Parcel for neighbours but they’re in!

[MinesaBottle]

Delivery guy just knocked with a parcel for the upstairs flat, after knocking their door and getting no answer. I thought they were out but DH whose work area is below their living room said he heard them react to the knock! They clearly just decided not to bother answering. They always leave it days before they collect parcels too. AIBU to think if you’re at home watching telly you can answer the bloody door?!

@MinesaBottle

Howshouldibehave As in one of them getting up and then walking a few steps then stopping and that was it. Maybe they were on a work call and signaling to the guy from the window to bring to us. Who knows. We will in any case have the parcel for days now.

Victorian maisonettes - you can hear quite a lot!

Why will you have the parcel for days?

You know they are in, just take it round to them!

(I'm often confused why people on MN complain that they have had a neighbours parcel for ages, but still refuse to drop it round to them, and instead just sit and seethe that it hasn't been collected.)

If you're in an apartment and the delivery guy can get into the communal areas shouldn't he just leave parcels by the door? That's what happens in every flat I've lived in.

It's more of an

It’s a maisonette so two separate front doors to the street. I wouldn’t want delivery people leaving parcels outside as there have been a few parcel thefts round here lately.

@MinesaBottle

Howshouldibehave As in one of them getting up and then walking a few steps then stopping and that was it. Maybe they were on a work call and signaling to the guy from the window to bring to us. Who knows. We will in any case have the parcel for days now.

Victorian maisonettes - you can hear quite a lot!

Maybe they were on a work call and got up to fetch something/stretch their legs. Unless you actually saw them, you really can't say for sure what they were doing.

@KatherineofGaunt

When they knock to collect it, pretend you're not in.

Brilliant lol

@MinesaBottle

FourTeaFallout it’s a flat, we can hear their TV, not loudly but can hear it from the room below.

I don’t mind taking in parcels at all, especially as recently there have been thefts of parcels from doorsteps round here so I wouldn’t want a neighbour’s parcel getting stolen! This isn’t the first time this has happened, it does feel a bit like they now just assume we’ll take it in even if they’re in. Yes I guess they could be busy but we’re working too and can still answer the door.

So don’t. Don’t take it. You don’t know what they are doing. So take it with good grace or don’t take it at all

I'd take it up and knock. If they don't answer after a couple of attempts I'd write a note on a card saying "I think you are in but not answering, have tried a couple of times - your parcel is outside the door" write the time and date on it and leave it next to the door. Also take a photo. Then if it gets stolen, you can show them the photo.

Tbf, I've been stuck on work calls. I can't leave and can't get up to answer the door - are you sure it's not that?

I’m WFH and when I’m in a meeting I absolutely can not get up and answer the door. My neighbours have sometimes kindly taken parcels in for me, knowing that I’m in the house (but hopefully understanding that I just can’t drop everything and answer the door).

I work from home. I am often in meetings when the door goes - sometimes it is simply not possible to answer.

@RedCandyApple

They could be isolating and be in bed was what I meant.