Prevent iPhone from being stolen during shipment - Tip

[Hankster]

Last year during the 4S launch there were hundreds of people who had their iPhones taken off their front door. Some even had delivery drivers steal theirs.

I'm lucky enough to live within 10 minutes of both the UPS and FedEx HUB here in the DC area. For the 4S I called into UPS and requested they hold the package that morning. At 7:45am I arrived and picked up my iPhone 4S without any lines or anything.

This method allows you to get your iPhone at 8am and prevents anyone from potentially stealing it.

 

[paulink]

This sounds scary, but I bet we'll be fine as long as we're at the door when it comes in?

 

[Domino8282]

This sounds scary, but I bet we'll be fine as long as we're at the door when it comes in?

I'm guessing most of the ones that got stolen were people who pre-signed for their shipment by printing the form off the Apple tracking page. Unless your driver steals it, should be okay if you're there to accept...

 

[Hankster]

I live in the DC area, it's heavily populated. When I was speaking with the UPS rep at the HUB last fall, she told me everyone in the building new what the iPhone boxes looked like. In fact she even told me there were so many iPhones they may not be able to deliver them all.

It's very easy to drive through a neighborhood of community complex and look at the doors. Just a word to the wise...if you can pick it up...PICK IT UP! You get it at 8am and there's no risk of theft

 

[KimMelton661]

If it did get stolen or lost, would it be replaced or would we just be screwed?

 

[iRebound]

How did you do get UPS to hold the package? Their policy requires at least 1 delivery attempt to be able to hold for will call.

 

[johnparjr]

Unless you sign the waiver for them to leave it at the door they will not just drop it and run they have to get a signature.

 

[Hankster]

How did you do get UPS to hold the package? Their policy requires at least 1 delivery attempt to be able to hold for will call.

I get my packages held at the HUB all the time. Just call in while the package is in transit (not yet arrived to your area) and request it be held at X HUB. They will do it. I just did it again last weekend when a package was coming in on a Friday that needed to be signed. I called and they held it for me. I stopped by and picked it up at 8am since I was at work all day.

Unless you sign the waiver for them to leave it at the door they will not just drop it and run they have to get a signature.

True. But, as you know many people sign that waiver and you run the risk of the package being stolen. I tell ya...more and more people know when the iPhones are being shipped...especially criminals. They know how much those phones are worth.

True story. My sister in law was in labor and a nurse stole her iPhone as she was being moved into the delivery room. We know it wasn't lost because the carrier confirmed someone activated it and even her emails were being deleted.

The only way to protect yourself is to look after yourself.

 

[BFizzzle]

I'm guessing most of the ones that got stolen were people who pre-signed for their shipment by printing the form off the Apple tracking page. Unless your driver steals it, should be okay if you're there to accept...

can you do pick up at the the hub if you ordered it from verizon.com?

 

[ROLLTIDE1]

How did you do get UPS to hold the package? Their policy requires at least 1 delivery attempt to be able to hold for will call.

that is not correct if you are a UPS my choice member

 

[Leonard1818]

Well, I wondered about this too. EVERYONE seems to know what an iPhone box being shipped looks like and when hundreds or thousands show up on doorsteps, I'm sure theives know what to look for.

I bet it tends to happen more in urban areas where a package may be sat outside of an apartment or condo. I've got a few things going for me in my situation.

One, I live in BFE. no apartments or condos here.
Two, My wife is home 70% of the time.
Three, She knows the FedEx guy.
Four, ...Hey, wait a minute... numbers two and three have me thinking...

...brb.

 

[Hankster]

can you do pick up at the the hub if you ordered it from verizon.com?

Yes. It doesn't matter where you ordered it from. The shipment is either with UPS or FedEx. Those are the companies you call to have your package held. You can have ANY package held, they don't care.

that is not correct if you are a UPS my choice member

I'm not a Choice Member, just a regular joe and I've always been able to have my packages held at the HUB. I just call in and say that I won't be home that day or I'm heading out of town, so I'd like to pick up my package from the HUB at 8am. They say "Okay" and I arrive the next day.

Just make sure you have ID and the tracking number printed out (helps).

One, I live in BFE. no apartments or condos here.
Two, My wife is home 70% of the time.
Three, She knows the FedEx guy.
Four, ...Hey, wait a minute... numbers two and three have me thinking...

...brb.

LOL, you may have more pressing matters than the new iPhone coming out

 

[kaielement]

Well, I wondered about this too. EVERYONE seems to know what an iPhone box being shipped looks like and when hundreds or thousands show up on doorsteps, I'm sure theives know what to look for.

I bet it tends to happen more in urban areas where a package may be sat outside of an apartment or condo. I've got a few things going for me in my situation.

One, I live in BFE. no apartments or condos here.
Two, My wife is home 70% of the time.
Three, She knows the FedEx guy.
Four, ...Hey, wait a minute... numbers two and three have me thinking...

...brb.

Couldn't stop laughing hope you trust your wife....

 

[MVallee]

I might get them to hold it just so that I can get it early. UPS and FedEX usually delivers to me between 10-1 whenever I've ordered something but I hate having to sit at home waiting. Especially if they end up being later. I need to go out and pick up my nano sim anyways, might as well get the phone at the same time.

