Are you expecting a package to arrive from Fedex, but you don’t know exactly where it will be delivered to?
Fedex may deliver to several different locations on your property, depending on the shipment method used, or the instructions you provide them.
So, where exactly does Fedex deliver, and how can you choose where you want them to leave your package?
In this article, I’ll cover everything that you need to know!
Does Fedex Deliver To Your Door Or Mailbox?
Fedex will almost always deliver packages directly to your front door, unless you specifically request that they deliver them elsewhere via Fedex Delivery Manager.
Only in very rare circumstances will Fedex deliver packages to your mailbox, as there are restrictions in place that prevent them from doing so.
So, if you are expecting a delivery from Fedex, you should expect it to be delivered to your front door unless you usually receive packages in another location (such as an apartment or dormitory mailroom.)
In just a moment, we’ll go over why Fedex often can’t deliver to your mailbox, as well as how you can specify where you want your packages delivered instead.
It’s actually quite interesting, so I encourage you to continue reading!
Why Doesn’t Fedex Usually Deliver To Your Mailbox?
Many people don’t know this, but Fedex actually can’t deliver to your mailbox, even if they wanted to.
Put quite simply, your mailbox isn’t owned by you – it’s actually owned by the United States Postal Service (USPS), and is therefore considered federal property.
Even if Fedex wanted to, they don’t have the legal right to open and store packages inside of your mailbox. At best, this would block you from getting access to other critical mail that USPS has to deliver. At worst, it could get them in a huge amount of trouble.
That brings up another point – most packages shipped by Fedex are too large to fit inside of a mailbox. Therefore, they would have to be delivered to your front door anyway.
Most sellers shipping small items opt for USPS, which is usually cheaper than a third-party company like Fedex. It is only with larger packages where couriers like Fedex and UPS start to make financial sense to ship with.
So even if Fedex could put packages in your mailbox, you wouldn’t get a lot of them – companies would choose to ship with USPS instead.
Note however that in the past, Fedex was able to deliver certain packages to your mailbox, using a shipping service called Fedex SmartPost.
With Fedex SmartPost, Fedex was partnered with USPS to deliver packages. Fedex would handle most of the transit, but hand off the package to USPS for final delivery, which worked great in rural areas where USPS would have to deliver anyway, but houses were very far out of the way of most other deliveries.
However, Fedex SmartPost has been rebranded to Fedex Ground Economy, and USPS no longer handles final delivery for these packages.
Because Fedex is doing the final delivery and not USPS, they can no longer place these packages inside of your mailbox.
So, even if you had Fedex packages delivered to your mailbox in the past, this isn’t really possible anymore – even for Ground Economy shipments!
For more information on Fedex Ground Economy, watch this video:
Does Fedex Have A Box You Can Hold Packages At, Like UPS Does?
If you won’t be home to safely receive your package, this can cause anxiety – especially if it cannot be stored safely in your mailbox.
So, does Fedex offer any option to rent a mailbox, like you could at a UPS store?
Unfortunately, this doesn’t seem like a service that is offered at the moment.
However, you can request that Fedex hold your package at one of their local locations for up to 7 days.
To request a package be held at Fedex, click here to view their page to begin the process.
While not as convenient as a UPS box (especially if you’re traveling, or you’ll be out of town) it does provide security against thieves or weather damage – while also granting you more flexibility on when you can pick it up.
How To Specify Your Preferred Delivery Location For Fedex, With The Fedex Delivery Manager
Did you know that you can specify where you want your package to be left?
That’s right, it doesn’t just have to be at your front door!
With Fedex delivery manager, you can provide instructions on where you want the package to be left at. Some options include:
- Front door
- Back Door / Patio
- Side Door
- Garage
- Main Entrance / Front Desk
- Security / Guard Post
- Apartment Office
This way, you can ensure that your package is left in a secure spot, where you’re likely to see it.
So, how do you use Fedex Delivery Manager?
All you’ve got to do is sign up for a Fedex account here.
Then, put in your information, such as your name and address. On the delivery manager page, you’ll find a section called ‘Delivery Instructions’, where you can select the location you want Fedex to drop off your packages at.
If you have multiple addresses you receive packages (such as multiple offices for a company account), you can also provide individual instructions for each address.
Fedex Delivery Manager is a great way to gain more control over your deliveries, so you should definitely utilize it if you receive a lot of packages from Fedex!
Conclusion
Fedex will rarely deliver to your mailbox, as they only have one shipping service that legally allows them to do this.
However, if you don’t want your deliveries made to your front door, you can use the Fedex Delivery Manager to specify where you’d prefer that your packages be left.
I hope that you’ve found this article helpful, and that it’s answered all of your questions. If you have any other questions about receiving shipments with Fedex, please ask them using the comment form below and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.
Thanks for reading, and wishing you the best!
– James McAllister