PHILADELPHIA — More than 10 packages have been stolen off Katie Byrne's stoop in the Fishtown neighborhood over the past three years.

And in every instance, she said, the items were delivered by the same carrier: FedEx.

Byrne has even taped a laminated sign to her front door. It has a large arrow pointing to the left, directing delivery workers to toss packages over the fence into her breezeway, so the boxes are out of sight of potential thieves. But FedEx workers seem to ignore it, she said.

"Every other carrier does that," Byrne said. But when FedEx leaves something in plain sight, often "it's stolen before I even get the notification it got delivered."

In the holiday season, she has some gifts shipped to her parents' home in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Otherwise she tries to be home when a package is scheduled to arrive, but she recently returned to working at her Center City office four days a week, so that isn't always possible.

That leaves one less-than-ideal option, she said: "Cross my fingers that it's not FedEx."

Of course, "the porch pirates are really the issue," she added, "but I think FedEx could do better."

Byrne is one of dozens of Philadelphia-area residents who have taken to social media in the past two months to complain about issues with FedEx. Consumers said FedEx drivers have repeatedly ignored their delivery instructions, leaving packages in plain sight in populated areas of the city or dropping them in exposed locations at the bottom of long driveways on busy suburban roadways. Others report issues with orders being delivered to the wrong address.

Concerned consumers said these problems become more pressing this time of year, when incidents of so-called porch piracy rise and the replacement for a stolen or lost gift may not arrive in time for the holidays.

A FedEx spokesperson said the company works hard to ensure packages arrive safely.

"We take customer concerns very seriously and take appropriate steps to address their issues when they arise," spokesperson Adam Snyder said in a statement. "We also take package thefts very seriously and work closely with law enforcement to investigate and deter such activities."

The company declined to answer questions about the specific complaints of several Philadelphia-area consumers.

FedEx has "rigorous safety and security programs," with a focus on package security and the personal safety of workers, Snyder said, and workers are reminded to remain vigilant and report unusual activity.

Experts with law enforcement and the major delivery services encourage consumers to take steps to deter porch pirates. But some of the recommendations, such as redirecting packages, can be inconvenient. Others, such as providing specific delivery instructions, require that the carrier and its workers pay attention to the notes on a customer's account.

'Super casual' package thieves, caught on camera in Northern Liberties

Matt Dunphy, 45, of Northern Liberties, said his experiences with FedEx have gotten better since 2022. He still has issues with package theft, he said, but more so with smaller carriers.

"If a package is left outside my door, it can disappear in 15 seconds," said Dunphy, 45, who works in e-commerce. He often watches the theft on his doorbell camera. "People are just super casual about stealing boxes."

FedEx drivers, however, now regularly use his buildings' door code to leave boxes inside, and he and his wife have noticed more accuracy in the company's delivery notifications, which helps them track packages and avoid theft.

Even back when he was calling FedEx regularly about incorrect notifications and other issues, Dunphy noted, he always made clear that he was not mad at the drivers, who are independent contractors.

FedEx package mix-up causes holiday headaches in Fairmount

Pre-pandemic, "I used FedEx all the time," especially for work as a Center City paralegal, said Robin Slick, a 70-year-old retiree. Since then, she said, "everything has just gone to the hell."

Slick laughed Friday as she stared at a 6-foot-tall box in the tiny living room of her Fairmount rowhouse. It was the latest sign of her struggles with FedEx.

The massive package arrived with a thud on the doorstep late one night last week. At the same time, FedEx sent Slick an email alerting her that the bird feeder that she had ordered her husband for Christmas and Hanukkah had been delivered.

Upon hauling the heavy box inside, the couple saw that it was actually meant to be delivered to someone named Sam eight blocks away.

After reporting their missing package to FedEx and getting no response, Slick suggested to her husband, Gary, that they do a good deed and drop the package off to its intended recipient. So Gary Slick, 71, lugged the box into his car and dropped it off at the listed address.

But later, it somehow was back on the Slicks' doorstep, with a note from a different neighbor named Sam, who was proud to report he was returning the Slicks' "missing package."

Robin Slick finally opened the box, wondering if maybe her grown children had sent her a big and heavy surprise. Inside, she found an expensive-looking, wooden garden bed, which she soon confirmed was not from her children.

Slick remains flummoxed, yet hopeful that someone will read about this incident and claim the itinerant garden bed. She'd return it to a FedEx store, she said, but she doesn't want to deal with the last-minute holiday rush.

She wishes she could stop using FedEx. But as a consumer, "there is really nothing you can do" but use a company's selected carrier, Slick said. "When you order something, you have no real choice."

Porch pirates hit the suburbs, too

Suburbanites also struggle with inconsistent service.

Since November, consumers have posted in neighborhood Facebook groups about issues with FedEx deliveries in Brookhaven, Cheltenham, Conshohocken, Croydon, Lower Merion, Levittown, Media, Newtown Square, West Chester, Quakertown, and even down the Shore in Sea Isle City.

In Newtown Square, Katy Retzbach, 37, said FedEx drivers ignore her delivery instructions to leave packages by the garage. She often finds packages in the woods in front of her home or by her mailbox at the bottom of the driveway, which is near a stoplight on a busy road.

Earlier this month, three packages of Christmas gifts worth about $150 were stolen from under the mailbox in broad daylight, she said. Every time she calls FedEx to complain, representatives assure her that there is a note on her account, alerting drivers to leave packages by only the garage.

Then, it happens again.

"It all depends on the driver," Retzbach said. During non-holiday times, she's noticed less of an issue. "Right now, it's absolutely horrendous."

On the bright side, Retzbach said Friday, for this holiday season "I think I'm officially done expecting packages."

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