Amazon won't deliver packages to porches

dave · 2025-08-12T02:17:16+00:00

Per recent mailing. ‘to ensure driver safety’ Amazon will after August no longer honour my delivery instuctions to leave all packages on my porch. Deliveries to the front door are fine, so I have changed my instructions from ‘porch’ to ‘front door’. To reach my front door, you have to be standing in the porch. Here’s the full text of the notification: We hope this message finds you well. We are writing to share an important update to our delivery services that will further enhance driver safety. As of August 31, 2025, we will no longer deliver packages to rear doors or side porches. One or more of your addresses currently includes one of these locations as a selected delivery preference. We encourage changing your preference to a supported option using the link below. If you don’t change your preference, we will automatically default your delivery preference to the front door. We also offer pickup locations that you can add to your address book for future orders. Find pickup locations near you here. We appreciate your understanding as we prioritize the safety of delivery drivers while ensuring the secure delivery of your packages.

g121

InternetJeff There can be great peril in assuming a woman is pregnant merely by appearance. 😉

Basically that’s a recipe for

Somewhat-Reticent

InternetJeff There’s even greater peril in failing to read articles.

vaxvms

Somewhat-Reticent Can you post a link to the “articles” you’re referirng to? TY.

HooRU

I had a job where I was timed down to the second. It was nerve wracking. But driving on a lawn is certainly NOT a solution. I believe drivers are timed and under great pressure.

Sometimes they leave packages on my steps which advertises them to the street, still, it’s better than one alternative. They seem to be ring bell shy.

I am sure to thank my driver when they follow instructions because I know it is extra effort when being timed.

px_eliezer_

InternetJeff There can be great peril in assuming a woman is pregnant merely by appearance.

I did this once with a co-worker about 40 years ago, it was not good.

Somewhat-Reticent

vaxvms Do your own Due Diligence.

px_eliezer_ I once made that mistake with a cousin.
Who decided it might be a good time to try a diet. (Or girdle?)

timcuth

I’m not certain what the main topic is, here, but Amazon delivers packages to my porch, often.

The other day, a smallish young woman even carried a somewhat heavy package up my steep driveway. I went out to meet her so she didn’t have to walk so much farther. I gave her all the positive comments on the Amazon delivery feedback page.

Markus1

I tried to tip an Amazon worker. I know they don’t make much and have a grueling job. She acted scared and said she could be fired for accepting anything.

Somewhat-Reticent

Markus1 Amazon avoids liability & corruption, while wishing they could have their piece of the action?

Markus1

Somewhat-Reticent Amazon avoids liability & corruption

lol

dave

Amazon just left a couple of packages on my driveway next to the garage door, and claimed it was delivered to the ‘front door or porch’.

It seems to me that if they won’t deliver to an actual porch, they’re willing to claim that wherever they delivered to is a porch.

InternetJeff

One thing that everyone should do is log in to their Amazon account and put in delivery instructions (if you want stuff delivered a certain way).

Go to Your Account -> Your Addresses -> Click “Add delivery instructions” on a delivery address pane.

In addition to what’s offered, at the bottom of the dialog you can select “Add more instructions” for additional options. For example…

These instructions are supposed to pop up on the delivery driver’s mobile work device when they are making a delivery. If the instructions are repeatedly not honored, call customer service at (888) 280-4331 to report the issue. If the instructions in your account continue to not be followed, send a letter to report the issue (this is the only other way):

Amazon.com Worldwide Operations
Attn: Mr. Andrew Jassy
PO Box 81226
Seattle WA 98108-1226

I recommend the letter be sent Registered with a return receipt.

This solved all my delivery instruction problems

dave

Hmm. I set up delivery instructions a long time ago but they seem to have been ineffective lately. Prompted by Jeff’s post, I went to check on my exact wording – and there are no delivery instructions for my home address.

So, even if you think you’ve set it up, it’s worth checking now and then.

vaxvms

InternetJeff When Amazon uses someone else (UPS, USPS) to deliver a package those delivery instructions mean squat. I’ve had deliveries made by Amazon, USPS (UPS?). I shudder to think what would happen to my deliveries if they ever use FedEx.
If it means anything I just had a problem with a delivery. Can you say nightmare?

InternetJeff

vaxvms When Amazon uses someone else (UPS, USPS) to deliver a package those delivery instructions mean squat.

This is true. However, I have never had one of those carriers deliver Amazon orders to my primary residence.

As far as the other carriers are concerned:

USPS: They do not have a place to enter delivery instructions. But it does not matter for me, as they’ve never delivered an Amazon package at my location, and I otherwise I try to avoid doing any business with them if at all possible.
UPS: You can specify a default delivery location from a drop-down (Front door, garage, etc., etc.), but there is no way to enter free form text instructions. I’ve hacked that by typing “RING BELL” in the gate code field for when a delivery driver has to enter a gate code. This has worked every time.
FedEx: You can enter specific delivery instructions in your FedEx account….

vaxvms

InternetJeff FedEx: You can enter specific delivery instructions in your FedEx account…

…. what happens if you don’t have a FedEx account?
Whenever I buy something online I explicitly say don’t use FedEx ’cuz of all the disappointing issues I’ve had with FedEx at the last couple of places I’ve lived at. UPS and USPS are sooo much better for me. It seems “signature required” means absolutely nothing to FedEx drivers. A $3,000 dollar item gets left somewhere on the property (driveway, front lawn, near the door) and absolutely no effort is made to get a signature. Even when it’s in a manufacture’s box indicating what it is. Hey porch pirate lookit this!

UPS has always been good leaving packages at the front door - not somewhere nearby. Signature required means it isn’t left here without a signature. Inside a plastic bag when rain or snow is falling. (yay brown box!) Once in a while they’ve made the effort to leave large packages at the back door to prevent it from being seen. 👍
I now always check both front and back doors for packages.

ymmv

Somewhat-Reticent

Some years ago our cheap mailbox cabinets were popular targets.
Back doors were frequently pried open by opportunistic theives.
I found a local storage facility that offers mailboxes.
USPS, FedEx, UPS, and OnTrac deliver there.
Instructions help new drivers unfamiliar with it.
Front‑desk attendant, call‑box, climate-controlled.

HooRU

a good while back when Best Buy delivered my TV they rang my doorbell and waited for me to get it inside. I told them that level of care us rare, they said it simply is they didn’t want the TV stolen.

With my guitar and amp they were unceremoniosley left on a concrete step in from of the porch on rainy days without any notice or effort to protect them, though they were more valuable (but still relatively cheap).

Funny how delivery men put so much more importance on TVs.

antdude

HooRU Did you give him tips, positive reviews, etc.? 😉

px_eliezer_

UPS and also USPS employees, although not perfect, have been well-vetted and are in a long-term relationship with their organizations, and are decently-paid.

Mainly true for FedEx Express, but not so true for FedEx Ground which uses a lot of independent contractors and more of the relationships are short-term.

EDIT: FedEx Home Delivery also involves a lot of independent contractors.

AFAICT Amazon Delivery is in the middle in these regards.

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