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If you’ve missed your USPS delivery, don’t stress. This happens to the best of us, and policymakers at the Postal Service know it. Therefore, USPS has built a few steps you can take to get your package before they return it to the original sender. We’ve listed those options for you below.
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How to Get Your Package After You Miss Your USPS Delivery
Here are your six ways to get your package if you missed your delivery:
- Schedule a redelivery at https://redelivery.usps.com/redelivery/
- Complete PS Form 3849 (titled “We ReDeliver For You!”), and place the form in your mailbox
- Go to your local Post Office to pick up your items
- Manage redeliveries by signing up for Informed Delivery
- Send a representative or acquaintance to pick up the package at your local Post Office. You must first sign PS Form 3849 and indicate the name of the representative in order for USPS to the item over to them
- Call 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777) to schedule a redelivery
Why Didn’t USPS Leave My Package?
There are a number of reasons why USPS may not have left your package. The most common is that your front door or mailbox was inaccessible. Maybe there was a locked gate, or maybe the package required a signature and no one was home to sign for it.
Also, while it may seem ridiculous, your dog might have something to do with it (if you have one). USPS won’t leave a package if the letter carrier delivering it doesn’t feel safe approaching your front door or mailbox. It’s for good reason; on average, letter carriers are attacked by dogs over 6,000 times per year!
When USPS marks a package as undeliverable, you will see an “Alert” when you look at your package’s tracking status online, and the alert will describe the reason why your letter carrier was unable to leave your package. To see more “Alerts” that USPS uses when they can’t deliver a package, check out our guide on the Most Common USPS Tracking Statuses.
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Dave Brown
What is website address to pay for Ew delivery? The one I landed on did not have “USPS” or “.gov” on it. Thanks dave
Rashini kavindi
I need my order please give me it
Debra Ailer
I will pick my certified letter up the 6th of April. Thank you
Donn Helbach
I need to schedule a redelivery in which I can be notified when it is due to be here 15 minutes before the delivery. I have stage 4 lung cancer and can’t be away from oxygen for more than that amount of time!
Matthew Drain
I had a package that was supposed to come and I was home all day with no knock at the door and they marked my package as “attempted delivery”
Says a notice was left but no notice at all
alma
same! they just hung the final note on the door and run away. I was home waiting for my letter whole day. I rescheduled all meetings. when should i go to the post office to take my letter? Next day? I guess there will be no email?
Martin Stewart
I had a delivery by priority mail USPS at an address but the number was wrong what will happen Will they advise the sender that the package was unable to be delivered and is for collection at post office Or can althe new changed number be issued and re sent Thank
Wensdi
I scheduled a redelivery and they never came.. haha I swear they didn’t even get out better yet pull in my drive
Carl Denhardt Jr
Seriously, a TODDLER could update the code to add a simple check box that says “Hold package for PICKUP…..
Carl Denhardt Jr
Do yourself a favor and hire the squirrel out your back door to deliver your package. Trust me, that squirrel will be exponentially smarter than ANY USPS employee.
LeeAnne Entel
Your redelivery sign-up does not allow for date selection; so the package that couldn’t be delivered today won’t be deliverable tomorrow either. That makes me angry that I couldn’t just pick the appropriate date one the first redelivery try.