Receiving the notification “delivery exception” can be frustrating when you’re eagerly awaiting a package. But what does it really mean when a delivery exception occurs at your local post office? Here’s an in-depth look at these common delivery issues and how to deal with local post office exceptions.
A delivery exception occurs when a shipping carrier like USPS, UPS, or FedEx cannot complete a delivery as scheduled and expected. There are various reasons why exceptions happen, and they don’t necessarily mean your package is lost or delayed indefinitely. However, delivery exceptions can lead to delays, returned packages, and headaches if you don’t respond appropriately.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover:
- What delivery exceptions are and why they happen
- Common causes of USPS, UPS, and FedEx delivery exceptions
- How delivery exceptions affect your package and delivery experience
- Ways to avoid delivery exceptions
- How to respond when exceptions occur
- Why local post office exceptions are common
- How processing exceptions differ from delivery exceptions
So read on to learn everything you need to properly handle delivery exceptions from your local post office or carrier.
What Does “Delivery Exception” Mean?
A delivery exception is when a shipping carrier like USPS, UPS, or FedEx cannot complete a standard delivery on the expected delivery day and time. The package may be delayed, returned to the sender, or require special handling before delivery can be completed.
Some common delivery exceptions you may see include:
- Address correction needed
- Delivery attempted
- No access to delivery location
- Business closed
- Incorrect address
- Insufficient address
- Package damaged
- Recipient not available
- Unable to deliver overnight package
- Animal interference
- Unsafe to deliver
- Missing apartment number
Essentially, any issue that prevents the carrier from successfully handing off your package to the recipient or designated delivery location can cause a delivery exception. Exceptions don’t necessarily mean the package is lost or that there is a major problem. But it does indicate your delivery needs some sort of action before it can be completed.
Why Do Delivery Exceptions Occur?
There are many different reasons why a postal carrier or shipping service may not be able to complete a scheduled delivery. Some of the most common causes of delivery exceptions include:
- Incorrect shipping address – If there are typos or errors in the recipient’s address, the carrier cannot determine the proper delivery location.
- Insufficient address details – Apartment or suite numbers are missing that prevent accessing the delivery point.
- Recipient not available – If the delivery required a signature or ID confirmation, the carrier could not complete it if the recipient wasn’t available.
- Business closed – Attempting delivery to a business location after hours or on holidays will result in an exception.
- Unsafe location – Adverse weather, natural disasters, civil unrest, or dangerous animals could make delivery unsafe or impossible.
- Package damage – If the package is damaged or unwrapped, the carrier may mark it as an exception rather than complete delivery.
- Delivery route issues – Traffic delays, road closures, unpassable routes due to weather can prevent carriers from accessing some areas.
- Incorrect package weight – If the package weight used for shipping differs greatly from the actual weight, it may get flagged as an exception.
- Extra services required – Some special services like signatures, adult verification, or customs clearance can hold up deliveries if not properly completed.
So in summary, anything that affects the carrier’s ability to safely and efficiently deliver your item to the recipient’s address could potentially trigger an exception. Exceptions don’t necessarily indicate a major problem – just an issue that needs resolution in order to complete the delivery.
How Do Delivery Exceptions Affect Packages?
When an exception occurs, the expected delivery date will change or become unknown until the reason for the exception can be resolved. But exceptions can cause different outcomes depending on the specific policies of the carrier and shipping service used. Here are some potential effects:
- Delayed delivery – The package may arrive later than originally scheduled while the exception is addressed. Usually just a matter of days.
- Attempted redelivery – The carrier will attempt delivery again if the reason for exception is resolved, such as recipient becoming available.
- Returned to sender – Undeliverable packages may be returned to the shipper after multiple failed delivery attempts.
- On-hold – Packages may be held at a carrier location until the recipient can pick it up or further delivery attempts are made.
- Additional fees – You may incur additional charges to fix incorrect addresses, schedule redelivery, or manage package returns.
- Loss of package – In rare cases of damage, improper labeling, or extensive delays, packages may be lost in transit and unlikely to recover.
While most exceptions get resolved within a few business days, serious exceptions can lead to lost or delayed packages. So it’s important to stay on top of exception alerts and work quickly to address any issues impacting delivery.
How to Avoid Delivery Exceptions
While some exceptions arise from unavoidable circumstances, you can take proactive steps to minimize many issues that commonly trigger delivery exceptions:
- Verify the complete, accurate address – Double-check the recipient’s address including apartment/suite number, intersecting streets, and postal codes.
- Provide contact info – Share the recipient’s phone number and email so the carrier can reach them if needed during delivery.
