Whether you’re going away for vacation, a business trip, or to deal with a family emergency, the last thing you want to worry about is dealing with your upcoming FedEx delivery.
Luckily, FedEx offers a service called Vacation Hold- but what is this service, and how does it work? If you’d like to find out, Keep reading to learn more about this handy service!
What Is Vacation Hold From FedEx in [currentyear]?
Vacation Hold is a service offered by FedEx that suspends Express and Ground deliveries to a residential address for a specified date range of up to 14 days. FedEx will resume normal delivery on the first business day after the specified end date. This service is free and can be accessed by creating a Delivery Manager account in [currentyear].
I’m sure you want to know more about FedEx’s Vacation Hold service, so you better keep reading for more useful facts!
How Does the FedEx Vacation Hold Work?
When you place a Vacation Hold, FedEx suspends Express and Ground deliveries to your residential address for a date range you specify. This period can last up to 14 days.
Packages are kept at a secure location (usually a FedEx warehouse or hub) until the end of your Vacation Hold.
Finally, FedEx resumes normal delivery on the first business day after your specified end date.
Why Should I Set up a FedEx Vacation Hold?
If you’ve never used FedEx’s Vacation Hold service, you may be wondering what the benefit it is. Well, more than anything, this service offers peace of mind to customers.
If you’re not home to collect a package when it arrives, it may get swiped by porch pirates or be exposed to the elements- either way, you won’t be happy.
However, with Vacation Hold enabled, you can enjoy your trip without worrying about what might happen to your unattended package.
How Do I Set up a FedEx Vacation Hold?
To set up a Vacation Hold, you’ll need to sign up for a FedEx Delivery Manager Account.
You can do so by visiting the FedEx website or by downloading the mobile application to your phone or tablet.
After you’ve set up your account, you’ll see a list of your upcoming package deliveries.
Find the package (or packages) that you want FedEx to hold. Click the Manage Delivery option on the selected packages, then click the Vacation Hold option.
From there, a menu will appear. This menu allows you to select the range of dates during which you want FedEx to hold your packages. Vacation holds can last up to 14 days.
Once you’ve entered your dates, a confirmation message will pop up on the screen. You’ll also get a copy of this confirmation via email.
When the end date of your Vacation Hold arrives, FedEx will deliver your package to your address.
It may be possible to hold your package for more than 14 days. However, you’ll need to contact FedEx customer service directly to arrange an extension.
If your extension is approved, FedEx will likely hold your package at a local FedEx location. Note that you’ll have to come with a photo ID in order to pick up your package.
How Long Does a FedEx Vacation Hold Last?
In most cases, FedEx vacation holds last 14 days from the originally scheduled delivery date.
It may be possible to contact FedEx and have your Vacation Hold extended for up to 14 more days, but that’s something you’ll need to discuss directly with customer service.
Put another way, there’s no way to automatically extend your 14-day Vacation Hold within the FedEx Delivery Manager platform.
Rather, you’ll need to contact FedEx to see if the company will grant you a special extension.
However, if your extension is not approved, consider having your package rerouted to a friend, family member, or neighbor before the initial Vacation Hold ends.
How Much Do FedEx Holds Cost?
FedEx’s Vacation Hold service is free of charge. All you need to do to access this service is to create a Delivery Manager account (also free) on the FedEx website or mobile app.
Can You Pick up Packages From FedEx During a Vacation Hold?
Whether you cut your vacation short or just realized you made a mistake when entering the dates, it’s possible to pick up your FedEx package while it’s being held.
To do so, you’ll need to log into your Delivery Manager account, click on the packages being held, and indicate that you’d like them rerouted to a nearby pickup location.
Afterward, you’ll have the option to choose the pickup location most convenient for you. This could be a FedEx office location or a third-party retailer like Walgreens or Dollar General.
Is the FedEx Vacation Hold Safe?
Naturally, safe is a subjective term, but compared to the alternative (i.e., leaving a package unattended in front of your house for days), Vacation Holds are much safer.
Not only do you not have to worry about having your package stolen or ruined by weather, but you can feel confident that FedEx will keep it safely stored in a secure location until the delivery.
Why Isn’t My FedEx Vacation Hold Working?
FedEx’s Vacation Hold is a great program, but there are times when it doesn’t work.
For example, some packages are not eligible for this service. Rather, only Ground and Express packages can be placed on a Vacation Hold.
Due to their quick turnaround times, Overnight and other time-sensitive packages cannot be held.
Similarly, it’s possible that the shipper you bought from has a restriction on Vacation Holds.
To know more, you can also read our posts on FedEx sick leave policy, FedEx termination policy, and FedEx background check policy.
Conclusion
As part of the preparations for your next trip, make sure to set up a Vacation Hold with FedEx. Not only will this service keep your package safe, but it will also give you peace of mind.
Even better, this service is free to use and easy to set up. So, there’s really no reason not to use it the next time you go away.
