To put the neighbour's parcel out with the bins?

[RachelWatts]

As I'm a SAHM, I usually end up taking in the neighbour's parcels for them as I'm the only person who answered the door to the delivery company.

Most of the neighbours will call round later that day or the next for their stuff.

One chap, who lives about 5 doors away, never does. It's always too big or awkward for me to take round while also carrying DS2 or pushing his pushchair, especially knowing that I might have to lug it back again.

His latest parcel is flat, about 1 foot wide and 5 feet long. He apparently paid extra for next day delivery, but obviously doesn't want it that urgently as it's been in my house over a week.

I probably won't put it out with the bins, unless it's here another week, but won't be taking in any more parcels for him.

Starlight - I'm not the only person who has asked if your neighbours know your unusual views on this subject.

I have never seen anyone express a similar opinion to yours, before this thread - and I am convinced you are in a tiny minority - so I am willing to bet most, if not all, of your neighbours believe it is polite to collect a parcel from a neighbour who has been kind enough to take it in for them, and that actually it would be rude to expect you to run up the road like, as Stinklebell said! an unpaid skivvy.

Therefore, if you are not telling them about your 'rule' and are judging them as rude for not abiding by it, you are judging them unfairly!!!

Forago, nope, definitely not your NDN! I don't live in a place beginning with 'C' and the number of parcels I was taking in was far more than a couple a week! That would be okay, it's more like 5-7 a week. I do like my NDNs, I just live in a small flat and DS always thinks the parcels are for him.

We regularly accept deliveries for our neighbours as we work from home (as do they, if we are away). However, in doing so, we most definitely do not accept that we have taken on the responsibility for delivering [the] parcel. We have taken on "responsibility" for the keeping the parcel in a safe place until such time the person to whom it was addressed can come and pick it up - rather than having to go to the depot/sorting office.

We have taken the parcel(s) in to be neigbourly. Our neighbours will pop round when they get in to pick it up. If they haven't done so after an hour or two and if we happen to be going in or out, we'll pop round with it. They will usually apologise profusely - either they'd got caught up in other things when they got in, or no card was left.

That's the normal way of "signing" for a neighbour's delivery - it's been like that wherever I've lived.

I really hope that Starlight has made it clear to her neighbour's that she doesn't operate the normal way that way, otherwise they have unknowingly been irritating her for years.

I've not taken on responsibility for delivering it; I've taken on responsibility for receiving it.

No It is rude. It would never occur to me to be so rude and selfish as to disturb someone who has kindly taken on the responsibility for delivering my parcel. To do so is selfish, impatient, trust-lacking, demanding, self-centred, and just plain rude.

They have not "taken on the responsibility" of delivering your parcel. They are merely holding it for you until you come to collect.

You are the equivalent of a temporary PO box.

Reading this thread is like entering the twilight zone.

OP has run for the hills

But Starlight you are being disturbed

Yup.

That was uncalled for.

What I don't understand is that if Starlight's time is so damned important and her children cannot be left unattended for 30 seconds, how does she have time to keep track of all her neighbours comings and goings?
If she is spending all her time twitching her nets and noting the time what time they come home, it's no wonder she doesn't have time to open the door.

Do delivery people not just leave parcels on the porch? That's what happens in my neighborhood. I've lived here for seven years, and have never had anything disturbed.

But, more importantly, what on earth is a verruca, and why does it require gel? The only "verruca" I know is Veruca Salt.

A verruca is a foot wart!

Thanks! And

Lordy.

I've taken next door's parcels round when I've seen they're in and they've asked us to collect likewise (Elderly. Not really up to staggering round with it). I had no idea this was an etiquette fail

Steff13 Unlike in the US, a lot of houses in the UK have a very small front garden, or none at all and the door opens onto the street. Most don't have porches either, so any parcel simply left outside the house wouldn't stay there long. Parcels frequently need to be signed for too. Companies can't afford to keep sending out replacements for parcels which the intended recipient hasn't received because it's simply been left outside the house and gone 'missing'.

starlight if the delivery guy has knocked on your door to deliver the parcel and you was quite ok to answer the door then...why would it be rude for the owner of the parcel to knock on your door and collect it?

Fair enough if you're up to your eyes in towels and verruca gel and can't answer i'm sure they'd understand and call back...but i wouldn't call them rude just for daring to knock on your door :O