Sometimes deliveries don’t go as planned. Here are some tips to help make your delivery go as smoothly as possible.
3 tips for a stress-free delivery
- Double check your information. Make sure your address, contact information, and other details are accurate and up to date. Errors in information can cause a delivery to go to the wrong place.
- Leave clear delivery instructions. Many online retailers and couriers let you leave instructions on how and where the order should be delivered. Leaving clear instructions can make delivery easier for you and the delivery driver. This can also help keep you safe from “porch pirates”! Learn more about how to avoid delivery theft.
- Be prepared to receive your delivery. There are a couple ways you can prepare for your delivery:
- Be available. Make sure you or someone you trust is available during the delivery window. Make sure the phone number you provided is correct and you’re ready to pick up the phone, even if the number is unknown.
- Clear the way. Clear a path to your door and make sure your house or apartment numbers are visible from the street. If it’s not obvious, mark where you want deliveries to be left on a porch or landing.
- Stay close. If you can, stay within earshot of your front door so you can hear any doorbells or knocks during the day.
Practice patience
With more online orders and increased demand for consumer products, delivery drivers can be responsible for hundreds of deliveries a day, often in a time crunch. Human errors happen and are usually easily fixed so try to be patient if a delivery doesn’t go according to plan. Learn more about how to plan for product delays and shortages.
Did you like this? You might like these posts too!
How to avoid “porch pirate” theft.
Your rights when a business delivers an online order to the wrong address
Online orders: who is responsible when you don’t get your package?
How to get a refund if your online order never arrives
About Consumer Protection BC
We are responsible for regulating specific industries and certain consumer transactions in British Columbia. If your concern is captured under the laws we enforce, we will use the tools at our disposal to assist you. If we can’t help you directly, we will be happy to provide you with as much information as possible. Depending on your concern, another organization may be the ones to speak to; other times, court or legal assistance may be the best option. Explore our website at www.consumerprotectionbc.ca.
Related to this is the scam, which has been tried on me six times in the past month, of phoney e-mails from FEDEX,, DHL and Canada Post telling me that my package is being held up at Customs and there is a charge. They then provide me with a form to fill out which, of course, includes my credit card number. These phoney messages can be detected by examining the email address sending them and/or sending a reply by email. Keep track of things you have ordered on line and beware if you get one of these emails when you are not expecting a package.
That’s a sneaky method of trying to get your information, for sure. Thanks for sharing, Don. Glad you were able to recognize it was a scam!