Can You Redirect a Package While It’s in Transit? How USPS, UPS, FedEx & Amazon Handle Deliveries in Transit

Many consumers have experienced the sinking feeling of seeing a delivery update marked “out for delivery” only to come home to an empty porch. With porch pirates snatching parcels and deliveries being missed or misrouted, online shopping has become a tense waiting game.

The good news is that most major carriers now offer ways to redirect, reroute, or hold a package while it’s still in transit. Whether you want your shipment sent to a safer location, postponed until you’re home, or held for pickup, options exist. Yet these services aren’t always straightforward, fees, deadlines, and eligibility rules can differ by courier, and acting quickly is critical.

For anyone eager to prevent stolen packages, missed deliveries, or lost packages, knowing how and when to initiate a redirect can make all the difference.

With Stowfly, your deliveries stay safe and secure until you’re ready to pick them up, no more missed packages, porch pirates, or stressful redirects. Enjoy peace of mind and get your first month on us!

Real‑World Complaints: What Residents Are Saying

General frustration with Amazon deliveries

• On Reddit, one Amazon Prime customer tracked their parcel’s progress in real time. The delivery driver spent three hours within a three‑block radius of the customer’s home, then drove to another neighbourhood without delivering the package. Two days later it still showed as “out for delivery.” The customer, who said this had happened “more and more,” suspected that Amazon missing packages might be due to drivers stealing them.
• Another Redditor in British Columbia bought a Dyson Airwrap hair tool for more than US$900. The courier left it at the front door and the item was stolen before the buyer returned home. The seller refused to replace or refund the item, leaving the customer to absorb the loss.
• In Lakeville, Massachusetts, a driver under contract to Amazon abandoned about 80 packages in a wooded area. Police recovered the parcels after a tip, and the driver admitted leaving them due to “stress” (yahoo.com).

UPS customers dealing with lost returns and missing packages

• In Texas, a woman returned a US$2,000 MacBook to her son using UPS’s “Pack and Ship Guarantee.” UPS lost the parcel and initially described it as “one lost package.” After months of calls and help from local news, UPS reimbursed the cost(yahoo.com).
• A consumer advocacy column shared the story of Vanessa Armendariz, who returned three items to Amazon via UPS. UPS admitted losing the packages and told her that Amazon needed to file a claim, but Amazon refused to help. Vanessa was being charged US$334 until a journalist intervened(inkfreenews.com). The columnist cautioned consumers to document return shipments and keep tracking numbers(inkfreenews.com).

USPS complaints: missing packages and delivery problems

• Residents in Bryan‑College Station, Texas reported large gaps in mail delivery. Some said mail wasn’t delivered for days and packages were left on top of mailboxes even when they contained medications (kbtx.com). Others described packages marked “delivered” at night when the post office was closed(kbtx.com). Some neighbours began moving packages from the mailboxes to front doors to prevent theft(kbtx.com).
• Reddit’s r/usps_complaints is full of posts about “delivered” packages that never arrive. One commenter questioned if their mail carrier was stealing parcels after tracking showed “delivered” but no package was found(chargebacks911.com).

Statistics: How Big Is the Problem?

Number of packages stolen

Security.org’s 2024 report estimates that 58 million Americans (about one in four adults) had a package stolen in the previous 12 months, with theft losses approaching US$12 billion (security.org). CapitalOne Shopping found 120.5 million package theft incidents in 2023, costing consumers US$16 billion, and noted that 33 % of Americans experienced a stolen deliverycapitaloneshopping.com.

Frequency and repeat victims

ValuePenguin’s 2024 study reports that 41 % of Americans have experienced porch piracy (up from 35 % in 2022). One in four (25 %) had a package stolen in the past year(valuepenguin.com). More than one‑quarter of victims (27 %) reported three or more stolen packages and 63 % said at least one package originated from Amazon or Walmart(valuepenguin.com).

Location and demographics

ValuePenguin found that 55 % of packages were stolen from front doors or porches, 14 % from mailboxes and 13 % from mail rooms(valuepenguin.com). Younger generations were more likely to be victims; Gen Z had theft rates 5.5 times higher than baby boomers(valuepenguin.com).

Measures taken by consumers

CapitalOne’s survey shows 88 % of consumers track deliveries, 57 % stay home to receive them, 20 % have packages sent to an alternate address (work or friend’s house), 17 % rely on neighbours, and 31 % install security cameras(capitaloneshopping.com). ValuePenguin notes that 54 % of Americans use cameras to deter theft, and 22 % installed one in the previous year(valuepenguin.com).

These numbers highlight that package theft is widespread, increasing and not limited to any one carrier.

Redirecting or Holding Packages: What the Couriers Offer

USPS – Package Intercept®

USPS allows senders or authorized recipients to stop delivery or redirect a package that hasn’t gone “out for delivery.” Options include returning the item to the sender or holding it at a Post Office. The service isn’t guaranteed and costs a non‑refundable fee (~US$18.35 plus postage)usps.com. Because requests must be made before the final delivery stage, this option is only useful when you act quickly.

