I live. To get mail delivered to our physical address, we would have to set up our own box or buy a space in an established box near our home. Mail theft is pretty common here, especially around the holidays.
I’m so sorry your friend had to experience this. Does she have photos that she can share on a local online group/forum where they were stolen? It might be worth sharing them to try to recover them.
I’m so sorry your friend had to experience this. Does she have photos that she can share on a local online group/forum where they were stolen? It might be worth sharing them to try to recover them.
#13
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: NW MN lake country
Posts: 3,589
Another suggestion that is a little off topic, but is helpful is to line the inside of your shipping box with a plastic bag. That way, your merchandise is in the bag and protected from weather if the box is left outside and it rains, or your doorstep is wet.
#14
Power Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Southern USA
Posts: 16,426
The excuse of not wanting to do sigatures because of Covidl is ludicrous. When getting groceries from walmart, they need a signature....I just tell them through the door to sign my name, since we are face to face and the delivery was made to a person at the door. Covid is being used a lot for lazy customer service these days.
You are so right about that. My husband and I were talking about the blame everything on Covid. It is now the go to excuse for creating a problem.
#15
This is so sad. A few years ago, DH ordered a computer and who knows what might have happened to it, if I had not heard a noise outside. Yep, delivery truck driving away, computer box sitting by our front door in full view of the street and if the delivery slip was signed, it certainly wasn't by us!! DH called the computer company and they were not impressed either.
What's the safest option? Deliver it yourself I guess.
What's the safest option? Deliver it yourself I guess.
#16
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Carroll, Iowa
Posts: 3,487
These days I ask UPS and FedX to drop any packages off on my back deck just because things are getting bad. USPS drops them off on my bench on the front porch and its not as readily seen from the street. Plus my neighbors and I keep an eye on each others house these days. Someone is usually always home during the day so hard for someone to come up on the porch unseen.
So sad for her lost of quilts.
So sad for her lost of quilts.
#17
Super Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Pacific NW
Posts: 9,563
Friend of mine got sick and tired of her packages being stolen. So she took some meat, let it sit out a day or two so the flies could do their job, wrapped it in a box, and after enough time to ensure maggot harvest, left it on her front porch. It was immediately stolen. She did this 3 times with different size boxes. Hasn't had a problem since.
The thing that irritates me about the delivery person is sometimes they'll drop the box on the porch but they don't ring the bell. We're all home, and the box will sit out there for hours until someone checks.
Another thing you can do is have packages shipped to a business. If we're going to be gone when a package arrives, I'll have it shipped to my friend's office and he'll hold it for me.
The thing that irritates me about the delivery person is sometimes they'll drop the box on the porch but they don't ring the bell. We're all home, and the box will sit out there for hours until someone checks.
Another thing you can do is have packages shipped to a business. If we're going to be gone when a package arrives, I'll have it shipped to my friend's office and he'll hold it for me.
Last edited by Peckish; 08-20-2020 at 08:21 AM.
#18
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Upstate New York
Posts: 1,231
I ordered a bottle of expensive liquor as a gift for someone, it was delivered by Fedex..LAW required a signature and proof of age upon delivery..he just left it on my porch! It could be that he knows from prior deliveries that I'm well over 21..but that does not discount the law..could be I had grandkids that ordered liquor. The mail from anyone is iffy these days, all carriers are just overwhelmed.
#20
I have received emails from companies telling me that my package is on the way and to make sure I am home because it requires a signature. The package is delivered and I don't know it until we walk down to the mail box. We live on 5 acres so USPS puts it in our mail box and Fed Ex and UPS set inside our gate in a plastic bag. I never sign for them. Thank goodness, we live in a rural area and have zero problems with packages being stolen.