Friend posting things to my parents house

Maybe to make you feel better - a dc's friend went on a year abroad (uni course). She had to vacate the halls and asked if my dc would temporarily store her clothes which her mum would pick up imminently. Of course, we said. 4 huge bin bags. I put them in the conservatory as imminent pickup was promised. 4 months later there were still there (mum was poorly and could not pick them up). Then the cf started pleading poverty and 'she had to sell them on vinted or whatever'. What did I do? I had to package it and take it to InPost or every lockers. Luckily, she did not sell many. But I know how unwittingly people are made a mug, it seemed so innocuous to start with - mum will pick it up this week. Aye.

How big are the parcels? What are the items?

Tell your friend there’s far too much stuff and to arrange a courier to bring them home otherwise, your parents will have to dispose of them.

She has 7 days to sort it out.

As others have said please open them, and if you aren’t sure about customs and they don’t fit in your luggage leave them in England and tell frisk to arrange a courier. Don’t sell yourself short on packing for her parcels. And make a polite but firm message that you agreed to one parcel and it’s now 6. Any future favours will be firmly told no- give an inch and take a mile and all that

Tell her she will need to pay for extra luggage for you to be able to bring them back as she ordered so much and not to order anything again. She has taken the piss big time.

Well telephone her and tell her to stop!

I'm in France and a lot of UK shops don't deliver here because of Brexit ...

@HattenO
If you are flying then I honestly don’t think you will have space. Also I would be concerned about carrying items through. Could you put them all into one box and just get box posted over? Surely it would only cost her £15? I think she is being really cheeky!

With my mother is was the mini boxes of Flakes like you get in a 99 - she was mad for them. Any time any of us were in the U.K. she’d ask for 5 boxes of Flakes to be crowbarred into the suitcase somehow.

@HattenO did you tell her off in the end?? Curious as to her reply…and what she ordered that was so important 🤣

I would tell her enough is enough (as others have advised); let her know you've only got room for the original three items; and as a courtesy, let her know you'll have to open the parcels to check their contents

This is ridiculous. When I go home to Oz I do often order a couple of items
of clothing before I get there as Australian labels are less than half the price they are here.

Even though it’s my mum’s house I limit myself to one or maximum 2 purchases. It can be a hassle receiving and storing parcels, not to mention if nobody is home and you have to trek to the depot. Can’t believe she expects you to lug them all home.

Email to friend-

Hi,
My father tells me that 7 parcels have arrived after I told him 1, then 3 - he’s not happy as the many deliveries have caused him inconvenience.

Please tell me there is some mistake and you did not order 7 packages for me to bring home!

I’m flying in x date, with one suitcase - I can’t guarantee that I carry everything in my bag.

And I’m going to have to open the parcels because of size and because I will go thru customs.

——
Her response will be interesting and contents of parcels will confirm whether it’s true “could only be delivered to UK address” or if she just didn’t want to pay postage and/or customs charges.

On the contrary, you need to keep the invoice for each thing and declare it so you can pay duty. She pays you the duty before you hand over the goods once you arrive home.

You are exposing yourself to litigation here OP. I hope she is a really good friend.

So she's expecting you to add a minimum 6 different items to your luggage to lug on the plane for her? Say no, you/your parents agreed to 1 thing, so which 1 does she want you to bring and which courier is she arranging to get the rest?

How exactly does your friend think it's all going to fit in your luggage? Why does she think you'd want to bother dealing with all this when you're on holiday visiting your family? It's very intrusive behaviour tbh.

When you're in the UK, tell CF that your parents gave you a lovely but unexpected gift and now you don't have room in your case for her billion parcels. Offer to FedEx them at her expense.

Defo tell friend you may not be able to bring it all back as you’re limited on baggage. She’s a cf. and definitely open all parcels to check con tents and reduce wasted space in case with packaging.

How large are the packages?
And it’s not just excess baggage but possibly customs duty. There’s a reason those things can’t be delivered to your home country. Unless she’s just trying to minimise delivery costs. Which you should charge for the hassle. Tell her to get your parents a bottle of whisky ( or whatever) for their trouble.

I assumed you were driving! I would tell her that she is taking the piss and that it is unlikely you will be able to bring everything back as you actually need your luggage allowance so you don’t understand why she has done this. Tell your parents not to accept any more parcels for her too. What a CF.

Bloody hell! If you were driving it would be less of an issue but if you're flying that's really not on.

What are all these things that can only be delivered to the UK? I'm calling bullshit on that one. They'll just be cheaper in the UK.

I live in France and quite often buy things in the UK and have them delivered to my parents' house, but they're my parents and I'm usually bringing the stuff back in my own car after my next visit. I'd never dream of involving anyone else in my complex shopping arrangements. The list of things you genuinely can't buy in France is very short.

Did you say something, OP?

In your message you need to clearly state I never said absolutely any amount of deliveries would be fine- I have no idea if I can even fit them into my luggage or will have to leave them there, which will seriously annoy my parents. They are already annoyed and aren’t going to accept any more deliveries. You may have to book a flight asap yourself before they bin all the extra.

That is really rude definitely say something. And tell your dad not to accept anymore parcels!

This!!