It needs to be said, learn how to use paragraphs. Please!

Do any of the working folks in the household have the ability to receive deliveries at work? That might alleviate the root of the problem.

Agreed on the paragraphs. As an editor, I little part of me died trying to read that.

"Do any of the working folks in the household have the ability to receive deliveries at work?"

That's what I do. I even keep a credit card tied to my work address to avoid shipping problems.

Reminds me of that Seinfeld episode where Elaine had a rash and kept getting stuff put in her file that she was a "difficult" patient.

@GuJiaXian: The fact that you even attempted to read that makes you a better person than I.

I have no idea about the blacklist thing. But I had a similar problem (Amazon Prime/missing package) and resolved it with a phone call to Amazon. So if this happens, remember call the sender, not the carrier.

"I little part of me died trying to read that."

Heck, at least you tried. All I see is one large block of unreadable crap. I'd rather have unnecessary dental surgery performed through my rear-end than read it.

I might suggest others in this scenario try contacting the place the bought the item from. Amazon has a lot more clout with UPS than you do and might have been willing to eat the $30 to make you happy instead of getting all crazy vindictive over it.

At the same time, I almost get UPS's position here. I mean, they aren't refusing to deliver to you. They just want proof that you got the package. I'm not completely sure that isn't a reasonable reaction on the part of the shipping company if they verified with the driver that the item was delivered. That leaves the conclusion that its not safe to deliver to your house and signature confirmation would ensure that the package gets delivered. It sucks, obviously, but I'm not completely convinced this is as consumer hostile as it seems at first glance.

Here's a couple of ideas. Add an apartment number, if you live at an apartment, add a letter to your apartment #(i.e. if you're apartment 122, put apartment 122-B or even change APT/# to 'suite') If you happen to live in an area where you share a zipcode with another city USE the other city's name -- it will still come to you. (YOU MAY *NOT* EVEN KNOW YOU DO, goto usps.gov and put your zipcode in on the zip finder for 'find all cities for zip') Add a letter to your house number -- i.e. 1234 main st is now 1234B Main St.. simple changes like this have saved me trouble in the past with similar situations(including getting utilities turned on in a spouse or other householder's name with outstanding bills)

"At the same time, I almost get UPS's position here."

Agreed. UPS left an item without a signature and it was stolen. So now USP wants verification so it doesn't happen again. I see nothing wrong with that.

I too got blacklisted at UPS. This because of a $150 order from Lands' End that was stolen from my door.

Now they require a signature on every package, now matter how small.

I'm being baited here.

Hi Corporate!

@Lucky225: As a computer programmer, I am both frustrated that my job is that much harder due to aforementioned trickery, and overjoyed that you stabbed our industry right in the weakpoint.

Brava, Lucky225, brava.

@missdona: The sender can request delivery without a signature all they want but it's the carrier who makes the final decision. UPS got screwed when this package was stolen so they're going to ensure it doesn't happen again. That means they're going to require signatures for packages delivered to that address whether or not Amazon (or any other shipper) asks them not to. After all, it's UPS who loses in the end if yet another package gets lost/stolen.

UPS used to require signatures for virtually everything. When I grew up our driver knew our family quite well and knew our neighborhood was safe and very unlikely to be targeted by thieves, but he always got a signature. When I was 18-19 I worked for two winters as a drivers assistant (UPS hires LOTS of temps that time of year, and the money used to be a windfall) we were almost always required to get a signature. There were a few cases where we could "driver release" a package but they were very few & far between. I guess they ultimately decided that not getting signatures is just one way to speed up their deliveries and save a bit of money but it can hurt them in the long run if they're not careful.

Why don't you have them shipped to work, shipped to another destination or simply hop on the UPS web site and tell them to hold it for pickup?

You're not asking UPS to leave them at your door again, are you? They obviously learned their lesson.

They have the audicity to Blacklist you when we all know UPS got some issues.

Ok, if they MUST required a signature, have it deliver to your workplace or your spouse.

I'm not sure why or how the receiver of a package would file a claim in the first place. In this instance, Amazon is the customer of UPS and not the person receiving the package. You should go directly to Amazon.

Frankly, I'm surprised UPS would even deal with you directly in regards to a claim at all.

The entire region of town where I lived a few years ago was UPS blacklisted. I could not receive packages at work, so I resorted to a UPS Store box so I could get packages there. It's not a cheap solution though, between $12-$20/month.

tl;dr

Sorry, had to do it. The formating just hurt my eyes.

Anyway, best of luck!

I Agree with the comments that are wondering how UPS even let the customer file a claim, they usually make the shipper do it. I had a problem with a shipment and I email Amazon and they shipped me a new product before they even cleared up what happened with the last one.

