In the age of online shopping, we expect flexibility, speed, and security when it comes to deliveries. But what happens when you're denied control over a package you've paid for, at the exact moment you need it most?
A resident from Mississauga, Ontario, recently faced this dilemma when UPS refused to honor their request to reroute a package to a nearby access point. The situation, though resolved eventually, highlights major gaps in how last-mile logistics are managed, especially by legacy couriers like UPS.
This story isn’t just about one person’s frustration, it’s a lens into systemic delivery flaws and how package receiving and package storage solutions like Stowfly are transforming the way we receive packages.
And right now, you can try Stowfly free for the first month. It’s the smarter, safer way to manage your deliveries—without changing how or where you shop.
A Reddit user from Mississauga, Ontario recently shared their frustrating experience with UPS after attempting to reroute a package delivery. The user had originally scheduled the package to be delivered to their home but later requested that it be redirected to a nearby UPS Access Point (UPS Store) for pickup.
This request was denied by UPS, and the user received an email informing them that the delivery would still be made to their residential address. To add to the confusion, the tracking status updated to “Attention Needed,” with no clear explanation or solution provided.
The situation quickly became urgent. The package, which required a signature upon delivery, had already been delayed by a day and was intended as a gift for a visiting friend. The friend was leaving town the following day, leaving the recipient in a time crunch.
Not wanting to sit at home all day waiting, the user found it more practical to pick the parcel up from a UPS store. Their frustration was evident when they wrote, “It’s my package, I paid for it, and I should be able to decide where it gets delivered.”
In the comment section of the Reddit post, the user asked whether missing the delivery three times would result in the package being automatically sent to an access point.
Commenters explained that if the shipper selects “Direct Delivery Only (DDO),” no redirection is possible, and only the shipper has the authority to make any delivery changes.
Reddit commenters clarified that this is an effect of UPS's Direct Delivery Only (DDO) policy: if the shipper selects DDO at label creation, no recipient can redirect, hold, or reroute the package.
UPS official documentation confirms that DDO adds a $2 surcharge and prevents redirection or address changes, even to an Access Point. Providers choose this to prevent fraud, but recipients lose flexibility.
Laypersons and sellers alike have raised concerns over DDO's restrictive nature.
These perspectives illustrate a tug‑of‑war between theft prevention and delivery convenience.
Commenters offered practical advice:
But no matter how critical the shipment is, DDO overrides recipient choice. One insightful Redditor explained:
“For normal packages it’s possible to have them redirected to Access Points... However shippers can set a package to be ‘Direct Delivery Only’ (DDO). If they do, UPS will not redirect that package in any way… No hold for pickup, no address correction…”
Thus, regardless of intention or urgency, the recipient had no path to reroute the package.
High‑value shipments, signature requests, and digital fraud threats push many shippers to default to DDO. A WooCommerce plugin enables shippers to mark packages DDO to prevent rerouting.
Another seller noted losing thousands after UPS MyChoice allowed address change by the recipient:
“Scammers place an order using a stolen credit card… After shipping, they change the shipping address via UPS MyChoice… we lose the dispute.”
In dense, high‑theft areas, DDO becomes a shield, but a rigid one that blocks recipient flexibility.
The story ended well: the package arrived earlier than expected and the gift was delivered on time. However, the user remained frustrated and concerned for the future. They asked:
“Could someone phone UPS and request a redirect if they live in a high-theft area?”
The unfortunate reality? Still a "no" if the package is DDO-restricted.
Issue | Insight |
|---|---|
Delivery redirection failed | Shipper enabled "Direct Delivery Only" |
UPS response |
Only the shipper can override the delivery address |
Recipient frustration |
No control despite paying for shipping |
Package urgency |
Time-sensitive, signature-required delivery |
Suggested solution |
Sit at home, rely on someone else, or miss it |
Final outcome |
Resolved, but future concern remains |
UPS handles over 24 million packages per day. With exception/error rates as low as 1–2%, that still translates to 240,000–480,000 daily issues.
“Out for delivery” scans may be repeated due to misaddressing, route changes, or handling errors.
Urban recipients often suffer missed deliveries, even when home, due to driver hesitations, apartment access rules, or technical routing constraints.
In this case, the gift’s arrival hinged on timing. But DDO negates last‑minute recipient decisions.
Commenters explained that even redirecting to an Access Point introduces delays, daily cutoffs and load cycles mean it might not arrive when needed.
As e-commerce grows and package theft rises, tension mounts between security and convenience.
UPS’s solution, shippers enforcing DDO, protects value but erases consumer agency. Many urban dwellers need flexible, secure alternatives that don’t force them to wait endlessly or risk theft.
Stowfly offers a network of secure local pickup points, staffed and insured, where customers can receive packages without depending on the shipper or courier rules.
Stowfly makes receiving packages simple, secure, and stress-free with trusted local pickup points right in your neighborhood. By partnering with nearby stores and businesses, Stowfly gives you the flexibility to have your deliveries held safely until you're ready to collect them, on your schedule.
Unlike standard mailbox rentals, Stowfly’s package receiving service works with all major carriers, so whether it’s Amazon, FedEx, or UPS, you’ll never have to worry about Amazon missing packages, FedEx lost packages, USPS missing packages or UPS stolen packages again.
Here’s how Stowfly works: Once your package arrives at a Stowfly-verified location, you'll receive a one-time secure pickup PIN. Simply provide this PIN to the store staff to collect your parcel,no waiting in long lines, no second delivery attempts, and no package theft or porch piracy.
With multiple partner locations across the city, you can choose the one that’s most convenient for you based on hours, distance, and availability. Just head to stowfly.com on your phone or computer to find and reserve a location that fits your needs.
We accept packages up to 2 ft x 2 ft x 2 ft and up to 50 lbs, making it a reliable option for everything from small electronics to bulkier household items.
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This real‑life incident makes a strong case for platforms like Stowfly. Unlike courier DDO policies:
Stowfly is especially helpful for:
If you want to avoid situations like the one in Mississauga:
This Mississauga Reddit case illustrates a growing issue: even when recipients pay for shipping, they may have zero control over delivery. That’s not just inconvenient, it’s unacceptable.
Stowfly solves this with a better, recipient-first delivery model that prioritizes your needs, not the courier’s policies. Stowfly’s secure package receiving services are currently available in the following cities: NYC, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Chicago, Seattle, Dallas, Austin, Washington DC, Miami, Boston, Denver, Las Vegas, Jersey City & Philadelphia and more.
Don’t let your next delivery depend on chance.Choose Stowfly. Take back control.
Explore the safest cities in the USA for package deliveries and why smart shoppers choose Stowfly in this blog.