Anyone have a separate "Box" for UPS and FedEx?

[Paddy]

We live at the end of a long gravel lane. We let our Jack Russel run, closest home with occupants is 3/4 mile away. Over the last few winters our UPS driver would call when the snow was to deep to deliver down our long and hilly road. We'd meet him up front at the black top. So between our dog wanting to chase the truck and snowy days, I was thinking I'd just install a second Box for UPS or FedEx. There are 10 or more mail boxes there now,

Thoughts?

 

[rekees4300]

Wouldn't theft be a problem?

 

[oosik]

I have a mile long gravel driveway. I've asked FedEx, UPS & USPS to just put the package in a plastic bag and hang it on my gate. It saves the driver having to open/close two gates, two times and it can be a questionable adventure coming down the driveway in the winter. In 34+ years I've never had problems with theft.

 

[PJSprog]

We have one of those Rubbermade storage thingies made for pool toys and lawn furniture that we use to keep bigger boxes out of the weather, but it's by the house. Not sure how that would work out at the end of your lane, though.

 

[kthompson]

Think you need to ask each company on this. As to security you could have a locking box that is mounted with unlocked, "lock" left in there for them to secure the box after placing a package in there. Think that would solve the security issue (well unless they really want it). Just keep key handy. Now before you install such, will you be asked about anyone to be allowed to use that box for their packages? kt

 

[Paddy]

I'm not to concerned about theft, I also get many items delivered by the US mail, and never had a missing package. If I am concerned about theft, I'll require a signature. If the added box was just another mail box, large size, it would just blend in as the other 10+ boxes do. Our mail carrier would have to say it's ok, or what type of box would be OK. The problem is, all mail boxes you get at big box stores, no pun intended, are official US mail boxes. I know I could make a box but then it will stand out as a non standard box and might draw attention. If I was a lone box at the street, it might stand out. But by being so many all clumped together, who knows.

 

[PILOON]

Both Fedx and UPS had me sign an authorization and they then attach a sticker todoor so they now simple drop off the parcels.
B4 that they'd make 2 attempts then I had to go to their depots to collect and that was a 25 mile outing.

 

[japody]

I have signed up with both companies on their web site. It's free. I now receive notifications by both email and phone within minutes of delivery. I have asked that they leave packages inside the front gate where it's less obvious. Once I receive notification of delivery, I hightail it up to get the package.

 

[zzvyb6]

I made an 'auxilliary' parcel box out of an old semi-truck saddle fuel tank found at a junk yard. I hinged the end cap and added a flag bar. We use it for very large inbound and outbout mail and package deliveries. The main box is at the road. This one is up the driveway a bit, with the up-flag indicator visible from the road. Some pretty large and heavy stuff fits in there. (even a small kid could hide there).

My driveway camera has a nice view of this location.

 

[Taylortractornut]

I just put one in it's an old round top street mail box like is outside the post office. We tore down store that had one for payment drop off. I need to pour a small pad for it to sit on for now it's beside my driveway. When I repaint it I'm having it decalled with fed ex and ups signs. Theft isn't a problem but my dogs have gotten s few packages they'd leave on the porch. I have a cushion in the bottom to protect fragiles. Plus it's cool to have a postal box.

 

[KBinCT]

I made an 'auxilliary' parcel box out of an old semi-truck saddle fuel tank found at a junk yard. I hinged the end cap and added a flag bar. We use it for very large inbound and outbout mail and package deliveries. The main box is at the road. This one is up the driveway a bit, with the up-flag indicator visible from the road. Some pretty large and heavy stuff fits in there. (even a small kid could hide there).

My driveway camera has a nice view of this location.

As a mailman I love this box..

 

[joeyd]

There are nine of us who live behind a gate on a private road. We have a 3 sided "tepee" made of pallets and metal roofing material that both UPS and Fed Ex use to drop our packages that is only 50 feet from the hwy. We have not had any issues with theft, I guess it depends on where you live. Both services have their own code for the gate but choose not to deliver to our homes due to the road conditions. Unless you are familiar with our road it could be dangerous all year long. It is graded and maintained but there are blind corners and some steep areas that are not conducive to large 2wd trucks in the winter.

 

[Gem99ultra]

We have a regular size mailbox out on the highway for anything that can fit into it, is left in there. We also have a large box just inside the gate marked "Parcels" that UPS and FedEx can leave packages. We leave the gate open. Anything too large to fit in those two, we expect to be enclosed in a plastic bag and left on the ground - but we prefer them to be brought up to the house and left on the porch.

USPS and FedEx never seems to have a problem figuring that out. But the UPS guy... well, he's not so bright. Theft is not a concern for us out here in the boonies so far. And we get a LOT of parcels; much of our shopping is done online.

 

[TractorGuy]

This thread got me thinking I might want to register my gate code for deliveries and emergency access. So far the Fire Department person I needed to talk to isn't in and I can't find a place at MyUPS to add except in my address. I plan to call them all and see if a person can help me with this.

I would prefer deliveries be placed on my front porch instead of being left at the gate like they have been doing.

 

[Gem99ultra]

This thread got me thinking I might want to register my gate code for deliveries and emergency access. So far the Fire Department person I needed to talk to isn't in and I can't find a place at MyUPS to add except in my address. I plan to call them all and see if a person can help me with this.

I would prefer deliveries be placed on my front porch instead of being left at the gate like they have been doing.

