5 ms·

I wonder if the number of stolen boxes (either while in shipment or when left on porches) went up?

by massysett 10y ago

jrockway 10y ago
Will any delivery company actually just leave a TV on your porch?
- lowleveldrone 10y ago
  It happened to me. A TV intended for someone else ended up at my front door, and I had to chase the delivery guy down. Not even the correct street. It was shipped from Walmart, no signature required.
  - gruez 10y ago
    hypothetically, what would happen if you kept the TV, leaving it unopened for a month or so (so you can be sure nobody wants it anymore), then used it yourself?
    - brbsix 10y ago
      I don't know but people do it all the time when receiving large quantities of narcotics or merchandise paid for with stolen credit cards. You write "return to sender" on the parcel and leave it unopened by your front door. Sounds like a bad urban legend akin to "if you ask an undercover cop whether they're a cop, they have to tell you" but plenty of people still do it.
  - late2part 10y ago
    You did the right thing morally. Legally you had no such obligation. https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0181-unordered-merchandise https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0181-unordered-merchan...
    - justapassenger 10y ago
      If it's addressed to you - you can keep it. But if not - you'll commit mail fraud.
    - rtkwe 10y ago
      That doesn't really cover misdirected mail though just companies sending out merchandise and trying to get paid for it.
    - kbutler 10y ago
      The law does not declare misdelivered merchandise to be a "free gift" like unordered merchandise. In fact, the code states: "Whoever, without authority, opens, or destroys any mail or package of newspapers not directed to him, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both." 18 USC 1703
      - devb 10y ago
        Does this apply only to USPS deliveries, or are private shippers like UPS, FedEx, etc. included?
        lightedman 10y ago
        That would depend entirely upon the legal definition of mail.
      - colejohnson66 10y ago
        So you don't have to return it, but you can't open it?
- Consultant32452 10y ago
  In the same week UPS made me sign for a set of $5 kitchen utensils I'd ordered off Amazon but left a Mac Mini on my doorstep no problem.
  - ocdtrekkie 10y ago
    Been there. It's worse with condos too where they often refuse to deliver unless you're there, they won't even take a signed note. Really annoying when you have a textbook delivery and an upcoming assignment.
    - hunterwerlla 10y ago
      Even worse when you can't get your package because they give no delivery window and attempt to deliver it to you during class, make you pick it up somewhere, then say it's your fault for not being at home 24/7.
      - startling 10y ago
        My apartment door buzzer calls my phone. Generally they don't even attempt to buzz me, and then make me pick it up on the other side of the city.
        Consultant32452 10y ago
        I would suggest complaining to your local branch. You basically have proof that there was no genuine attempt at delivery. The driver will get in trouble.
        kaybe 10y ago
        Wow, cool. Where did you get that? Does it also have other features such as allowing you to talk to the person in front of the door?
        mschuster91 10y ago
- tzs 10y ago
  I don't remember if it was FedEx or UPS, but whichever it was left a top of the line Apple PowerBook at my front door, despite that shipment being very prominently marked as signature required. My apartment complex had a front office that could accept and sign for packages. What made it even more annoying was that many times that company would leave packages at the front office when I was home. They would not even try to deliver to my apartment. They would just go straight to the front office.
- stordoff 10y ago
  I had a PS3 left on my front step (visible from the street) during launch week, and the shipping label indicated it was a PS3, so it wouldn't surprise me.
- a3n 10y ago
  That's the only way they do it at my place, UPS and FedEx. I've had an electric Yamaha piano and other instruments left leaning on my apartment door, in full view of the parking lot and the high school on the other side of the fence. Anymore, if I get to choose then I choose FedEx, because it's very easy to have the delivery re-routed to a FedEx/Kinkos store, and pick it up there. UPS re-routing has been impossible for me.
daemonhunter 10y ago
I would say that is likely

I wonder if the number of stolen boxes (either while in shipment or when left on porches) went up?

jrockway 10y ago

Will any delivery company actually just leave a TV on your porch?

lowleveldrone 10y ago
It happened to me. A TV intended for someone else ended up at my front door, and I had to chase the delivery guy down. Not even the correct street. It was shipped from Walmart, no signature required.
- gruez 10y ago
  hypothetically, what would happen if you kept the TV, leaving it unopened for a month or so (so you can be sure nobody wants it anymore), then used it yourself?
  - brbsix 10y ago
    I don't know but people do it all the time when receiving large quantities of narcotics or merchandise paid for with stolen credit cards. You write "return to sender" on the parcel and leave it unopened by your front door. Sounds like a bad urban legend akin to "if you ask an undercover cop whether they're a cop, they have to tell you" but plenty of people still do it.
- late2part 10y ago
  You did the right thing morally. Legally you had no such obligation. https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0181-unordered-merchandise https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0181-unordered-merchan...
  - justapassenger 10y ago
    If it's addressed to you - you can keep it. But if not - you'll commit mail fraud.
  - rtkwe 10y ago
    That doesn't really cover misdirected mail though just companies sending out merchandise and trying to get paid for it.
  - kbutler 10y ago
    The law does not declare misdelivered merchandise to be a "free gift" like unordered merchandise. In fact, the code states: "Whoever, without authority, opens, or destroys any mail or package of newspapers not directed to him, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both." 18 USC 1703
    - devb 10y ago
      Does this apply only to USPS deliveries, or are private shippers like UPS, FedEx, etc. included?
      - lightedman 10y ago
        That would depend entirely upon the legal definition of mail.
    - colejohnson66 10y ago
      So you don't have to return it, but you can't open it?
Consultant32452 10y ago
In the same week UPS made me sign for a set of $5 kitchen utensils I'd ordered off Amazon but left a Mac Mini on my doorstep no problem.
- ocdtrekkie 10y ago
  Been there. It's worse with condos too where they often refuse to deliver unless you're there, they won't even take a signed note. Really annoying when you have a textbook delivery and an upcoming assignment.
  - hunterwerlla 10y ago
    Even worse when you can't get your package because they give no delivery window and attempt to deliver it to you during class, make you pick it up somewhere, then say it's your fault for not being at home 24/7.
    - startling 10y ago
      My apartment door buzzer calls my phone. Generally they don't even attempt to buzz me, and then make me pick it up on the other side of the city.
      - Consultant32452 10y ago
        I would suggest complaining to your local branch. You basically have proof that there was no genuine attempt at delivery. The driver will get in trouble.
      - kaybe 10y ago
        Wow, cool. Where did you get that? Does it also have other features such as allowing you to talk to the person in front of the door?
        mschuster91 10y ago
tzs 10y ago
I don't remember if it was FedEx or UPS, but whichever it was left a top of the line Apple PowerBook at my front door, despite that shipment being very prominently marked as signature required. My apartment complex had a front office that could accept and sign for packages. What made it even more annoying was that many times that company would leave packages at the front office when I was home. They would not even try to deliver to my apartment. They would just go straight to the front office.
stordoff 10y ago
I had a PS3 left on my front step (visible from the street) during launch week, and the shipping label indicated it was a PS3, so it wouldn't surprise me.
a3n 10y ago
That's the only way they do it at my place, UPS and FedEx. I've had an electric Yamaha piano and other instruments left leaning on my apartment door, in full view of the parking lot and the high school on the other side of the fence. Anymore, if I get to choose then I choose FedEx, because it's very easy to have the delivery re-routed to a FedEx/Kinkos store, and pick it up there. UPS re-routing has been impossible for me.

daemonhunter 10y ago

I would say that is likely