In my country, virtually every package sent by courier has the phone number of the recipient on the label. Is that not the case in the rest of the world?
I’ve been to 41 countries, and I’ve learned the USA’s precise address locations is more the exception than the rule. I expect the courier to have my number out of necessity. I’ve had packages shipped to several countries, and often the most precise address I can provide is “the blue door right of the cheese shop on $STREET”. Dubai is interesting in that it has fairly good addresses, but uses nearby landmarks instead of postal codes. “123 Sheikh Abdul St, Dubai, next to the Desert Cinema”.
Even in the USA, once you step outside the cities and the rural areas with regular streets, a phone number is often a good idea, especially if they haven’t delivered before.
Homes a mile down a driveway, various gates, etc. Things can happen.
But Amazon could do what Craigslist does for email -have a bank of a bunch of phone numbers that they forward to you until delivery is confirmed.
I have noticed that for all couriers in Spain (and we did get called many times because they couldn't find our place), but in Germany it's very uncommon.
It's very common in Denmark, and it makes it easy for the courier company to leave the package at a kiosk or parcel locker instead of trying to deliver several times.
I was called several times for packages sent to work when the office was closed to non-essential staff, as there was no receptionist and it wasn't clear the building was open. (Business parcels are generally not redirected to a kiosk.)
I can't remember being called for personal deliveries. It's more common to just get an automatic text saying which nearby kiosk/locker has the parcel, with a code to claim it.
The building not open problem is annoying. UPS seems to understand it but lots of the courier companies are still learning. I’ve had to paste a large sign to the door saying “I’m here please call X and don’t return as undeliverable”.
Comments
In my country, virtually every package sent by courier has the phone number of the recipient on the label. Is that not the case in the rest of the world?
I’ve been to 41 countries, and I’ve learned the USA’s precise address locations is more the exception than the rule. I expect the courier to have my number out of necessity. I’ve had packages shipped to several countries, and often the most precise address I can provide is “the blue door right of the cheese shop on $STREET”. Dubai is interesting in that it has fairly good addresses, but uses nearby landmarks instead of postal codes. “123 Sheikh Abdul St, Dubai, next to the Desert Cinema”.
Even in the USA, once you step outside the cities and the rural areas with regular streets, a phone number is often a good idea, especially if they haven’t delivered before.
Homes a mile down a driveway, various gates, etc. Things can happen.
But Amazon could do what Craigslist does for email -have a bank of a bunch of phone numbers that they forward to you until delivery is confirmed.
I have noticed that for all couriers in Spain (and we did get called many times because they couldn't find our place), but in Germany it's very uncommon.
It's very common in Denmark, and it makes it easy for the courier company to leave the package at a kiosk or parcel locker instead of trying to deliver several times.
I was called several times for packages sent to work when the office was closed to non-essential staff, as there was no receptionist and it wasn't clear the building was open. (Business parcels are generally not redirected to a kiosk.)
I can't remember being called for personal deliveries. It's more common to just get an automatic text saying which nearby kiosk/locker has the parcel, with a code to claim it.
The building not open problem is annoying. UPS seems to understand it but lots of the courier companies are still learning. I’ve had to paste a large sign to the door saying “I’m here please call X and don’t return as undeliverable”.