Although UPS is an effective logistics company, mistakes and accidents happen.
You may find yourself in a situation in which they say they delivered your package, but you can’t find it.
There are a few reasons that might be the case.
Here’s what you need to know and do when UPS says delivered, but you’ve received no package.
UPS Says Delivered But No Package (What To Do)
UPS says that if you can’t find your package, but the driver marked it delivered, then you need to contact the seller.
Tell the seller that your package wasn’t received.
They’ll be able to contact UPS on your behalf to initiate a trace.
UPS will then use its resources to figure out where the package went.
You can contact UPS yourself, too, but going through the seller is more effective.
They take it more seriously since they’re partnered with the seller and doing business with them.
UPS also states that you should first look around the home and pay attention to the delivery notice.
They always leave behind a delivery notice that gives you information about the status of the delivery.
For example, if they left the package with a neighbor, then the notice will say so.
If they took the package elsewhere, then the notice will say so.
Sometimes the notice will also tell you where they put the package if it isn’t at the front door.
They might write “back door” on it, for example, to indicate that they dropped it off there.
After reading the notice and looking in the area indicated on the notice, if you still can’t find it, then it’s time to speak to the seller and have them contact UPS.
Speak With Your Neighbors First
Another step to take when UPS says delivered but no package is to speak with your neighbors.
If authorized, UPS will sometimes leave your package with a neighbor instead.
They believe it’s safer than leaving your package by the front door where thieves can steal it.
You’ll receive a notice that tells you that your neighbor has it.
Take the notice and approach your neighbor to receive your package.
There’s also a chance that the delivery driver forgot to put on the notice that they left it with a neighbor.
Before you contact the seller to start a trace, take the time to speak with your neighbors if you feel safe doing so.
If not, then you can contact the seller and have them ask UPS to pick up the package and deliver it to your address instead.
Finally, there’s always a chance that UPS delivered the package to your neighbor by accident.
They may have confused the houses.
In the case of an apartment or condo, with all the doors being so close to one another, it’s also possible that the driver mixed up the doors.
Contact your neighbors to see if they received a package intended for you by accident.
Check Around The House For Your Package
UPS often puts packages in odd places.
They do so to prevent theft of your packages.
Instead of checking at the front door, you should check the back door.
If UPS can access the back door, then there’s a good chance that your package is there.
They also might put the package near a bush to help conceal it.
Unfortunately, that might mean you miss it when you’re looking for the package.
Finally, they could also put it in or near your garage.
Take a careful look around the area to see if it’s hiding anywhere.
On rainy days, some UPS delivery drivers will put packages inside plastic bags to keep them safe from water exposure.
You might have missed it because it’s covered in plastic.
Look for a plastic bag-like object on your property on rainy days.
Your package should be inside it.
Finally, if it’s small enough, then there’s a good chance that UPS put the package inside your mailbox.
Not only is this the safest option, since it’s concealed, but it’s also convenient for you.
When you arrive home and collect your mail for the day, your package is right there.
If you’ve checked all the areas on the outside of your home and still can’t find the package, then either theft or a mistake has occurred.
Now is when you need to contact your seller to have them initiate a trace with UPS.
Check With The USPS For Your Package
There’s also a chance that the USPS has your package.
UPS works with USPS on some of their deliveries.
UPS handles the long-mile driving.
They’ll pick up the package from the warehouse, then drive it across the country to your local area.
Then they’ll hand off the package to the USPS.
From there, the USPS will make the delivery.
Not all packages are eligible for this type of handling, however.
The USPS can only deliver packages of a certain size and weight.
If your package happens to be small or light, then there’s a good chance that the USPS is going to deliver it to your door instead of UPS.
For larger packages, UPS will see the entire delivery through.
If you receive a notification that they delivered your package, but you don’t see it, then it’s worth talking to your local USPS office, too.
You could determine through them if they received the package from the UPS.
If so, then they can conduct an investigation to determine where the package ended up.
If not, then you know that the mistake occurred on the UPS side of things.
Since UPS works with the USPS on certain deliveries, mistakes can happen.
A delivery driver may give the package to the wrong address.
They might even forget it in the delivery vehicle.
Since UPS involves another party, it makes finding your package a little more difficult and complex.
You’ll want to mention to the seller that USPS was involved if you know that they did.
