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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Takeaways and other deliveries in flats

21 replies

Ribrabrob · 24/04/2020 22:59

(This isn’t about ordering in the current climate, as I know that’s a bit of a controversial topic!).

I live in a ground floor flat. Pre lockdown I used to get lots of deliveries, mainly food (bad I know). The driver would ring the buzzer, i would press the main door for it to open (it makes A noise to indicate it’s open) and they’d head in the building.

My flat is first on the left as you go in so no stairs required and easy to find. I’d have my door open waiting to greet them. This is what I’ve always done but one driver said to me I should have come to main door, for which I apologized. It made me wonder what people who live higher up do.

Also I would get deliveries fairly late at night (night owl) so I’ve also started wondering whether I should think of other people in the block and go to the main door.

So Aibu to just press the buzzer for the main door and not say anything? Or should I at least say to come in using the intercom?

I know I know this seems like a minor non-issue but I get curious and a little worried about these things!

OP posts:
LastTrainEast · 24/04/2020 23:06

I'm one floor up and I do not go to the main door. I say 'come up' and press the door release. That's when I am expecting them of course. Otherwise there's a very brief conversation.

In my opinion if they delivered to the main door only that would be like delivering to the end of a street for people who live in houses. I've never had a problem.

DatingDickheads · 24/04/2020 23:10

I’m third floor and usually we buzz them in and then go and meet them. It’s usually about half way we meet. It’s to save them coming all the way up. Sometimes they are really fast and make it up before we get our shoes on Shock

MrsMidgeMaisel · 24/04/2020 23:13

Lived in 2 2nd floor flats and both times was expected to meet at the main door on the ground. I thought they weren't covered by insurance to enter the building?

MadameJosephine · 24/04/2020 23:17

I’m exactly the same as you, ground floor, door just to the left. Before Coronavirus I would always go out to the main door and meet them there but now I buzz them in and ask them to please leave it at my front door and then I wait until they’ve gone to collect it

Lalapurple · 24/04/2020 23:20

I live in a flat and in normal times deliveries would always come up to our door. Definitely not the norm here to go down.

Now it's lockdown we did have to go down for our one takeaway and I noticed Deliveroo abandoned a bag on the main door step that was there for a while, but other deliveries are still coming to the door (although the deliverers are standing back and Hermes running...)

cremuel · 24/04/2020 23:22

I’m 2nd floor and have never in my life gone down to the main door to collect a take away or anything else, including supermarket delivery, and no one delivering anything has ever expected me to, either pre-covid or now. I really don’t see why this is an issue.

happymummy12345 · 27/04/2020 13:37

When I was a student I lived in a flat in a converted house. It was an old house converted into 6 flats, mine was in the roof. I always went to the main door for all deliveries, post/ parcels or takeaway.

PumpkinP · 27/04/2020 13:43

I lived in a 3rd floor flat with no lift and always buzzed them in to come up, once I ordered from a new place and when the man came to the door he demanded I gave him £2 for coming up the stairs!! I didn’t even have it as I only had enough cash for the meal, he told me I would have to pay him “next time” safe to say I never ordered from them again.

Also home shopping deliveries I had a few drivers that made it clear they were not happy about bringing the shopping up. Glad I moved.

CherieBabySpliffUp · 27/04/2020 13:45

2nd floor with a lift, always just buzz them in and they deliver to my front door

Violetroselily · 27/04/2020 13:53

I live on the first floor and mostly always have drivers come up to my front door. Recently I've had a few just leave the item in the hallway downstairs or have asked me to meet them outside - I don't mind that

Elouera · 27/04/2020 14:08

I'm 1st floor and always buzz the external door, but make an attempt to go to the front door to meet them. I don't expect a driver to go hunting for my door! They are usually quick, and either at the landing or almost there by the time I've got shoes on and out my own door though.

With shopping deliveries, some have carried the entire load of crates up the stairs and offered to come inside and drop them in the kitchen. Apparently some people EXPECT that! 90% of the time, I run down the stairs and fill my bags there, at the front door. Currently, they wont even step inside the building.

Our communal stairs and landing seems to carry noise, so if people are using the stairs at night and chatting, it echos into our bedroom. If you know the noise is louder in your communal area, I'd meet the driver at the main front door.

Paddington68 · 27/04/2020 14:10

I go and meet at the main door. Sometimes the meet my halfway. The postman, Colin, is on some kind of speed and almost makes it to my front door.

Katk931 · 27/04/2020 15:05

I deliver takeaways and never had anyone came to the main door (nor would I expect them to) Whether it's the ground floor or the 15th floor of a high rise block of flats I press the buzzer, the customer presses the button their intercom to let me in and I deliver to their front door. As far as in aware that's the norm in my area.

GrandTheftWalrus · 27/04/2020 15:23

I'm on the 9th floor. They bring it up. Usually I am only getting a delivery if it's only me and dd in the house as I'm not leaving her to go across to the takeaway. If all 3 of us are in DP goes over to collect it.

stickerqueen · 27/04/2020 15:33

I live in a flat and deliveries are still being brought up to my front door and I say thank you through the door and they leave then I open my door and bring in. I've had one parcel left at the main door but that was argos and they do that at normal times anyway so no difference.

Theweasleytwins · 27/04/2020 15:46

My h works for Ocado, they still have to deliver to the flat door even during lockdown

PumpkinP · 27/04/2020 15:56

I don’t see what the issue is with shopping delivery drivers bringing it into the kitchen?? Tesco’s always asks me if I want them to bring it into the kitchen (obviously not now with lock down) they always seem surprised when I decline so I think they are use to doing it. I hate people in the house!

onemouseplace · 27/04/2020 16:01

We always go to the main door, but that is mainly because we have an intercom but can't buzz people into the building.

MorganKitten · 28/04/2020 00:51

I tell them over the buzzer what floor I’m on. Never bean issue.

fluffedupferretonsteroids · 28/04/2020 12:33

I'm on the 2nd floor, I have a newborn and a toddler so I cant go meet them. Most are ok to come up and we always put what floor we are on so they are not surprised.
I have had people refuse to come up before and insist I come down, takeout delivery will always end up coming up because I think they would get in trouble for not delivering.

Springcatkin · 28/04/2020 12:39

I am ground floor in a large block (80) with front gates to the car park.. They usually just ring when they get to the main gate as no one seems to manage the intercom.
I generally have to go to the gate to collect takeaways but Tesco will bring to the kitchen (not had supermarket delivery in lockdown).
Postie comes to the door (ring / step back etc), others generally leave parcels with the caretaker or in the main hallway by the lifts

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