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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

… to think that the postman should take his earphones out when delivering the mail?

180 replies

Thunderpat · 02/12/2021 12:56

My postman wears earphones when he is delivering the mail. This is annoying, but is it actually something that he shouldn’t do?

I have a newborn and live in a tall skinny house which means that I am usually doing something with the baby at the top of the house when he rings. I try calling to him out of the window (he can’t hear me) or grabbing baby and running down three flights of stairs, but by the time I get to the door he is well on his way up the road with his earphones in and a cheery spring in his step.

AIBU to think that he should take his earphones out when delivering the mail?

OP posts:
sammylady37 · 02/12/2021 15:04

Such a sense of entitlement!

AlwaysLatte · 02/12/2021 15:04

Do you mean he's taken the post away again, or delivered it? If it's the former then can you put a note on the door asking him to give you longer to get downstairs?

Livpool · 02/12/2021 15:07

WTAF

OP YABU

getsanta · 02/12/2021 15:09

You have got to be joking OP.

getsanta · 02/12/2021 15:11

[quote Thunderpat]@Thursdaymiami no - not my first born. Oh dear. What’s your point?[/quote]
I think the point is that you are being unbelievably precious.

Caliexpidocioussuper · 02/12/2021 15:13

Are you for real? Like really? Real life adults with babies and everything have this level of entitlement? You aren’t special. The world doesn’t revolve around you. How bloody often is it happening that you are up 3 flights of stairs every time he rings? Put the bloody baby down for a start.

givethatbabyaname · 02/12/2021 15:18

This reply has been deleted

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CherryCoco · 02/12/2021 15:19

YABVVVU..
And entitled Shock

starfishmummy · 02/12/2021 15:26

@XenoBitch

YABU - would you want to walk for hours every day, the same route, with no music/radio/audiobook? It would drive me barmy! Put a note on your door if you are expecting a parcel. It is not the job of a postie to listen out for people in trouble either.
would you want to walk for hours every day, the same route, with no music/radio/audiobook? It would drive me barmy!

Back in my younger days I did the Christmas Post. It was 2 weeks I think (and back then 2 deliveries a day) and still remember the relentless boredom of it.

theleafandnotthetree · 02/12/2021 15:34

I know it's not the point of the thread at all but the level of materialism implied in the amount of stuff you are having delivered - if this 'situation' Hmm is annoying enough to start a thread about - also gives me the vibe that you are kind of spoiled and entitled

Bestkindaparty · 02/12/2021 15:34

My god the entitlement in the general public is getting worse. He's got a job to do. Not his problem you live in a town house.
I notice you haven't responded to the posters who have posted ideas that could help you. Shows you just wanted to rant and you hoped we'd all stroke your massive ego for you

Hankunamatata · 02/12/2021 15:38

Get a parcel box installed next to front door

BlankTimes · 02/12/2021 15:53

Another vote for Ring type doorbell and/or a large box outside to leave parcels in.

Missmissmiiiiiiiiisss · 02/12/2021 15:55

I had a similar thing and laminated a sign on the front door saying “I have a little baby and may take a moment to come to the door. I am at home. If you can’t wait please ring and then put the parcel in this box ⬇️“

It worked fine and meant I didn’t have to wake an almost asleep baby (sod’s law it always seemed to be just at the worst moment the doorbell would go)

notacooldad · 02/12/2021 15:56

Our postman is deaf
So was ours and he was a grumpy sid.
I ran after him one day to try and let him know he should have dropped the letter off at Sandringham road and not Sandringham Street I.e. my street.
He just gave me the finger so I just reposted the letter.!!😮🤣

Missmissmiiiiiiiiisss · 02/12/2021 15:57

Ignore the people being unkind. We all have these moment with a small baby. You haven’t done anything at all to this postman. You’ve just had a little rant online. Hardly crime of the century. Hope you get some rest today.

PinkSyCo · 02/12/2021 15:59

Why do you spend most of your time at the top of the house? Why don’t you put your baby down somewhere safe while you hurtle down the stairs? Why do you have your windows open in December when you have a newborn in the house? Why do you expect your postman to hang around outside in the cold while you take your sweet time to opening the door to him? Why don’t you like the fact that your postman has a cheery spring in his step? Would you feel happier if he was miserable?

BoredZelda · 02/12/2021 16:01

I would expect him, however, to turn around if you are chasing him in bare feet with your baby in your arms and your front door hanging open, but he can’t hear you.

By this argument, you are saying deaf people should never be employed to deliver mail.

vonniee · 02/12/2021 16:02

YABVVU- he’s out all day in all weathers and this helps him to get through it. I am the wife of a postie and wouldn’t do his job for all the money in the world. Leave him a note and I am sure he’ll be more than accommodating.

maddening · 02/12/2021 16:04

Get a ring doorbe so you can speak to him from upstairs

NotSoNewAndShiny · 02/12/2021 16:07

I also imagine the 'cheery, spring in his step' is either:

a. He's listening to upbeat music and sort of dance-walking to the beat. Found an entertaining way to make the most of walking to hundreds of houses to deliver posts.

b. He enjoys his job, the fresh air, etc.

c. He's a naturally cheery, spring-in-his-step kind of chap.

Good for him.

Testingprof · 02/12/2021 16:08

@SleighbellsZ

*Except he is providing a service and doing a bad job of it. He can move one side to the side to listen out if he could be bothered*

I don't understand this.
The service he is providing is delivering post, which he is trying to do.
It's not his job to look out for people chasing him barefoot because they have a newborn.

If anything, if op is having such a hard time getting downstairs she should get them delivered to a shop to collect, knowing she can't make the door?

He isn't delivering the post as he doesn't listen or wait for a response so he is doing a bad job.

As for the PP who stated that her DH is always on the phone while delivering mail, would you be ok with anybody else providing a service being on the phone?

My postman is often wearing headphones but he waits for a reasonable response time and also removes one to be polite and say hi when someone is answering the door.

ClawedButler · 02/12/2021 16:10

Of course YABU, but if you have a newborn this sort of thing does cross your mind while you're in that bizarre haze. We've all thought daft things those first few hormone-addled-sleep-deprived months. I remember being genuinely surprised that people didn't stop me in the street to exclaim over the other-worldly beauty of my baby.

Course I look at photos of her now and realise she actually looked like a shaved guinea pig in a dress, but at the time it seemed perfectly logical!

Theluggage15 · 02/12/2021 16:10

Presumably you have hands. Just stick a note on the door. Can’t believe you’ve come on here to moan about someone doing their job rather than just think of a simple solution.

sirfredfredgeorge · 02/12/2021 16:10

We had a deaf postman for years, did a great job, hearing was clearly not a required feature of delivering post - which isn't surprising as it's not.

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