Apple's delivery process with UPS is BROKEN if you're trying to get them to hold for pick up.
Apple says if you won't be there to sign for your iPhone (or other item), you can redirect your delivery to a pickup point so you can go get it, like at a UPS Store, for example.
When you try to do that with UPS, UPS will then tell you that the sender (Apple) doesn't allow packages to be sent to an access point location (i.e. a UPS Store).
That's the TLDR.
Below is more detail.
--------------------
So, did Apple forget they told UPS not to allow packages to be held? Even though they tell you that's something you can do?
Seems like it, because both Apple and UPS state multiple times in multiple places that requesting something be held for you to pick up is a straightforward, convenient thing. Except UPS will say, nope, Apple said we can't do that.
So after trying many things, including calling UPS with the delivery failed notification, the solution is you have to call Apple, and they do a special request for you where they personally tell UPS, hey, forget what we said about that, hold that guy's package so he can go get it after all. And that introduces a few days delay.
Not a huge deal, but, it's been like that for TEN YEARS.
I looked back at my emails and had the same struggle ten years ago. And a couple times in between.
You'd think Apple, which does a great job making things work well generally, would make their delivery process also work well.
Anyone else have this problem?
I have a new Apple Watch on the way in a few days, I'll take suggestions.
Signing for it at my home doesn't work with my work schedule. Days I have off I'm generally not sitting here waiting for a delivery. I would, if I knew what time it'd arrive, but even though I have UPS MyChoice they just said it could be there anytime that day before 7 pm. So basically, sometime that day.
It'd be great, if I could tell Apple, when I place the order, please have the carrier hold this for me because I know I'll never be there to sign for it. That, however, is impossible because it breaks the laws of physics.