UPS Update
UPS is updating how it handles adult beverage shipments after the first missed delivery attempt. WineDirect Fulfillment clients will experience no immediate changes, this new policy will go into effect June 1, 2026 so that you have time to prepare your team and set expectations with your customers.What is Changing
Beginning June 1, 2026, if a customer misses the first delivery attempt, UPS will automatically redirect the package to a nearby UPS Access Point rather than attempting delivery the following day. The shipment will be held at the Access point for up to 7 days at no charge. If the customer does not pick it up within that timeframe, the package will be returned. This adjustment helps reduce the amount of time wine spends out with the carrier, protecting your wine from extreme temperatures and minimizing handling. It also offers customers greater flexibility to retrieve packages on their own schedule.Shipping Notifications ‘Out For Delivery’
Leverage our enhanced shipping notifications and added ‘Out For Delivery’ notification to clearly communicate with your recipients and ensure delivery success. Click Here for instructions on how to set this up.What To Expect
- After the first missed delivery attempt, UPS will leave an InfoNotice with the Access Point name and address.
- Tracking will update in real time and customers subscribed to UPS notifications will receive alerts.
- A valid 21+ ID matching the shipping label address is required for pickup.
- There is no fee for retrieving a package at an Access Point.
- Access Points are typically 0 to 15 minutes away from the delivery address. You can expect a distance of a few miles in urban destinations and no more than 10 miles in rural areas.
- If no Access Point is available within 10 miles, UPS will continue with standard delivery attempts and return the package after the third delivery attempt.
- Recipients may continue using UPS My Choice if they prefer alternative delivery options.
- As the winery, you can also continue using our integrated UPS portal tools to reroute, reschedule, or recall a shipment while it is still in transit.