I think this really all depends on the carrier.  I have shipped food
several times directly to a shelter across D/FW from me, and FedEx
*ALWAYS*, without exception, screws up the delivery.  When the intended
recipient called the local FedEx office with the tracking number I supplied
her they have told her everything from "it was signed for at X time" (a
time she was still at work, and she lives alone) to "we have it, come get
it" (then can't find it when she walks in a couple of hours later), to
"what package, where?"  It can take 2-3 extra weeks to get something
delivered there by FedEx.  UPS, on the other hand, delivers to her without
a hitch.  At my home, the UPS delivery person has done things like leave
boxes of printed material which were split completely open outside in the
rain (it was raining at the time of delivery, I was home, no doorbell
ring), put a package on the porch next door without even *attempting*
delivery at my house (saw them from the window), etc.  I receive my FedEx
delivered FerretStore stuff without a hitch so far.  It's all the local
office management and the individual delivery person.
 
Debra in Fort Worth
[Posted in FML issue 3508]