I've been blacklisted for never getting a package too. I have been unable to get off. After several phone calls, they have pretty much told me that my address will be blacklisted forever.

I HATE UPS!

Get on your knees and repeat, "I'm not worthy!"

I had a car part for my 48 Chevy come up missing. The business I made the purchase from made me file a claim, to which I did, and through the process, another was sent. Now, I knew my driver quite well, but couldn't recall if he worked that day. But he did say that when they scan the package for delivery, it shows, via GPS, the location it was scanned. so if it was delivered and scanned at your front door, they can see that.
Only thing I can think.. one of the neighborhood kids swiped it. Now I have a bunch of new friends that know me on a first name basis at the UPS pick up location that I visit a couple times a week... at least.
No way to get off the list either, per my new friends. Once you are blacklisted, you are a free member for as long as you are at that address.
And if you think a little address modification will change that, try again.. They validate shipping addresses with the USPS.

Now I really don't like UPS but I can't see how any of this is UPS's fault. From their point of view they are out about $35 bucks ($30 + Shipping) for a package they think they delivered. The most likely scenario in thier mind is theft.

So how else would UPS protect themselves against that kind of loss? I suppose if you were willing to take out insurance to cover the period of time between UPS dropoff and when you get home you might be able to convince them to de-blacklist you, but are you willing to do that? I suspect your normal homeowner's/renter's policy would have covered you here however $30 is probably far below any deductable and filing a claim there would raise your rates.

Maybe you could send them a notarized letter specifically stating that you do not require to be at home and will waive the right to any damages or anything that should occur if packages are lost.
They're only doing this to protect you and them, so you shouldn't really be too miffed. Get it delivered to work otherwise.

Is there any way to get Amazon to use USPS instead of UPS?

When reading the title I was thinking that UPS was refusing to deliver to him at all. I hardly think requiring a signature for your own theft protection is a "blacklist" in the true meaning of the word. If an item was stolen once, it will likely happen again so why shouldn't UPS protect itself against repeated claims.

Thankfully, my neighbors are honest, law abiding citizens. But if I had deliveries disappear from outside my door, I would blacklist myself and stop all unattended deliveries.

You don't have to be home to get your item. After the first delivery attempt you can call UPS and have them hold the item at their facility. Just go pick it up after work or something. That's what I always do for signature items unless it is big and heavy. I hate waiting around all day for UPS to show up. The inconvenience of having to pick it up in person is far better than the inconvenience of dealing with theft claims and not having the item you purchased.

@zerj: It's UPS's fault because they left the package unattended. UPS (or any delivery service) is responsible for the package until it is actually received by the person it's addressed to. Leaving it outside a residence doesn't actually constitute delivery. So if it disappears during that time then UPS is responsible, just as if the package was stolen from the delivery truck while the driver is off delivering another package.

UPS is just cutting its losses in this case. They know they've run into trouble delivering to this address so they're making a decision to require physical delivery to a person and obtaining a signature. It's just a business decision on their part in the end, and there's really nothing much you can do about it short of signing some sort of legal document that would absolve UPS of all responsibility for any packages they deliver but you don't receive.

Maybe this is an insane idea, but what's to stop you from declaring your house a duplex and adding a xxxx-and-a-half address? I don't have a clue how to go about that, but at least it would put a new address into the UPS system. You could even make up a new name to add to your Amazon delivery account. Your delivery guy will get the 'joke' but at least it'll let him off the hook.

We get some of our Amazon packages via USPS, but we do ours all as super saver shipping.

When we were both at work all the time I had packages delivered to work. The receptionist would sign for them or take them and jut hold them behind her desk for you.

Another great side benefit of the front door security camera we put in is that any package that gets dropped off has a visual record of it being dropped off and then brought into the house, or stolen. If it gets stolen we have pics of who did it.

@BStu: Did you read the whole thing? His UPS driver told him a relief driver delivered that package. Which means either it was an amazing coincidence that someone stole a package at the same time a different driver was doing the route, or that different driver screwed up. The fact is, UPS knows this information. To blacklist someone due to a mistake from a temp driver is ridiculous and makes no sense. They are punishing him because a driver made a mistake and he wanted UPS to pay for the mistake of their own driver. I would definitely call amazon. If they cannot resolve it, you will probably have to cancel the amazon prime and find another store that uses fedex shipping.

