in the us. The mail is usually delivered during traditional working hours so most of the time no one will be home when mail is delivered. It makes having to sign for packages a huge pain.
If no one is home and no signature is required then they will generally leave it on your front porch or on top of your mailbox if you have a community mail box (like you have in apartment complexes).
If a signature is required then they make a limited number of attempts then will return the package to the sender.
...they don't just bring it to the nearest storefront location and leave you a pickup notice?!
Sorry for the OT post, genuinely curious here. I regularly miss deliveries, but I always can pick up the package at my leisure afterwards. Canada Post, UPS, Purolator, FedEx...
if they require a signature you can either sign the notice for them to leave it or you can pick it up. But if a signature is not required then they often will not even attempt to make prrsonal contact (they sometimes may knock on your door but immidiatly leave so you can see the package when you answer)