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You ship a package that needs a signature by choosing a signature option when you buy the label, telling the recipient a signature is required, and making sure someone will be there to sign. A signature turns delivery into proof: the carrier records who signed and when, which settles most disputes about whether a parcel arrived.
Carriers offer several levels, and they differ in who may sign and how strict the check is. A basic signature option accepts a signature from anyone at the address, including a household member or a coworker. A stricter option, sometimes called direct signature, requires the named recipient or someone at the same address, and the driver will not leave the parcel with a neighbour. The strictest options add an age check, which applies to alcohol, tobacco, and other age-restricted goods: the signer must show ID proving they are of legal age, and the driver records it.
There is also a middle path many shippers miss: delivery to a pickup point or post office counter, where the recipient signs in person with ID. That option costs less than a redelivery cycle and suits recipients who are rarely home during delivery hours.
| Option | Who can sign | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Signature on delivery | Anyone at the address | Everyday valuable parcels |
| Direct signature | Recipient or household member, no neighbours | Items you do not want left nearby |
| Adult signature with ID check | Adult of legal age, ID shown | Age-restricted goods |
| Hold for pickup | Recipient at the counter, with ID | Recipients who are out during the day |
Choose the option when you buy the label or book the shipment, not after: most carriers cannot add a signature requirement to a parcel already in transit. The option appears as a checkbox or add-on during checkout at a post office counter, a carrier site, or a shipping platform. Confirm it shows on the label or the receipt before you drop the parcel off, since a missing option on the label means the driver will deliver it like any other parcel.
If you ship through a marketplace or platform, check whether the platform adds signature coverage automatically above a certain value: some do, and paying twice for the same option is a waste. Either way, keep the receipt showing the option was purchased, since that receipt is what backs a claim if the parcel is delivered without a signature.
The driver leaves a delivery notice, usually a card on the door or a message in the tracking record, and takes the parcel back. What happens next depends on the carrier: some attempt delivery again the next business day, some hold the parcel at a depot or post office for pickup, and some let the recipient reschedule online. Tell the recipient to watch for the notice and act fast, since unclaimed parcels are returned to the sender after a holding period, and a return trip can take as long as the original delivery.
One detail worth passing on: the recipient should bring ID and the tracking number to a pickup, and should inspect the box before signing. A signature given for a visibly crushed box, without noting the damage, weakens any later claim. If the box looks damaged, the recipient should note it on the delivery record or open the box at the counter.
A signature is worth it whenever the parcel's value, or the argument over its delivery, would cost more than the option itself. That covers most sales of electronics, jewellery, collectibles, and anything shipped to a buyer who could later claim non-delivery. It is also worth it for legal or official documents sent as parcels, where proof of receipt matters, and for parcels going to apartment buildings with shared lobbies, where parcels left unattended disappear.
For low-value, easily replaced items going to a safe address, a signature adds delay and hassle without much benefit, since a missed delivery means a second trip for everyone. Match the option to the risk, not to a habit.
A note on LetterAgent: shipping labels are Canada-only Canada Post Xpresspost, flat-rate, for parcels up to 5 kg, quoted up front. You describe the parcel to your AI assistant, approve the exact price, pay once, and receive a label PDF. If your parcel needs a signature option, confirm that option is available on that label type before you rely on it, since signature services vary by label and carrier.
Ready to ship it? Get a shipping label with LetterAgent: describe it to your AI assistant, approve the exact quoted price, and get your label.
LetterAgent is a working name. Prices include print, postage, and our service fee. US prices in USD, Canadian prices in CAD (Canadian prices exclude applicable sales tax, added at checkout). Currently in private testing.
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