USPS · Situational Judgment

You are delivering mail in a neighborhood and a resident asks you to deliver a large package to their elderly neighbor who cannot come to the door. What should you do?

  1. A Leave it on the doorstep without a signature
  2. B Follow your delivery procedures — attempt delivery, ring the bell, and if required leave a notice; do not leave packages requiring signatures without obtaining one
  3. C Give it to the neighbor making the request
  4. D Return to the station without attempting delivery

Why this is the answer

Proper delivery procedures must be followed regardless of third-party requests. If a signature is required, you must attempt delivery directly to the addressee or authorized recipient. Handing packages to neighbors without authorization violates delivery procedures and the addressee's privacy. Leave a delivery notice with pickup/redelivery instructions.
Source: USPS 474 VEA, Delivery Procedures