The etiquette of accepting a parcel for a neighbour

[chickendinnerroasted]

A delivery driver knocked at the door last night and asked if I'd accept a parcel for a neighbour about 4 doors down. Sure, no problem.

Around mid-afternoon today no one had knocked for it, so I went down to the neighbour's (who I've never met before) and said I'd taken in a parcel for him and handed it to him. He replied, 'Great, I was waiting for you to bring that over'.

As I went home, got me thinking about the etiquette of accepting parcels for neighbours. If you had a card pushed through your door to say a neighbour had your parcel, would you go round to get it? Or would you wait for the neighbour to bring it?

I just assume that if my neighbour has kindly taken in my parcel, it's my responsibility to go and get it! But apparently my neighbour thinks it's my responsibility to deliver it to him.

Such a minor, pointless issue really!! But it did make me wonder if there's some unspoken etiquette I'm not aware of?

Same here. I had a text to say parcel had been delivered and left in my Safe Place (garage).

No knock or ring, I was WFH on a meeting so went to get it out of the garage an hour or so later and found it outside the front door.

I suppose it depends where you live. In my area, couriers are always told never to leave any parcels on the doorstep as they get stolen by people who follow them on TV wit rounds. We usually have the same drivers from Evri, Yodel, and DPD and I expect they get to know the houses where someone is likely to be home. Im in during the day for
most of the time and drivers presumably try me first if neighbours are out.

@ithinkthatmaybeimdreaming around here, the drivers have set routes, they quickly know who is always in to receive their own parcel, so they know who is likely to be in/answer the door if a neighbour isn’t in.

If I do accept a parcel for someone else, I sign it as our door number and insist a note is put through the intended recipients door with our house number on.

In my previous homes, i always delivered parcels and neighbours always brought mine. As far as i was concerned, thats the way it way. However, at new house, neighbour had my parcel and i didnt no what to do as they hadnt brought it round. I felt like going to theirs, i risked catching them at a bad time, theirs kids might be going to bed etc etc. In my mind, they had been put out once taking the parcel in, they didnt need me at the door too. Anyway neighbour didnt bring parcel so I knocked on door. I find it really uncomfortable knocking on someones door when they dont expect me so i usually text first and ask if its a suitable time. Most of my other neighbours bring the parcel round and i take parcels round to everyone but my immediate next door neighbour who gets most of my parcels, doesnt deliver. Seems from this thread that its the rest of us in the minority!

WTF!!

They should come and collect.

Either really. I've taken parcels in and then waited for the neighbours to collect them. I've also taken parcels in, then noticed the neighbours coming home and dropped the parcels round. I don't have expectations either way.

My neighbours are meticulous about collecting their parcels from my home as soon as they get in.

Which in turn makes me meticulous about collecting mine as well.

It’s only once every few months.

If that was the case, they should have just thanked the op, no need to for the ‘waiting’ comment. That sounds a bit passive aggressive.

My neighbour fucking hates me, I used to LOVE taking their parcels in. No fun recently, they clearly blacklisted us with the courier companies. Shame.

They had to come and collect it. That is the etiquette. And the only they’ll be getting it.

I accept parcels provided the delivery man tells them where it is.

I think the etiquette of accepting parcels for neighbors can vary depending on individual preferences and the specific situation. However, it's generally considered courteous for the recipient to retrieve the parcel from their neighbor as soon as possible, especially if the parcel is large or heavy. If the neighbor has kindly accepted the parcel, it's reasonable to expect the recipient to make an effort to collect it rather than expecting the neighbor to deliver it to them.

You know for future reference. Do not deliver to neighbours, wait for them to knock. You are not a delivery service.

I take my neighbours parcels in, 8 in one day last week! I work from home so its very disruptive to my day. I do not ever deliver to them. Ever.

The neighbour should collet and thank you.

Our neighbours ordered loads online, and we were always accepting their parcels. They generally collected ok. We once took a huge parcel(s) in. 3 Massive boxes that filled our hallway. We only did it as we felt sorry for the delivery man. They didn't come that evening or the next day. So I popped over as I assumed the delivery driver couldn't have left a note.

He had left a note. The boxes were bathroom cabinets / units. They were having a bathroom refit - but the plumber/builder had delayed so had not bothered to collect as didn't want they them clogging up their hallway. They actually said they were going to collect once the plumber had confirmed they were coming. Got annoyed when I asked them to get them now. She actually asked where I thought she would put them ! Our houses are the same size.

Stopped taking their parcels after that .

I would always go and collect but I’m aware that the couriers don’t always leave a card so if I see the recipients are at home I’ll knock or text the ones whose numbers I have.

No, not really. I just handed it to him, he smiled, made his comment and then went indoors.

I remember one of my parcels being dropped off at the house over the road. I dutifully went and knocked for it, could see it in their porch, see them walking around their house, but they ignored me! I managed to get it the next day, but it annoyed me they wouldn't answer the door first time round.

It was very rude of him not to thank you @chickendinnerroasted

The come and get it. And it should be without 48hrs max, and not at a stupid time of the day.