Ordered a laptop, do I need to sign for delivery?

[thestrangebrew1]

I ordered a macbook and it's supposed to be delivered today. Problem is no one is home and I don't see anywhere on UPS' tracking that someone needs to sign for it. Anyone know if these types of packages have to be signed for or if they'll leave it on my porch?

 

[BoomerD]

Seller generally makes that determination. Contact them?

 

[SKORPI0]

Why not reschedule delivery if you're worried that the item can be stolen from the porch after it is delivered without being signed for.

 

[Pohemi]

UPS is supposed to be doing contactless delivery, even when sigs are required upon delivery. Problem is...that depends on the individual driver that delivers it. I had a laptop delivered this last Monday and had sig req marked...they didn't bother even ringing the doorbell or knocking...they just left it. So yeah...depends on the slacker dropping it off...

 

[Tweak155]

When I ordered my MBA directly from Apple, they required I sign for it. Can't remember if it was UPS, but they didn't leave it for me even with the updated protocols at the time.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

Why not reschedule delivery if you're worried that the item can be stolen from the porch after it is delivered without being signed for.

I'm not too worried about it being stolen, was just more curious whether or not someone had to be there to sign. The shipping for this item has been particularly weird. Originally said it was going to be delivered Tuesday, then Wednesday and now today, and it's been all over the place. Went from China to Hong Kong to Alaska, KY, then Sacramento, SoCal, back up to near Sac and is somewhere between here and Sac as of this morning. Status still doesn't say "Out for Delivery", except that it should be delivered between 10-2pm.

 

[Platypus]

I kind of doubt it since most couriers have implemented a contactless system.

Apple just shipped me a pile of new iPhones without any signatures, so you're probably ok on the MBP (the value of those phones is definitely higher than whatever specs you could have chosen on the MBP).

Historically, yes, you would need to sign... but covid changed everything.

 

[Pohemi]

Yeah afaik (for UPS anyway) if a sig is req'd at delivery, the driver is supposed to verify that someone is on-location to receive it and then sign themselves or marked as verified received. Basically knock and step back and wait for someone to answer, otherwise not leave the package.

 

[BudAshes]

I'm not too worried about it being stolen, was just more curious whether or not someone had to be there to sign. The shipping for this item has been particularly weird. Originally said it was going to be delivered Tuesday, then Wednesday and now today, and it's been all over the place. Went from China to Hong Kong to Alaska, KY, then Sacramento, SoCal, back up to near Sac and is somewhere between here and Sac as of this morning. Status still doesn't say "Out for Delivery", except that it should be delivered between 10-2pm.

Maybe it's going to be delivered via Apple's new orbital delivery system. Check for a smoking crater in your back yard.

 

[manly]

I kind of doubt it since most couriers have implemented a contactless system.

Apple just shipped me a pile of new iPhones without any signatures, so you're probably ok on the MBP (the value of those phones is definitely higher than whatever specs you could have chosen on the MBP).

Historically, yes, you would need to sign... but covid changed everything.

Even before Covid-19, UPS was always pretty lax about the signature requirement in my experience. BoomerD is correct that this is an extra-cost option the seller must choose, not something the carrier would simply assume based on the type of merchandise. IIRC, the online tracking info should indicate if signature service was requested.

 

[sdifox]

Don't worry I signed for it.

 

[Platypus]

Even before Covid-19, UPS was always pretty lax about the signature requirement in my experience. BoomerD is correct that this is an extra-cost option the seller must choose, not something the carrier would simply assume based on the type of merchandise. IIRC, the online tracking info should indicate if signature service was requested.

I've had the opposite experience, the number of times I've had to go to their fucking hub to get something because this is countless.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

Well I had it re-routed to the closest UPS facility so I can pick it up whenever it's ready. Just weird because the status still hasn't changed. It's still in a town between here and Sac. since yesterday.

 

[kt]

I'm not too worried about it being stolen, was just more curious whether or not someone had to be there to sign. The shipping for this item has been particularly weird. Originally said it was going to be delivered Tuesday, then Wednesday and now today, and it's been all over the place. Went from China to Hong Kong to Alaska, KY, then Sacramento, SoCal, back up to near Sac and is somewhere between here and Sac as of this morning. Status still doesn't say "Out for Delivery", except that it should be delivered between 10-2pm.

I think UPS system may be a little screwed up right now. I had a package that was shipped out of Sacramento and according to their tracking it went to somewhere in Brazil then back to California. Who knows, it very well could've gone to Brazil and back because the departure/arrival time scans looked about right.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I find signing is very random, sometimes you need to, sometimes you don't, and it does not matter what the item is. I've had to sign for $5 ebay doodads from China while a $600 item is just left outside. There does not really seem to be any logic to it. I think it depends on lot of things like what the carrier is.

I try to time online orders to line up with when I'll be off. Does not always work as it's hard to predict sometimes how long a shipment can take. You can't really "reschedule" a delivery It arrives whenever it arrives. They won't keep it on the truck longer just because. There is so many 3rd parties involved throughout the delivery process the logistics of trying to reschedule a package are near impossible.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

UPS is supposed to be doing contactless delivery, even when sigs are required upon delivery. Problem is...that depends on the individual driver that delivers it. I had a laptop delivered this last Monday and had sig req marked...they didn't bother even ringing the doorbell or knocking...they just left it. So yeah...depends on the slacker dropping it off...

I had this happen to me yesterday. The B&H order got sent requiring a paw print but the FedEx simply left the box and bolted. No ringing the doorbell, no knocking on the door. Only the wife noticing him come up to the porch and sit the package there. Isn't it nice that no one else came along and grabbed my $1500 purchase?

 

[Muse]

Why not reschedule delivery if you're worried that the item can be stolen from the porch after it is delivered without being signed for.

If it were me I'd divert it to local pharmacy and pick up. I doubt you have to sign. Also, if diversion not possible I'd just be there, maybe doing yard work or reading. I ordered a laptop around 8 months ago, an LG Gram 15.6" from Costco online. Returned it. Loved how light it was but the keyboard layout didn't suit me. More than that the trackpad really sucked compared to the system on this Lenovo Thinkpad P1. I'm sticking with Lenovos now. Never liked any other laptop I've had but Thinkpads! I love the cool Left/Middle/Right buttons just above the trackpad. No messing with trying to get L/M/R from the pad itself, couldn't get that to work reliably.

 

[BudAshes]

I had this happen to me yesterday. The B&H order got sent requiring a paw print but the FedEx simply left the box and bolted. No ringing the doorbell, no knocking on the door. Only the wife noticing him come up to the porch and sit the package there. Isn't it nice that no one else came along and grabbed my $1500 purchase?

You don't want to share with your fellow man?

 

[thestrangebrew1]

I was able to divert it and picked it up from UPS this morning. It was the weirdest shipping transaction ever. But at least I got it and can surprise my daughter with it. She thinks it's still in Hong Kong somewhere and won't be getting it for another few weeks!

 

[manly]

I'm sure your daughter needs the computer, but an AT forums nerd should've waited for Apple silicon MacBooks.