Are Americans too lazy to go to the post office?  Do you really need to ask that? In Germany the delivery person will leave the package with a neighbour who signs for it. Then the postal worker leaves a card (similar to the one in Canada telling you to pick up the package at [place] by [date]) so you know which neighbour to go to. Only problem is I'm on the main floor so I always get asked to take in packages, which often end up sitting around in my main hall area for a while. Also, my neighbours tend to buzz in the morning when I'm sleeping, since I usually work nights.