Does USPS Ring The Doorbell? (Find Out Now!)
Increasing numbers of Americans are receiving home deliveries of goods. Porch piracy is a problem because many residents are unaware that the package has been delivered, and do not pick it up before someone has stolen the package. This leaves many wondering why the USPS driver did not ring the bell when leaving the package.
The official USPS COVID-19 guidelines state that residential carriers are to avoid ringing the doorbell because it is a high-touch area. If a signature is required, they are advised to knock only. Record-high package volume gives carriers little time to wait for a response.
It has become cliche to blame every inconvenience on COVID, but this is one area where the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way residential mail and package delivery works. Individual offices operate under different guidelines throughout the United States, but the official guidance is to avoid ringing the doorbell.
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Reasons Why USPS Does Not Ring the Doorbell
There are quite a few reasons why the USPS and other package delivery services do not ring the doorbell. This makes customers quite irate in some cases, but times have changed and the doorbell policy has changed along with them.
In times past the carrier always rang the doorbell when a package was being delivered and wait for a resident to come to the door and receive the parcel before leaving. It would only be left if there was no response.
The digital revolution has brought about a complete change in purchasing habits nationwide, which means that packages are being processed through the USPS system in record numbers. This added burden results in dozens, sometimes over 100 packages per day on the mail truck. Drivers must move as quickly as possible to deliver each day’s mail and parcels.
Fast-forward to more recent days, and the use of the doorbell has been officially nixed for sanitary reasons. This omission makes residents very angry, especially those that have invested in a security doorbell so that they are sure to receive alerts when packages arrive.
- The doorbell is a high-touch area. For the safety of parcel carriers, the USPS has issued guidance that carriers should never touch the doorbell unless it is absolutely necessary. This lessens the chances that they pick up COVID germs on their finger from a resident or other parcel delivery personnel that may be carrying the virus.
- The USPS instructs carriers to knock on the door in a low-touch area instead of ringing the doorbell. For those with video doorbells, the presence of the carrier on the porch should result in a notification unless the weather is very cold which causes the bell to malfunction. Many people do not hear the knock on the door.
- USPS carriers are not required to knock on the door if a signature is not required, and delivery policies vary by office. Many carriers suffer from hand pain after knocking on dozens of doors daily, so they choose to only knock if a signature is required.
- Packages that can fit inside the mailbox can be left inside the mailbox. Some carriers may leave the box partly open rather than bring the parcel to the door, or even strap the parcel to the box or leave it underneath the box. This is especially common in rural areas, to the exasperation of residents.
Most businesses include detailed tracking information with parcels. This enables them to send delivery texts and emails when the package is scanned for delivery. For most people, this is all the notification that they need to check the porch and bring in the parcel.
Informed Delivery by USPS
The USPS launched Informed Delivery to help customers keep track of letters and parcels that are expected to arrive with the day’s mail. This free service sends an email to the postal customer in the morning after the day’s mail has been sorted. This email includes scans of pieces of mail that are arriving and also notifies that parcels are expected for delivery.
- Every USPS customer can sign up to receive the free Informed Delivery service and preview the day’s mail. This means that residents can be sure to pick up important letters when they are delivered or arrange for a neighbor or friend to pick up delivered parcels if need be.Â
- To take advantage of this free mail and parcel preview service, simply set up a free account at www.usps.com and verify identity with the post office, which can often be done without a visit to the USPS branch.Â
- Once the service is enabled and has started, the USPS will begin to send notifications for mail that can be previewed.Â
- Notifications for incoming mail and parcels can be sent to a smartphone or any other device so that residents can pick up mail as soon as it arrives.
- USPS account holders can also receive notifications for individual parcels and receive a text message when it is scanned for delivery. This may not be a doorbell ring, but it is just as good and it is virus-free.
Informed Delivery is not utilized by many USPS residential customers as it should be. This is the perfect way to be informed ahead of time that important letters and parcels will be arriving. Additionally, most tracking apps used by retailers offer buyers the ability to set up detailed text notifications for every step on a parcel’s journey.
Finally, most classes of USPS parcel delivery can be tracked along the journey, receive a very accurate delivery date, and notify residents when they are out for delivery. Residents who know a general window for mail delivery can be on the lookout.
Some urban areas have split parcel delivery out from letter delivery due to the sheer volume of parcels. It can be impossible for regular route carriers to deliver the parcels as well as sort and deliver the rest of the mail and get incoming mail to the post office on time to get to the sorting center. However, if this is not the case, residents can count on parcels to arrive at the same time as the daily mail which is usually predictable.
Tips For USPS Delivery
The best thing for residential USPS customers to do is to track parcels and arrange for alternate pick up if they will not be home. Mail can be held at the post office, which is the most secure location for parcels.
- Ask a neighbor or friend to pick up and hold parcels that are left when no one is at home.Â
- Provide a secured lockbox on the porch that is large enough to hold parcels and request that the driver place parcels inside and lock it closed.
- Always complete a hold mail request when out of town. Pick up mail at the office to resume delivery rather than having it all delivered to the residence. This will avoid a situation where multiple parcels are left on the porch.
- Include a friendly note on the doorbell asking that USPS drivers give it a ring when delivering parcels. Provide a hand sanitizer pump for those who are worried about touching the bell. They are not required to comply with the request, but they may.
- Do not expect delivery drivers to stand and wait for an answer to the doorbell if no signature is required. They do not have the time to wait for a response, nor are they required to by the USPS.
Courtesy is the key to having good interactions with everyone. It is important for customers to be friendly and courteous with all delivery drivers. A friendly hello and thank you go a long way to cultivating a relationship that results in more thoughtful deliveries from the carrier.
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Conclusion
USPS delivery drivers are advised by the USPS to not touch any doorbells on the route. When a signature is required they are advised to knock only. Delivery drivers are not required to wait until someone comes to the door when a signature is not required. Digital tracking by text alerts is a more reliable way to be informed when a parcel arrives at the door.
Hannah DeMoss has been a writer for nearly a decade. Her passion for writing began years ago has continued to grow. Her expertise at home involves furniture restoration and other small DIY tasks. When not writing, Hannah enjoys the outdoors with her husband and pups, as well as traveling.
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