The seller can then contact the USPS office to launch an investigation there, too.
How To Prevent UPS Says Delivered But No Package
It’s a frustrating experience when you’re expecting a package, but it never shows.
There are a few things you can do to prevent this situation from happening or reduce its chances.
Follow these tips to ensure you always receive your package.
1. Provide A Safe Delivery Location
One of the reasons your package may be missing could be theft.
With people stealing packages off of porches, you need a safe place to receive them.
Since you’re not always home to accept the package, your next best bet is to use a lock box.
A lock box comes with either a key and padlock or a code.
When the UPS driver puts the package inside the box, they can then lock it.
Only you with your key or code can unlock the box and retrieve the package inside it.
It also helps to put the lock box in a less conspicuous area.
At your back door or near your garage, for example, are better places than your front door.
If the lock box is light enough, then thieves can still take the entire box and find a way to open it up in the comfort of their own home.
It’s worth investing in a lock box that’s too heavy to carry or that latches onto the house or a fence in some way to make moving it impossible.
With a lock box, you can be sure that your package is safe.
You won’t receive a notification that they delivered the package and then be unable to find it.
2. Schedule Deliveries
You can also notify UPS that you want your delivery on a specific date and time.
They’ll likely give you a few different windows of opportunity in which to schedule your delivery.
Choose the one in which you’ll know you’ll be at home.
Scheduling your delivery is a great way to reduce missing packages because it ensures you’re always there to accept them.
You don’t have to worry about the driver putting it in an area that you can’t find or giving it to your neighbor.
Since you’re at home, you can take it right from their hands.
A scheduled delivery also requires more effort on their part.
They have to make sure that they make it to your home at that specific time since you requested it.
This cuts down on the chances of them arriving at the incorrect address.
Scheduling a delivery is an effective way of receiving your packages.
3. Request A Signature
You can also request a signature for all your packages.
If you do so, then UPS cannot deliver the package unless someone signs for it.
You can set up several different parameters regarding who can sign for the package.
That might mean that anyone in your home can sign for it.
They need to be at least 18 years old.
It also means that a trusted neighbor can sign for it.
You may prefer that only you can sign for it.
Regardless of what you choose, requesting a signature cuts down on the chances of a missed package.
That’s because the driver literally cannot deliver it without your signature.
If you’re not there to sign for it, then they need to take it back and try again at a later time.
This does mean, however, that you need to be available to receive them.
After too many missed attempts to deliver, UPS will return your package to the seller.
4. Use Clear Delivery Instructions
Sometimes mistakes happen because the delivery driver isn’t sure what to do in a certain situation.
You can make their job easier by providing clear delivery instructions.
Your instructions may include how to access the lock box and how to lock it afterward.
They may describe where to put the package when they arrive at your address.
Use simple and clear language to tell them what you need.
In addition, it’s also helpful to include details about your property to make it easier for them to find your house.
This is especially useful in neighborhoods where the homes bunch together.
It’s easy to miss your address when there are several houses in a row for the driver to pass by.
Telling them that your house is blue or has a birdbath in the front yard can be helpful for them.
It cuts down the risk of them delivering to your neighbor by accident.
This is also helpful for apartments and condos in which all the doors look the same.
Decorating your door in some way can help them spot yours easier.
By giving the driver a few clear instructions, you can reduce confusion and the chances of a missed delivery.
5. Use Front Office
Finally, those who live in an apartment or condo can utilize their front office services.
If you have a doorman or receptionist, then they can accept the package on your behalf.
This makes the delivery driver’s job easier since they only need to locate the office and not the unique address.
The doorman or receptionist can sign for it, if needed, or accept it on your behalf and hold it for you when you arrive.
It’s a safe way to watch over your packages since they’ll be placed in a secure area rather than the package lying outside of your door.
When you arrive, you can tell them you’re expecting a package.
The receptionist or doorman will find the package for you, then hand it to you.
To ensure your delivery driver takes it to the front office instead of your door, put your request in the delivery instructions.
Conclusion
UPS makes it clear that if your package goes missing despite saying they delivered it, then you need to speak with the seller.
From there, UPS will trace the package to determine its location.
You can also use the tips above to reduce the chances of missed packages and use other delivery options that UPS provides.
