Safe for college shipping service...

[Vinny]

With my recent troubles with UPS (well, UPS and a seller), I was wondering what's a safe method of having my items shipped to me?

I am ordering some stuff from newegg.com and they only have UPS and FeDex shipping. I'm afraid that the guys might just leave my package at my door and since I can't get any sort of insurance on the package, is either one safe to use?

I'd think they'd be smart enough to not leave a package in front of a college dorm room door but I doubt that. I can't speak for FeDex though... since I haven't used them too much.

[Immortal fWd]

All UPS packages are insured for $100 for no charge, I worked for them just recently. If a seller ever tries to make you pay, tell em to fuck off. And if the driver leaves it in front of your door, you can file a claim if it's stolen. However, any payout will go back to the original shipper since they are the ones who directly pay UPS.

The drivers are not supposed to leave packages in front of apartments, dorms, etc. If you have an office or front desk they may leave it there if the shipper doesn't require a signature.

[DuelLadyS]

More than anything else, I'd just find a trustworthy person within a few doors of your room to help you watch for the delivery guy. Or, if there's like a recpetion counter everyone going in has to pass by, ask the person there to stop the delivery dude and take your package. At least that way, if you get a bad carrier, the box gets somewhere safe.

As far as which one to use... I know FedEx has been more likely to knock/get a sig at my house than other carriers (save DHL, but they're not an option.)

[tdr32341]

it may vary where you go to school, but whenever i ordered stuff and i wasn't around for delivery, the UPS and fedex guys both checked other rooms around me to find someone to leave it with. i think one time they couldn't find anyone, so they left it in front of my room door, but every other time they left it with someone around me.

[shrike4242]

They should leave you a tag showing you had a package delivered, if no one's there to deliver it, especially with UPS & Fedex.

If possible, I'd recommend going out to the Fedex or UPS office to pick up the package, unless it's a massive inconvience. I know being in college, access to a car might be an issue.

Another option is to have to delivered to a different address, which might or might not happen, depending on the shipper's choice. Some will allow them to be delivered to a different address, while others can't.

[GoAztecs]

From my experiences working in dorms, the delivery guys would always bring packages to the front desk and the guy behind the desk would leave a slip in your mailbox.

[Vinny]

Well, our hall has an actual USPS post office in it... will they leave it there? Or maybe they'll leave it at the front desk? That won't be a problem... as long as they don't leave it in front of my door or I have to go pick it up (as Shrike said, I have no car and the bus system here sucks).

[shrike4242]

Well, our hall has an actual USPS post office in it... will they leave it there? Or maybe they'll leave it at the front desk? That won't be a problem... as long as they don't leave it in front of my door or I have to go pick it up (as Shrike said, I have no car and the bus system here sucks).
If the UPS or Fedex driver is smart enough, they should realize that it's a dorm and go to the post office to find out where to go with it. You could also contact UPS or Fedex and explain it to them, as long as you have the tracking # for the shipment. Since you don't really have a physical address with a front door, being in a dorm, it gets a little tricky. I'd like to think they'd go to the USPS office and leave it there, like a normal mail package.

[Dead of Knight]

From my experiences working in dorms, the delivery guys would always bring packages to the front desk and the guy behind the desk would leave a slip in your mailbox.

Same, but my experiences have only been with usps thus far.

[hx214]

I worked for UPS last christmas season, and for any type of apartment/dorm building with a common hallway we were never aloud to just leave it, we had to leave the ticket on the door and come back the next day. We weren't even allowed to leave it with a neighbor. (Honestly I would never leave a package with a college kid, you'll never see it again) Can anyone gain access to your dorm? In my dorm you needed to have a key to get in, if thats the case the UPS guy would probably leave it with the front desk and you would get a slip in your mailbox. (This would be my guess, just call down to the mail room and ask them what the UPS guy does with packages, they probably know him by name)

[Vinny]

I worked for UPS last christmas season, and for any type of apartment/dorm building with a common hallway we were never aloud to just leave it, we had to leave the ticket on the door and come back the next day. We weren't even allowed to leave it with a neighbor. (Honestly I would never leave a package with a college kid, you'll never see it again) Can anyone gain access to your dorm? In my dorm you needed to have a key to get in, if thats the case the UPS guy would probably leave it with the front desk and you would get a slip in your mailbox. (This would be my guess, just call down to the mail room and ask them what the UPS guy does with packages, they probably know him by name)

Thanks! I'll just ask the USPS lady or the front desk person what they do with UPS/FeDex packages.

And no, our hall doesn't have locked doors (except for 11PM to 7AM during which you need your ID card to get it) so anyone can come in. But the individual rooms are locked. And I don't have a rommie so that makes things a bit more difficult.