Is This Normal Practise for USPS?

[fatiguedfrenchfindstimeworntreasures]

Hi, just wondering if anyone can help clarify something for me.  I shipped an item from France to the USA.  It was delivered and signed for.  The customer contacted me and said it was not her that had signed for it and where was it.  I sent through the proof of delivery and signature to her.  She came back saying she was not even in her house then.  I think she meant moved in, but that was the address she had given me on Paypal.  I encouraged her to start a claim and inform the police but she said that her post office claimed that it was not a USPS delivery - anyway it was and I had the documents to prove it.  She eventually came back a few days later and said that it was USPS and that her Post Lady had signed for it and was at the Post Office where she had gone to ask about it.  It all sounds very bizarre and I didn't realise or think that postal workers could sign for packages?  Is it normal for USPS?

[frodobagginskennedy]

Yes during this pandamic the actual recipient of the package is NOT allowed to sign.  The mail person signs for it and is supposed to put her ID route number on the signature as welll.

[otow_18]

This is the new practice. @lja440 is a mail carrier. It's a good example of why we should actually do social distancing, instead of just practising over and over, to try and get it right, eventually.

[lja440]

Yes at this time we are signing for the customer as we can't allow anyone to handle our scanners.  But as you discribed it that isn't the right way to do it.

What we are to do.  

Knock on the dorr in an area most would not touch, avoiding handles and doorbells. Ask the customer if they want to accept the package. Then WE sign for it using our initial's , our route number and C19 (LA R4 C19). 

If the customer is not home then we leave a 3849 with a indication to sign the back. We will pick this up and scan the signature and deliver the item the following day.

I do have some customers that have requested that I just go ahead and sign for them. Like people with some mobility issues, farmers that maybe anywhere on the property and the like.

[fatiguedfrenchfindstimeworntreasures]

Thanks for your reply.  We were not allowed to sign over here either but a notification would be left if we were not at home.  A postman/woman would not sign and take the parcel away again.  That to me is the weird bit, no notification and take it away again?