Sashank RavindranathIn the world of shipping and logistics, ensuring your packages reach their destination safely and securely is crucial and carriers ensure their full-on commitment to it.
One aspect of this process is the carrier getting a confirmation of receipt upon successfully delivering a package to its intended recipient or an authorized individual at the delivery address through a signature. This signature helps carriers ensure security and accountability throughout the delivery process.
Before diving into the specifics of FedEx and UPS signature options, let’s first understand what they entail:
Understanding Delivery Signature Options
Both FedEx and UPS offer various signature options to accommodate the diverse needs of businesses and customers. These delivery signature options allow senders to choose the level of security and verification required for their shipments, depending on the nature of the package and recipient preferences.
Why shippers need to choose delivery signature options
Shipping out packages comes with a lot of risk up until the delivery is made. Hence, shippers need to ensure secure and reliable delivery of packages while meeting regulatory requirements. This is where delivery signature options come in to help shippers maintain accountability and compliance.
Requiring delivery verification, especially for high-value shipments ensures that the package has arrived safely without falling into the wrong hands such as porch pirates among other reasons, and thereby offers you peace of mind.
As a shipper, it’s essential to consider factors such as the value of the shipment, recipient availability, and the level of security required when selecting a delivery signature option.
In this blog, we’ll explore the different delivery signature options provided by FedEx and UPS, helping you determine which one is best suited for your shipping requirements.
FedEx Delivery Signature Options
FedEx provides three options when shippers require a signature upon delivery. Each option accommodates different shipment requirements.
1. FedEx Adult Signature Required
- Costs around $8.15 in 2024
- Specifically designed for shipments containing age-restricted items, particularly at least 21 years old at the delivery address.
- A government-issued photo identification is required
- When there is no eligible recipient at the delivery location, FedEx may re-attempt the delivery
- Firearms are one type of shipment where an adult signature is required
2. FedEx Direct Signature Required
- Costs around $6.75 in 2024
- Designed for shipments that are to be delivered at a location instead of a specific individual
- Any person physically available at the location can sign for the delivery
- When there is no eligible recipient at the delivery location, FedEx may re-attempt the delivery
- Automatically applies to all packages equal to or greater than $500. However, the direct signature required fee will not apply to these packages
3. FedEx Indirect Signature Required
- Costs around $6.75 in 2024
- This allows FedEx to collect a signature even from some nearby the location such as neighbors, front office, or building managers
- Even if there’s no eligible recipient at the delivery location, FedEx can still make the delivery without re-attempting, given that the recipient has authorized
Just like FedEx, UPS too has its own set of Delivery Signature Options or Confirmation Services that are served as a value-added service because they’re slightly more safer than just a regular ‘delivered’ parcel tracking notification.
UPS Delivery Signature Options
1. UPS Delivery Confirmation
- Costs around $6.75 in 2024
- Includes a delivery date, the name of the recipient, and if the package is being returned, the reason for the return is mentioned
2. UPS Signature Required
- Costs around $6.75 in 2024
- A physical recipient is not required at the location as UPS accepts any electronic acknowledgment of receipt from the individual to deliver the package
3. UPS Adult Signature Required
- Costs around $8.15 in 2024
- Specifically designed for shipments containing age-restricted items, particularly at least 21 years old at the delivery address.
- A government-issued photo identification is required
- An additional voice authorization or ‘Proof of Delivery’ option is available, where UPS may call the person physically available at the delivery location for an additional $5.00
Final Word
Be it FedEx or UPS, delivery signature options don’t come cheap. Also, these rates increase during peak season times and have a consistent YoY increase. Of course, paying an additional $7 will give you the peace of mind of your package reaching its destination safely and securely but you can also cut these costs in several ways:
- Make full utilization of these options: For instance, let’s say you’ve ordered some wine for your boss’ retirement party and it requires an adult signature. In such cases, ensure that either you or an adult is at the delivery location to collect the package instead of re-delivery attempts.
- Limit further re-delivery attempts: When you’re out of town but have a series of packages that require direct signatures, you can redirect your shipments to a FedEx location for 5-10 days.
- Negotiate with your carrier: if you’re a high-volume shipper or have a long-standing relationship with the carrier, you can also negotiate a contract with your shipping carrier that includes favorable terms and pricing for delivery signature options.
Also, wrongly added delivery signature costs are a common sighting in your shipping invoices. In such cases, you can audit your invoices and file refund claims for such additional charges.
In conclusion, both carriers offer a range of delivery signature options to accommodate diverse shipment requirements. Make sure you select the right option for your needs and ensure the costs that come along with them aren’t straining your wallet.
