To ring a bell or not?

People are so fucking weird. My Evri driver and postie never ring our bell, always knock. Is it a bit weird? Yeah. Is it worth getting your knickers in a twist about or being a dickhead about? No.

I would prefer people to ring my doorbell as I might not hear someone knocking. But I can’t imagine getting worked up enough about it to have a pop at a stranger who’s doing me a favour by saving me a journey to collect a raffle prize.

I’ve always found it slightly annoying when delivery drivers do that. Not that I would ever say anything because why be a dick to someone for something so petty?? But now I know why, I will no longer be annoyed - thank you. 😊

If you don't know the householder, they also might have a disability or additional needs that rely on you using the doorbell that's right in front of your face at the side of their door.

A householder who is blind knows what the doorbell means, but a knock could be ambiguous. If the householder is deaf and has a hearing dog, it's very easy to train the dog that a bell sound means to alert your owner of a visitor; whereas a loud bang on the door is ambiguous in meaning (might be a normal routine caller or might be aggressive) and could spook the dog (like with fireworks).

Also, a lot of people rely on camera doorbells these days - whether it's to alert them of a visitor via their phone in the first place (maybe they're wearing headphones), or vulnerable people need/value the extra security of being able to see who is there before they answer. A spy hole isn't enough if your movements and shadows behind it alert a violent or otherwise scary ex-partner that you are in but have chosen to ignore them.

Yes, a knock will usually work; but it's a blunt method when somebody has gone to the trouble of installing one that works much better for whatever reason for their household.

How bizarre! It doesn’t bother me one way or the other, as long as I can hear you!

Fair points; but from the pov of a householder with a (working) doorbell, you attune yourself to only associating the sound of the bell with somebody at the door - so you aren't 'tuned in' to even hearing an indistinct knock, let alone connecting it with somebody at the door.

Also, it can be quite jarring the way some people try to hammer down your door - especially the ones who rattle your letterbox and knock on your (non-door) windows as well.

It gives the feeling that they are demanding your attention NOW, and they are the only ones that matter (not you) - even if it's an unsolicited call from somebody touting for business of some sort, rather than an ordered delivery. Kind of like somebody shouting at you instead of talking normally when you're standing right next to them.

I do agree with the issue of so many bells not working, though - or the ones that can only be heard inside the house. Doorbells should definitely be designed so that the visitor hears the sound too, and thus knows that it does work.

She was rude. Did you say anything back?

I can understand ringing AND knocking, especially if you can’t hear the doorbell ring. What I can’t understand is looking at a doorbell and thinking “I bet that doesn’t work, I’ll knock instead”. Or “I won’t cast my eye round this door for a bell, I’ll just knock”.

Another MN eye opener. It has never occurred to me that people could get annoyed by someone knocking on their door rather than ringing the bell. It doesn’t even seem worthy of being a minor irritation.

Loads of doorbells can’t be heard by the person pressing them either because they don’t work or because you just can’t hear it outside, so I’d assume that’s why people might choose to knock first.

Because a doorbell ring is a unique sound with only one meaning, which can often be heard throughout the house. A knock can often only be heard if you are close to the door and is less unique. If you have a door knocker this is probably better. Someone knocking on our front door is not going to be identifiably heard in our livingroom which is on a different floor at the opposite side of the house whereas the doorbell rings in the next room and would waken the dead.

It is a bit annoying when you've specifically installed a facility for a specific task and people ignore it.

We have a dedicated locking metal parcel box and also another box that is used for milk deliveries but which can also double as a second parcel box.

It doesn't actually matter that 95% of delivery people ignore them both and leave parcels on the doorstep - or actually ON (not in) the milk/parcel box - but it does irrationally feel rude.

Why on earth shouldn't she knock even if there is a door bell. Both achieve the same aim.

I'm genuinely curious.

Also in my experience doorbells hardly ever work and then you have the “do I knock/ring again?” conundrum

omg you’ve just reminded me of my friends dad when I was in school. People knocking the door used to drive him round the bend 😆 absolutely incensed that someone would dare to touch his precious front door.

Honestly. These weirdos walk among us.

What a bell end

This is what the phrase, "I BEG your pardon?" was invented for. In this case followed up with, "I can see I have executed this delivery incorrectly so instead I will leave it at the school office for you to collect when you can." And follow through in spite of protestations!

Would I have thought of that at the time? Absolutely not. Would I actually have done it if I had thought of it? Absolutely yes!

She was really rude! You were doing her a favour bringing her prize to her. Some people have no manners.

Yanbu! What a twat

“Sorry I didn’t think about that. I was too busy thinking how nice it is of me to bring your prize to you instead of you having to collect it. Now I’m thinking what a twat you are for not appreciating that and thanking me.’

No need for rudeness. But really annoys me when people knock and don’t ring the bell! Why? I don’t always hear just a brief knock.

I have worked as a delivery driver in the past and you would not believe the number of doorbells that don't work. If anyone ever wonders why people knock the door and ring the bell, this is why.

Next time let the raffle winners do the legwork.

No good deed goes unpunished and all.

But yes, very rude.

She was rude.
I'd personally leave prizes at school for them to be collected from school office (if they are willing).
I do however find it annoying when people knock rather than use the bell because there are lots of places I might be in the house where I won't hear a knock.