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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be annoyed with delivery drivers leaving my packages with neighbours?

53 replies

SurferJet · 10/02/2016 09:31

I'm sick to death of delivery drivers leaving my parcels with neighbours.
Firstly, I never authorise this when ordering, secondly, it puts my neighbours through unnecessary hassle ( neighbour yesterday almost did his back in bringing me over my ikea order ) & thirdly, maybe I don't want my neighbours knowing what I've ordered from ikea!
I'm really not happy but I don't know how to stop it?

OP posts:
AppleSetsSail · 10/02/2016 10:50

I think you're probably fighting an uphill battle here because it saves the delivery company money to leave packages with neighbours. That's pretty much the beginning and end of this conversation - it's a brutally competitive industry.

We have a few neighbours who are so weird I'd consider re-ordering some packages at my own expense to avoid collecting them, so I sympathise.

pinkcan · 10/02/2016 10:52

You can resolve this with a simple note on your door.

"If I am not in, please do not deliver to my neighbours"

Quoteunquote · 10/02/2016 10:54

Our local garage takes all deliveries free, (they make money as when you go in to collect parcels you tend to remember you need things.)

most areas have a drop off place.

Nanny0gg · 10/02/2016 10:57

Most delivery companies I use give you the option to state a safe place or a specific neighbour. And they update you by txt.

Who are you using?

jevoudrais · 10/02/2016 10:57

I understand what you mean. One lady down our road frog marches over and asks why we haven't collected it yet. Usually because she expects you to get out of the car and go straight there instead of putting your things down in the house and then going! Until I get in and see the card, I don't even know she has it anyway!

Original poster
SurferJet · 10/02/2016 10:57

Yes, I think a note on the door is the way to go.

Thanks all.

OP posts:
jazzandh · 10/02/2016 11:02

Round here most of the delivery companies have the same people doing the same routes each day. So if you catch them one time - it's easy to say what you want to happen in future.

With people like Amazon Logistics who have loads of different people doing the drop offfs you can leave a note on line and they will (generally) adhere to it.

You also tend to get parcels from the same courier companies at the same time of day (exception being Amazon Logisitcs) so if you miss it one day because of the school run, the chances are you will miss it the next if they don't leave it.

So I would accept that neighbours taking in parcels without complaint is a good thing.

TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 10/02/2016 11:03

www.doddle.com/ See if there is one local to you.

AlisonWunderland · 10/02/2016 11:03

New to the IKEA catalogue.. DILDØ and VIBRÅTÖ
Batteries not included

Pseudo341 · 10/02/2016 11:03

YABU they're just trying to help. If it's really such a massive problem put a note on your door.

Original poster
SurferJet · 10/02/2016 11:05

Your parcel from IKEA - FL0662809 - sent by express24 has been despatched and will be delivered on/by 09/02/2016

That was the text message I got on Monday.

Parcel force have attempted to deliver a parcel FL0662636 from IKEA today. As there was nobody in to sign for it, we have delivered it to a neighbour - xxxxxxx @22 - for you to collect

That was the text I got yesterday ( I've xxxxx out neighbours name ) plus note through my door. There were no other options for me?

OP posts:
ijustwannadance · 10/02/2016 11:13

AlisonGrin

I love my Hermes delivery man. He turns up between 9 and 10 am guaranteed. No faff. I love asos too as you get an hour delivery slot from dpd so no waiting around. I also have nice neighbours who take in each other's parcels.

goodnightdarthvader1 · 10/02/2016 11:15

New to the IKEA catalogue.. DILDØ and VIBRÅTÖ

Brilliant Grin

jazzandh · 10/02/2016 11:15

So it was reasonably obvious that the item was going to be delivered on Tuesday.

Options are - ensure someone remains in to receive item or a note on the door as to what to do with the item if delivery attempt is made whilst you are out.

If I go out and I am expecting something that day - I normally put a note on the door to say - "may be left outside" (safe area) and I'm only going to be 20 minutes or so...or please can you try "friendly neighbour".

If it is a large item I would have just mentioned it to them....and certainly minimised how long I was out for. I think most neighbours understand that a school run is unavoidable etc

Failing that a note to say please do not leave if unavailable redeliver on whatever day ..when you can guarantee that you will be in all day!!

