Neighbours not collecting parcels

[Babyyodasmacarons]

I understand that you can’t always be in for parcels and they don’t even turn up when planned a lot of the time. I also am very happy taking in neighbours parcels and grateful if they take in mine, but I ALWAYS collect them as soon as I am back and get the note/message.

Our neighbours on one side have at least 1 or 2 parcels delivered every day (understandable this time of year) but they never collect them. We see them come home from work at different times in the afternoon and then they are home all eve, but never come and get them.

At first DP or I would take them over and they’d always answer the door and take their parcels but after he took another 2 over Monday I said we should wait for them to come over and get them. Well, there are now 3 parcels clogging up the hallway (2 since Tuesday) and DP just wants to take them over, but I feel like they are being CFs, it’s expected and so we shouldn’t. AIBU?

They are definitely in and I know they are getting notes as the postman always says he’ll pop a note in. Unless their dogs are eating them they must be aware

The other issue I have is that in the summer a valuable package came for me and they must have taken it in as when I got back at lunchtime, I had a card through the letterbox but the package was just left by the doorway (not even disguised a bit in our front garden) for anyone to see.

So the AIBU I guess (and a boring one at that) is:

YABU - just keep taking them over
YANVU - let them pick them up

..part of me wants to just put them on their doorstep but I won’t be that petty... maybe

[nosswith]

If you are going to stop, at least let them know. If they have to change to collection at the nearest depot, then they have been warned.

[Babyyodasmacarons]

I have voted YABU because you are continuing to accept parcels for these CFs, knowing they won't come and collect.

That wasn’t the option but I can see why you chose it. It’s my DP accepting them though not me and as much as I want to be, I’m not the boss of him (nor him me)

[cherrypie790]

Put a large visible note on your gate or front door - we accept deliveries/parcels for this address only, thanks.

It's saved us no end of misery as we're the 1st house in the road and seem to be the default stop for couriers!

[Babyyodasmacarons]

Technically it's your fault too now if the item is broken, because it wasn't checked and sent back. So there's a reason for you to not bother anymore.

True. I’m not accepting anymore and I’ve told DP if he does he stores them in his office not the hall and he can take them over too

[soschreibfaul]

If you are going to stop, at least let them know

I wonder if they asked the OP to take in all these parcels in the first place.
I doubt it.

[Kingsley08]

@scoobydoo1971

I have sign on my door, no cold-callers or uninvited callers. I have another sticker stating no fliers or marketing leaflets. I added I refuse parcels for the neighbours on the stickers. I have refused couriers a few times but never get bothered now. If I liked my neighbours, I might accept parcels as I work from home. But they are abusive idiots and have refused parcels for me. It is rude not to collect a parcel, so start refusing for the neighbours as they will start to think of you as a Click and Collect service on their doorstep.

I’ve got a similar sign but the amount of time it’s ignored is infuriating.

The parcel etiquette is - you take it in, they collect. One CF left a parcel at ours for three weeks. I kept sending my eldest over every bloody day. Eventually, we dropped it on their doorstep.

[Judystilldreamsofhorses]

We always take parcels for neighbours, and them for us, BUT everyone collects them straight away. We had a neighbour a few doors down who has now moved that had a massive rug delivered here one year as she was out, it was the size of a carpet really. It sat in our hall for days waiting for her to knock, then eventually DP carted it round. The woman asked him to bring it right through the house for her as it was too heavy for her to carry. He was so gobsmacked he obliged. We were pleased when she moved!

[Starburst8]

It's so frustrating at this time of year especially, I always have my deliveries set up to safe place if I'm out. However that said the delivery men/women in my area hate using the safe place and deliver to the neighbours. I must admit I hate this for 3 reasons.

1. I don't want to disturb the neighbours.
   
2. I asked for a safe place to be used.
   

1. my neighbour never answer their door after accepting my parcel.

I feel your frustration OP and as a parcel retrievee I am of the opinion that you collect the parcel not the other way round. The neighbour has done a favour really.

Stop accepting if it becomes too much.

