Front Porch Security Options

[PILOON]

Very snowy here today and I sure hope they don't 'deliver' any packages as for sure the city plow will bury them as he speeds by.

A neighbor uses temperature sensitive medications that went astray last summer.
He eventually found them but delivered 4/5 houses away from his address.

 

[ovrszd]

FEDEX was supposed to deliver a package to my brother. They delivered it three blocks away on a different street. They claimed that the package was signed for. When he got the notice of delivery he checked and found nothing. They sent him a picture and he was able to recognize the location.

When he went to the location - a commercial business office, they had his package on their counter. He asked who signed for it, and they said "nobody". It was just left by FEDEX on their counter while nobody was at the counter.

FEDEX driver just made up a name and signed for the package he delivered to the incorrect address.

This is not unusual for FEDEX.

Yep, happens here too. We've had more bad FEDEX drivers than good. And they change 3 or 4 times a year. We've had the same UPS driver for at least 10 years. I attribute this to FEDEX being contract drivers, UPS being employees.

 

[N80]

Put in the report on missing items with FedEx on Saturday via their "automated assistant". I have a case number but not a single other form of communication from them. No estimate on time frame. No info on what happens next. No info anywhere on their site about how to contact them any other way.

We have snow and ice on the ground here too but it is melting fast. A lot more north of us. Not sure how this will affect deliveries.

 

[JDZ735M]

The weather conditions won't help but even in the ideal conditions the FEDEX service is subpar.

 

[deserteagle71]

FEDEX was supposed to deliver a package to my brother. They delivered it three blocks away on a different street. They claimed that the package was signed for. When he got the notice of delivery he checked and found nothing. They sent him a picture and he was able to recognize the location.

When he went to the location - a commercial business office, they had his package on their counter. He asked who signed for it, and they said "nobody". It was just left by FEDEX on their counter while nobody was at the counter.

FEDEX driver just made up a name and signed for the package he delivered to the incorrect address.

This is not unusual for FEDEX.

Yup. One of my neighbors delivered one of my packages after FedEx left it at his house.

 

[jyoutz]

I use a big dog for front porch security.

 

[JDZ735M]

Yup. One of my neighbors delivered one of my packages after FedEx left it at his house.

Does it make you wonder what happens if they don't go to a friendly neighbor?

 

[bdhsfz6]

Most FedEx drivers are contractors, not FedEx employees. Very little vetting is done before hiring. A warm body with a drivers license is just about all that is required. It's no surprise that there are so many issues.

News stories like this one are happening more and more frequently:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/12/01/fedex-driver-dumped-packages-ravine-alabama/

A video recording showing no delivery at the time FedEx claims it was made won't stand up in court. FedEx and or their lawyer will simply argue the time stamp on the video was altered or inaccurate. I doubt FedEx will even care you have one.

 

[KennyG]

In our area, we cringe if we find that a package has been sent FedEx. Seems like it's a 50-50 chance of seeing it. All the other delivery services do very well.

 

[JDZ735M]

In our area, we cringe if we find that a package has been sent FedEx. Seems like it's a 50-50 chance of seeing it. All the other delivery services do very well.

That has been our experience.

 

[fishdrivel]

'He's definitely behind schedule': Viral TikTok shows FedEx driver throwing package from moving truck

'He just wanted to make sure it would get there by 6:00.'

www.dailydot.com

 

[Torvy]

There seems to be a wide chasm between FedEx and FedEx Ground around here. Ground has more problems. I think the local delivery issues are just that. Most of our stuff comes via Amazon.

Fair notice, my sister in the PNW worked for them for 30+ years. Just retired in October. Miss having cheap shipping during Christmas seaaon.

 

[ovrszd]

There seems to be a wide chasm between FedEx and FedEx Ground around here. Ground has more problems. I think the local delivery issues are just that. Most of our stuff comes via Amazon.

Fair notice, my sister in the PNW worked for them for 30+ years. Just retired in October. Miss having cheap shipping during Christmas seaaon.

How did she get you cheap shipping?

 

[Torvy]

How did she get you cheap shipping?

We sent her gifts on her employee account. Usually to be picked up at her office.

 

[ovrszd]

We sent her gifts on her employee account. Usually to be picked up at her office.

But how did she get you cheap shipping? Are you saying you only got cheap shipping if you sent her something?

 

[Torvy]

Yes. My sisters are in Salem and Everett. They get together almost every year for Christmas. Usually we would ship stuff for both families in one box. I rarely shipped much else.

 

[dlctcg]

I have two possibly impossible criteria. #1. I do not want it to be web, cell, wifi or internet based. In other words, I'm looking for a closed system. I feel like I give away too much personal info as is. #2. I do not want to pay a monthly service fee of any sort.

So, both of your criteria's are easily achieved... You can easily do this with a simple NVR & PoE camera system. There are many systems out there & many in my opinion are subpar (camera quality & features), but budget dictates the quality of the system. Full disclosure I work in the industry & design & install security, automation & network systems... I personally use a locally networked NVR & cameras at our properties... I do have the NVR setup to send alerts. This is different then many systems (the rings / google / tons of others)... your system is closed & locally stored but the system can send you alerts of captured events so you can login locally to view them.

Much of what has been said is true... Cameras / notifications are after the fact... (i.e. something has already happened) but these events are relevant in your case. If a package is delivered you are notified... then if there is another event (package is taken) you are notified... this sounds like what you are looking for & is easily & reliably accomplished with no monthly charges or being directly tied to the internet. I'm not really comfortable calling out brands / manufacturers as we are dealer for some of them but I would stay away from the Amazon / Google / etc owned products... they are marketing companies not security companies.

 

[jyoutz]

In our area, we cringe if we find that a package has been sent FedEx. Seems like it's a 50-50 chance of seeing it. All the other delivery services do very well.

The same where I live. I’ve had many packages mis-delivered by FedEx, but never by UPS or postal service.

 

[Jlblake]

So, both of your criteria's are easily achieved... You can easily do this with a simple NVR & PoE camera system. There are many systems out there & many in my opinion are subpar (camera quality & features), but budget dictates the quality of the system. Full disclosure I work in the industry & design & install security, automation & network systems... I personally use a locally networked NVR & cameras at our properties... I do have the NVR setup to send alerts. This is different then many systems (the rings / google / tons of others)... your system is closed & locally stored but the system can send you alerts of captured events so you can login locally to view them.

Much of what has been said is true... Cameras / notifications are after the fact... (i.e. something has already happened) but these events are relevant in your case. If a package is delivered you are notified... then if there is another event (package is taken) you are notified... this sounds like what you are looking for & is easily & reliably accomplished with no monthly charges or being directly tied to the internet. I'm not really comfortable calling out brands / manufacturers as we are dealer for some of them but I would stay away from the Amazon / Google / etc owned products... they are marketing companies not security companies.

Do you have any recommendations for someone that could set up a security system in 77865 (Marquez, Texas)? Thank you!

 

[ljjhouser]

I usually get my camera equipment from securitycameraking.com. But they have many learning videos you can view. Look at CCTV Learning center - then downloads - then Video Vault. There is a lot of setup and install information there. Might Help. You would have to decide lower resolution (DVR) or high resolution (NVR - using MP cameras with POE - power over internet) Powered both voltage and video over ethernet cable. I highly recommend POE cameras. Best wishes.