AIBU to ask why people don't seem to ring the doorbell anymore?

[arintingly]

Just had this happen to me again and it's been an increasing phenomenon over the last few years.

Someone came round to pick up something I had listed on olio - sent me a message saying they were outside, I was busy with the kids so wasn't paying attention to my phone and they then messaged to say they would go home as I wasn't answering the door, but they never actually rang the doorbell?!

Tradesmen, people collecting stuff I have listed on Olio/Freecycle, even the kids' friends parents when dropping off for a playdate all seem to do it now. How is this sensible Vs just ringing our perfectly functioning and visible doorbell?!

Is this just me?

Different delivery companies never ring our doorbell. They just knock. We tend to live out the back, so we don't hear it. It is very annoying. I have put a note on the door but they ignore it. I think they want to dump and run.

People ring ours.

I think it's more common among people who have/ have had young kids- it's an automatic reaction for me to gently knock instead of ringing the bell, in case I wake the (theoretical) baby.

Has your doorbell battery run out?

Not just you. Some people seem to think everyone is glued to their phone and will hear and see every notification from every app immediately.

I also had someone turn up a little early to collect something at a prearranged time who rang once and waited much less than a minute, then when I got to the door they'd already gone and started bombarding me with pissed off emails. If they'd just waited a little longer, or rung the doorbell again in case I hadn't heard it or something they'd have had the item. But as they started being so rude I took it to a charity shop instead. Such odd entitled behaviour. Like everyone should jump to attention the second they appear, and be ready and waiting just in case.

I knock because the doorbell never works.

Just go straight to knocking

This happened to me today. Boiler repair booked. I got a phone call from their offices saying 'our engineer's been waiting outside'. I asked why he didn't just ring the doorbell?

I don't get it.

A tradesman told me that he thinks that most doorbells aren't plugged in so knocks instead. I don't mind a knock tbh

I've really noticed it with delivery drivers - they just rattle the letterbox, which if I'm in the kitchen (or have headphones on) I never hear. We have a perfectly obvious, working doorbell.

It was even more annoying in our old flat as we were on the ground floor and on more than one occasion a delivery driver would knock on the communal main door for the top floor flat - how are they ever going to hear that?

Yes I have the same. Hello Fresh delivery, literally has 'ring the doorbell' printed on the boxes. They open the porch, knock very, very quietly and go away.
Also neighbours 'I didn't think you were in when I came round the other night', 'oh, did you ring the bell?' 'No' 🙄

I would be fine with a knock instead, just not the messaging thing as I just don't want to feel like I need to have my phone on me at all times

Video doorbell that buzzes on Apple Watch with movement outside. No excuses now about not affording these things 😊. You will never miss a delivery, and best of all you can ignore unwanted callers - family, out laws, Jehovahs, anyone.

It's not just you. I have an intercom. People knock on the door or my window.

This is a 'yoof' thing. My teenagers drive me mad with it. They ask to get dropped off or picked up at friends and all they give me is a postcode and then when I get there they go mad if I ring the doorbell and insist on texting and then I'm stuck outside for ages because they've got no signal or battery has run out.

I've noticed this too. My doorbell works fine, and it's a terraced house you can hear it from outside too. But often people knock instead, or worse, not at all! I do have a very nice door knocker though, maybe they just want to try it out 😄.

That is weird, it also happened to me yesterday and I thought it was completely mad as did my adult DD.
I sold something though FB marketplace and the guy sent a message saying he was here rather than ringing the doorbell.
and this was not in the UK and the guy was in his 50s.

I have a doorbell AND a door knocker. Both are nice and loud. I find most people just knock on the door and I just cant hear them!

I get annoyed too by delivery companies mostly who seem to want to avoid you at all costs so leave it on the doorstep.

My latest delivery guy is a letterbox rattler. Which sounds exactly the same as the fecking wind rattling it. So now I either miss him or answer the door to wind.

I think it's due to the rise in smart bells. So many people are convinced it will only record if they press the bell so prefer the knock on the door approach. But I do also know people who have a strict timetable on when you can knock/ring and want you to text when you're outside then don't see your message so you end up freezing your tits off in the snow.

I feel your pain OP
Hate getting ” I’m outside” messages when my phone is on silent

No excuse about not affording these things??

I would imagine many people can’t afford a video doorbell and an Apple Watch.

I know what you mean, it drives me mad. Our house is quite big and we have ringers for the doorbell in my office, the lounge and one upstairs so we can hear it. If I'm in the lounge or my office with the door closed or my headphones on there's no way I'll hear a knock. I also get annoyed by the knock or ring the doorbell, only wait 2 seconds, then leave. I simply can't get to the door that fast!