To ring a bell or not?

[AyrshireTryer]

Yesterday is school Christmas fayre. I'm on the raffle
When it is drawn some of the winner have gone home, but we have their phone numbers. Ring the three people who had won and gone home, tell them they have won and arrange to go round on my way home to give them their prize. State time (ish) my name etc.

Obviously it is dark and the first two houses have no external light, no big, but not sure of footing as not been to their homes before. At the third house a light comes on as I walk up the drive - lovely.

I knock the door - chap if in Scotland and woman come to the door.
" Tryer from Smith Street School I've brought your raffle prize. Thanks so much for having a light so I can see the way to your door."
She says. "We also have a bell, use it."
Not in a jokey way in a real talk to me like a child way.
I just gave her the prize and walked away.

AIBU to think what a cow.

“And a merry Christmas to you too” 😂 would’ve been my reply (well, would’ve been too flummoxed to think of it at the time).
Agree - a cow.

What a rude woman. I wonder if she is cringing now, or if that is how she always speaks to those she considers "staff"?

She sounds rude but why didn't you ring the bell? It's a very odd choice to knock when there is a doorbell.

People often miss our bell push, it’s one of those old fashioned looking ones . I just say thank you very much to the delivery person , no need for rudeness!

‘And I hope the rest of your day is as pleasant as you are!’

Rude of her to say that. It does seem that people don't ring very often though. We have a bell but not a door knocker and most people just rap the door with their knuckles

It really bugs me when people don’t use our doorbell. The layout of the house means that there is no chance we will hear a knock at the front door but the bell rings in the kitchen so we always hear it. Now we have a Ring doorbell that chimes even if it isn’t pushed so we can answer. I wouldn’t be rude to someone who didn’t ring the bell though.

She was rude.
I'd personally leave prizes at school for them to be collected from school office (if they are willing).
I do however find it annoying when people knock rather than use the bell because there are lots of places I might be in the house where I won't hear a knock.

Next time let the raffle winners do the legwork.

No good deed goes unpunished and all.

But yes, very rude.

I have worked as a delivery driver in the past and you would not believe the number of doorbells that don't work. If anyone ever wonders why people knock the door and ring the bell, this is why.

No need for rudeness. But really annoys me when people knock and don’t ring the bell! Why? I don’t always hear just a brief knock.

“Sorry I didn’t think about that. I was too busy thinking how nice it is of me to bring your prize to you instead of you having to collect it. Now I’m thinking what a twat you are for not appreciating that and thanking me.’

Yanbu! What a twat

She was really rude! You were doing her a favour bringing her prize to her. Some people have no manners.

This is what the phrase, "I BEG your pardon?" was invented for. In this case followed up with, "I can see I have executed this delivery incorrectly so instead I will leave it at the school office for you to collect when you can." And follow through in spite of protestations!

Would I have thought of that at the time? Absolutely not. Would I actually have done it if I had thought of it? Absolutely yes!

What a bell end

omg you’ve just reminded me of my friends dad when I was in school. People knocking the door used to drive him round the bend 😆 absolutely incensed that someone would dare to touch his precious front door.

Honestly. These weirdos walk among us.

Also in my experience doorbells hardly ever work and then you have the “do I knock/ring again?” conundrum

I honestly didn't notice her bell.
I think I was filled with the joys of a good school fayre and giving out lovely prizes, and was just so crestfallen after being spoken to as I was.

Why on earth shouldn't she knock even if there is a door bell. Both achieve the same aim.

I'm genuinely curious.

It is a bit annoying when you've specifically installed a facility for a specific task and people ignore it.

We have a dedicated locking metal parcel box and also another box that is used for milk deliveries but which can also double as a second parcel box.

It doesn't actually matter that 95% of delivery people ignore them both and leave parcels on the doorstep - or actually ON (not in) the milk/parcel box - but it does irrationally feel rude.

Because a doorbell ring is a unique sound with only one meaning, which can often be heard throughout the house. A knock can often only be heard if you are close to the door and is less unique. If you have a door knocker this is probably better. Someone knocking on our front door is not going to be identifiably heard in our livingroom which is on a different floor at the opposite side of the house whereas the doorbell rings in the next room and would waken the dead.

Another MN eye opener. It has never occurred to me that people could get annoyed by someone knocking on their door rather than ringing the bell. It doesn’t even seem worthy of being a minor irritation.

Loads of doorbells can’t be heard by the person pressing them either because they don’t work or because you just can’t hear it outside, so I’d assume that’s why people might choose to knock first.

I can understand ringing AND knocking, especially if you can’t hear the doorbell ring. What I can’t understand is looking at a doorbell and thinking “I bet that doesn’t work, I’ll knock instead”. Or “I won’t cast my eye round this door for a bell, I’ll just knock”.

She was rude. Did you say anything back?