Super Accepting Packages in Non-DM Buildings

I've had that situation and it worked out great ... all carriers know to try his apartment. Just my own name on the package. Perhaps super's wife is home when he's not.

But of course this will vary wildly by building, super, and carrier delivery times for the particular building. Your best bet is to ask a few residents of the building you're considering. Also, keep in mind that it will be a courtesy arrangement, you can't hold super liable if anything goes wrong, and he can cut you off he wants to.

It works until it doesn't.
I had a great great super in my last building. Best super my wife or I have had in NY.
He accepted packages.

But if super/wife weren't around when UPS guy came..
He just rang random buzzers until someone let him in, he would just pike up boxes outside supers door.

One day, I came home to an open box (someone stole the contents, and left me the UPS box, which was actually nice since it made the dispute claim against UPS easier)

After that I had all packages mailed to work... until I moved to a doorman building a couple years later.

"It works until it doesn't."

That about sums it up.

Our super readily accepts packages ... when he's able to answer his door. But the thing is, he's rarely in his apartment during the day to answer his buzzer, because he's in and around the building working. Mostly in the basement, laundry room, or the back courtyard, cleaning. Or in his workshop.

*****

"After that I had all packages mailed to work"

As long as it's a small package. What do you do for big, bulky, and/or heavy deliveries?

I know the approx. times that USPS, Fedex & UPS come by my block. Luckily, the trucks kinda hang out in the vicinity, so I usually get it when I pass them.

"As long as it's a small package. What do you do for big, bulky, and/or heavy deliveries?"
Didn't order any.

Well except for once... box was heavier/bigger than I realized.
Too big to carry on subway.
I calculated that the contents cost less than the taxi ride to take it home.
Made a great footstool though.
After I resigned someone inherited a free kitchen appliance. :-)

The super in our old non-doorman building didn't accept or sign for packages. UPS and USPS would just pile them up in the lobby. There was enough foot traffic that packages would disappear somewhat regularly. Best bet is to make an arrangement with a neighbor who tends to be home regularly to have them accept packages for you.

This was definitely a concern for us when we moved from doorman into non-doorman. We get a lot of packages. However, we have not had a single problem with package delivery in our building. Both the super and a porter/ handyman live in the building and I get the sense that the FedEx/ UPS drivers come around the same time each day so that the building staff knows when they have to be around to accept the packages.

We looked at a great apartment in a non-doorman building whose super accepted packages. But as others have pointed out, when is the super actually in his apartment and 'buzzable'? We get lots of deliveries--packages in the mail, booze and food, dry-cleaning, etc--so for us, it really was a deal breaker.

Freebird - as alanhart said, it will vary depending on the super. did you just move in? If so, did you give a nice thank you tip to the super? if not, do so, wait a week, then have this conversation. if you are kind to your super and he can accept packages for you, he most likely will.

we're in a non-DM building and 95% of my packages make it to my door on first attempt, even when i'm not home. between the super, porter, and other residents letting the carriers into the building, it all works out.

I'm pretty sure all the carriers had my super's mobile number, so he didn't need to be buzzable (as such). Plus SAHM wife, of course.

from what i can tel, the UPS carrier ALWAYS makes it into the building. FedEx barely tries.

and sorry, didn't read your entire post. so, ask other residents or the super directly. then, tip him well if/when you move in.