Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5

Original poster

To think if someone doesn’t answer the door the first time you shouldn’t keep knocking?

101 replies

Timeforanamochango · 13/12/2017 10:13

I know trivial problem but I’m so pissed off. Have the day off today and have been expecting a parcel. Of course the parcel had to arrive at the time that I was in the middle of an important conference call with bosses and me doing the pitching so no way I could stop the call to open my front door!

I was taking the call in my living room that is by the front door and the postman rang the bell four times, I ignored it and then he starting banging and opened my letter box and could hear me talking.

He then disappeared but came back 2 minutes later and was banging again maybe 5/6 times and ringing the bell constantly!

Obviously if I was in a position to open my front door, I bloody would have the first time as now I have to wait till tomorrow and collect from post office.

AIBU to think you shouldn’t keep knocking and ringing a bell if someone doesn’t answer? I completely lost my train of thought on the call through it all and sounded like a bumbling idiot!

OP posts:

MsHarry · 13/12/2017 18:04

The postman was OTT but perhaps you could have left a note on door to say leave the parcel outside or with a neighbour.

OhWhatToChoose · 13/12/2017 18:08

My favourite occasion for a delivery was down to my neighbour. Delivery guy knocked and got no answer so my neighbour took it but as both our cars were outside she went into the back yard and started calling our names. She did this for five minutes and then came to the front door and knocked on that!

We could hear her but couldn't get to the door. Husband went round a little later and she asked why we didn't answer - he advised her he had been in the shower so she asked why I didn't answer. His response was that I was in the shower too!!!

At aged 78 she was left a little flustered with that answer.

Sometimes you just can't get to the door even when you're home.

Original poster

Timeforanamochango · 13/12/2017 18:11

I'm sure you could've explained to whoever you were chatting to on the phone

I wasn’t chatting on the phone I was on a conference call which is a virtual meeting that I was leading with 12 senior members of staff all in different time zones running through figures, I wasn’t having a natter with my Mum

In future I will try to do the note thing, It’s just remembering to put it up and down throughout the day and wouldn’t help with unexpected calls. I know it would be frustrating for him though I do get that but I just think it’s a bit over the top to bang so much, hadnt thought that he might think I’m deaf. Although, we’ve met quite a few times but they go to so many people he probably wouldn’t remember me!

OP posts:

strugglingtodomybest · 13/12/2017 18:19

wouldn’t help with unexpected calls

Can you walk around with your phone? If you got an unexpected call, couldn't you walk to the door and stick the note on whilst engaged in the first minute phone pleasantries?

Japanese · 13/12/2017 18:25

I answer the door for deliveries when I am on conference calls. I wouldn't if it was a Skype call .

I answer the door, smile & give a thumbs up to the delivery person. They can see am on the phone so they keep quiet, it takes seconds.

lynmilne65 · 13/12/2017 19:25

Dear God get a life !!!

Firesuit · 13/12/2017 19:50

Can you walk around with your phone? If you got an unexpected call, couldn't you walk to the door and stick the note on whilst engaged in the first minute phone pleasantries?

I'd guess it was a Skype meeting on a laptop, rather than an actual phone. Though a laptop might need only a cable or two disconnecting for it to become portable enough to carry around. If video was on she could have gone colleagues around the world a visual tour of her home.

Firesuit · 13/12/2017 19:51

Or she could have turned the video off.

Firesuit · 13/12/2017 19:53

Not that I think she should have. It's ludicrous to suggest you can leave a meeting where you are talking to take a delivery.

Original poster

Timeforanamochango · 13/12/2017 19:53

Ohwhat - I bet her face was a picture!
Japanese - I do usually if I’m on a call but not when I’m leading them, like I was today. You’re probably a better multi tasker than me though!

Struggling - that’s a good idea, although when I get unexpected calls I’m usually fumbling about trying to log in and pretend I know what I’m doing! But I will think about it more in future.

Lyn - That is my issue, it appears I have too much of a life that I’m not putting the things that are truly important first, such as ensuring i answer my door promptly. Thank you for giving me a deeper perspective, your wisdom is appreciated.

OP posts:

Neverender · 13/12/2017 19:54

Better than one who knocks once and then buggers off!