@Imafish: I think the problem here is the "one strike, you're out" policy UPS seems to be using in this situation. Obviously they're just trying to reduce their losses and are within their rights to require signatures for all deliveries. It sounds like the submitter does a lot of business with them though, you'd expect UPS to be able to look at volume of claims vs volume of deliveries and write off such a small one-time claim. If it were a recurring issue then sure, "blacklist" the address and prevent loss, but for a one time problem? Not very consumer friendly.
Also, as others have said, probably best to go through the sender before the carrier. I imagine Amazon has insurance set up to mitigate this sort of problem and they probably eat the cost vs UPS having to.

uhm... why did you file a claim anyway? When something of mine didn't get delivered by UPS from Amazon, they told me I had to contact Amazon. I did, they refunded me (couldn't resend because it was out of stock) and a couple of days later the UPS guy left my package at my door (which is a whole other annoying story). The moral of the story is, you probably made a bigger deal of it than it needed to be and THAT landed you on the blacklist. You should have just let Amazon deal with it.

I had a similar incident happen in December of 2005. I had to sign for every package for about a year, and then, mysteriously, UPS started dropping off packages without a signature.

When I didn't receive a package, I complained to amazon (not UPS), and they shipped me a new one. I still am able to get UPS deliveries while I'm not home.

@lausley:

Yep, just like I said, adding subtle additions to the address will make it a different address according to their system but still get it delivered to you. Also using another NAME or misspelling your name intentionally if they have your name blacklisted as well.

I lived for year in an apartment building that had been blacklisted, and had to deal with this crap. All I can suggest is find vendors that will ship via FedEx or USPS.

Always contact Amazon for these sorts of things (too late for the OP, good advice for everyone else), especially if you are a Prime member who orders a lot. They will cut you a lot of slack if you're a good customer. I've had a few items not show up - one worth $100 which Amazon replaced no questions. Another time a video game showed up a month after the replacement item. Amazon then sent me a shipping label for the second game - the guy I talked to was shocked that I would send it back and not eBay it, but they are good to me so I'm good to them

UPS is de debbil. I try never to order from a place that can't ship by USPS. That means I've stopped ordering from Amazon almost entirely.

Try setting up a drop box at a UPS store - problem solved. You're welcome.

It really depends who the seller is. In my case it was Dish Network. I contacted Dish directly & they made a claim w/UPS on their own right away. UPS even called and badgered me to ask if I got the package.

I live in a good suburb neighborhood and (after the incident) even put a rubermaid deck bin next to my front door so drivers could put packages. into it. Of course everyone else does, but UPS won't.

One of my friends lived in a scary part of town in a big city for a couple years, and UPS/Fedex routinely left him packages. His place was OBVIOUSLY not safe looking & yet they still left packages. How about training your drivers to better decide what is safe & what isn't safe, or to put them out of plain sight.

I'd gladly put a lock on the deckbox I placed by my front steps & give UPS the key, etc if that would get me of the F*****g list for an isolated incident.

My main gripe is the "1 strike, your're out *forever*" rule that seemingly can't be challenged. I can't always choose the carrier, but when I can, UPS doesn't get my business.

How do I get *ON* the blacklist? I have ongoing problems with Amazon shipping expensive stuff and just dropping it on my doorstep when I'm not here. Even though I'm a high-volume Amazon Prime user, they just can't seem to get it that I want everything shipped signature-required (and not by DHL, but that's another thread!)

The former occupants of my new house had made a claim and got blacklisted. When we moved in, we were told by the UPS guy that he still couldn't leave packages for us, even though we weren't the people who'd made the claim.

It took a call to the manager at the local delivery center to get our address off the black list, with my providing our name, swearing up and down that we were new owners, and saying that we were happy to provide him with a copy of our closing documents if he didn't believe me.

Big headache to fix a problem not of our own making, but we did get off it and are receiving our UPS packages sans-signature.

So THAT explains the trouble I had when I lived in a certain apartment in Bucks County. Fed Ex and the post office had no trouble with leaving stuff at my door (which was a relatively private space), but UPS refused to do so, even when the sender explicitly stated that no signature was required. I'd never filed any claims with UPS, but I bet the whole complex had been blacklisted.

@lausley: This works, I've tried it. Works better if you just put a letter next to your house number, though - if you live at 145 Cherry Lane, make it 145-B Cherry Lane or 145 Cherry Lane Unit B - your credit card won't get declined. If you want to be cute about it, put a little placard about knee-high next to your front door with the "new" number. Your UPS driver will get a chuckle.

I concur that a UPS store drop box would be ideal for you. `

@geoffhazel:

Yea, pay a UPS store more $$ when they're already f-ing you. I say add a letter to your address like I stated previously, as well as lausley and juniper to create a 'new' address in UPS database that isn't blacklisted.

This may require more backstory.

I understand ups in this case. They left a package then a claim was filed. It seem foolish for them to not require a signature.

They can not ask the poster to forever waive the right on a non-delivery and they can not risk having to pay for the items.

Maybe there have been multiple claims in the neighborhood,just not the posters street.