If no one is home the day a package arrives from UPS, do they leave it there?

Question

If no one is home the day a package arrives from UPS, do they leave it there?

Answer 1

It depends on a few factors:

If the sender requires a signature, they will not leave it.

If the delivery address is in an area where UPS has had trouble or perceives your package isn't safe, they won't leave it.

If your delivery address is safe, but you don't have a porch, they won't leave it.

If you live in an apartment, they won't leave it either.  

If you live in a single family dwelling with a porch, especially if the porch offers some hiding spots and the sender hasn't required a signature, your package will be waiting for you.

However, if you get home and find the yellow info notice, just call and have the package re-routed to your work, friend's house, or other place where somebody will be available the next day. Re-routing is usually available even for signature packages.  Your other option would be to hold for pickup, but you have to go to a UPS shipping hub, you can't have it held for pickup at a UPS store (which would be nice).

I have called and gotten packages re-routed as late as 10PM local time, and they almost always show up to the new destination the next day.

If you have your tracking number, you can track it online, although it takes about 45 minutes for the status to update. So, you could track the package, and then if you see it got left outside, have a friend or neighbor grab it for safekeeping. If you see a delivery attempt was made but they wouldn't leave it, you can call UPS right away to have the package held or re-routed. On occasion, they will try again later if your home.

You can reroute your package online, but only if you have the info notice, which has a different number then the tracking number. That is a security precaution. But you can verbally speak with a representative without the info notice and they will re-route it for you. You will need your tracking number when calling them, they won't look up packages going from one address to another.

If you don't have your tracking number, get it from the shipper.

You can call UPS at 1-800-PICK-UPS (742-5877)

This information applies to UPS.  FedEx Home will never leave the package, and won't re-route it. Airbourne will hold or re-route, but they aren't friendly about it. Regular FexEx will give your package to anybody on the street who says it's theirs.