Anyone else here think shipping parts to an apartment # isn't such a great idea? I'll only use UPS to send this particular item, and I'm very hesitant to ship to an apt. I'm concerned that UPS will just drop it outside the door if no one answers. That means no signature and opens up the possibility of a dishonest buyer claiming no delivery and asking Paypal for his money back. The buyer is about 30 yrs old, and I've asked for an alternative ship address where someone can sign for delivery, like a work address, but no reply yet. Guess I can pay the extra fee for 'signature required' service to make sure it isn't just dropped at the door... but that's no guarantee either.

I lived in an apartment for years. It's difficult to take deliveries, so I would always have it sent to my work. You're right, it will either get dropped in the hallway, or given to a neighbor. Usually the person will get the delivery, though. Is there a reason why you are suspicious something bad will happen?

Nothing specific. But the buyer is a very new member of the forum where the item sold, so there's little history to look up on the guy. I'm cautious as I've heard a number of horror stories of buyers claiming non delivery and requesting Paypal to refund their money, then the seller has to go thru the claims process with the shipper, which I know from personal experience is a big PITA.

I've asked if he can provide an alternative like a work address. If he can't, guess I'll have no choice.

You can tell the buyer that he must pay insurance and delivery confirmation (USPS) if shipping to the apartment. That should give you some leverage if he says it wasn't received. Tell him it's your policy from past experience. The Paypal process is inconvenient, but you would win if you had the confirmation.

Unless he refuses to pay for insurance/confirmation, I would not require a signature to the apartment because it really makes it inconvenient for the buyer. If he works and can't be home, he must go to the UPS hub and pick up in person. But if he insists...

Insurance is included in the sale price, I never ship w/o insuring unless the value is pretty low. Strangely, this is the first time I can ever recall a buyer giving me an apt # to ship to.

If he can't have me ship where someone can sign for it, not sure what I'll do. Took me 4 months to get a UPS refund last winter when they left a fuel pump by the buyer's garage side door, and he claimed it wasn't there...

And the box will be too large to stuff into an apt mailbox.

don't know about how its in usa but in Estonia and Finland if someone hase not been home then they leave a paper in your post box where they ask you to go to the local post office to pick up the item,

Here, the postal carrier is just as likely to leave it outside your front door... And I've had UPS and Fedex drivers ring the doorbell, drop the box and run. They are back at their truck with 5 sec of ringing the bell. Don't recall the last time I actually SIGNED for a delivery while I was home.

This buyer says his wife is the apt mgr and is always around for UPS deliveries, so there shouldn't be a problem.