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

[OstentatiousBreastfeeder]

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?

[Longislandicetee]

We accept parcels in for everyone but I stopped doing it for our old ndn because they would ignore us if they saw us in the street, never said hello and didn't say thank you when they picked up packages. Thankfully they moved away!

On the other hand, our new ndn are retired and always at home. They tend to accept packages for us at least twice a month. I don't think we have have ever taken in a package for them. We gave them a bottle yesterday for Christmas to say thank you.

[theycallmemellojello]

It's normal, just because people say thank you doesn't mean that most people say no. But most people aren't in during the day.

[FernieB]

I take in parcels all the time as I'm usually around. I know most of the delivery people by name now. I don't mind doing it as its a pain to go to our sorting office (no parking at all anywhere nearby).

In my last house, I also took in parcels for my ndn but gave up after he took in my OU course books and kept them for over two weeks. I kept going round to get them but he wouldn't answer the door despite being in his office in full view of the window. In the end the postman got them for me.

[LaLyra]

We accept parcels for most of the street. I was on ML then finished up so the parcel people/postie often come here.

Won't accept for NDN because he is a knob (he also won't accept parcels for everyone and was downright rude to the postie the first time he asked him) or one down the street because he has a habit of coming to pick up parcels before or after his shift - after having him hammering the door at 11.35pm and knowing he knocked on a neighbour at 7am I put him on the no list.

[Allbymyselfagain]

Nope not since the catalogue company wrote to us demanding we release the parcel we were supposedly holding to ransom and advising they would have to start proceedings for the other items we had stolen.
Turns out our neighbour was ordering shit from those expensive catalogues and hiding when the delivery came so someone else would sign it. They would then come collect it and tell the company they hadn't received it to get a refund. It was only when all the other neighbours started comparing we realised they were doing it to everyone. Didn't end well, she was very rough and had no problem running up to whoever she saw in the street and screaming in their face for grassing

[notapizzaeater]

I take them in here and the couriers/postie know it so drop them off for our who,e cul de sac. Don't mind and it's no skin off my nose, they just sit in the hall till they get collected.

[greenfolder]

It is decent and neighbourly. However, at this time of year with 4 Amazon owning adults and love,y retired neighbours I decided enough was enough and put a sign on our door saying to leave any parcels in the garage.

[MammaTJ]

YANBU on the whole. I would accept for most neighbours with one exception. I suspect all my other neighbours would feel the same about them!

The postie would be extremely grateful if someone accepted their parcel and they would probably be amazed!

Other neighbours, no big deal, I would take them in, no problem!

[longingforfun]

We usually take in our neighbours parcels although I once refused when asked if we could take in parcels from about half a dozen neighbours at once.
Today a courier knocked on our door with a turkey for the ndn but we were going out for the evening and away tomorrow til after xmas. My dh gave me a but I told him the ndn wouldn't thank us if their turkey was languishing in out house over the christmas period and the courier would have either found another neighbour to leave it with or the ndn would have to collect it from wherever the ordered.

[MuddhaOfSuburbia]

I just got a present from my lovely neighbour for taking in her parcels all year (she works all the hours god sends and I'm a sahm)

Its absolutely no problem for me to take them and I've told her so. I was proper touched

[MistressoftheYoniverse]

I always take parcels...and my neighbors take parcels for me too..even neighbors I'm not too sure of because I know how hard it is to sort a re-delivery or collection ...we both work but DH is usually home by early afternoon...my neighbors are really cool actually, they even bring them over sometimes and we do too...

[Hulababy]

However I have to say that some times people don't know they have parcels to collect or where they've gone. Not all delivery companies are good at filling in details on cards or even putting cards through the door!

[Hulababy]

I always take any in if I'm around and the postman knocks.

I occasionally have to go and collect a parcel from a neighbours but I don't have much delivered to home - normally send it to Dh's work instead. Infact I collected one today from someone down the road - flowers I didn't know we're coming.

I think most of our neighbours take their turn at taking in parcels from what I gather. A couple work from home and have said many times that they are more than happy to do so.

[FoxInABox]

I would say it is normal, I often take them in for mine and they do for me too. However, my husband is a courier and he repeatedly gets told no. They normally ask which neighbour and then when he tells them they say 'oh no not for them. Anyone else but not them'. Seems a lot of people don't get on with their neighbours!

[53rdAndBird]

Yeah, it's basic neighbourly decency. We take in parcels for neighbours, neighbours take in parcels for us, and nobody has to trek to the sorting office that's bloody miles away.

I did get a bit with some previous neighbours, though - their buzzer broke (communal entry system), and rather than a) get it fixed or b) stop ordering parcels all the time, they just relied on the rest of us to deal with their parcel deliveries, even though they both worked from home. For years. Not the best way to sow good feeling among your neighbours, that.

[Keeptrudging]

I take parcels in for everyone except the one who didn't collect it for 2 days, we tried 4 times to get him in (he was in at least 2 of those times), he then had a go at husband when he finally caught him saying he'd been waiting for it. Delivery man had posted a card with my name/address on it and got me to sign, we're in the middle of nowhere. Rude man!

[Sanchar]

I wish my neighbour would take our parcels if necessary, our sorting office is in the next town, 8 miles away and we have no car at the moment. My heart sinks if I see the red card on the doormat as it means a 3 day wait for redelivery😦

I always accept parcels for the nice neighbours, but not her next door, harrumph!

[Jux]

We do often. We started saying no to things for one guy as he would just leave things here, until he could be bothered with. He runs an online shop so the things he tended to leave were bulky things he didn't want to store himself.

Now he's moved, I have no qualms about taking deliveries as no one takes the piss. They do it for us, too.

[gamerchick]

I do it, most companies know I'll take in a parcel even if my house is like a warehouse at times and I have to ask for the card to check its for them.

The husband is in the parcel game though and I understand how much stress the drivers are under. Especially at this time of year.

I don't get pressies from the neighbours.

[Whatsername24]

Ostentatious It certainly does! And you pointing that out has reminded me that before we moved here 4 years ago I wouldn't have taken anything in for the tosser and his family we had the misfortune to live next door to.

[Iflyaway]

Nope. Will not do this, unless they ring the bell and want to leave the post inside the door (flats).

Not my business.

No way am I signing anything for anyone or be their postie - to hold it when I come home.

Deal with your own stuff. I have enough of my own to deal with.

Of course, if you pay me while you're at work to deal with your personal stuff we can come to an agreement