We had a problem – multiple times now – where the FedEx driver SAID no one was home, but in reality he just didn’t bother. This was sign on delivery stuff. The first time it happened, my husband found the “no one was home” sticker on the door (which was true) and called me. I stopped by the distribution place on the way home from work, but the driver was still out so I couldn’t get the package. Fine, that’s totally understandable. So I spoke to the manager and he assured me that the driver would be by tomorrow. Then I spoke with my husband, and he made arrangements to take the day off work. He didn’t leave the house all day and made sure he was in a place where he could hear the door knock. Then I came home, and together we spent the rest of the evening waiting for this package. At 8pm, I finally called the distribution center. They said the driver attempted to deliver it, but couldn’t because no one was home. Oh really?

The first time was bad enough, but it’s happened two more times since then, each time with us arranging to be home on the delivery day and the driver saying “no one was home”. This only occured with FedEx. The UPS delivery man and the Post Office mailman always seem to be able to make the delivery. Ours is a quiet street with lots of elderly retirees. Funny how no one saw a FedEx truck on the street those day. Funny how we didn’t hear a door knock, despite literally waiting by the door. Yet, “no one was home”. Riiiiiight. If you can’t make the delivery, that’s fine. I don’t mind having to go pick it up from the center. But don’t lie to me about it!

And this is why I use UPS these days, if possible.

I was expecting a new tablet once. It was express post, to be signed on delivery and if no-one was there to take it to the post office for pick up.

Unfortunately the postman who does our area of the town is incredably lazy. I even caught him at it once. He will walk up to your door, put the pack age on the doorstep, fill out the form saying no-one answered the door and leave.

Long and short of it, I was at home all day waiting for my tablet and he just left it on my doorstep in full view of the street. It’s a good thing I was going to get my true mail and saw it there. I was so angry, because it had all the signs on it saying it was a sign on delivery or if no-one there, to take it to the post office. Y’know, so it’s not at risk of being stolen.

(a drawing tablet. That i needed to use to complete paid artwork for.)

We could make it a thing here on PAN in the spirit of “It was fucking delicious.” Like “I’m Team Notewriter because Rufus Sewell is hot!” Or “Shut up, because Rufus Sewell is hot!”

Used sparingly, of course. Too much and it would get annoying. Because Rufus Sewell is hot. *winks*

Generally speaking, any of them will attempt to deliver a package, and then depending on those options, either leave it or leave a sticky note on your door. Depending on the options presented on the note in turn, you may be able to sign that sticky and have them leave the package anyway. Otherwise they’ll try to deliver one or two more times.

After that and/or after the delivery truck gets back to their warehouse, you can pick it up yourself. Of course, that’s generally during business hours, meaning I need to leave work early and drive all the way across the city. I don’t usually have the time and money to skip a couple of hours of work on the off chance someone decides to steal a $10 tee shirt I ordered.

It’s amazing that there are people like this out in the world…

Like if a friend sent me a package with personal stuff, that couldn’t simply get replaced, right? Also if stuff from say amazon gets stolen it would be even more of a hassle to try and get them to re-sent the item than to simply wait a day.

For packages you need very quick we have package stations, you can ask for your packages to be delivered there and simply pick it up any time you want. So here there really is no need to take that risk willingly.

Buuuut I guess I’m just being a very stereotypical German right now *cough*.