Strange FedEx delivery
 

Had a delivery by FedEx...a shoe-box size light weight package with a value of $50

I was in my yard when the FedEx truck pulled in, so I met him at his truck door and he handed the package to me. This is how the conversation went.

Me...Thanks!
Him...Hold on, I need a signature.
M....(laughing) What if I hadn't been home?
H...I would have left it by your front door.
M...Ok? (signing his small touch screeen with my finger)
H....(as I'm walking away) What's your initials?
M...SB
H....How do you spell your last name?

I spelled it for him and he tore off...I think he was wishing I hadn't been home.

Is that normal delivery protocol?

They aren't supposed to leave a package marked signature required, unless you've given them permission. That said, many do.

^^^ It was a short area rug that was rolled up with clear tape and a label applied to the tape.
I looked it over and there was nothing saying sig required. (or do they have that electronically?)

Yes, that's normal.

I get so many FedEx packages the drivers all "know" me and if I am home, they just hand it me and roll on. I can always tell it's a new driver, they make me sign.

That said, if the sender requires your sig, and you're not home, they'll leave a door tag. You can either sign the tag, put it back on your door then they'll return the next day and leave the package, or you can go pick it up at the designated location.

They may have that in their system, not sure. Odd that he'd ask for an sig if he wasn't required to though. Usually shippers reserve that for high $$ items.

Most of my experience is with the guys in the brown truck. I've signed their pad, and had them ask for my initials.

Your experience doesn't seem odd to me. It's probably SOP for them to get a signature if they can even if not required. That takes some of the responsibility off of the carriers, especially these days with so many porch pirates. I'm sure that there are folks that are scamming or trying to scam the system due to porch pirates.

I get deliveries from Fed Ex and UPS weekly, usually always home, and the only time I get asked for an sig is if it's wine or something high value. I guess every driver is different...

It just seemed odd that he said.."I would have left it by your front door"
Next time, if I'm in the yard, I'll ignore him. (jk)

It all is up to the delivery driver, and their ability to read and follow directions.

We had a FedEx package coming to us First AM, hurry max rush rush, get it there now price supposed to be there by 8:00 AM signature required. It was a irreplaceable roll of 9 inch wide 500 foot long film from our aerial camera. We had 16 hours of flying involved and the cost of the film. Over 12 grand in our costs on the line. Our customer was whining they want it done ASAP.

The FedEx driver left it on the front porch of some crack house in a bad part of town miles from our office. The address was not even close to ours.

We called FedEx, and with strong language, convinced their manager to get off her butt, and go pick it up and bring it to us now! We finally got it at 3:00 PM and they still wanted to charge us for the 8:00 AM delivery so more discussions followed.

Yep...I'd be upset also with something of that value getting to the wrong place.

This package was only worth $50 and I nearly had to go through a background check to claim it. :D

Was it something you ordered?

We've had a few items received we didn't order - and not been billed for with signature required. Scam companies use these to post fake reviews - or when they sell a fake product and they re-use that tracking and signature as proof of delivery through the platform.

Yes...it came from Cabela's. I had looked at the tracking info a couple diff times. Their shipping is so slow.
Never saw a signature required notice.

In CA you can tape one of those post office pink forms for delivery to your mail box somewhere and the mail person will scan it and leave the package where it is safe. I am lucky as we have the same mail carrier for several years and I always ask their name and such and they always give me the pink form to tape on the box and I tell the fellow to leave it on a work stand in front of my garage door, so far so good.
John

^^^ I've never had a problem with where they drop packages.
As far as 'porch pirates'...they aren't around here in the rural areas.