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

[Coughsyrupsucks]

My neighbours didn’t collect their’s and then wouldn’t answer their door if I went round with them either. I was just left with all their parcels. In the end the lovely Hermes man, saw I had 2 weeks worth in the hallway for her. He took them and banged on the door until someone answered and said he wasn’t going to deliver to mine again for them. Nothing has been left here since! Hermes hero

[thenightsky]

I don't understand why these people don't pick up their parcels. They've order the stuff, so they must want it. Who orders stuff they don't want? When I order, I really look forward to getting my parcel. Weirdos.

[borageforager]

@CorianderQueen

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

My mum has terrible problems with this - parcels getting delivered to neighbours - because the couriers frequently mis-read the address and delivered to the wrong house's neighbours. Eg she lives at 10 Cherry Avenue, which comes off Cherry Lane, and the couriers leave the parcel "with a neighbour" at 12 Cherry Lane and drop the slip through the door at 10 Cherry Lane - meanwhile my mum is waiting at home for her delivery at 10 Cherry Avenue... after a few days she guesses this has happened again and starts the "find the neighbour" hunt...

[BuggerationFlavouredCrisps]

They’re cheeky fuckers if they don’t immediately come round to collect them so I’d probably start leaving them on the doorstep when you know they’re home.

If they still don’t appreciate you taking them in, start refusing to receive them.

[TheDowagerDuchess]

Stop taking them in if they are that cheeky!

Wasn’t there a thread last year where the OP’s neighbour was deliberately leaving the parcels as they were Xmas presents for her kids, and she wanted to collect them Xmas eve?

Also, maybe the same one or another where the OP was actually going away for Xmas and the neighbour wouldn’t collect their packages/ answer the door.

[FamilyOfAliens]

@justicedanceson

I always thought it was etiquette to take parcels round. I take them round for neighbours and them for me. Seems a bit PA not to. If you don’t want them surely you just don’t sign for them?

I had just opened my door to go out when the postman handed me a parcel for our new neighbours. When I said I couldn’t take it he said, but they’ve put you as a preferred neighbour to take in deliveries!

I took it round to them that evening and said I’d be happy to take in parcels if I was at home but in future, please could they not name me with any other companies unless they’d asked me first if it was ok. They were fine with this.

[thenightsky]

@HarryIrving I think you've posted in the wrong place. There is a section for stuff like this. Report your own post and MN HQ will advise you.

[HollowTalk]

@HarryIrving What was it about a thread called "Neighbours not collecting parcels" that made you think of adding that post?

[CounsellorTroi]

I never understand why, if you have ordered something you want, and have paid for it (nobody sends stuff on approval any more do they? I might be wrong) you wouldn't want to get it when you know it has been delivered to a neighbour.

[Thewinterofdiscontent]

Can’t you just ask them where they would like them put after you accept them?

I’ve told my neighbours to just leave them round the back ( all are houses share a rear car park) . Delivery driver is happy it’s in, I’m happy it’s arrived and the neighbour isn’t inconvenienced any further.

[CorianderBlues]

OP.

Fat black marker pen, "3 x XL DILDOS" written on the side of the largest box, then leave them on the neighbours doorstep 5 minutes after they go out.

Nobody will nick them (who would walk down the road advertising their "haul") and the neighbours will get the idea. And all the other neighbours get a giggle.

[notfromstepford]

I take parcels in for all my neighbours except one. They never came to get them and I only have a small hallway so I always took them over in the end. Final straw was a 15kg bag of dog food was in my hall for 3 days and they never collected it. I saw them in the street and said are you coming to get your dog food - it's blocking my hallway? They said OK - in a bit. Next day still in my hall. I lugged it over, dumped it on their doorstep and left. Now I refuse to take anything in for them.

[IntermittentParps]

I’ve told DP if he does he stores them in his office not the hall and he can take them over too
And has he agreed?

I wouldn't take in any more personally. My neighbours are all lovely and come and collect asap. One gave us a box of fudge a while ago as a 'thank you'/'sorry' because they'd had a lot of parcels left with us. I don't mind but I have an OK-sized hallway and am not exercised by the sight of parcels sitting in it.

[GhoulWithADragonTattoo]

Take those round to get rid of them and don’t accept anymore for them.

[AmandaHoldensLips]

I stopped taking in parcels when my neighbours started taking the piss. I had a sign made - PARCELS FOR THIS HOUSE ONLY PLEASE. It totally did the trick.

Then my neighbour came round and complained, demanding to know "what's the problem?". Ghastly cow. They've moved now thank god, but I still don't take other people's parcels.

[BuiltForComfortNotForSpeed]

You have my sympathy. I used to take in parcels for CF neighbour regularly and they never once said thank you, delivery men used to turn up saying they'd been told to deliver their parcels directly to me. It's nice to be neighbourly, not so nice to feel taken for a mug.

The first time you decline a parcel is hardest, it gets easier after that. I just say "I'm so sorry, I can't."

[Chloemol]

Put a note through their door when they are not in telling them you have parcels and can they come and collect

Then refuse to accept any more

[midnightstar66]

Our delivery men pop a note through but almost never put a door number. Certain ones
Show you a blank photo of where they supposedly left it. I have to send dd round to find out where they've left it.

[LostAcre]

I would stop taking parcels in for them if they’re in the habit of not coming to get them. You really need to get your DP to agree to this.

Also if I was going to their door, I’d be putting a note through their door asking them to come and get their parcels rather than dragging an armful of parcels around when you don’t know if they’ll even bother answering.

[LoveMyKidsAndCats]

Go put them on their doorstep, knock and go home. Don't hang around waiting. If not keep them until they come but shove them in a cupboard out the way. How annoying. I felt awful as my neighbour took 1 parcel for me yesterday but collected it as soon as I got home from work. It was huge aswell I'm surprised they accepted it.

[jessyjo2]

No point falling out with neighbours over something so minor. Have u a number for neighbour and ask if they mind taking them. Either way, b neighbourly.

[combatbarbie]

Give them 2 days then return to sender. They will soon get the message

[ImAKaren]

Could you text them and say "Would you mind coming to collect your 4 parcels as soon as possible - they're quite big and clogging up my hallway which is a bit of an inconvenience, especially this this time of year" ??

[Londongent]

Stop taking them in - problem solved