UPS – My Choice and Delivery Intercept®

UPS’s My Choice program lets customers reroute a package to another address, reschedule delivery or request pickup at a UPS Access Point. Requests must be made before the first delivery attempt ups.com. The Delivery Intercept service can return a package to the sender, deliver to a different address, or hold it for pickup; a fee is charged only if UPS completes the intercept ups.com. While convenient, these services sometimes depend on shipper permissions and are not always available for low‑cost shipping options.

FedEx – Hold at Location & Delivery Manager®

FedEx allows customers to redirect a package for pickup at a nearby FedEx Office, Walgreens or Dollar General store. On the “Hold at Location” page, FedEx explains that you can request a redirect from the tracking page, select a preferred pickup site and then wait for a notification when the package arrives fedex.com. Packages are held for up to seven days.

FedEx Delivery Manager provides additional tools: customers can see package status, receive email or text alerts, and avoid theft by having shipments delivered to any of FedEx’s 60,000 retail network locations fedex.com. The service lets you request to redirect a package to a retail pickup location free of charge, authorize someone else to pick it up via a QR codefedex.com and even virtually sign for a package.

Amazon

Amazon itself doesn’t provide a formal in‑transit redirect. According to Business Insider’s guide on changing an Amazon order’s shipping address, customers can change the delivery address only before the item has shipped(businessinsider.com). Once a package has left the warehouse or is handed to a third‑party carrier, the address can’t be changed. In those cases, the guide advises canceling the order and placing a new one(businessinsider.com). This limitation leaves many customers with no option if a package is misdelivered or a porch pirate strikes.

What Works and What Doesn’t

Prevention tools that help

• Early interception – USPS Package Intercept, UPS Delivery Intercept and FedEx Hold at Location allow customers to reroute packages before the “out for delivery” stage. If you spot a delay or know you’ll be away, requesting a hold or redirect early can prevent stolen packages.
• Hold‑for‑pickup locations – Picking up parcels at UPS stores, Amazon Lockers, FedEx Offices or Post Offices avoids leaving packages on the porch and reduces missed deliveries.
• Signature‑required delivery – Requires someone to be present, which can reduce theft but may lead to missed packages if you aren’t home.
• Package lockers and smart parcel hubs – Many apartment complexes and retailers offer secure lockers. Amazon Lockers and UPS Access Points allow customers to retrieve orders at convenient times.

Measures with limited effect

• Late intercept requests – Once a package is “out for delivery,” redirect requests often fail because the driver has already loaded the package usps.com.
• FTID scams and fraudulent redirects – Scammers alter shipping labels (often called fake tracking ID fraud) to misdirect shipments and claim refunds(chargebacks911.com). These fraudulent redirections highlight why official intercept services should be used and why packages left unattended are vulnerable.
• Waiting to file claims – Filing a lost‑package claim with the carrier or retailer can be lengthy and sometimes denied. Many customers, like the UPS and Amazon customers mentioned earlier(yahoo.cominkfreenews.com), experience stress and financial loss while waiting for resolution.
• Camera deterrents alone – Security cameras help identify porch pirates but don’t physically prevent theft. Only 72 % of victims who confronted thieves using cameras reported success(valuepenguin.com).

Stowfly: A Hyperlocal Way to Prevent Package Theft 

Stowfly is a network of convenient package receiving services located at neighbourhood shops and businesses. Instead of shipping packages to your home, you ship them to a nearby Stowfly package storage location. When your package arrives, the staff sign for it and store it securely; you then pick it up at a time that suits you.

Benefits include:

1. No more porch deliveries – Packages are kept behind the counter or in secure spots, eliminating exposure to porch pirates and preventing stolen packages.
2. Carrier‑agnostic – Stowfly accepts deliveries from Amazon, UPS, FedEx, USPS and other carriers, solving problems like Amazon missing packages, UPS lost packages, FedEx stolen packages and USPS missing packages in one system.
3. Flexible pickup – You don’t have to be home during specific delivery windows; pick up your package before work, after dinner or on the weekend.
4. Real‑time notifications – Stowfly notifies you when your package is ready, so you always know where your parcel is.
5. Affordable pricing – Many Stowfly locations charge modest subscription options, making it cheaper than the cost of replacing lost items.

By using Stowfly’s package receiving services, you avoid the unpredictability of home deliveries altogether.

Final Thoughts: Protect Your Packages and Take Action

Package theft is a growing problem fueled by e‑commerce’s convenience. Millions of deliveries are stolen each year, leaving consumers frustrated and carriers overwhelmed. While USPS, UPS and FedEx offer some interception and hold options, they depend on timing and often require fees. Amazon provides little recourse once an item ships. Traditional deterrents, cameras, staying home, asking neighbours, help but don’t eliminate the risk.

Stowfly provides a proactive alternative: secure, hyperlocal package storage that keeps deliveries safe until you’re ready to pick them up. If you’re tired of worrying about package theft, missed deliveries or lost packages, try Stowfly today and enjoy peace of mind knowing your parcels are protected.

All about where to find your nearest secure package receiving services for all your package deliveries in this blog.