Amazon has spent the better part of thirty years streamlining the process of package delivery. Accordingly, safety and confidence has become a very important subject for them. Nobody wants to order a package if it isn’t actually going to reach its destination.
One of the most fundamental points of safe package delivery is signature confirmation. Delivery companies have been requiring signatures on certain packages since time immemorial, but it can sometimes be unclear whether or not something you’ve ordered will require a signature or not.
Keep reading to see an explanation of when Amazon orders require signature confirmation, as well as details on how to know whether or not your Amazon delivery will require a signature.
Does Amazon Require Signature?
Most Amazon deliveries don’t require signature, unless the order in question is over $500. Some couriers like Fedex and UPS can have their own rules for which packages do and don’t require signature, but typically most don’t.
If you want to learn more about Amazon and their delivery expectations, keep reading…
Does Amazon Require Signature for Expensive Items?
Most delivery companies offer signature confirmation on packages as an option. Many types of packages will also automatically require a signature depending on the company delivering the package, the country in which you live, and the type of item being delivered. A cursory Google search reveals that Amazon doesn’t have a clear policy declaration on when and where they require signatures for their deliveries.
According to Ask Amazon, orders over $500 will require a signature in the US. This applies to items delivered by Amazon Logistics, so if you order items directly from Amazon, be prepared to sign for more expensive orders.
For orders from Amazon third-party sellers, the company that handles your delivery may vary. This means that they will generally have different policies about when and where a signature is required for delivery. The common carriers used to fulfill Amazon orders in the US are:
UPS, for example, offers signature confirmation as a value-added service, as well as for orders over a certain dollar amount. Most of these companies will let you know in your shipping confirmation email whether or not your delivery will require a signature. If you want to know the specific policies for each company, you will have to contact their respective customer services.
What Kind of Deliveries Require a Signature?
Most typical deliveries from Amazon Logistics and other common carriers will not require a signature. However, most couriers require a signature for orders valued over a certain dollar amount. For Amazon Logistics, this is $500 in the US. The policy may differ based on the country in which you live.
In addition to orders over a certain dollar amount, most delivery services require signatures on certain types of orders. This includes but is not limited to:
- Orders including Alcohol
- Orders including firearms-related items
- Orders including pharmaceuticals
These types of orders will not only require a signature, but the signatory must prove that they are at least 21 years of age using government issued photo ID in most cases. If you live outside the US, these laws may vary.
Read Next: How to Find Out Who Sent You an Amazon Package
How Do I Know if My Package Requires a Signature?
Different couriers require different types of signatures for different reasons. Generally, signatures will be required if the items in the order are particularly valuable, or if they cannot legally be given to somebody under 21 years of age.
However, if you want to know whether or not your package will require a signature, you can usually check the shipping confirmation email that was sent to you. Shipping confirmation emails will typically include a lot of important information, such as your tracking number. They will also usually let you know if a signature will be required for delivery of the package.
Different types of required signatures include:
- Indirect signatures. These are signatures from basically anybody who is around to receive the package. The signatory does not need to provide identification, and the name does not need to match the one on the package.
- Adult signatures. These are signatures from an adult at the point of delivery. This will be required for certain items, such as alcohol or firearms. Signatories will need to provide proof-of-age when signing for the package, so it’s important to have a valid ID on hand.
- Direct signatures. This is when somebody who lives at the delivery address must sign for the package. Deliveries requiring a direct signature are made to the address on the label, rather than to an individual. If there is nobody to receive the package, delivery may be re-attempted.
Want to learn more about Amazon? Check out these articles to learn if you can use Google Pay on Amazon, what to do if your Amazon order says delivered but you haven’t received it, and can you return opened items to Amazon?
Conclusion…
Safety is one of the foremost concerns for any courier service. Amazon Logistics is well known for their expedient and efficacious services, but their policy on signature confirmation can be a bit unclear at times.
A good rule of thumb is to be prepared to sign for your package, especially if your order is particularly valuable or includes items restricted to adult recipients. Information on signature confirmation will also generally be included in your shipping confirmation email.
If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to ask away in the comments section.