USPS suspends obtaining required delivery signature?
derryb
Posts: 37,672 ✭✭✭✭✭
Just tracked down my carrier to ask why the last two "signature required" priority deliveries were left in the mailbox without obtaining my signature. She informed me that they have been instructed until further notice to make the signature themselves without making contact with the customer. Forgot to ask her about registered sigs. Anyone else seeing this in their location?
No Way Out: Stimulus and Money Printing Are the Only Path Left
0
Comments
TRANSFERRED FROM WRONG FORUM TO RIGHT FORUM:
Yes, my mail carrier is under the same instructions, except he eyeballs me and hands me the package before he handles the signature business on his own. He knows me; otherwise, I expect he requires some ID.
I haven't had anyone simply leave it in the mailbox yet.
Here's a warning parable for coin collectors...
I am a FedEx courier and we are operating similarly. If a package is signature required, the recipient must be home, but we cannot have anyone sign.
Sounds like all the more reason to have a PO Box!
Well, I'd much rather them not sign my name because ebay (who currently is not answering the phones) will take that to confirm I received and signed for it. Not much help if I have to file a claim because I didn't actually receive it. I would prefer USPS have their carriers use the carriers signature and make sure it is handed off to the customer. This can easily be done by ringing the doorbell, showing the package and setting it down while maintaining safe distance. Not gonna win a claim where tracking shows my name in the signature block.
No Way Out: Stimulus and Money Printing Are the Only Path Left
Why won't FedEx or UPS or Amazon at least ring the doorbell when they deliver a package?
Lafayette Grading Set
USPS here also just eyeball me to confirm signature package, and then leave it at my mailbox. He will sign for me instead. Guess that is the new norm.
Could not find anything about this on the USPS.com website. Anybody have anything official?
Is the letter carrier signing YOUR name or his/her name?
I had a FedEx driver that delivers to me all of the time hand me the packages and then tell me she was going to sign my signature for me.
my name and leaving it in the mailbox without ringing the doorbell
No Way Out: Stimulus and Money Printing Are the Only Path Left
As for ringing the doorbell it depends on a few things. Unless the shipper pays for a signature, we are allowed to leave the package by putting it in a safe place, out of view from the street. If a signature is required by the shipper, then we are supposed to ring or knock and when they approach the door, we are then able to leave the package. We then sign for them fulfilling a "contactless" delivery. There are situations where I won't leave a package that doesn't require a signature, if I feel that it is not safe to leave it. I have had situations where I felt cars were following me to see where I leave items. I have also seen customers come out and spray down the package with disinfectant before bringing it in.
I had a package delivered today. The carrier rang the doorbell asked my name and then asked if he could sign for me. I said yes, of course. He handed me my package and left.
From their website:
Will there be any modifications to Certified Mail or mail requiring signature deliveries with customers? If so, how will this be supported?
One significant measure being implemented is a temporary modification to mail handling procedures for mail that requires customer signatures. We recognize the close proximity and additional handling that occurs when employees must ask customers for a signature and government issued identification when required. To reduce health risks, we are temporarily modifying customer signature capture procedures. Effective immediately and until further notice, our employees will follow the temporary process below for signature service items. This process applies to all letter carriers:
Avoid ringing the doorbell when possible. Knock on the customer’s door. Avoid areas that may be frequently touched when knocking.
While maintaining a safe, appropriate distance, employees will request the customer’s first initial and last name.
For increased safety, employees will ask the customer to step back a safe distance or close the screen door/door so that they may leave the item in the mail receptacle or appropriate location by the customer door.
If there is no response, employees will follow the normal Notice Left process.
If there are delivery points on the route where social distancing recommendations are difficult to follow, alternative delivery methods can be explored. (Industry Alert – 3/20/20)
And more....
How are items requiring a signature handled with social distancing regulations in place?
To reduce health risks, we are temporarily modifying customer signature capture procedures.
