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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think taking in a package for a neighbour is a normal thing people do all the time?

59 replies

OstentatiousBreastfeeder · 23/12/2015 20:39

Because I'm starting to get the impression it's rarer than I think

Took in a neighbour's package today. I do it all the time, I'm a SAHM so more likely to be called upon for this sort of thing. She called round earlier to pick it up and had a big tin of Quality Street and a lovely Christmas card as a thank you. How lovely is that? Never spoken a word to her before!

It's not the first time I've been really, properly, profusely thanked for taking in packages as though I've gone out of my way or something, and it's a bit confusing (as well as very nice, obviously)

The postman always looks vaguely surprised that I've said yes too, come to think of it.

...Do people ever say no when the postie knocks on the door and asks them to take a package? Like, "actually, no, take it away because it's bloody inconvenient for me to put it in my hallway for a few hours"?

Or maybe it is a totally normal thing to do and I have really nice neighbours?

OP posts:

catgirl1976 · 23/12/2015 20:41

YANBU

I think it's totally normal

That said I have got some chocolates and a card for our neighbours, solely because they take in so many for us

Hadron21 · 23/12/2015 20:44

I'm in during the day and I'm like a little post office. I love it.

When I had my baby I thought that my colleagues has forgotten me - until a Harrods hamper arrived. It wasn't until I opened it that I realised it wasn't for me.... Luckily my neighbours found it funny!

usual · 23/12/2015 20:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

foxessoxes · 23/12/2015 20:49

I have one neighbour who has decided its really convenient for her parcels to get delivered on my day off . Im the first flat by the gates so if the postman doesnt get an answer on the respective persons buzzer, he tries me. 95% its for this girl. Always on a Tuesday. I wouldnt mind, but i always have to drop them off to her too and she doesnt even say thank you.

I think from NY I will post a note under her door saying I wont be available to take any more parcels in for her. Its at least three times a month and 2/3 things at once.

NeededANameChangeAnyway · 23/12/2015 20:52

I take a lot of parcels in as I work from home - not a problem at all. However if they were being deliberately delivered to me without the person having asked and confirmed that was ok then that would be a totally different kettle of fish! Can't belive that foxes!

LibrariesgaveusP0wer · 23/12/2015 20:53

I think it's normal.

The reaction today may have been because, if you missed a parcel today round our way, first day you could get it from the sorting office would be post Christmas.

Imustgodowntotheseaagain · 23/12/2015 20:55

There have been some crazy threads on here showing neighbours taking the piss, though - one MNer received a double bed for her neighbours, who were away I think for a fortnight.

Original poster

OstentatiousBreastfeeder · 23/12/2015 20:57

Ooh foxes that is cheeky. I did have a package in my hallway for a couple of days once because the neighbour across the way didn't collect it, and when I tried to drop it off she'd ignore the doorbell - I could see her sitting in the living room watching telly!

OP posts:

Missyaggravation · 23/12/2015 20:58

I had a neighbour giving all my kids chocolate after taking in parcels, seemed a bit odd to me, she even apologised. Why wouldn't i ? Just a normal part of life

CMOTDibbler · 23/12/2015 20:59

I take them in for nice neighbours, but not for next door after she threatened me with a pair of hedge shears

BrandNewAndImproved · 23/12/2015 21:00

It's normal, my neighbours take in mine, I take in theirs but agree with pp about being number one in a flat. I'm not the flipping doorman postie and that's why I don't answer my door anymore.

catfordbetty · 23/12/2015 21:01

I've just answered the door to my new next-door neighbour who came to collect her parcel. She apologised profusely for the inconvenience ... I didn't get it, like you OP, I think it's normal.

Foxyloxy1plus1 · 23/12/2015 21:02

We take in parcels for one another. There are about half a dozen of us who will take them, so there's usually someone around.

The postman tried to deliver a parcel yesterday, to the show house across the road. There were lights on but I told him no one would be at home!

Original poster

OstentatiousBreastfeeder · 23/12/2015 21:02

A double bed?! I'd have been mortified if I came back from holiday to find someone had been storing my bed in their front room for two weeks

Yeah, to be fair, I'd probably turn away something bigger than me...

OP posts:

remembermewhen · 23/12/2015 21:02

I would rather just get a card & collect things from the sorting office the next morning, hassle free but if I'm here & the postie asks I would always take a package except for one arsehole neighbour.
Her chickens flew the coop long ago.
She wrote me a nasty letter once when the postie asked her to take a parcel for me.
All posties/ drivers / tradesmen etc ken the drill now where that one is concerned.

karalime · 23/12/2015 21:05

Yes it's perfectly normal.

However, today we had 5 parcels in our hallway, a few of which have been here for nearly a week as whichever neighbour it is hasn't come to get it yet. So I can understand why some people might get a bit peeved.

2016IsANewYearforMe · 23/12/2015 21:05

I take packages for neighbours all the time. No one seems that grateful, though! Of course, I don't mind doing it.

bimandbam · 23/12/2015 21:07

I regularly take in parcels for neighbours. I am a sahm so often around. I don't usually mind but the other week I took in 3 huge boxes that I presume was a hamper. My 2 year old dsis a pest when it comes to parcels as he likes to help me open them.

I spent all day keeping him out of the hallway. Next door came home pretty early and didn't come for it even though I saw the delivery guy put a card through. Eventually went and knocked and the cheeky fuckers asked me to hang onto it for the rest of the day as they had been car booting and couldn't be arsed with more boxes.

On the other hand I gave a bit of a light fitting I was going to bin to a lady on the back road to me after a fb request for one and she brought a tub of sweets around for the dc's!

May09Bump · 23/12/2015 21:07

We must be a weird street, we take parcels in, put bins out when neighbors are on holiday and keep an eye on each others property. And wait for it .... we are in Surrey (I'm northern too).

var123 · 23/12/2015 21:08

Its a normal, neighbourly thing to do (but I wouldn't accept something like a double bed either).

Pico2 · 23/12/2015 21:16

It's normal. Our retired neighbours used to get a few for us. DD1 was very fond of the neighbours as she thought they kept on buying her presents .

Cressandra · 23/12/2015 21:18

Ours take in a lot for us this time of year so we pop some chocs round with their card. I would rather go to the sorting office than put them out tbh but they seem very keen to help.

Foxes that sounds v ungrateful. You are much nicer than I am to keep delivering them to her.

Dipankrispaneven · 23/12/2015 21:18

Foxes, why do you deliver the parcels to your neighbour? Why not wait for her to come to collect?

Bookeatingboy · 23/12/2015 21:19

Only 6 houses where we live and I work from home so usually get asked to take parcels...always get them to put a note through the door though. I've never minded until our new neighbour decided to get home around 6 and wait until after 9 to collect...every bloody time! If l try to knock earlier they ignore.

I've stopped taking theirs now.

M48294Y · 23/12/2015 21:22

Sorry if this makes me a grouch, but I have lost patience with the number of knocks on my door I get for parcel deliveries. I wohm, and have had to put a note on the door saying which neighbours I will take parcels in for. This does not include my immediate neighbours who are both out all day every day 8am to 7pm, or the people 4 days up the road who are the same.

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