DrKrogersfavouritepatient · 13/12/2017 20:08

you should have left a note on the door. He had a delivery to make and could probably tell you were in. Plenty of people complain about a postie not making enough effort to be heard and then just leaving a "sorry you weren't in" card meaning you'd have had to go to a delivery centre to pick up the parcel

Hippee · 13/12/2017 20:31

I just have a plastic box with a lid by my doorstep with "Parcels" in Sharpie on it - with a few delivery services you can also designate a "safe place" like a shed. So you can put a note up saying "Please don't knock atm - can you leave any parcels in the box/safe place"

Gemini69 · 13/12/2017 20:41

I feel sorry for the Delivery guy .. all Delivery guys... particularly at this time of year... you knew your parcel was coming.. whether you were on the toilet having a crap... or on skype .... the issue was still YOU.. not the Delivery Guy ...

Trueheart1 · 13/12/2017 20:54

I wish my delivery men were like this. I swear they change into slippers and post a "sorry you were not in card" then run away. Many years ago I opened the door as the postman was posting a "sorry you were not in" card and I asked him to hand me my parcel. He admitted that the parcel was back at the depo and he had only brought the card.
I think delivery men have a crappy job and the tenacious ones deserve praise.

BackforGood · 13/12/2017 20:58

tbf, if you are taking video conferencing calls on you day off (as stated in your OP), then I don't think it is unreasonable to say - "Can you give me a sec, there's someone at the door".
However, as you know it (the parcel) was coming and you felt you couldn't leave the call, then you should have left instructions in a note on the door. You can hardly blame the delivery person for trying to actually deliver the things when he could see you were in.
I'm very appreciative when someone makes an effort to actually deliver the parcel - it really pisses me off when I've been in (I wfh in a spare bedroom), and come down to find a 'we tried to deliver but no-one was in' card, when they must have just tickled the door as I've been in all the time.

VladmirsPoutine · 13/12/2017 21:10

Back I've honestly never come across anyone in all my years of working that schedules such 'big, important' calls where 'senior' members of teams 'across multiple timezones' are present, on their day off. It's so counter-intuitive. A day-off is something you'd take after such a circumstance, not for it.
But then what do I know... I'm just some guy delivering parcels to a very important working woman that doesn't answer their door whilst going through the figures for this quarter.

Leanin15yearsmaybe · 13/12/2017 21:24

Had this with a courier 3 separate times last week whilst sleeping off nights, hammering and ringing a good 15 times. Had to get up and each time it was a package for a neighbour . So to your original question no YANBU. As an aside you know you can get it redelivered for free on a more suitable date rather than haul ass to post office right?

BlessYourCottonSocks · 13/12/2017 21:28

Well I had a delivery driver leave a parcel in the coal bunker yesterday.

The bloody coal bunker! It's a battered old tin thing, full of coal and it leaks. And yesterday was sleeting. What a stupid place to leave a Christmas present. By the time I got home and found the card the present was in a right state.

Original poster

Timeforanamochango · 13/12/2017 22:02

VladmirsPoutine - it’s a regular occurrence in my line of work unfortunately but this thread isn’t about my job, it’s about anyone (delivery driver or otherwise) banging on someone’s door over and over again being rude. (In my opinion)

Also glad @olives twatty message has been removed as I clearly was not the poster on the other thread!

I will try and put a note up in the future, but note or otherwise I still hold the opinion that it’s rude to bang on the door over and over and open someone’s letterbox if they are not answering the door, careless of their reasons for not opening it, and as this thread shows, there are many reasons it could be! But appreciate all the opinions nonetheless.

OP posts:

NeedsAsockamnesty · 13/12/2017 22:07

My postie just opens the door pops it in whilst waving at me and saying “see you soon sock”

I love him

YouStoleTheBowlFromTheRoom · 13/12/2017 22:31

I remember leaving a friendly note on the front door asking people not to knock as newborn and I were sleeping, and to leave any parcels in the porch.

Delivery guy hammered on the door, woke us both up, tore the sign down (saw from the window) and left the parcel on the step, storming off back to his van.

The parcel didn’t even need to be signed for, so there was no need for his bullshit, the prick.

DrKrogersfavouritepatient · 14/12/2017 08:12

"try and put a note up"

It's very easy.

I have to insist yabu. I can't afford for post men or women to fall short in their delivery duties for fear of being considered rude.
If there was s "do not disturb" type note on the door and he went at it with the knocking then yes, rude, but not without that note

Iprefercoffeetotea · 14/12/2017 08:43

If I was on a conference call I'd say, sorry I just need to get a parcel at the door, I'll be 30 seconds, and I'd go. Why couldn't you go? If you were in a meeting in the office you might need the loo or something.

I do understand why the constant knocking is annoying, but I am often on work calls where people need to pop off to the door. Especially this time of year.

Gemini69 · 14/12/2017 09:24

I'm with the Delivery guy 100%....

Flip

1 2 3 4 5