NotUrsula
DIS Legend
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2002
- Messages
- 20,118
RE: parcel delivery to a house:
This would be a small parcel, if you just get a cupholder. The most common shipper used by most US online merchants is United Parcel Service (aka UPS). Unless the merchant has specified that you take delivery personally (VERY unusual unless the purchase is something VERY expensive, like say, a computer) the delivery agent can just leave the parcel somewhere outside the house. Most often, he will leave it between the storm door and the front door, or he might walk round back and leave it at the back door. They will not leave it anywhere where it would be visible from the street. If there doesn't seem to be a good hidden sheltered place available, they will leave a note on the door with choices about where you would like the parcel left, and will try again the next business day to deliver it. If you have responded and left the note on the door, your instructions will be followed. (e.g., "Inside the patio door around the back, please.") If the shipper uses the United States Postal Service, the post carrier will leave the pkg. in the postbox or, again, between the doors, *IF* it will fit. If it is a large parcel, he/she will leave a note, and you will have to call round to the Post Office for it. (Using USPS is a bit unusual; they don't have a very good tracking service for standard parcel post; UPS is preferred.)
If you are renting from an agent, and the pkg is small, you could order it shipped "in care of" the rental office if they say that's OK. I'd order it about 7-8 days business days ahead of time to have it there when you arrive to retrieve the keys. I wouldn't do this without first clearing it with the agent.
With nearly all US online merchants, you can go up a notch on delivery options and request overnight delivery. If you do that, you are guaranteed that the parcel will arrive the second weekday after the morning you order it. So if you were leaving for the US on Saturday, and you ordered it Friday morning UK time, you could just about set your watch by it arriving on Monday, as it would leave the US warehouse by Friday afternoon US time.
The pkg. will be prepaid off your credit card, so there will be no add'l charges due upon delivery. When you order the item online, you would give them a separate shipping address (you might need to call the company and explain why the address is in another country; it might draw the attention of the fraud squad as an unusual thing. However, that's not very likely if the order is a cheap one for just a cupholder. If you purchased a whole stroller, it might be different. They don't usually question baby products too closely, as people so often send them as gifts.
This would be a small parcel, if you just get a cupholder. The most common shipper used by most US online merchants is United Parcel Service (aka UPS). Unless the merchant has specified that you take delivery personally (VERY unusual unless the purchase is something VERY expensive, like say, a computer) the delivery agent can just leave the parcel somewhere outside the house. Most often, he will leave it between the storm door and the front door, or he might walk round back and leave it at the back door. They will not leave it anywhere where it would be visible from the street. If there doesn't seem to be a good hidden sheltered place available, they will leave a note on the door with choices about where you would like the parcel left, and will try again the next business day to deliver it. If you have responded and left the note on the door, your instructions will be followed. (e.g., "Inside the patio door around the back, please.") If the shipper uses the United States Postal Service, the post carrier will leave the pkg. in the postbox or, again, between the doors, *IF* it will fit. If it is a large parcel, he/she will leave a note, and you will have to call round to the Post Office for it. (Using USPS is a bit unusual; they don't have a very good tracking service for standard parcel post; UPS is preferred.)
If you are renting from an agent, and the pkg is small, you could order it shipped "in care of" the rental office if they say that's OK. I'd order it about 7-8 days business days ahead of time to have it there when you arrive to retrieve the keys. I wouldn't do this without first clearing it with the agent.
With nearly all US online merchants, you can go up a notch on delivery options and request overnight delivery. If you do that, you are guaranteed that the parcel will arrive the second weekday after the morning you order it. So if you were leaving for the US on Saturday, and you ordered it Friday morning UK time, you could just about set your watch by it arriving on Monday, as it would leave the US warehouse by Friday afternoon US time.
The pkg. will be prepaid off your credit card, so there will be no add'l charges due upon delivery. When you order the item online, you would give them a separate shipping address (you might need to call the company and explain why the address is in another country; it might draw the attention of the fraud squad as an unusual thing. However, that's not very likely if the order is a cheap one for just a cupholder. If you purchased a whole stroller, it might be different. They don't usually question baby products too closely, as people so often send them as gifts.
