to think that if you are a couple who both work long hours every day, you should have parcels delivered to your work address rather than home and rely on neighbours constantly taking in parcels!

[Mintyy]

Well?

dinky if workplace delivery is not an option, the onus is on you to sort something else out not to presume your neighbours will just step into the breach for you.

Most neighbours are perfectly happy to help but it is mere courtesy and good manners to ask surely?

As I said before I will often go out and offer to take something for a neighbour if they are not at home, and am perfectly happy if a neighbour asks if I would accept a delivery for them, and it works both ways with give and take and communcation. I am not happy when they fail to have the decency to ask and just presume that I will act as their unpaid, unofficial post box, even more so when they fail to collect said parcel for ages, turn up at stupid o'clock for said parcel, or expect me to deliver it to them at their convenience, that's not being a good neighbour it is taking the piss.

written there have been several suggestions already on this thread, I am sure you have seen them and don't really want me to list them all do you?

written there have been several suggestions already on this thread, I am sure you have seen them and don't really want me to list them all do you?

many have been downright impossible, and others impractical.

If, by your own statement, most neighbours are happy to help, and since I don't actually control what the delivery driver does, wouldn't the most reasonable course of action be to let the neighbour choose to accept or not?

I am often home and just think it's the norm to accept. we have not had a neighbourhood meeting on the topic, so I don't know what they think. I think my neighbours think the same, but frankly this thread is an eyeopener. I had no idea people had such a strong objection to taking packages. if so, and according to you this is abnormal, perhaps the neighbour should say so.

written no neighbourhood meeting here either, just good old face to face communication.

Like I said I'm happy to help, not happy to be taken advantage of, and Mintyy clearly feels her neighbours are taking advantage of her by putting their convenience of on-line shopping above her convenience of not being disturbed whilst she is working.

I still don't feel that the onus should be on someone else to either accept or refuse to accept a parcel as they are being disturbed either way, the onus should be on the purchaser to make sure that people are not inconvenienced unduly. I'm sorry but I just don't agree that all the suggestions put forward are totally impossible or impractical.

Agreed emotions - I'm not disputing that at all. Simply pointing out that lots of workplaces don't let you have things delivered there.

Our fab local corner shop has started taking delivery of items for neighbours on the road for a nominal fee - I wish more places like that existed.

YABU, delivery companies don't offer much flexibility with their times for people who work. I'm glad I have a concierge team to accept my parcels and hope I don't ever have a neighbour like you!

Siarie, if you have a concierge team to accept your parcels, I doubt we would ever be neighbours!

dinky I think that will happen more as more on-line shopping is done and delivery companies insist on their drivers delivering 'x' number of parcels per hour, they won't have time to go knocking on several doors in the hope someone is in/will accept the parcel.

Great idea for your local shop I am sure their business will increase

There once was a laydee called Minty
Whose face had got ever so flinty
The parcels they came
Every day was the same
so she wasn't just being old binty

I still don't feel that the onus should be on someone else to either accept or refuse to accept a parcel as they are being disturbed either way, the onus should be on the purchaser to make sure that people are not inconvenienced unduly.

I just want to get this straight. So, I should go to my neighbours (say 5 on either side), and tell them that throughout the course of the year, I may from time to time do some online shopping and on some occasions I may not be home to accept that package and the mail person may come around and ask if you will accept it.

is that right?

I fear I may annoy my neighbours more than if I just kept the current system.

No written that is not what I meant, and I think you know it.

Sairie world revolve around you does it?

The neighbours sound rude.

That said, I don't get the problem with just not answering the door if you're working and don't want to be disturbed. Surely any unscheduled caller would be an irritant?

I've no idea how expensive it would be but could you look at getting a wire free intercom for beside the door? Then when the bell rings you can ask who it is without leaving your desk. If it isn't for you or the neighbors you know you can decline the delivery.

My parents have an intercom that connects my dad's attic office with the kitchen, they use it all the time.

We had to sign a form recently to say that we're happy for or parcels to be delivered to neighbours if we're not in. Is that everywhere or just certain places?

I live next door to my best friend.
That is useful for parcels!

No written that is not what I meant, and I think you know it.

actually, I don't know what you mean. do you mean I should ask every time I purchase something?

I really don't know what you mean.

writtenguarantee

Are you that poster who has trouble letting go? Your posting style is extremely familiar. I respectfully suggest you hide the thread now and it will quietly die a death. Go on, it will be fine.

"That said, I don't get the problem with just not answering the door if you're working and don't want to be disturbed."

Erm, well, what if it was a parcel for me? Or a friend dropping by - has been known to happen.

Mintyy I don't get what the issue is. Just don't answer the door or, if you do, refuse to take the parcels. I could understand the angst if the neighbours had come over in a huff because you had refused to take the parcels or made some slighting comment about being home all day so available for parcel pickup (or childcare pickup, or errand running for them). They haven't done that though have they?

I get that taking in other people's parcels annoys some people - ok, don't do it, refuse the parcel, put up a sign as OP has done, the delivery people will get the message.
I have always lived on streets where neighbours are happy to take in parcels for other people (I've been lucky).
I've also had to go and collect parcels from delivery depots, and I don't know whether that's because the courier didn't try a neighbour, couldn't find a neighbour who was in, wasn't happy to leave it either with a neighbour or on the door step or because my neighbour refused to take delivery. It doesn't matter - it was my parcel, I collected it from the location on the card.

But what I don't get is how the neighbours who have parcels delivered, and who don't control what the couriers do, are getting the blame here - that's what I think is unreasonable?

There is very rarely 'a leave with neighbours' option, and in my experience, if you can leave delivery instructions, it's printed on the outside of the parcel so the courier (and any put-upon neighbour) can read it!

(ps I can't get parcels delivered to work, OH can but he commutes 50 miles by train and bike so not really practical. I work part-time so I tend to cross my fingers that parcels come on my day off. If they don't I collect them or rely on the kindness of my neighbours which, lucky for me, they have in spades).

I'm always joking with my neighbours that I am going to start charging for parcel deliveries!!! I am the only one home all day, I know the postman, even the delivery people know me now so they always knock at mine if the person its for is out. I also take parcels for the parents of the children I mind.

I don't mind doing it. Its hardly a hassle really is it? and they are normally very nice and buy me wine and/or chocs at Christmas to say thank you :)

When I had a newborn I put a note on the door asking delivery men not to knock with parcels for others.

Plus I have been known to say no to parcels at others times because neighbours will come and collect during bedtime.

OP, To me it looks like a very subtle form of bullying to me. (ask your neighbours, if this happened to them aswell?)

Just write a note to the "addressee" to be attached to the dated & timed delivery note.
That you'll give him/her 6 hours to collect the parcels from you at your convenience (be out for 6h & 1 min), otherwise you will charge them 30£ per parcel & the money will go to a charity of your choice something like "The Homeless Elves of Iceland", remember to give a receipt for the money taken & a copy of the receipt that the charity e-mails acknowledging money recieved.

Or you just charge them a massive amount for storage & delivery...40£ per parcel, sounds good to me.

Just to muddy the waters abit...

What about post addressed to the previous tennents, who now live a few doors down, for the past 7 years?

We did take their post to them. But in the last 3-4 years, we decided not to give them their post (especially the important stuff, like mobile phone bills et cetera) and just scribble "not known at this address, return to sender", then pop back in the post box.

My defence is...if they can't be bothered to inform the revilent companies that they've moved, then we aren't obliged to deliver their post.

y.a.b.u. It's no hardship to take parcels in is it.

BU to expect it's possible for everyone.

NBU for them to organise alternatives.

Hope the sign works!