I am on Day Three of waiting for a package to be delivered so I can sign for it. If I’m being fair, I can’t really count Day One because on Day One I was not aware I was waiting, but I am counting it anyway because by chance I WAS IN FACT AT HOME ALL DAY. Furthermore, it was raining on and off so I was on FULL ALERT for UPS/USPS trucks: a few days earlier we’d had some things delivered while it was raining and they got SOAKED. So I was (1) home and (2) alert for deliveries, and still somehow they missed me. That takes real ninja skill.
On Day Two, after I’d received an email saying they were sorry they had missed me, I waited at home all morning. At lunchtime one of the kids called and I had to go bring something over to the school; I stopped at the library on the way home, so I was gone 45 minutes total. There was a “Second Attempt” sign on my door when I returned, with a tone that went too far into reprimand for my liking, considering this is not an appointment I made or agreed to. Today I am NOT LEAVING THIS HOUSE UNTIL I SIGN FOR THAT PACKAGE.
And you know what’s extra dumb? This package I have to sign for is NOTHING SPECIAL. It is a $14 stuffed animal from Amazon, a totally normal, routine sort of purchase. I have NO IDEA why it requires that an adult over age 18 must be home to sign for it in person. Is it filled with CIGARS or something? I can’t even sign the little slip saying it’s okay to leave it on the steps or with a neighbor: that section is crossed out. I must be here ALL DAY LONG to sign for it—there isn’t even a delivery window to shoot for. I have been doing my best to work up a little holiday feeling and THIS IS NOT HELPING.
Speaking of cranky, if you have not yet seen The Lady in the Van (Netflix, Amazon), I highly recommend it. Did you like Maggie Smith in Downton Abbey and in Harry Potter? Her facial expressions, her way of moving, her way of talking? Imagine her very similar to those roles, but playing a homeless woman. She was an utter delight as always. And I liked how the movie was DONE. I don’t know what to call what I liked, but I thought it was cleverly and interestingly done. And it’s funny and heartwarming without being too cheery or optimistic, if you’re not really up to cheery/optimistic right now but also do not want to be shoved deeper down.
Ugh, having to stay home to sign for a package that isn’t even highly valuable is the worst! I feel your pain. Maybe you can spike your coffee with something Christmas-y to help the holiday spirit?
This is almost exactly what happened to me a few weeks ago when I was awaiting my wine delivery. I understand why they need an adult signature for that one (although the FedEx guy was being far more hardcore about the rules this time around – usually the delivery guys get sick of hauling a heavy package of wine up and down the steep flight of stairs to our front door and just leave it on the doormat by the third attempt). But for a stuffed animal? That is INFURIATING. And MOST CERTAINLY not conducive to holiday spirit.
I hate that kind of nonsense with the packages. Grrr.
When I read the title, I thought there was going to be an addition to the story of your Amazon hacker lurking in the street outside your home! Wishing you a success package delivery!
I thought the same! More Swistle sleuthing! I hope your package is delivered soon. And that you have your brownies baking while you wait (okay, maybe my coping skills aren’t the best, but I know I’D feel more cheery!). :)
Ooo, that would have been SO MUCH BETTER! So far we have no update on our own The Lady.
I thought the same thing too!
Me three (or four)
Last holidays, UPS lost one of our packages. Straight-up lost it, or I guess it could have been stolen, these things happen. But as a result, we have had to sign for every single package, no matter what, for an entire year. It was our punishment for having a package THEY LOST. We are almost at the end of the year and you bet I am going to call them to remind them to take us off the poo list.
This is INFURIATING. What an unpleasant and unfairly punitive system.
Ask Amazon for your money back?
My friend once looked out the front window of his upstairs apartment and watched the UPS man pull up, sit there for a minute and then pull away without even attempting to deliver his package. He then got a notification (via email or text I am assuming) that they tried to deliver it, but no one was home. Comical, but also infuriating. He had so many problems that he has packages delivered elsewhere now.
Yes – I’ve had this happen too – and there is no recourse – I called, I emailed, I complained – and it all fell on deaf ears. I try to avoid UPS for this reason.
Have you signed up for UPS CHOICE? You can track all packages really quickly. You may have already tried that.
Awww, my grandma did the something you want….jingle, and my mother (her daughter in law) always quoted it approvingly. Something to wear, something to read, something to play with. I am thinking of good old fashion dead tree books for my sons (aged 21 and almost 19) for holiday prezzies.
Or you can call (a machine) and make a selection to pick up the package at the UPS shipping location in your town. Often I would do that after the first attempt because I didn’t want to keep missing them.
I second the UPS My Choice suggestion! Not only can you track your packages but you can sign for them online and give them directions on where to leave them. I was never home but this worked like a charm!
Have you read the book of The Lady in the Van? Or any other Alan Bennett? I have a feeling that you would like it a LOT. His memoir type books are equally excellent.
UPS keeps delivering my amazon packages to the guy two doors down (apparently they really struggle with the different between 3213B and 3215 B… He is just as fed up with it as I am!