 

[Blueline29]

I'm not a Choice Member, just a regular joe and I've always been able to have my packages held at the HUB. I just call in and say that I won't be home that day or I'm heading out of town, so I'd like to pick up my package from the HUB at 8am. They say "Okay" and I arrive the next day.

Just make sure you have ID and the tracking

hmmm, might just have to try this. I'm leaving town the 21st and had planned to start out early in the am but once they announced the launch date, I altered my plans. I'd like to go back to the original plan and get outta town before noon.

 

[Leonard1818]

LOL, you may have more pressing matters than the new iPhone coming out

Couldn't stop laughing hope you trust your wife....

Ha ha! I'm kidding... I fully trust my wife. She knows the FedEx guy cause of her old job. He did deliveries every day to her office. Now that we order a TON of stuff online (thank you amazon prime) he delivers to our house a lot. She's always overly nice to everyone so I'm sure he's extra careful with our stuff cause I'm sure he likes her lol.

 

[Hankster]

hmmm, might just have to try this. I'm leaving town the 21st and had planned to start out early in the am but once they announced the launch date, I altered my plans. I'd like to go back to the original plan and get outta town before noon.

I had the same issue. That day 4S launched was the same day I was heading out on my honeymoon. I didn't want the phone to sit in the HUB or at my house so I picked it up that morning Worked like a charm!

 

[skywalkerr69]

Last year during the 4S launch there were hundreds of people who had their iPhones taken off their front door. Some even had delivery drivers steal theirs.

I'm lucky enough to live within 10 minutes of both the UPS and FedEx HUB here in the DC area. For the 4S I called into UPS and requested they hold the package that morning. At 7:45am I arrived and picked up my iPhone 4S without any lines or anything.

This method allows you to get your iPhone at 8am and prevents anyone from potentially stealing it.

I get it shipped to my job which is an office and i am always working during shipping times.

 

[Applejuiced]

Last year during the 4S launch there were hundreds of people who had their iPhones taken off their front door. Some even had delivery drivers steal theirs.

I'm lucky enough to live within 10 minutes of both the UPS and FedEx HUB here in the DC area. For the 4S I called into UPS and requested they hold the package that morning. At 7:45am I arrived and picked up my iPhone 4S without any lines or anything.

This method allows you to get your iPhone at 8am and prevents anyone from potentially stealing it.

That's nice but my closest FedEx hub is over 30 minutes away.

 

[iRebound]

My iPhone is in Louisville right now. When I tried to set up my package to hold for pickup at Will Call via UPS My Choice, the latest date it says on the website I can pickup is on Monday.

I don't wanna take that chance of not getting the phone on Friday. I should get it before 10:30am anyways.

 

[Bob Loblaw]

Last year during the 4S launch there were hundreds of people who had their iPhones taken off their front door. Some even had delivery drivers steal theirs.

I'm lucky enough to live within 10 minutes of both the UPS and FedEx HUB here in the DC area. For the 4S I called into UPS and requested they hold the package that morning. At 7:45am I arrived and picked up my iPhone 4S without any lines or anything.

This method allows you to get your iPhone at 8am and prevents anyone from potentially stealing it.

I'm in Vienna, think the closest hub for me would be in Merrifield or something like that?

 

[Kadman]

In my neck of the woods, even if it has signature required, they just leave it on the porch. This goes for both carriers. In fact, they could leave it in the middle of the cul de sac and it would still be there when I got home, unless someone saw it they'd just put it on my porch anyway.

 

[EdwardSung]

How do you find your local hub?

 

[iFoure]

Last year during the 4S launch there were hundreds of people who had their iPhones taken off their front door. Some even had delivery drivers steal theirs.

I'm lucky enough to live within 10 minutes of both the UPS and FedEx HUB here in the DC area. For the 4S I called into UPS and requested they hold the package that morning. At 7:45am I arrived and picked up my iPhone 4S without any lines or anything.

This method allows you to get your iPhone at 8am and prevents anyone from potentially stealing it.

Can someone explain the logic behind this system in America that delivery's are left on the front door??? I don't get it, sounds so stupid! Of course deliveries are stolen 'cos it so easy to steal them!

I live in Finland and here you delivery ALWAYS goes either in you mailbox (if it fits inside) or the postal office/UPS, FedEx etc office (depends what you've ordered and from who). The main point is that here deliveries are NEVER left outside of your front door if you are not home! if the postman can't get my parcel to fit inside my mailbox, he leaves a note inside the mailbox that states this and so I have to pick it up at the post office (with the note). Also if I have ordered something that say FedEx etc delivers they may call or not to ask if I'm home and if I'm not they take the delivery back to their facility from where I have to pick it up. Quite simple and secure logic IMO. Never have to worry about own deliveries stolen (they can get lost but that is quite rare).

 

[Iphoneness]

Just called UPS and the lady says that they just got the briefing from Apple about the iPhones today and they can't do anything with them regarding holding the packages or anything unless directly requested by Apple themselves..
I was really hoping to be able to go pick mine up at 8am.