- Check business hours – Ensure you are not shipping to a business location during weekends, holidays or after closing hours.
- Get tracking updates – Sign up for text or email alerts from the carrier to monitor the delivery status in real-time.
- Use proper labeling – Avoid handwritten labels and properly attach shipping labels so they don’t fall off during transit.
- Add delivery instructions – Give special instructions like where to leave the package or directions to hard-to-find addresses.
- Pack well – Use proper padding and reinforcement to prevent damage issues that may cause an exception.
- Purchase insurance – Insure high-value packages in case exceptions result in lost or damaged items.
While you can take steps to avoid many delivery mishaps, exceptions are often unavoidable due to random incidents like weather events or unexpected business closures. But staying proactive can help minimize risks and exceptions on the majority of your shipments.
Responding to Delivery Exceptions
If you receive notification that an exception has occurred:
- Track the package status – Check the carrier’s tracking updates to determine the exact reason for the exception.
- Contact the recipient – If the issue involves the recipient’s availability or address, reach out to verify details.
- Call carrier support if needed – Get help from the shipping company’s customer support team to resolve exception reasons you’re unsure about.
- Schedule redelivery – See if the option exists to conveniently redeliver once the exception is addressed.
- Redirect shipment if possible – For issues involving recipient address errors or availability, see if the carrier can redirect the package.
- Intercept the return – If the package gets sent back, you may be able to intercept and specify a new delivery address.
- Refund shipping charges – Request refunds on shipping costs if exceptions result in lost packages or failed delivery.
By quickly responding to delivery exceptions and reaching out for help when needed, you can often get the issues resolved before packages get returned or go missing.
Why Local Post Office Delivery is Prone to Exceptions
Local postal carriers typically deliver mail and packages directly to recipient addresses along their assigned routes. Because they personally handle the last mile of delivery, local post offices tend to experience more exceptions than long-distance freight and parcel shipping. Some reasons local post office delivery is prone to exceptions:
- Detailed address knowledge – Local carriers are more reliant on knowing all details of their delivery area and individual addresses.
- Personnel issues – With a smaller team handling all local routes, any personal emergencies or absences can severely impact delivery.
- Route familiarity – Substitute or temporary carriers may not be as familiar with local routes and addresses.
- Time constraints – Local routes typically have to be completed each day, leading to exceptions if carriers fall behind schedule.
- Daily volume fluctuations – Local delivery volume changes day-to-day, potentially slowing carriers from completing routes.
- Environment factors – Local carriers are more impacted by issues like severe weather that make traveling their routes difficult.
- Recipient availability – Attempting delivery to individual homes and businesses has a higher chance of recipients being unavailable compared to commercial shipping depots.
Because local postal carriers handle the final leg of delivery involving many detailed variables, there is simply more potential for exceptions to disrupt the delivery process. But there are also more opportunities to communicate directly with your local post office to resolve issues quickly.
How Do Processing Exceptions Differ From Delivery?
A processing exception is related to, but distinct from, delivery exceptions. Processing exceptions occur while or before the carrier has possession of the package at their facility. Some examples include:
- Origin facility delays
- Improper package sealing or labeling
- Customs clearance failure
- Shipment weight discrepancies
- No scans or tracking updates
Processing exceptions means there was an issue preparing the package to enter the delivery network or route. It has not yet reached the local handling phase.
Delivery exceptions indicate a problem occurred during actual delivery once the package is being handled by the last-mile carrier. Defects in the initial processing can lead to eventual delivery failure. But a package can also process successfully then develop issues during final delivery.
Processing exceptions tend to cause greater delays and uncertainty since the package may be stuck at a hub facility that is likely distant from both the sender and recipient. Delivery exceptions have the advantage that once identified, the sender and recipient can collaborate with local teams to resolve the problem.
Key Takeaways
- Delivery exceptions occur when carriers cannot complete scheduled deliveries, usually due to incorrect addresses, unavailable recipients, or route issues.
- Exceptions can lead to delayed packages, failed delivery attempts, returned shipments, and other headaches.
- Careful address verification, proper labeling, delivery instructions and real-time tracking can help minimize exceptions.
- When exceptions do happen, communicate with the recipient, check tracking logs, and contact carrier support to resolve problems ASAP.
- Local post office delivery is more prone to exceptions than long-distance shipping due to personnel, address familiarity, and environmental factors.
- Exceptions during initial packaging and processing can also prevent successful delivery but are harder to resolve locally.
By understanding delivery and processing exceptions, staying proactive, and responding quickly if issues occur, you can master shipping and postal services to maximize successful on-time deliveries.