P1nkP0ppy · 10/02/2016 11:16

can you track IKEA deliveries on line? If you can then there's often an option for 'safe place' or to change the delivery date / other instructions on most websites.
I just say leave by side door - and if you reckon you're only out of the house for a short school run then surely that's ok for them to do?

MTPurse · 10/02/2016 11:19

As an online seller I have never understood why people order things if they will not be there to receive the order, Then they complain that the item is left with a neighbour/took to the depot for them to collect or sent back to me (which I then have to charge postage again for me to repost).

hmcAsWas · 10/02/2016 11:28

MTPurse - OP is mostly at home, only out briefly for the school run. Surely you don't expect people to never leave the house for a single second when expecting a delivery; unless of course you offer a 4 hour delivery slot as in those circumstances your expectation would be reasonable.

GlowWine · 10/02/2016 11:34

At the point of ordering many places now do click&collect to Argos, Amazon have pickup and locker options www.amazon.co.uk/b?ie=UTF8&node=2594544031 . would that help? A note on the door might be worth it, though as couriers are usually desperate to be rid of their parcels it might not always work.

I once arrived home just in time to see the courier handing a parcel to the old man across the road, she must have tried at least 3 other doors first. He's friendly but the man suffers from severe dementia and I doubt I would have ever seen then package again, especially as they also tend no to drop a card saying where they have delivered it...

I'm in the position of being able to have everything delivered to work now, but I do make sure to show my appreciation to the receptionists that receive my parcels for me.

blueturtle6 · 10/02/2016 21:04

I am filled with dread when my parcels are left with passive aggressive neighbour and I have to go around for her to question what it is and how its an inconvenience to sign for them. Have smiled and said to refuse them as i dont mind going to depot, but still takes them in. One time the delivery people put my house number on so had no clue which neighbour was left with, company resent items and then six weeks later neighbour said I have you parcel!

IgnoreMeEveryOtherReindeerDoes · 10/02/2016 21:08

IKEA have always phoned me when they have been between 30-1hr away from delivery. In fact any heavy items I always get curtesy call before.

Original poster
SurferJet · 11/02/2016 11:04

Well lucky you - if I'd got a curtesy call 30 - 1 hour before delivery I wouldn't have gone out & this thread would never have been started.

OP posts:
Namechange02 · 11/02/2016 11:45

I always feel guilty when a neighbour takes in a parcel for me. I work from home so am normally in, fortunately. The sorting office is only a mile or so away so it's not a big deal to collect something if I miss the postman but s/he normally comes around before lunch, so I'm normally safe to pop out after noon.

BUT so many websites don't give you the option of Royal Mail, in fact they often don't even tell you who the carrier is. I'd happily pay a bit extra for them to use Royal Mail, I'm always stressed out if it's a different carrier and I need to go out. Amazon Logistics are ok as they'll leave stuff in my porch and so will the carrier for Virgin Wines, but anyone else insists on a signature so you either have to inconvenience the neighbours or ask for a redelivery. Where I can I do the collect at shop thing.

As for As an online seller I have never understood why people order things if they will not be there to receive the order What are you supposed to do if you work, and the delivery slot is 8-6 and that assumes you even know what day? Fine if you say 8-10 or 4-6, you can work around that. I hope you're not really an online seller with that attitude as you will be excluding most of your customers. Even if you don't work you have to do shopping, take kids to school, go for medical appointments etc. Heaven forbid that anyone should have to leave their house.

gandalf456 · 11/02/2016 11:57

I would only worry about putting my neighbours out. My DH shops online all the time. I only wouldn't want my parcels delivered to someone like a heroin addict (like my friend from work whose neighbour nicks hers to fund her habit). I agree. Just put a note if you don't want it to happen.

IgnoreMeEveryOtherReindeerDoes · 11/02/2016 21:50

And then I wouldn't be sitting here thinking well aren't you just a ray of fucking sunshine!

whistles whilst not giving a fuck

Sjt127 · 31/10/2017 10:53

Glad I'm not the only one it annoys! I've literally tried everything and even paid for delivery times like evening deliveries between 6-9pm and they deliver it at 4:15 to my neighbour - waste of time! I am happy enough going to the damn post office to collect my stuff but nope they choose to bother neighbours instead, even when specifically requested not to!