Facts you didn't know about Delivery Signatures

Delivery Signatures, what are they? Why am I always asked if I want to request a signature upon delivery every-time I send a package? Within the world of shipping, delivery signatures take up a vital role in the industry. We've compiled a ton of valuable information about all things signatures! There's a high likelihood that you will learn something with this post. Let us know what you think.

What are Delivery signatures?

Delivery Signatures serve as proof that the shipment reached its intended recipient. They validate the delivery's completion and provide assurance that the shipment made it to the right hands. It's the extra layer of protection in case the recipient claims they never got the package. Or conversely, if you are the recipient: it's the extra layer of protection that the carrier delivering your shipment won't lose your package.

Before diving into Signatures

Before diving into signatures, it's important to understand the delivery portion of "Delivery Signature". Shipping companies treat deliveries differently depending on if the recipient is a residential home or a business (Businesses operated out of a house are considered residential deliveries by the way).

For example: a shipping company is sending a package to a residential home, the driver is allowed to leave the package outside on the porch, *mostly* hidden from the street view and it's entirely at the discretion of the driver. If a shipping company is sending a package to a business (office building, store, e.t.c) the driver is not allowed to leave the package at the door, ever. This affects how viewers should think about paying for or requesting the delivery signature service.

Delivery Signatures to a residential home

Here are the differences between a shipment going to a residential home with a delivery signature option versus a shipment going to a residential home without a delivery signature option:

With a delivery signature option:

• Your shipment will not be left at the front door unattended.

• the driver will have the recipient confirm their name and sign the track pad.

• Less chances of having the shipment lost.

• The delivery could be delayed if you're not there to accept when delivering.

• In case of a loss, you're more protected against carriers claiming they delivered it.

Without a delivery signature option:

• The shipment can be left at the door, at the drivers discretion.

• Odds of losing your shipment are increase (by a tiny bit).

• The delivery is less likely to be delayed in case you're not there to accept the shipment since they can simply leave it at the door.

• If the carrier claims they delivered the shipment but you claim it's lost. typically the carrier will only result to a curtesy credit as opposed to taking responsibility for the loss.

Delivery Signatures to a business

Here are the differences between a shipment going to a business with a delivery signature option versus a shipment going to a residential home without a delivery signature option:

With a delivery signature option:

• The driver will take the recipients name and ask for a hand signature.

• The driver may require signatures from authorized personnel or specific departments.

• In case of a loss, it's easier to track within the receiving business who took delivery of the shipment.

Without a delivery signature option:

• The drivers are still not allowed to leave the packages at the front, some will leave the packages at the reception desk if no one is there.

• Less credibility to the Proof of delivery (POD)

• If the carrier claims they delivered the shipment but you claim it's lost. typically the carrier will only result to a curtesy credit as opposed to taking responsibility for the loss.

Are they worth it?

Are they worth it? as you can see from the blog, each situation is quite different so do you blanket need a signature on all your shipments? Probably not, do you want to ship every package without a delivery signature required? Also probably not. You may want to consider adding Delivery Signatures to all residential deliveries, or all shipments you're sending above a certain value. You can also decide to have all shipments going to one specific receiver require a delivery signature option. The point is to make an educated decision based on the situational information at hand.

Insider tips

after shipping over 1 200 000 shipments, we can confidently say that most shipments that didn't have a signature and would have benefited from one are high value, small packages, going to residential homes within a busy city.

Sending legal paperwork where you need a signature as proof of reception are a good reason for using delivery signature services.

Tell us your stories! Have you ever had a shipment get lost and would have benefited from a delivery signature?