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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

Pebble21uk · 18/12/2017 13:58

We have a designated safe space and it's far less hassle for everybody. Nobody minds taking in the odd parcel for immediate neighbours, but some people really do just take the proverbial. We all have better things to do with our time. My parents are very elderly and one of them is very poorly at the moment. They have been disturbed three or four times in the last week to take in parcels for a neighbour... it's really inconsiderate. Have them taken to the sorting office and go and pick them up from there.

Original poster

Thedriftofstars · 18/12/2017 13:59

I usually do take in parcels, not really bothered but this week it has been excessive. I understand people are ordering close to Christmas, but why not order when you know you'll be in? And half the time it's the bloody Royal Mail - if they're not in, just make them pick up from the depot.
I have just been woken up again by the door being knocked on incessantly - I didn't even go and answer it. I can hear them trying next door now.
I'm going to put something over the knocker, it's the noise that's waking me up when I just want to sleep!

OP posts:

Maryann1975 · 18/12/2017 13:59

I was actually relieved when my neighbours moved out last week. They have so many parcels delivered (probably 2/3 a week) and were always out at work when they were delivered. It would take them a couple of days to collect them, meaning they would be taking up space in my house while we waited for them to come round. The majority of companies give the option of a different delivery address, so you could get stuff delivered to work/their own parents address if you know you won’t be in.

I plan when I am ordering stuff so it should be delivered on the days I’m most likely to be in, it’s not hard to be a bit considerate to your neighbours.

Original poster

Thedriftofstars · 18/12/2017 14:00

And the reason I need to sleep is because I have a complex and chronic illness, for which I'm on very strong painkillers when it's a particularly bad flare up, and the only way I can get any respite is to sleep through the pain which the painkillers help with.

OP posts:

Original poster

Thedriftofstars · 18/12/2017 14:01

Maryann that is so annoying. We had that with next door for a while. They work night shifts and it took days for them to come pick stuff up.

OP posts:

Pebble21uk · 18/12/2017 14:03

OP you really shouldn't feel you need to defend yourself on this. Put something round the knocker, stick a sign on the door and hope you feel better soon. People are so inconsiderate.

Passthecake30 · 18/12/2017 14:03

I'm so guilty of ordering most things off Amazon while dp and I work full time. We can't shop at the weekend without the kids as have no sitters. The neighbours haven't complained (yet) but we do usually buy them a gift for helping us out...

Feel guilty now.

Feel better soon OP.

Branleuse · 18/12/2017 14:14

I was studying from home last year and I had to do this in the end. The knocking was constant. I put up a note in the end that said Unfortunately I can only receive parcels addressed to this address, and had it up during the day.

I wouldnt have minded the odd one, but it was for the whole fucking street and my hallway looked like a sorting office and then most of them wouldnt even collect for days, if at all. It really pissed me off

Ollivander84 · 18/12/2017 14:14

I did give the delivery driver an earful the other day
Conversation went (block of apartments)
"Is that number 1?"
"Yes"
"Can you let me in to deliver to number 2?"
"Have you buzzed number 2?"
"Yes but they aren't answering"

Yeah they never do. I am forever getting up to answer the buzzer for everyone else

Iprefercoffeetotea · 18/12/2017 14:20

I have a sticker on my door from which was issued to me by Royal Mail - it asks them to take parcels back to the sorting office if I am not in, rather than leave them with a neighbour.

I don't want to be disturbed for other people's parcels and I am embarrassed when I have to knock for my parcels as I don't like taking advantage of other people's good nature.

heron98 · 18/12/2017 14:29

I doubt it's the neighbours' fault, the postman probably knows you're in so tries your door when they are not in.

Ours sometimes leaves things with our neighbours when I haven't asked him to and was prepared to go to the sorting office if I needed to.

FairNotFair · 18/12/2017 14:40

I took in a package for delightful pregnant neighbour earlier today. She's just been round to get it, bundled up in a big coat.

"How are you? How long have you got?" I asked.

She pointed to the pram.

To be fair, it was a BIG coat. But still and I'm still carrying baby weight and said baby is 10 you'd think I'd know better.

PurpleCrazyHorse · 18/12/2017 14:46

Iprefercoffeetotea thanks for the info on the sticker, I've just opted out of Royal Mail parcels going to neighbours too and they're sending me a sticker too.

I'll happily take in parcels for immediate neighbours, they have taken in ours when delayed and the delivery day has changed. I won't take parcels in for other houses though. Luckily I don't work so it isn't inconvenient, but I wouldn't hesitate putting up a notice if I was ill or otherwise busy.

expatinscotland · 18/12/2017 14:47

'I'm so guilty of ordering most things off Amazon while dp and I work full time.'

Amazon has a number of options for delivery, including lockers located in loads of locations.

MountainDweller · 18/12/2017 15:15

I would put a sign on the door saying you have a highly infectious disease and cannot come to the door for fear of spreading it. And wrap the knocker and put in earplugs

Passthecake30 · 18/12/2017 15:40

expat I will look at the locker options next time

BeckettsandChapel · 18/12/2017 15:46

I’d love if my neighbours didn’t take my parcels in because it’s easier for me to pick up from the Royal Mail sorting office which is behind my house rather than the neighbours who have stolen/broken/lost half my packages

Latenightreader · 18/12/2017 15:52

My next door neighbour accepted a tumble dryer for me the other day... The shop were supposed to ring me 30 minutes before delivery but had added in an extra digit so couldn't get through. He's lovely but I was so embarrassed...

LakieLady · 18/12/2017 16:02

I get hacked off with drivers knocking at the door with other people's parcels. I'm usually in the middle of something or have to drag my aching bones downstairs and back up again, shut the demented dog away, find somewhere to keep up, then go through most of this again when the neighbour comes round to collect.

When I order things, I get them delivered to work, and bring them home in my car.

MikeUniformMike · 18/12/2017 16:04

Some workplaces don't let you have things delivered.

burntoutmum · 18/12/2017 16:30

I became the unofficial parcel lady of our road when I was on maternity leave. I didn’t mind taking in the odd one if neighbour was out etc until I got a couple which were delivered with a sticker saying “deliver to burnt” . They hadn’t asked, had just assumed it was ok!! So I stopped taking them in then

knowwhereyourheadis · 18/12/2017 16:39

I've stopped taking them for a neighbour 2 doors away.
I was stuck with flatpack furniture in my hall for 6 days. It was really awkward to work around in a narrow hall.

We knocked, left notes, all ignored. Even though I knew she was home. She would be at the kitchen window but wouldn't answer the door seconds later..... P I T A

WatchingFromTheWings · 18/12/2017 16:48

@knowwhereyourheadis it would have been on the pavement come Day 3!

tiggytape · 18/12/2017 17:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Bluelonerose · 18/12/2017 17:07

Next door is on shifts so asks sometimes asks if I mind having a parcel or to. No bother to me at all.

What I hate is when the delivery driver doesn't leave a note then next door come knocking with your parcel and you frantically trying to remember what you've ordered

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