FedEx: "We'll be back"
This post by Alec reminds me of a recent encounter I had with FedEx. I was supposed to get some package shipped to some address, but I wasn’t fully sure when the guys would arrive. And their Internet tracking is very nice, but it wasn’t fully obvious when the courier would arrive, so I just left it at that.
So one day there was indeed a slip in the mailbox “we were here but you weren’t around, so we’ll be back tomorrow before 5 PM”. Uhhh… that’s not very convenient if you need to be at work. If I was working somewhere where there was strict office hours checking and you couldn’t work remotely, I would have been in trouble. But I could sit around since morning and wait for the delivery guy who finally showed up around noon.
There was no option for after-hours service, neither did I have an option of going somewhere to pick it up at a time that suits me, which is usually the case if you get deliver through “postal/air mail” and the thing is too big to fit in your mailbox.
So while the good news is that I got my package with minimal waiting, the question is how are “regular people” who need to be at work supposed to be receiving packages (assuming they don’t want the shipment to come to their business/work address).
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Was it FedEx Ground? They have evening delivery available and also appointment delivery. Both cost more but allow you to receive the delivery on your schedule. You would have to ask the shipper to request either of these services. Another option, if the shipper allows it, is to have your neighbor sign for the package. 3rd, again if the shipper allows it, is to sign the notice and have FedEx leave the shipment at your door. The 2nd and 3rd option is also available if it was FedEx Express. Remember, neither FedEx or any other delivery service knows whether you are home or not until they get there. They don’t know if you are at home waiting, or if you have no idea a shipment is coming. All they (FedEx, UPS, DHL, etc., etc.) can do is leave you a note and come back the next day. If you live close enough to their office, then you may be able to pick up the package if you let them know that’s what you want to do. Hope that gives you some options.
In my experience if you’re not home after 2 or 3 attempts they make you go somewhere to pick it up. UPS on the other hand tends to just leave things at the door (which isn’t always the safest option).
It all depends on the country you are located.