Parcels need to be signed for - but probably wet

[Iamiams]

It has been torrential rain here and I know that the parcels arriving today could be very wet. I also know I have to sign for them and won’t have chance to inspect before the postie tears off in his van.

Do I have the right to send stuff back if it’s damaged? When I sign shall I write parcel wet or suchlike? I have googled and there’s various opinions.

If you are there to sign for them then why would they be wet?

It's been chucking it down here for days - we have had lots of parcels, some handed to us and some posted through the letterbox. None of them have been wet.

Is your garden path hundreds of metres long? How will parcels get wet between the van and your door? Or do you plan to leave the postman standing at the door for ages?

Does your delivery driver come in an open bed pick up truck? Or a sleigh like Santa? I don't know why they'd be wet otherwise if you're there to sign for them?

Why will the parcels be wet?

a cardboard box can handle some rain on the walk from the vehicle to your door.

Why would your stuff get damaged from a tiny bit of rain?

Ahh yes shouldn’t have ‘drip’ fed - the postman has to walk a way from his van as I am in a very rural location. I have previously had soaking wet parcels but that hasn’t mattered that the insides were wet as they were plastic. I have ordered paper items. The new postie does not appreciate the extra walk to my house and my location! It would be useful if the boxes were put in a waterproof bag but that never happens.

I was trying to save him the wait if I could, whilst I check.

It’s really heavy rain here, coming off the hills. He will have to jump over a stream that has formed from runoff from the fields.

Could you collect from the sorting office?

The nearest sorting office is an hour round trip.

If the postman has to jump a stream, he would likely mark you as undeliverable?

Can you drive to his van?

If it’s paper, the sender should be properly packaging them, so that they will not be damaged in transit. Just ask him to wait for you to open before you sign.

Oh lord! Sorry for the silly suggestion!🙄

I guess you could ring the sorting office and ask if parcels are ever wrapped against the rain

My postman DOES do this also the amazon delivery guy does too. Very kind of both 🥰

It's not down to the postie to package things for you - if you live that rurally then ask the sender to use waterproof packaging and pay for it.

It’s only a small stream - he wears walking boots as the roads are unsealed. I was just indicating how much water there is here at the moment. To be fair if it gets much worse he won’t be able to get to us.

I realise, from these replies, why I get soggy boxes now!

We usually get the postman a present at Christmas btw as we know we are not the easiest delivery.

All deliveries seem to come in cardboard boxes. Very few are plastic wrapped which is understandable for environmental reasons but means parcels can get v soggy.

I just wanted to know the legalities of accepting signed for parcels, then finding the contents damaged afterwards because of soggy packaging.

Here's an idea. Put a big plastic tub at the roadside with a notice on it for the delivery driver/postman saying 'please leave parcels here'. You could add your phone number to the sign in case a signature is required and you can come out and meet them to sign for it.
I bet your postie would be glad not to have to traverse the small stream!

It’s a single track road that I can’t see from my house, so I would be blocking a highway and he doesn’t wait. It’s not normally a problem as this is the first item that has been able to be rain damaged and needs to be signed for.

He’s normally here by now so I expect he’s had fun and games today. I feel like he may need a hot drink rather than a plastic tub.

Video the wet boxes before you open them then if necessary you can contact the sender to show that they arrived like that

Yes thankyou! I had planned on photos but video is probably better.
After all this he may put them in a waterproof delivery bag and they could be fine!

My parcels often arrive wet because it's a bit of a walk from where the postman can park to my actual door. Not everyone lives in a place where the postie can just hop out of his van and knock on the door..

Since when is it routine to open a parcel in front of the delivery person?

I have never done this. Surely they don't have the time to be waiting for people to do this?

We have a very long drive/lane to our house and have arranged a safe place to leave all parcels even signed for ones. Our postman is terrific and signs for me/us and we have never had a problem.

We have a pack of mostly large breed dogs and he just wants to just leave parcels and go. Parcels are safe and left under cover so no issues of them getting wet.

In the summer I leave him a bottle of water and sometimes a snack throughout the year!

With Royal Mail you are simply signing to say that they have been delivered. Once the postman has left pen the parcel and if the contents are damaged, or missing, contact the seller who would then need to refund you.

Thank you @OldJohn
He’s late so maybe there is flooding further down and I won’t get them at all after this!

I live on an A road. 1m max from road to Mt large sturdy cast iron letter box. I've still had wet items. For a passport application our Original Birth certs came back wet (ink now smudged), despite my paying extra for the secure service. Exam certs (despite asking postie to knock). About to receive expensive College Graduation pics.
OP, I feel your pain !