Thanks for going the extra mile in calling and updating.An update for those who want to request UPS to hold your package: I called Apple per UPS's suggestion that Apple are the ones who placed restrictions on orders from Apple which started sometime a few weeks/months ago this year.
We should take this as a grain of salt but the Apple representative informed that there was an increase of activity that they could not control and that they indeed placed restrictions due to thefts from internally at UPS with requesting holds at hubs and external folks taking advantage of the UPS Hold my package location.
However, per the Apple Customer Service rep, Apple CS will have the ability to remove restrictions if requested by the customer only when the order status at Apple reflects as "on route" to customer with a tracking no. Only Apple can make this request on behalf of the customer.
Looping the community in as I know many folxs pick-up at UPS hubs. Let's hope this is the case. I'll keep everyone updated.
I'm going to wait till it clears customs and try UPS CS and see what they say at that point.