You would be shocked at how common this is, what I find appalling is that the USPS doesn't have a process in place for this, Canada Post does, there is a rubber stamp applied, that has a check box for missing apartment number. Items that have tracking numbers, should be scanned at all points during the process and there would be a code for an improperly addressed item. It really comes down to this, it's not between the customer and the shipper, it's between the shipper and the carrier. If the shipper is sending items that do not have tracking numbers, then they should simply reship the item as lost. If it does have a tracking number, then they should get the carrier to check that tracking number to see when and where the item was last scanned and what the status is on it. If somebody signed for it, other then the intended receiver, then there should be a name for the person who signed. Probably 2% of items going to apartments are missing the apartment number. If the carrier has time, they might check the register for the same name, fine if it a name like Tchaikovsky where the chances that there are more then one apartment with that name is fairly low. If it's a name like Singh where there can be 25 of them in the same building then it should be returned by the carrier to his depot for resolution or return. If this isn't USPS policy then there should be a senate inquiry.