While maintaining a safe, appropriate distance, employees will request the customer’s first initial and last name so that the employee can enter the information on the electronic screen or hard copy items such as return receipts, PS Forms 3811 and 3829.
For increased safety, employees will ask the customer to step back a safe distance or close the screen door/door so that they may leave the item in the mail receptacle or appropriate location by the customer door.
Does anyone really want to hold a pen right now that's been held by who knows who before you to sign for a package.
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
I have no problem with a postal employee signing for me as long as they present the shipment to me at the same time. This appears to be their current temporary policy.
I do have a problem with a postal employee signing for me and leaving the item in the mailbox or on the front porch. This appears to violate their current temporary policy.
After all a customer purchases the additional signature requirement to ensure the item is personally presented to the customer at the time usps relinquishes custody.
No Way Out: Stimulus and Money Printing Are the Only Path Left
The last package I sent to SF with Signature Confirmation was supposedly signed for by the recipient.
BST transactions: dbldie55, jayPem, 78saen, UltraHighRelief, nibanny, liefgold, FallGuy, lkeigwin, mbogoman, Sandman70gt, keets, joeykoins, ianrussell (@GC), EagleEye, ThePennyLady, GRANDAM, Ilikecolor, Gluggo, okiedude, Voyageur, LJenkins11, fastfreddie, ms70, pursuitofliberty, ZoidMeister,Coin Finder, GotTheBug, edwardjulio, Coinnmore, Nickpatton, Namvet69,...
Hell, I had a case last year where I won around a dozen baseball postal first-day covers on ebay, signed by now-deceased hall of famers; all one-of-a-kind and irreplaceable. Total value was around $850. The FDCs were largely from 1939.
They were sent signature-required and insured via Fed-Ex. I knew when they should arrive from going to the Fed-Ex website. When they didn't show up, I went back to the website, and found the package had been updated as delivered.
There was never a knock on my door, I didn't sign for anything, and nothing ever showed up. Luckily for me, the seller, a well-known, reputable autograph dealer, quickly refunded my money.
Still, to this day, it burns my butt to think that all those autographed FDCs are simply gone.
Steve
I had a couple Indian Head quarter eagles dropped off the other day that said they were signed by me. At least it was in the locker and not my front door!
My first post BTW!!
Howdy!
Yes ... and I'm ok with it.
@d9lowe....Welcome aboard.....
My carrier signs for me...but I usually meet him at the door and he greets me by name...been delivering here for years...Cheers, RickO
Until the package gets signed for and does not end up in your hands.
No Way Out: Stimulus and Money Printing Are the Only Path Left
I have a P.O. Box, which is working very well for me now.
Obviously!
My USPS carrier still comes to the door for a signature. BUT....wearing a mask and gloves and with a bottle of hand cleaner to boot. After I open the mail I use 70% Ethyl Alcohol (Equate Hand Sanitizer). I think things are different all over.
This practice is only making it hard to argue my case that someone in the USPS stole a package I shipped. Someone scribbled something on the signature confirmation, but the fully insured package was never delivered.
USPS has thus far denied the claim, stating it was delivered.
And paypal/ebay will side with the other party because usps signed for delivery even though it never made it into the addressee's hands.
Face it folks, purpose of a signature requirement (that cost the shipper an additional fee) is to get the shipment directly into the hands of someone at the delivery address. if usps wants to sign for me that's OK, just ring my doorbell, step back ten feet, let me open the door then set the item on the sidewalk where I can retreive it.
If I'm not home do as you always did and leave a slip in the mailbox so that I can sign for it when I pick it up at the post office.
No Way Out: Stimulus and Money Printing Are the Only Path Left
We dropped USPS on all packages of value and switch to UPS. Our insurer requires signature on receipt of packages. Gotta be protected. Sadly the USPS is losing postage from 100-250 packages a day from us.
^
This is the best practice!
I mentioned that before! But to your point! UPS does not deliver to PO Boxes! (unless you want to wave your signature rights and have it delivered to the Post Office's physical address!)