To think banging is so unnecessary

[DrierThanANunsNasty]

Several times this year I’ve had delivery drivers fully banging on the door like the bloody gestapo whilst also ringing the video doorbell - I also had one who rattled the letterbox and another who banged on the living room window all at the same time.

Now I know being a delivery driver is probably an underpaid job with tight deadlines, and I really do appreciate that. BUT is there actually any need to bang so loudly on the door? Especially when there’s a clearly working and noisy doorbell?

It sets off the dogs barking and I’m due a baby any day now, which is making me worried they’ll end up waking them up. It’s also not the same delivery driver every time, so it’s not like I’m renowned for being slow to answer or anything.

I’ve heard them do the same with my neighbour (a woman in her late 80s who lives alone) and I dread to think how she feels whenever someone bangs on her door like that.

So AIBU? Is it just delivery drivers in my area or does everyone else get bangers too?

YABU - Let them bang
YANBU - It’s so unnecessary

I assume they bang as loud on every house, rather than wasting time waiting to see whose doorbell works etc as they don’t have time to wait around to see if you’ve heard. And of course you get people complaining nobody even knocked when they were home. So it covers their bases. Mine are the same, they’re just doing their jobs.

Order to a delivery point if the knocking is a concern?

People always seem to disagree on here, but I think YANBU

They absolutely bang the door down - I think it’s not like that in all areas, perhaps is done more in cities, so not everyone has really experienced it.

It’s worse if you have a very strong startle reflex - I know I do due to past abuse- so this could be why some of us find it so unsettling.

Also - my front door has glass in it, you can see I’m coming, I’ve shouted “coming!” - you don’t have to keep banging.

You’re right, going to collect will definitely be easier with a newborn…

In all seriousness though, why should it be so black and white? Either have them banging on your door OR go pick up your delivery yourself? Surely there must be an in between.

They knock like coppers or sometimes ring and ask if you’re home first. Very rudely!

Like what?

@TeaKitten like not smashing the door, window and letterbox all at once? It’s really not difficult.

Put a note on your door?

I did think that @AutumnCrow but the weather is so shit it would just blow off/get soaked. Maybe time to get the laminator out

We have regular delivery drivers (maybe because we’re rural?) who know our porch door is open so they just leave parcels inside without knocking now. Much easier! Probably not very secure. When baby comes just put a sign on the door saying “sleeping newborn, please leave parcels on doorstep / please ring the bell once / please don’t knock” or whatever works best for you. Some companies (I think DPD), let you choose a safe space they can leave things too so that might be an option.

Probably 2 times a week the delivery drivers bang and wake up both mine from their naps.

I've accepted it. Use white noise, it'll help.

Actually mine seem to hardly knock at all.

It's just the lightest of taps and then they dump the parcel by the door.

Ah... I'm an over orderer so it's totally my own fault but I so hate this! This morning I had the manic banging, I went from the sofa to the front door as soon as I heard it and he had thrown it in the garden. Said 'it took a long time so I thought you weren't in'

My sofa is 10 steps from my front door and I got up immediately... (Yes I counted the steps)

So my pet peeve is less the banging but the banging when it's going to be thrown in the garden if I haven't opened the door within 2.5 seconds!

I used to have an Evri driver who didn't use the door knocker but instead lifted the letterbox flap as if to post something through. By the time I realised someone was there and it hadn't just been a letter/leaflet coming through the letterbox, he was halfway down the street on his way to take the parcel to a neighbour as far as away as possible. 🙄

Oh yes @HAF1119 - we have our bins down the side of the house so they do this too! Bang bang bang, chuck by the bins in 4.8 seconds flat.

That sounds annoying but I'm not sure I'd prefer it. One of the drivers around he barely whispers at the door before dropping the package. When I started a new WFH job he left all the equipment at the front porch. I didn't see if for a few days (we don't use our front door)

I mentioned this to a delivery person yesterday. I have a very small house - the front door is straight into the open plan living area. I was sat on a sofa six feet away from the front door, lights and TV on pretty obvious I'm in there, and half six last night BASH BASH BASH like bailiffs demanding entry or something. I have nervous cats, one of whom was on my lap and the time and went flying in the air totally freaked out. As I stood up and was going to answer he knocked again making me shout alright calm down I'm coming. I said in a rather peeved way please can you not do that so loudly and he said they're told to do it by the company as people complain. I'd be fine with a gentle knock. Tbh I'm fine with them just leaving stuff by the front door and not knocking at all, I'd rather that!

They hold the intercom here until I get to the door. I answer and say come in, and they just stand outside

Yanbu i have the worlds loudest doorbell and random delivery drivers plus one very annoying postie do the bell and hammer every time, i also have a door knocker but they seem to prefer rapping knuckles on door, makes me jump and makes me cross !

Ours barely even tap on the door - I'd much rather they banged!

I hate it. I've got anxiety so I'm very easily startled by sounds and sudden movements. I get very bad heart palpitations when the door knocks

I had a delivery guy bringing a pizza the other day knock on my sitting room window instead of ringing the doorbell. It was dark outside so didn’t see him until he knocked. Proper psycho behaviour and he got short shrift when I answered the door.

Like knocking normally or ringing the bell.

I do wonder if some pps on these threads are part of the rural mumsnet contingent and don’t know the level of banging that goes on - as the OP said “like the gestapo” is it! (Obviously not literally)

They're under so much pressure to make their deliveries on time, they're just doing everything they can to make sure people hear them and come to the door. Obviously there's lots of people who are annoyed with this, with children, small animals, or if someone in the house works nights etc.

Best thing is a sign on the door saying exactly how you'd like them to deliver. Or, if possible, can you get things delivered to a family member? Unless you're having deliveries multiple times a day surely this would be okay, then they could bring it with them when they visit?

I've lived in places where they don't knock at all, or even tell you the parcel is left with a neighbour.

So I'd prefer the banging.