Registering your gate code rarely works, at least around here. They change drivers/delivery persons on a regular basis, and the code is forever lost. Or someone forgets to pass the code along or register it. Rotating drivers is one of their safety measure to prevent (or slow down) the hooligans, in cahoots with the driver, from stealing packages. Good idea on registering your gate code, but it didn't work for us. It's worth a try though...

 

[greenmojo]

For business and personal, the UPS truck is here daily when the weather is nice. Winter and rain storms keep him on the nearest main road, and he calls to have us meet him.

Up the road, he said he has some crazy delivery places, like inside old laundry wash machines, inside of tractor tires, under apple bins, etc. -- They are pretty accommodating, and want you to get your packages.

I haven't come up with a solution yet either (need one that is secure, because it is nearly 2 miles to the meeting spot). I'll be watching the thread too for some good ideas!

~Moses

 

[greenmojo]

This thread got me thinking I might want to register my gate code for deliveries and emergency access. So far the Fire Department person I needed to talk to isn't in and I can't find a place at MyUPS to add except in my address. I plan to call them all and see if a person can help me with this.

I would prefer deliveries be placed on my front porch instead of being left at the gate like they have been doing.

My UPS driver said that each handheld unit for a route has a storage mechanism that is local to the handheld unit. They input gate codes, notes, etc in these handheld units and they are kept with the route in the event a driver is sick or replaced, etc. We have a code for our office that he has to open up the back door and drop packages and when they gate is installed, he'll have a UPS code we'll give him.

~Moses

 

[CCWKen]

Might be that my UPS lady is a neighbor but she brings my packages right to the back porch. FedEx is another story. I'm lucky to get a package from them. I have a opening in the fence but no gate. For the past few years, FedEx just throws the package on the ground next to the fence. Anybody and their cousin can just drive by on the state road and see a package sitting there. If I'm expecting a package from them, I have to keep checking the tracking number to see if its been delivered then run down front to get it. Hopefully, before someone else does. The only time they've brought a delivery up recently was when I ordered some front tractor tires and wheels. And I think he was probably a contractor. He showed up in a U-Haul rental truck.

Oh, and I've had FedEx deliver an overnight express envelope to the wrong address. It took three days of calling and emailing them that I was still waiting for the envelope and them telling me it was delivered. It wasn't until I asked for the name of the person that signed for it did they finally say it was delivered across the street. On the morning of the fourth day, I called the sheriff and had a deputy go across and road and retrieve the envelope. Got no word from those neighbors of the miss-delivery and they even opened the envelope. The deputy read them the riot act and I got my envelope and contents but it was a real hassle.

 

[JRobyn]

Maybe it's because UPS uses a handheld unit for drivers with local route notes that we don't seem to have a problem with UPS stuff. We have flagged our address/account as "LEAVE PACKAGES AT GATE", and they do. Almost always in a big (super thin) plastic bag.

FedEx is entirely another matter. We DID have a pretty good local driver - would leave stuff at gate as we have instructed the local FedEx depot. Evidently have a new driver. Wife just ordered some new blinds that we needed to get delivered and installed before some house guests arrived. Nothing special, no "signature required" or anything. Driver brought them back to depot because "business closed or no recipient available". They had our mobile phone # so they could call to get someone to come meet them at the gate. No call. She called the depot and explained that they needed to leave them at the gate. They understood. Second day - driver brought them back to the depot because "business closed or no recipient available". No phone call. She called again, mad this time; made SURE that they got the message loud and clear to leave them at the gate. Third day, "business closed or no recipient available". No call.

She called and read them the riot act. Said if they were too stupid to follow simple instructions and so inept as to not do what they had said they would do 2 times, that they would have to hold them at the depot until we returned from out of town to go get (25 mi trip). Their explanation for no call from the driver, is that "the driver's don't have FedEx-issued phones". So did they hold them for her to come pick up? NO! Next day, the gate was locked open for the cable guys and the moron driver drove down 1/2 mile of gravel road and dropped them on the front porch!

I'd sure like to hear more about some way to sign a waiver at FedEx to simply get them to do what we want, but that has never been offered. We've gone on their website/our account many times to try to flag our address with instructions to no avail. The only thing that seems to work (sometimes) is to get the shipper to make part of the address label explicitly state LEAVE PACKAGE AT GATE.

 

[RedNeckGeek]

I have a quarter mile long gravel drive and the house is out of site behind a locked gate. I installed a 2'x2'x4' Knack type steel box in front of the gate. I dug a couple of 2' deep holes under the box and concreted in foundation studs for which i drilled holes in the bottom of the box. Once the nuts were on, I staked the threads so they couldn't easily be backed off. Initially I left a wheel type combo lock that a delivery person could put through a hasp to lock the box, but somehow the lock sprouted legs and disappeared. I replaced it with a hasp/lock combo, so the lock can't wander off, but it's keyed, not a spin combo. Works just as well. Most of the time drivers have no trouble dropping packages into the box, but some can't figure out how to lock the hasp, some don't even try. If I get more than one delivery per day, the second driver will usually drop the package behind the locked box. Sometimes they leave a note and deliver the next day. Used to have a driver that would call me when he was at the gate, but he didn't last very long.

I always stop deliveries when I go on vacation, as I have had problems with mail and packages being pilfered from both boxes. That said, I had to narrow the slot in the USPS approved mail box because I could reach in with my fingers and snag a letter. Now the carrier can't be bothered to make sure that the mail drops down behind the slot. So it all depends on the delivery person; some will use the security measures to make sure that the packages are safe, while others couldn't give a hoot. And no matter what you do, a determined thief will get your deliveries before you do.