Doorbell be knocking......

[TransplantedScouser]

I have a ring doorbell - it’s obvious and in your face. It also detects motion.

So why the hell do people knock on the glass rather than press the fucking obvious door bell! Not wanting to be seen is not the answer because you are picked up on motion!

Why? Are door bells a strange thing!

Pizza got delivered here in error the other day so went to the right house to deliver it. It was pouring with rain, rang the doorbell-couldn't hear in ring inside and nobody appeared, and I was getting soaked. Gave the letterbox a rattle and there they were-assume the bell didn't work.

I thought Ring doorbells alert you to movement, so don’t they tell you someone’s at your door anyway? Even if they’re knocking?

I've got a doorbell ( just an ordinary one) and barely anyone uses it. Even pre-covid people would just knock.
Problem is that above general household noise, it's hard to hear a knock but the doorbell is pretty clear.

Thing is people don't know their doorbell doesn't work or the batteries need replacing etc as they never ring it. I would have to go and test mine.

We moved house recently and our new house helpfully has a "ring the bell" sign but no bell! I'm actually fine with people knocking so we probably need to just get rid of the sign

Those doorbells are ridiclously loud and I would avoid them at all cost.

They basically just say "I have lots of expensive shit and If you rob me I'll catch you"

My ring doorbell has a nice loud bong-bong-bong which is heard outside and in. Once pressed there's no doubt its working. It's a choice though. If they want to bang the door that's also fine. As long as I am made aware of a visitor they can moo loudly if that's their preference.

@SoupDragon

I don't think it's about needing instant gratification but there is something uncomfortable about standing on a doorstep not knowing if the door will be opened or not and feeling like you don't really belong there.

Especially if it's a sodding Ring doorbell and you know they can see you. I hate them.

More and more people have cameras anyway, even without the doorbell, they are relatively cheap to buy now and dead easy to install so it's inky going to become more common.

If it's any consolation I can't remember the last time I looked at the motion sensor video.

This drives me mental! We have a bell but people always bang on the glass! On takeaway orders etc I've even written "please ring the bell, don't knock" and they still do it.
knocks get lost in household noise, but the bell is a big "ding-dong" noise that's really obvious!!
Although the worst so far was the delivery driver that neither knocked nor rang but banged on the window of the front room (could see me working there) - I jumped out of my skin!

@Wellshellsbells

In case babies are asleep? I knock because I am shocked myself at loud unexpected noise ( like Catherine Tates character)

That's exactly why I don't want people knocking! That will wake my baby. My Ring doorbell doesn't

To answer more questions...

Ring doorbells yes do have motion sensors but it depends how close to a road/pavement u are as to how u set it up otherwise people walking past would set it off

A ring doorbell battery won't go flat unless the user has ignored all the notifications telling them it's low

It also lights up and makes a noise when pressed so u know it works.

If someone has a doorbell, of any type, that's what they want u to use. Not knocking door.

All the people who assume no door bells work - why not just press it anyway then knock? Our door bell would waken the dead and is always working, because we know that knocking on the double glazed outer door is not audible through the inner porch door which is always closed. Rattling the letterbox might be heard, if the TV isn’t on. Don’t stand there tapping plaintively then snap at me when I finally notice you through a window, use the device I have provided to alert me to your presence. I’m afraid I can’t reconfigure my whole house to accommodate your choice to not believe in door bells the way I don’t believe in Father Christmas.

@Burnthurst187

I used to do home delivery and I never rang the doorbell. I always knocked. SO many doorbells don't work and you stand there waiting for an answer that isn't coming hence me only knocking the door

See I find this weird, as I can hear the doorbell throughout the house and on my phone (mine is a ring too). If I am upstairs or at the back of the house it doesn't matter how hard you knock I'm not hearing you because there is likely 2 closed doors between me and the front door...

Perhaps the caller doesn't want to press it to hear the ridiculous 'ring doorbell' sound they all make!

I don't know much about Ring Doorbells. Does it ring then you look at a screen and see if you want to answer the door? Instead of looking out of the window?
Or is it more to see who is loitering on your doorstep while you are out?

My doorbell hasn't worked for years I have to leave instructions for people to knock.
Doorbell always set the dogs off so I've never bothered to fix it.
I also feel awkward when I press what seems to be a silent doorbell.

Maybe they can't see it

@Sparklingbrook

It is triggered by motion - so if anyone walks on my drive it records them and alerts my phone and Alexa devices that motion has been detected

Then if the doorbell is ring, it alert my phone and Alexa devices that there is someone at the door. I can answer it remotely if I wish and tell them to leave what ever delivery it is on the door step (quiet close that no one ever wanders down)

I can also ignore it if i wish

I would have thought it a mumsnet wet dream allowing the never answer the door crowd to vet people first

It’s right in front of people’s eye - they can’t not see it

Only on Mumsnet can someone be so angry about a doorbell that they forget to end sentences with full stops.

[quote TransplantedScouser]@Sparklingbrook

It is triggered by motion - so if anyone walks on my drive it records them and alerts my phone and Alexa devices that motion has been detected

Then if the doorbell is ring, it alert my phone and Alexa devices that there is someone at the door. I can answer it remotely if I wish and tell them to leave what ever delivery it is on the door step (quiet close that no one ever wanders down)

I can also ignore it if i wish

I would have thought it a mumsnet wet dream allowing the never answer the door crowd to vet people first

It’s right in front of people’s eye - they can’t not see it[/quote]
I don't think I would want an alert if anyone walked on my drive-does it pick up cats and foxes, the postman etc?
I tend to know when deliveries are coming as I get a text of the time. Plus I don't have my phone on me at work, so it wouldn't be any use.

I don't think a Ring doorbell is for me-but agree that for the 99% of Mumsnetters that never answer the door it would be a godsend.

I have exactly the same problem with a Ring doorbell. I was missing deliveries so thought this would help. They don’t seem to see it so I still miss deliveries.

We have a doorbell (that can be heard from outside when rung).
People still knock.
However if we are anywhere in the house except the hall or living room, we won't hear a knock, but do hear the doorbell all over the house.

@Sparklingbrook u can set the motion sensor to detect what u what and how far away. Or even not at all.

No it first pick up foxes etc

Doorbells often don’t work so it’s easier to knock.

[quote PrayingandHoping]@Sparklingbrook u can set the motion sensor to detect what u what and how far away. Or even not at all.

No it first pick up foxes etc [/quote]
Thanks, I think I'll pass. I don't really need to know if anyone or anything sets foot on my drive.

@Alexandernevermind

I was typing on my phone whilst still laying in bed lol.

It was a challenge to stop the thing rotating as I was typing! Punctuation was a bonus!