Waiting on a highly-anticipated package can make days feel like weeks, and picking up the box yourself may seem better than waiting on your courier.
So, you’re probably wondering, can you pick up a UPS package before it’s delivered to you, and what do you need to know if you want to try? Here’s everything I found out!
Can You Pick Up A Package From UPS In 2024?
You can pick up a package from UPS before it’s delivered as of 2024. You cannot pick up UPS packages from warehouses, but you can use features like UPS My Choice and UPS Delivery Intercept to reroute your package to a facility. When picking up a UPS package early, bring a valid photo ID.
If you’re hoping to pick up your next UPS package early or just want to better understand what features are available to help you reroute your package, keep reading!
Can You Pick Up A Package From A UPS Warehouse?
While there are certainly some circumstances in which you can pick up a UPS package early, you cannot pick up UPS packages from a warehouse.
There are several reasons for this, but the biggest is that warehouses are not equipped to hand out packages to anyone who requests it.
With that, when a UPS package arrives at a warehouse, it’s scanned as it is unloaded from the truck it arrived on and is then sorted into a trailer or bin.
Typically, these trailers hold thousands of packages.
So, while there is a methodology for sorting these packages, it’d be nearly impossible to go through hundreds of packages to find a specific one any time someone wanted their package early.
Rather, UPS warehouses are intended to be a stopping point for packages to transition onto trucks, not for them to be distributed to individuals.
However, some UPS warehouse locations do have Customer Centers located on-site, and these centers are equipped to deal with individuals (see below).
Can I Pick Up A Package From A UPS Customer Center?
UPS Customer Centers are UPS-owned and staffed shipping locations equipped to assist you with any UPS international, air, or ground package shipment.
That said, these centers are typically located on-site at UPS warehouse locations or in metropolitan areas.
Also, it’s important to note that UPS Customer Centers and the UPS Store are entirely different services, although you can pick up UPS packages early from both locations.
For example, UPS Customer Centers are an entirely UPS-owned business.
In comparison, the UPS Store is an indirect subsidiary of UPS whose locations are franchises, not chains, which means they’re individually owned and operated.
To find a UPS Customer Center near you, first visit the locations page of the UPS website, which you can find here.
After selecting the state and city you are in, you’ll see several differently titled locations such as “UPS Access Point” and “UPS Store.”
Despite this, only look for places titled “UPS Customer Center.”
Finally, once you’ve found the Customer Center location you’d like to visit to pick up your package, you just need to make arrangements to pick up your package early.
How To Pick Up A UPS Package Early
While picking up a package early from UPS may seem like you’re doing everyone involved a favor, it can be a bit of a sticky process, so read these instructions carefully!
First off, you have two ways to organize an early pick-up for your UPS package. That said, you can either use UPS’ Delivery Intercept service or a UPS My Choice account.
To use either of these options, you need to have a UPS My Choice account, which you can make for free by visiting the UPS My Choice page of the UPS website.
After you’ve signed up for or logged in to your UPS My Choice account, you can change any upcoming package’s delivery date or location.
But, these changes must be made at least 24 hours before the listed delivery date.
Suppose you need or want to change the delivery location/date within 24 hours of your package’s delivery date up until it’s delivered.
In that case, you’ll need to use UPS’ Delivery Intercept service.
With that, when changing your package’s delivery location using UPS My Choice, you can choose from several locations such as nearby UPS Stores, UPS Access Points, and UPS Customer Centers.
Also, UPS Delivery Intercept allows you to choose the above options.
Still, it comes with the bonus of selecting an entirely new delivery address that does not necessarily need to be a UPS location.
To read more about UPS Delivery Intercept, you can visit this page of the UPS website.
Finally, after selecting your desired location through UPS My Choice or UPS Delivery Intercept, the UPS tracking feature will update and tell you when your package has been delivered to the selected location.
Then, once you know for sure your package has been delivered, you can go and pick it up!
What Do You Need To Pick Up A Package From UPS?
If you are having your package rerouted to a UPS Access Point, UPS Customer Center, or the UPS Store, there are a few things to consider.
First, the most important thing to remember is that all of these locations have different hours, so be sure to check the location’s website and the hours of operation.
Once you’re sure your location is open, the only thing you need to bring with you is some documentation proving you’re the rightful owner of the package.
Typically, this is a valid photo ID that allows the employee to match your name and face to the recipient’s name on the package’s label.
But, sometimes, you’ll also need to provide a package release code. Still, UPS will notify you via shipping/tracking info if you need a code to pick up your package.
That said, shipper release codes are typically four to six-digit numerical codes and will be given to you by the sender of the package, not UPS.
To learn more, you can also read our posts on whether or not UPS updates tracking, if UPS reuse tracking numbers, and if UPS delivers at night.
Conclusion
Fortunately, you can pick up a UPS package early before it’s delivered to you, but only in certain circumstances.
That said, you must inform UPS that you plan to pick up your package early within 24 hours of the delivery.
Moreover, UPS packages can be picked up at Access Points, Customer Centers, or the UPS Store but cannot be picked up from warehouses.
When picking up your UPS package, be sure you have a valid photo ID and the four to six-digit shipper-provided package release code if UPS notifies you that one is necessary.
