UPS and FedEx - what are their delivery procedures?

it depends if the packages were sent requiring a signature for release, which i assume they have been. if you are not home they will leave a notice on your door stating that they have been there and a date for their return. there is also a phone number on the notice that you can call and arrange a date if you will not be home on the day they have specified. as far as the weather? i would assume they are prepared for that. they would probably leave the truck and walk down the hill if necessary, or come back another time. if you are still worried, cal the "800" number and ask tell them your concerns ahead of time. i used to get a lot of packages from these companies when i lived in a private home and knew the delivery men so they would sometimes "hide" the packages somewhere if i was not home, and leave a notice telling me where they were.

 

I used to work at UPS as a supervisor for the drivers (Package Ops Supervisor) and I can give you different scenarios:

If you do indeed live on a very steep hill and there is snow or ice, drivers will not go down your driveway. They will most likely not attempt to deliver the package, but mark the package as "WEATHER" and carry on to the next stop. If this was my driver, I would definitely tell them not to risk driving down there, because the trucks are not all equipped with snow-tires or 4-wheel drive. If you live in a rural area, chances are the truck in your area is very small, as well.

If there is no bad weather and your driveway is paved, the driver will make an attempt. If there is no one home, it is protocol for the driver to leave a notice. However, it is up to the shipper's discretion of whether or not they can release the package. I would check with the shipper to see if they chose "shipper release" when they sent the package.

If the shipper chose "shipper release", then the driver is at liberty to leave the package -- but only at his/her discretion. Drivers are allowed to use their best judgment when leaving packages, and if they feel the package may get damaged due to weather, or perhaps stolen, they will not leave the package, regardless of shipper release.

If the driver makes an attempt and you are not home, you can call 1-800-PICK-UPS, say "operator" twice, and request that the driver make a second attempt if they have time. Drivers do not have to make a second attempt, however you can request a message be sent to the dispatch office, to have the driver return. If the driver has time to return without going over 9.5 hours, they will.

You can also request "Will Call" or "Same Day Will Call". If you know where your local UPS package center is (not a UPS store, but the actual dispatch warehouse), you can go there after 6:30 to pick up your package. Same Day Will Call is normally from 6:30 until closing (8:30 or 9:00, depending on your center)... Same for Will Call.

Good luck getting your packages! I hope this was helpful!

 

UPS: Normally, UPS will leave you a little post-it note on your door or window that asks you to call a phone number and tell them whether you want them to attempt re-delivery or whether you will come to the Customer Care Center and pick the box up yourself. However, if your seller opted for "Shipper Release" (very unlikely), they will just leave it at your door. Each UPS driver is different, but typically they will leave the box right in front of your door (not the mailbox) -- but again, they'll only leave the box if the seller opted for Shipper Release.

Timchener's description is EXACTLY how UPS has always worked for us (I used to be in charge of our company's UPS account, so I dealt with UPS shipments a lot). If it's the same in VA and WI, I bet it will be exactly the same for you, too.

FedEx: FedEx is more difficult... All UPS deliverymen are employees of UPS, and they know UPS will come down hard on them if they lose a package. Not all FedEx deliverymen are employees of FedEx; FedEx outsources with other companies to deliver packages. They should do the same thing as UPS -- leave a note asking you to call and tell them what to do. However, that's not always the case. Sometimes FedEx will just leave the box at your door. (I really hate FedEx, if you can't tell.)

 

Please come visit me and my local couriers. They ding-dong-ditch no matter WHAT it is. Both UPS and FedEx.