Sometimes it may happen that a parcel arrives at your location, but no one is there to receive it. In such situations, the postal company may decide to deliver the package to a safe place instead of returning it to the Post Office. This method is described as “Delivered as a Safe Drop.”
Well, that’s a simple answer to “What Does Delivered as a Safe Drop Mean?” But it isn’t as simple as it sounds. Not always will a carrier deliver a package as a safe drop. Plus, not all packages are eligible for safe drop deliveries either. Some certain rules and protocols are to be maintained to deliver a package at a safe location.
Moreover, if the customer doesn’t want their items to be safely dropped off, they can opt out of it too. Of course, there is a proper method to it. And the reverse is also true. A customer can request a safe drop delivery if needed.
Want to know how this option works? Then, keep reading this article as we explain the details of the option “Delivered as a Safe Drop” bit by bit.
Let’s go!
Table of Contents
What Does Delivered as a Safe Drop Mean?
“Delivered as a Safe Drop” simply means a delivery attempt was made for your parcel. But since no one was present to receive it, the carrier decided to find a safe place to drop the package and inform the customer about it.
This action should not be taken as irresponsibility on the carrier’s part. Or that the Postal Company is reluctant to take responsibility for a parcel. This method is devised solely for the convenience of the customers.
“Delivered as a Safe Drop” ensures that the customer doesn’t have to take time out of their busy schedule to visit the Post Office to pick up their package. They can just return home and secure their parcel from the safe drop location nearby.
It helps especially when it’s an urgent delivery, and the customer does not have the time to travel to the Post Office.
When does a Carrier Make a Safe Drop Delivery?
Not always does a carrier make a safe drop delivery. They can make it only if:
How does the Postal Company Inform the Customer of a Safe Drop?
Once a carrier makes a safe drop delivery, it is the responsibility of the Postal Company to inform the customer about it. There are two simple ways to do that.
Firstly, they leave a safe drop notification card with the Lettermail to inform the customer where to find their parcel.
Secondly, the customer is informed via message or email that their parcel has been delivered as a safe drop.
In certain rare cases, it may happen that the carrier already made a safe drop delivery and issued the notification card before realizing that the place isn’t as safe as it appears. In such situations, they remove the parcel from there and inform the customer via message or mail.
The customer then has to track their package to know from where they can pick it up. It’s done to ensure the complete safety of the parcel being delivered.
Which Parcels are Eligible for Safe Drop?
Not all parcels are eligible for safe drops. Packages are eligible for Safe Drop only if:
Signature parcels can also be eligible for safe drop if:
How to Request a Safe Drop?
There are two ways in which a customer can request a safe drop delivery option. First, they can set the safe drop option as their delivery preference for all their eligible parcels. Second, they can request a safe drop for each eligible parcel when the need arrives.
Steps to Set Safe Drop as your Delivery Preference
To set Safe Drop as your delivery preference, follow these steps:
☑️ Step 1: Log in to your account with the official site of the postal company.
☑️ Step 2: Navigate to where you will find the options for delivery.
☑️ Step 3: Click on the “Request for Safe Drop” option.
☑️ Step 4: Follow the instructions from there as per your requirements.
☑️ Step 5: Set the Safe Drop option as your delivery preference and confirm.
Check your parcels to see whether the safe drop option has been applied. The company will inform you if your parcel is ineligible for a safe drop.
Steps to Request Safe Drop as per your Delivery Need
To request Safe Drop as per your delivery need, follow these steps:
☑️ Step 1: Log into your account with the official site of the postal company.
☑️ Step 2: Navigate to the place that shows the Deliveries option.
☑️ Step 3: Click on the Track option to see the list of parcels.
☑️ Step 4: Choose the parcel you want a safe drop delivery.
☑️ Step 5: Follow the instructions to request the safe drop.
If in case a package fails to show the safe drop option, it means that the particular parcel is not eligible for a safe drop delivery.
Postal Companies usually allow you to request a safe drop till a few days or even a few hours before the delivery. They will let you know if the option for a safe drop delivery is available.
You may even get an email notification asking whether you want a safe drop delivery for the package, and you can avail of it from there, too, by following the instructions.
How to Cancel a Safe Drop Delivery?
The postal companies also allow you to cancel your safe drop delivery. Here are the steps to do it:
☑️ Step 1: Log into your account with the official site of the postal company.
☑️ Step 2: Navigate to the place that shows the Deliveries option.
☑️ Step 3: Click on the Track option to see the list of parcels.
☑️ Step 4: Choose the parcel you want to cancel safe drop delivery.
☑️ Step 5: Follow the instructions from there on and cancel it.
If you want to change the safe drop delivery location, then:
☑️ First, follow the above steps to cancel it.
☑️ Then, set up a new safe drop request with the changed instructions.
If you can’t find these options, you have crossed the maximum time limit allowed to cancel or change the request.
What Places can be considered Safe for a Safe Drop Delivery?
Not all places can be considered to be safe to drop a package. To be regarded as a safe location for safe drop delivery, a place must have the following features:
Places that are considered ideal locations for a safe drop delivery are:
You may also request to leave the package with a designated neighbor if the parcel requires a signature.
Places that are considered unsafe for a safe drop delivery are:
Remember, you might request a safe drop delivery and even provide a location to drop the package, but the carrier will leave your parcel there only if they consider the location safe enough.
Conclusion:
The option “Delivered as a Safe Drop” is really valuable for the ones who have a busy day planned and have an important delivery at home. Since they can’t be at two places simultaneously, the customer can request the Postal Company to drop their parcel at a safe location nearby.
That way, it’s easier for them to pick it up immediately after returning to their home instead of walking the extra mile to visit the Post Office.
