How to Sign for a Package Online if You Know You’ll Be Away

How many times has it happened that you weren’t home when a package was delivered to your address? This usually isn’t an issue when the package doesn’t require your signature. However, when the person or company you ordered the package from requires you to sign it, you need to be at home and wait for it to be delivered.

Fortunately, some delivery services give you the option to sign for your package online, so you are free to leave your house and go about your business. Those services include UPS, FedEx, and USPS. In this guide, we will show you how to sign for a package online using different shipping services. We will also answer some questions you might have about electronic signatures.

How to Sign for a Package Online Using UPS

UPS (United Parcel Service) is one of the largest shipping and delivery services in the world. UPS gives you control over your deliveries with a special service called “USP My Choice.”

If you sign up for this feature, not only can you sign for packages electronically, but you can also customize your shipment details. In other words, you can track your orders, receive personal notifications about your order’s updates, and even change the route of your packages if need be.

This service is completely free, and all you need to do is create an account on their website. You can even download the mobile version of the app on your phone, which is compatible with both iPhones and Androids.

Keep in mind that not all packages need to be signed. Whether or not your signature is required depends on the company or person from whom you ordered the package. Some companies only accept signatures for expensive products if you are 21 and older. This is how you can check whether your package needs to be signed or not:

1. Log into your UPS My Choice account.
   
2. Find the package you ordered on your dashboard.
3. View the delivery options.
   

If you see the “Sign” option, then the package does require your signature. If that’s the case, just enter all of your information, and you’re good to go. If the “Sign” option isn’t there, then you don’t need to sign for your package. At this point, you can also specify the exact location where you want your package to be delivered. Here’s how it’s done:

1. Go to UPS My Choice.
   
2. Click on your order.
3. Go to view details and select the “Provide Delivery Instructions” button.
   
4. Under “Leave at,” choose where you want your package to be delivered (front door, rear door, porch, garage, deck, etc.). You can even add a security code if you want.
   
5. Click “OK” once you entered all the delivery instructions.

Another option you have is to change the location of the package, so someone else can sign for it instead. However, if an adult is required to sign for your package, you don’t have the option to authorize delivery release online. What you can do instead is redirect your package to a UPS customer center, and pick up the package personally.

How to Sign for a Package Online Using FedEx

Another postal service that allows you to sign for a package online is FedEx. In fact, the FedEx Delivery Manager allows you to redirect your orders, track your packages, and they even offer to hold your package for 14 days at no additional cost.

The types of signatures your package might require include indirect signature, adult signature, and direct signature. If you know that you won’t be home to sign it, you have three options. The first one is to redirect your package to a FedEx location for two weeks most.

The second option is to reroute your order to another location, or you can change the delivery date. Keep in mind that this service costs an extra fee.

The third and final option is to sign your package electronically. This can either be done on the FedEx Delivery Manager website, or via the FedEx mobile app, which is available for both Android and iPhone devices. However, keep in mind that electronic signatures are only allowed for indirect signature requirements. If your package requires an adult or direct signature, then you have to sign it in person.

To sign for a package online, follow the steps below:

1. Open the FedEx website on your browser.
   
2. Create an account or log in.
   
3. Go to the “Delivery Manager” tab.
4. Head over to your dashboard to see all your orders.
5. Find your order.
6. Choose the “Sign for a Package” option and enter all the necessary information.

If the box is grayed out, that means that the package doesn’t need to be signed, or you need to do it in person.

At this point, another option is to go to “Provide Delivery Instructions” page, where you can specify any special delivery needs you might have. You can schedule your delivery, change your shipping address, and hold it at a FedEx location.

How to Sign for a Package Online Using USPS

The US Postal Service, or USPS, also includes the electronic signature feature. First, you need to sign up at the USPS Electronic Signature Online page. Every time you check on a package that is currently on its way to you, you will see the “Apply your USPS Electronic Signature Online” option next to it. If it’s not visible, then that means that you are required to sign it in person.

Once you have signed for the package, you will get a confirmation message saying “Your USPS Electronic Online Signature has been applied.”

USPS also gives you the option to authorize a delivery even if you aren’t home at the moment.

This can be completed on the USPS Informed Delivery service page, or with the USPS mobile app, which is available for both Android and iPhone devices. You also need to have your own account to do this, so go ahead and make one if you don’t have it already. Here’s what you need to do next:

1. Go to USPS Informed Delivery service.
   
2. Log into your account.
   
3. Find the package you ordered on the dashboard.
4. Go to “Add Delivery Instructions.”
   
5. Under the “Select one” option, choose where you want your package to be delivered on your property, for example, the front or backyard.
   

Note: If you see “Note: DI not available for this package,” it means that you either don’t need to sign the package upon its arrival, or that you need to sign it in person. Packages that cost more than $500 need to be signed in person.

At this point, you can specify that the package should be delivered to your location, even if you are not present.

Additional FAQs

How do I provide my signature electronically?

How you will provide your electronic signature depends on the device that you are using. For example, if you are using your computer to apply for an electronic signature, you can use your mouse or a laptop mouse pad to sign your name.

On the other hand, if you are using a mobile device or a tablet, then you can use the touch screen to write your signature with your finger or stylus. This option is much less frustrating, not to mention easier.

Are electronic signatures safe to use?

This question is quite common, and the answer is yes. Digital signatures are considered safe, and they are used by numerous companies and services, both in the private and public sector. The reason they are thought to be safe is that it’s incredibly challenging to falsify an electronic signature.

With regards to delivery services, some of them go the extra mile to make sure your identity is confirmed. For example, USPS requires you to prove that it’s really your signature, either with a code sent to your phone, or an in-person identity proofing at a post office.

People also tend to think that electronic signatures aren’t legally binding. This is not the case. Just because you signed something online, doesn’t make it any less legally binding than a physical signature.

Sign Your Packages Online and Feel Free to Step Out

Now you know how to sign for a package online using different delivery services. This feature is extremely useful because it allows you to leave your house, knowing that your package will be waiting for you when you come home. These delivery services offer you a number of helpful options, you just have to figure out what works best for you.

Have you ever signed for a package online? Did you use any of the delivery services mentioned in this article? Let us know in the comments section below.