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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To put a sign on the front door saying I won't take parcels

82 replies

Thedriftofstars · 18/12/2017 12:31

Just answered the door for the fourth time today. I haven't ordered anything, I seem to be taking parcels in for the rest of the street. I said no to the last two, but I'm not going to answer for the rest of the day now!
I'm unwell and trying to sleep it off, except the door keeps going every 10 mins! I live in an old house with a big iron knocker on the front door so the noise goes straight through the house. I'm half tempted to take it off and put a doorbell on that I can turn off!
AIBU to put a sign on the door saying 'no parcels'?!

OP posts:
Animation86 · 18/12/2017 12:32

Yeah absolutely do it!

Not unreasonable

Hauntedlobster · 18/12/2017 12:32

Do it

WatchingFromTheWings · 18/12/2017 12:34

Do it.

EnglishGirlApproximately · 18/12/2017 12:36

I did this last Christmas when half of my street decided that me working from home meant I would be happy to take in all of their Christmas shopping. After the third interrupted client call I put a sign up. I don’t mind the odd one but some people really take the piss.

CalpolandCoke · 18/12/2017 12:38

Not unreasonable. While on maternity leave I felt like the local neighbourhood drop off!

Piffle11 · 18/12/2017 12:38

Yes I think you need to put a note on your door. I do most of my shopping online and am at home a lot to receive the parcels: if I know there's a chance I won't be in I use nominated day delivery for things needing a signature or tell them where to leave it on my property. Occasionally something has been delayed and one of my neighbours has taken it in: he told me that there was a woman who lived further down our road who used to get stuff delivered to him on purpose (without asking) when she knew she wouldn't be in, and even did it when she moved out of the road! I think the problem is that once you start, the delivery drivers just head towards you if they cannot get any answer at the recipient's door.

PonderLand · 18/12/2017 12:43

Do it! I don't mind my immediate neighbour but that's never shopping, it's usually a pharmacy delivery. The house opposite put down our house on the delivery and I refused it. Cheeky fuckery! A few houses down tried to deliver an 8 ft Xmas tree to us last year, I refused it. If its small then I may accept it but it depends how close the neighbours are to our house.

Original poster
Thedriftofstars · 18/12/2017 12:43

Hopefully I won't get anyone knocking this afternoon. I just want to sleep whilst I can!

OP posts:
Starlight2345 · 18/12/2017 12:44

I agree the delivery men used easiest option . I took the 3rd parcel for one neighbour last week I told delivery driver don't come to me again unless it is for me . I then had post office parcel van with a huge box which I refused. I now put a sign up when working . Years ago there wasn't nominated pick up but there is now

Lethaldrizzle · 18/12/2017 12:45

Can't you just not answer?

Frederickvonhefferneffer · 18/12/2017 12:46

Put a note saying
“Parcels for thedriftofstars only please”
Have a good sleep.

snowy1982 · 18/12/2017 12:46

Definitely not unreasonable, especially when your not feeling well. I have to admit to being that annoying neighbour though. Although I have to say that I have a safe place to leave parcels and state that when placing orders, delivery drivers just never seem to read the notes to the orders and never use it

AJPTaylor · 18/12/2017 12:47

Yep. Sign up.
I ended up at central drop off for a large catalogue firm. I told the woman i would only take parcels in for next door. She gave me a filthy look and said "that means ill have to come in the evening". I then said "ive changed my mind i wont take for them either"

curryforbreakfast · 18/12/2017 12:47

I did this last Christmas when half of my street decided that me working from home meant I would be happy to take in all of their Christmas shopping

They didn't decide any such thing they probably never considered you at all! They ordered their stuff and the delivery people brought it to yours, the neighbours had no control over that.

Ceto · 18/12/2017 12:50

Tie a cloth round the knocker, and put a large "Do not disturb" sign up next to it.

whiskyowl · 18/12/2017 12:51

YANBU - you are ill and need to rest. I wouldn't bother with a sign, though - they won't read it. I'd just shove a pair of socks over the door knocker.

I think it's nice to take in parcels if you are well. It's such a small, neighbourly thing to do and it really helps those who are out all day. I am working from home at the moment and it's good for me to get up from the computer, stretch my legs and have a quick chat to the delivery person!

LightastheBreeze · 18/12/2017 12:52

How annoying for you, I work part time so some things I can choose delivery date but if possible I do click and collect or use the local shop delivery for Amazon and Argos for EBay

PricillaQueenOfTheDesert · 18/12/2017 12:53

eto has the right answer, silence your knocker with a cloth and pop a sign up saying Do NOT disturb.

PricillaQueenOfTheDesert · 18/12/2017 12:54

ceto That should have said Ceto.

expatinscotland · 18/12/2017 12:55

Yep. Tie up the knocker with cloth and put up a sign.

Ski4130 · 18/12/2017 12:57

Unless your neighbour states on the delivery instructions that you'll take a parcel in for them, it's actually not down to them that the courier/postman asks you to take the parcels. Unless you're unwell (get better soon op) or have a newborn/baby sleeping, or some reason why you physically or mentally can't take a parcel in, I don't understand the outrage. I take parcels for my neighbours, and vice versa, and we're on a new build estate, so we have no long standing agreement to do so, I'd feel like a grade A shit to say no just for the sake of it.

QueenOfAccidentalDeathStares · 18/12/2017 12:57

As somebody who often has to collect their parcels from kind neighbours, please put a sign up !!

PeapodBurgundy · 18/12/2017 12:58

I don't 'do' online shopping, but DP on a nightshift is an absolute sod for buying alll kinds of crap, which he then forgets about. I don't know it's coming, therefor can't make arrangements for it to come on a day where I'm home. It must drive my neighbours mad! I hate it because our Hermes driver is really agressive (I'm genuinely quite frightened of him). A lot of the time I'm home, but I don't answer the door if I'm not expecting a delivery, and I never answer the door without checking the camera. The driver has often given up and gone by the time I've checked the camera, got the keys and got to the door. I try to repay the favour as I'm a registered drop off for Royal Mail parcels for two neighbours. Bad PeaPod Blush

larry55 · 18/12/2017 12:58

I live in a small close of a road with the same name and I am quite happy to take parcels in for my neighbours as they do the same for me but when I was asked to take a parcel for someone out of the close that I hadn't ever met I annoyed the parcel force driver as I wouldn't take the parcel.

DO3271 · 18/12/2017 12:58

YANBU

I have been taking parcels in for 2 years now for pretty much everyone on my road. I have had stuff taken in for me 4 times. Last week I took receipt of 13 parcels!! But missed mine grrr Mostly I don't mind but on ill days I have put a sign up, I can't turn the bell off. It is a pain