[Womencanlift]

I think give them the benefit of the doubt that they have not got/seen a card for the two that you have and then when you take them over say that you will not be taking in anymore

[Womencanlift]

Or alternatively when you see them arrive back home shout down the street “Oi you CF’s we have your parcels here, do you want to come get them otherwise they are getting donated!” - only joking (sort of 😉)

[notsubscribed]

To be honest this would really piss me off and I'd start refusing to take them in. I had a neighbour who kept doing the same so I refused them after that.

[user1471538283]

I've always taken in parcels but my last experience when I was constantly taking them in and having to drop them around to the neighbour and they didn't once take anything in for me I stopped doing it. I don't do it at all now.

I would pop those round and refuse any more. You are not their collection point/sorting office

[oakleaffy]

If they can’t be arsed to collect, don’t bother.
I foolishly said I’d accept a delivery when bloke knocked, thinking it was tiny, but he went to the van and got a trolley.. a bloody birthing pool that took up my hallway.
Now I ask the size, if heavy or big, it’s a no.

[Babyyodasmacarons]

I wonder if they asked the OP to take in all these parcels in the first place.
I doubt it.

No but they know my DP WFH since March so he’s always here

[sneakysnoopysniper]

What happened to the idea of people taking personal responsibility? When you purchase mail order goods you should be considering how they are going to get to you if you work. Relying upon neighbours just because they happen to work at home or be retired is pretty cheeky unless you are going to offer them some kind of favour in return.

Im elderly with mobility issues and no car. Not one of my thoughtless neighbours has ever offered to do some shopping for me or give me a lift. I am not a parcel depot and I dont open the door unless Im expecting a package. I also have a CCTV camera trained on my front gate so I can see who is at my door. Unless they are holding a package which Im expecting they dont have a hope in hell of my answering.

I do have a lot of deliveries but most are tracked and I know when they are coming. I always make sure Im around to collect. Ive had a few sharp words with couriers because I would not take in parcels for other people. Im not a parcel depot.

[Eckhart]

That doesn't make it ok to volunteer him as parcel recipient.

If I know you're free on Thursday afternoons, is it ok to volunteer you down at the dog's home?

These neighbours are encroaching on your time and space, and your partner is letting them.

Is your partner in agreement with you or them? Because if he thinks it's ok, your grouse is with your partner, not your neighbours.

[Eckhart]

If the delivery is made to you and you don't sign for it, the customer's issue is with the company they bought it from. I had a delivery from Amazon that didn't show up, and said 'delivered' on my account. I got a refund, although I had to wrangle with Amazon about it. The item turned up a few weeks later, delivered up the road and they'd not got round to fetching it over.

If a store wants to risk leaving its deliveries with unauthorised people, they are responsible for bearing the cost when it goes wrong. After all, what can the recipient do, if they order something, and it gets delivered somewhere without them even seeing it?

[TrialOfStyle]

Who are all these odd people who spend money on things and then don't seem to actually want them?

I get a bit edgy if someone else has my parcel.

[BestZebbie]

They aren't going to come round now because they believe that the arrangement is that your DP drops them parcels over.
Do that to get rid of these ones and then don't take in any more!

[Crunched]

I hate my neighbour taking in my deliveries. The inevitable catch up chat takes longer than driving to the parcel collection depot.
You can tell I'm full of winter cheer!

[CorianderQueen]

I always take them round as half the time the courier doesn't tell you where they are - just 'neighbour'. Which bloody one?

[ilikemethewayiam]

I stopped taking in parcels for Neighbours for this reason. Total CF’ery. They would leave them for days piling up in my hallway even though they were at home. I told them directly that I would no longer be doing it as my property was not a storage facility.

[ilikemethewayiam]

@Crunched

I hate my neighbour taking in my deliveries. The inevitable catch up chat takes longer than driving to the parcel collection depot.
You can tell I'm full of winter cheer!

🤣🤣

[DryRoastPeanut]

Just say to the delivery person “we don’t take in parcels for them”
That’s what worked for me.