Parcel Etiquette

[McKenzieFriend001]

Neighbours are rarely in. Specific delivery drivers won't / can't drop parcels / packages on the doorstep, so as I WFH they frequently knock and leave with me, posting a red card through next door.

What is the etiquette now I have the parcel? Do I put it outside their door and be done with it? If it gets stolen - who will be responsible?

They are quite aggressive and recently I got a message saying "I told DPD not to deliver at your house". DPD driver is lovely, and just takes the opportunity to not have to return time and again (they recently handed the parcel over as I already had the door open for grocery delivery).

AIBU to think next door should pop over (they certainly won't say thanks) and claim parcel, or are these high expectations? What happens if it gets nicked from outside their door?!

Your neighbours sound awful. I think the best you can do is refuse to take the parcels. Just say no sorry you can't accept them. Ignore begging etc it isn't your problem. It's on them to make arrangements
The etiquette is they should collect them from you.

I'd never accept a parcel for an aggressive neighbour, just no.

Tell the driver no and if the driver asks why tell them you have been asked specifically not to take parcels in for them.

Don't see how the driver can argue with that.

If they've messaged you in the past, you presumably have their number/ social media contact.

I used to text my old neighbour saying if I didn't hear otherwise, I'd put it in my open porch after 5pm for them to collect, as I knew they usually got home from work around that time.

I put a note on the door saying please only knock if the delivery is for us. Our neighbours - multiple of them - order lots despite being out all day, and since the various delivery companies realised we WFH it's always us they knock on. It's forever interrupting calls, making me come down from the office to open the door, then another knock later in the day when each of them comes to get their parcels. It's ridiculous. We've had a postman knock and then peer through the front room window while we were having lunch, we've had multiple knocks getting louder and louder when we chose not to answer - it's so intrusive when the package isn't even for us.

I've dropped it outside their door and messaged them directly to let them know.

I really appreciate your advice on "how to handle pleading delivery drivers", and from this day forth will be more assertive on the doorstep.

Thanks to all of you for giving me the courage to do this. I really appreciate it ☺️

This is terrible - I'm not surprised you've put up a sign!

If you have their number tell them you have it. I wouldn't leave it outside their house unless they are obviously in. I think they weren't necessarily being aggressive when they said they told DPD not to deliver to you, it sounds like they were displaying annoyance at how it had inconvenienced you.
My neighbours ( able bodied, in their 20s, wfh) used to have their deliveries sent to my house just because they couldn't be arsed to walk down the stairs. They even put it in the notes without our consent. That had to be stopped, I just refuse them now. I sent a note to neighbours saying we were too disabled to come down for other peoples parcels.

"I've dropped it outside their door and messaged them directly to let them know."

I'd be so pissed off at this. Why on earth have you agreed to take in a parcel and then dumped it out in the cold where it could get damaged or stolen?!

The neighbour has told you that they've informed dpd not to deliver to you, yet instead of saying "sorry, they've asked me not to take in their parcels anymore" you take it and then dump it on the fucking doorstep!

Bloody hell OP

Difficult trying to juggle kid dog and shopping delivery..
Honestly I wouldnt care how much pleading goes on from the parcel guy..it's his job to deliver to houses.
Stick a notice on your door saying 'only parcels for house accepted '
Then if your in a tangle at the door again just point to the notice

Absolutely. I've informed them that I've put it outside the door. Due to recent interaction with them on a different matter, I really don't want to either be accused of withholding their parcel; or knock on their door holding this one. This was the safest option.

"This was the safest option."

No, the "safest" option was to not accept their parcel and then dump it in the street.

They should come and collect. Just wait until they do

but refuse to take any more

Oh you are determined to create a problem and make it their fault!

So they've told you not to take in their parcels, but you did anyway because you're being a wet lettuce with the DPD driver but then you dump it on their doorstep.

If they weren't in, it would be safely with the driver to redeliver without your interference, but instead it's sat out in the open on their doorstep. I'd be pissed off at you too.

If you dislike these people so much why are you insisting on taking their bloody parcels in?

"If you dislike these people so much why are you insisting on taking their bloody parcels in?"

Indeed 🤣 it's not "safe" to knock on their door but its fine to intercept a parcel they asked you not to before ceremoniously dumping it out in the elements for any passing chancer to take. And of course, making sure they know about it after hunting them down on fbook and messaging them to tell them what you've done. Fucking hell some people 😅

The neighbours sound like the type to say it had been stolen even if it wasn't.

Put a sign on your front door saying 'No deliveries accepted for the Smiths at number 47'. BIG LETTERS.

Don’t take in parcels. Let the driver know it’s too tricky with the individuals.

A neighbour once left a delivery of a Dyson vacuum (massive box) at my house for over a week!! I think they were expecting me to deliver it to them 😂 End of receiving any parcels for them.

Well as this was back in January and OP hasn't posted any more updates since then, it sounds like it isn't a problem any more.