UPS store? fed up with driving to fedex\ups distribution centers (Houston: apartment complex, leasing) - Texas (TX) - City-Data Forum

4eainfo · 01-10-2011, 02:07 PM

I'm getting fed up with driving back and forth to the ups\fedex distribution center to pickup missed packages. I live in an apartment and therefore packages cannot be left. Furthermore, most packages now a days require a signature of some sort.

I'm thinking of getting a ups store mailbox for ~$130 a year. It may be 'a lot', but it sure saves the hassle of spending x hours a month of driving and waiting at the counter.

Any opinions or other options other than a ups store?

AmberAzeneth · 01-10-2011, 02:15 PM

Make arrangements to have your package left at your leasing office if they accept packages. If the office doesaccept packages, a delivery notice will be left on your door to notify you that your package has been delivery. Also, you can make arrangements to have your package indirected, or shipped to, an alternate address. Such as, if applicable,: your job, a family member's home, a friend's house. This is what I do for a living. I have been doing it for 16 years now. All you have to do is make some sort of arrangements if you are not going to be home to receive the package. It may be a mild inconvenience, but it is not that difficult.

AmberAzeneth · 01-10-2011, 02:24 PM

Also, not to sound sarcastic, but if you know that you have ordered a package and are expecting it on a certain date, you could also make arrangements to stay home and receive your package. That way you know that once you have signed for it, everything is okay. Always track your packages online. This will give you an arrival date of your package so that you can make any arrangements necessary that you need to make to receive your package.

lhafer · 01-10-2011, 02:30 PM

We lived in an apartment for years. We always had the package go to the front office (usually left a sign on the door saying this). We also gave the office manager signing rights to receive packages.

Houston_2010 · 01-10-2011, 02:36 PM

I haven't had any experience on these mailboxes myself but I have a suggestion - see if your management office at your building will accept the packages for you. My sister lives in an apartment in Memorial City and they often do that - they leave the sticky note at her door and drop off the package with the management office. When I lived in Seattle they did that at my apt as well - just left the sticky note on my USPS mailbox don't even bother to come up to my door.

If that's not an option, then if you buy online a lot and receive packages frequently I think it may not be a bad idea to invest in that mailbox. You will probably save driving time and gas money picking these up.

Houston_2010 · 01-10-2011, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AmberAzeneth

Also, not to sound sarcastic, but if you know that you have ordered a package and are expecting it on a certain date, you could also make arrangements to stay home and receive your package. That way you know that once you have signed for it, everything is okay. Always track your packages online. This will give you an arrival date of your package so that you can make any arrangements necessary that you need to make to receive your package.

I would try choosing this option last. You can easily miss the delivery person... if you're lucky that they will come to your door and actually ring the doorbell or knock.

AmberAzeneth · 01-10-2011, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AmberAzeneth

Also, not to sound sarcastic, but if you know that you have ordered a package and are expecting it on a certain date, you could also make arrangements to stay home and receive your package. That way you know that once you have signed for it, everything is okay. Always track your packages online. This will give you an arrival date of your package so that you can make any arrangements necessary that you need to make to receive your package.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Houston_2010

I would try choosing this option last. You can easily miss the delivery person... if you're lucky that they will come to your door and actually ring the doorbell or knock.

I can only speak from my experiences, I am in my 16th year of employment with one of the companies you are posting about(I have worked for both), I knock on every apartment door I have a package for. It is the policy unless the apartment complex only wants the deliveries to be made at the office. That said if you are expecting and a package, and you know when you are, either be at home or make the proper necessary arrangements to have your packaged indirected/shipped to a viable alternate address. Only rent a PMB if you receive many/alot of packages during the course of the year to make it worth the money of the rental. What I mean by many/alot of packages is, if you are an e-bay, Amazon.com, or online shopping fanatic and receive in upwards of 2 or more packages a week, then rent the PMB. If you only get like 10 packages a year, make arrangements to have the packages received and save the money on the rental. But you could solve all that by just staying home to receive your package, many people do. They live in apartments too.

CaroleF · 01-10-2011, 03:49 PM

My apartment leasing office does not accept packages. They haven't for at least ten years. I have a mailbox at one of these Mailbox etc. stores. I used to resent the extra cost, but I am used to it now.

HtownLove · 01-10-2011, 09:02 PM

The delievey people always left my packages at the office. heck sometimes they didn't even bother to come look for my apartment, they would just go to the office, get their signature, leave the package, and the management would leave me a note saying they are holding my package

RoughRider · 01-10-2011, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4eainfo

I'm getting fed up with driving back and forth to the ups\fedex distribution center to pickup missed packages. I live in an apartment and therefore packages cannot be left. Furthermore, most packages now a days require a signature of some sort.

I'm thinking of getting a ups store mailbox for ~$130 a year. It may be 'a lot', but it sure saves the hassle of spending x hours a month of driving and waiting at the counter.

Any opinions or other options other than a ups store?

The UPS Store is a good option. Makes your logistics easier for packages, and if you move within your area, new apartment or buy a place nearby, you do not have to change your mailing address. I have used them for years in several states. Mine also emails me when a package arrives for me and holds mail when I travel...