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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be fed up of being used as the local parcel drop-off point?

25 replies

EdinaMonsoon · 06/09/2017 10:58

So far this morning I have had 3 couriers leave items at my home for neighbours. I have not agreed to provide this service & it happens several times a day on a daily basis for any of the houses on my street. Despite drivers saying they will leave a card, neighbours rarely call for their items & so I am left with either having to go back & forth to deliver (because they aren't answering the door) or having my hallway resemble a sorting office harbouring their parcels for sometimes several days.

I work from home & often have stuff delivered for my work so ignoring the doorbell is not an option. I tried refusing delivery for a few weeks a couple of months ago. The couriers were incredulous & some even resorted to begging! The end result was that it stopped for about a month but they're clearly back in full swing again.

OP posts:
MapMyMum · 06/09/2017 11:03

Put a note on the door saying you will only take parcels for this address, and maybe tell the delivery driver for your parcels to knock on a certain window or something so you know the difference? Also tell your neighbours that it is affecting your work having to stop 3 times a day for parcels that have nothing to do with you. And stop running them round to them, put them in your boot so theyre out of the way and wait for them to come to you. If youre too quick at getting the parcels back to them then its more convenient for them to keep doing it

ChicRock · 06/09/2017 11:04

Just refuse.

There's no other magical solution.

"No, I only accept deliveries that are for me".

LaurieFairyCake · 06/09/2017 11:04

I'd put a note on the door saying 'only parcels for this address'.

Shakeynf · 06/09/2017 11:05

Either stop answering the door or just go back to refusing. And if need be contact the companies involved.

2014newme · 06/09/2017 11:07

Don't answer the door. I work from home and take in no parcels. You're being a doormat.

Anecdoche · 06/09/2017 11:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CurbsideProphet · 06/09/2017 11:08

YANBU. There's being neighbourly and there's being made a mug. I work from home and do sign for parcels for neighbours occasionally, however, I won't do it for the ones who take ages to collect. I'm in a flat and don't have the space to store them.

Original poster
EdinaMonsoon · 06/09/2017 11:09

Great idea about the note on door.
Not an option to keep parcels in the boot of my car as the dog (large breed) is in there at least once a day to travel to our walking place.

I feel like I'm being mardy about it - not helped by DH saying he can't see the problem - but then he's not running back & forth to the door!

OP posts:
Glumglowworm · 06/09/2017 11:10

Refuse to take parcels that aren't for you

To be fair to your neighbours, they may not be specifying you as the safe delivery point, drivers are desperate to complete deliveries so will try neighbours anyway.

Original poster
EdinaMonsoon · 06/09/2017 11:11

Thanks for the replies! I agree that I was wrong to give in to pressure again but it's hard when people try & make you feel guilty for not helping them.
Note for door typed & about to be printed!

OP posts:
Original poster
EdinaMonsoon · 06/09/2017 11:13

Glumglowworm I think you're right - I honestly don't think the neighbours are deliberately redirecting their parcels but they are to blame for not collecting them.

OP posts:
RubyWinterstorm · 06/09/2017 11:28

it is so simple, just say: "sorry, I only accept parcels for this address"

repeat a few times

the delivery drivers will then stop asking

easy

jenm87 · 06/09/2017 11:29

if im hom i take parcels for my neighbours and they do the same for me, i have an elderly lady next door who i point blank refuse as the first time i did i got the door slammed in my face not even a thanks or nothing, there is alot more to it, when they postman/courier asks to take it for her i say no and thats that they got fed up of me saying no that they dont even bother asking anymore, but if the postman/courier cant get the person home they keep trying neighbours etc to save them carrying it around with them

glitterlips1 · 06/09/2017 11:29

Just say no. The more you do it the less they will knock as they know not to bother.

KimmySchmidt1 · 06/09/2017 11:42

I think you are being an arsehole.

There will come a time when you need your neighbours, and if you start being shitty about this you can forget their support or help.

Very stupid to get into spats with neighbours.

TribbleWithoutACause · 06/09/2017 11:48

Kimmy She's not the neighbourhood administrator, there's a difference between an occasional parcel and being used daily as a drop off point. OP YANBU!

Original poster
EdinaMonsoon · 06/09/2017 11:59

Woah!! KimmySchmidt1 I'm not getting into a spat with anyone! I'm not saying I'm going to give my neighbours a talking to about it. Snd honestly if it is was every now & again I wouldn't mind. But every day, several times per day, is taking the proverbial. I am a good neighbour. I help others wherever possible (have called ambulances, given lifts, helped rescue a toddler locked in a house...). We aren't noisy or inconsiderate &, very importantly for MN, do not park like an asshole 😉. For the last 18 months or so, I appear to have been identified as the unofficial neighbourhood admin, as Tribble puts it, & I'm fed up.

OP posts:
Anecdoche · 06/09/2017 11:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MaMisled · 06/09/2017 12:16

This could be me! I work 3 nights a week so am always here in the daytime. I get woken up at least twice a week with neighbours bloody parcels!

One couple haven't spoken to us properly since a parking issue last year but leave a feck ing note on their door for couriers to leave parcels with us!

New neighbours have ordered 6 large heavy packages in last 2 weeks and, as they're at work all day, they were delivered here, blocking up my hallway!

I wouldn't mind so much if they asked if it was OK or at least knocked for them! Like the OP, I end up bloody delivering them too!

Well...no more Mrs Nice Guy. I've put a note on my door today saying I will only accept parcels addressed to me!

I can't help feeling a bit mean but I do know I'm a real wet wipe!

Merida83 · 06/09/2017 12:23

Either say no every single time or as pp suggest put a note on door saying deliveries for this address only.

A note is easier as stops you having delivery drivers trying to guilt trip you into helping "just this once". It's never just once as you sadly know.

It's also not like you are sitting lounging about all day with nothing better yo do than answer door and then play unpaid delivery person. You are working from home. You wouldn't be expected or allowed to be so freely interrupted if you worked away from home say in an office. You just have to think of it that way. You are at work and so should be allowed to work in peace.

Be strong and say no! Good Luck!

RainbowPastel · 06/09/2017 12:29

I agree just put a note up saying you will only accept parcels for your address. I have a porch and found parcels were being left there for random neighbours. I rang each company and asked what they thought they were playing at. I now have a note on the door saying no parcel are to be left for any other addresses.

ethelfleda · 06/09/2017 12:58

Refuse to take them in then?!

Migraleve · 06/09/2017 13:02

Another simple communication issue.

'Can you take in this parcel for next door/number 8/across the road'

'No, sorry, I cant'

Job done.

MadMags · 06/09/2017 13:05

Part of the problem is having to keep answer the door, though. So a note is far more effective than continuing to answer just to say no!

Katedotness1963 · 06/09/2017 13:10

Years ago the UPS driver realised I was at home during the day and I became the unofficial drop off point if others in the street weren't in. 2/3 times a week I took in parcels for neighbours, it got to be a nuisance as I worked evenings and my husband was a shift worker, but I couldn't see a real reason to stop.
Then one day someone got something that had been broken in shipping and they went to the delivery driver to complain, saying they wanted him to get the money for a replacement from us as we must surely have broken it! Obviously that didn't work out for them and I told the driver I would no longer take in anyone's parcels.

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