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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think you don't leave a parcel outside in the pouring rain?!

17 replies

NotTonightDeidre · 05/12/2025 00:19

Went out to put some recycling in the bins before bed only to find a parcel by my bins.

It's been raining all day here & said parcel is now a soggy mess.

There was no calling card through my door to say a parcel had been left so I obviously didn't look for it.

Why on earth would you leave it in this weather? I didn't give instructions to leave in a "safe place" and would have much rather gone & collected from their depot if needs be. Now I have to deal with claim for a damaged parcel.

OP posts:

fucit · 05/12/2025 00:25

I've had this twice this week. Fortunately I was able to get there within an hour and immediately open them. They had been posted in plastic packaging so they did survive. They were totally drenched and a bit of water did make it inside the parcel, but the items are ok.

It is a difficult situation. They have massive volumes of parcels at the moment. Sometimes depots can be far away for people to collect parcels. I actually prefer mine got rained on and I didn't have to go to a depot, but that was because the items were essentially ok.

WearyAuldWumman · 05/12/2025 00:34

The same happened to me...except the parcel wasn't for me. It was left next to my bins, each clearly marked with my house number.

Neighbour's number is totally different.

I have no idea how long it was out there. I was in all day and yet there was no card through my door. DPD.

Original poster

NotTonightDeidre · 05/12/2025 00:45

This was UPS. We actually have an unlocked shed opposite our front door, or a covered carport.

If they'd just left a bloody card, my son was home around 10 minutes after the parcel was dropped.

OP posts:

Friendlygingercat · 05/12/2025 00:46

Who orders online goods when they are about to go on holiday? You can asl the courier firm to pause delivery til you return.

Original poster

NotTonightDeidre · 05/12/2025 00:46

Friendlygingercat · 05/12/2025 00:46

Who orders online goods when they are about to go on holiday? You can asl the courier firm to pause delivery til you return.

Sorry, where did I say I was on holiday?

OP posts:

EBearhug · 05/12/2025 00:49

It seems to be standard procedure round here.

Mothership4two · 05/12/2025 01:10

It's happened to us a lot and yes it's very annoying

TwinklyNight · 05/12/2025 01:11

I'd leave it at the door.

localbutterfly · 05/12/2025 01:18

I would have said it's common sense not to do this and that a one-time occurrence is a mistake, but I've been seeing it more and more!

For UPS though, you can sign up to get an SMS and/or email alert when the package has been delivered. You can set this on each package (click through on the email that gives you the tracking number when you get the notification that the package has shipped) and can add others, so for example you and your son could each get an alert. I've found it reliable - you get the update as soon as the driver marks the shipment delivered so usually within a few minutes.

teletubs · 05/12/2025 05:21

I had a MOTHERBOARD left in the pouring rain yesterday, no way they knocked the door as I was in all day, so I luckily caught it before the box was completely fucked. They literally dump and run

hby9628 · 05/12/2025 05:23

I had this the other night with RM. Delivery due before 7.30 but it didn’t turn up until 9.30pm so our porch was locked. Fortunately we have a ring camera as I saw the parcel just left by the step. £170 worth of presents could have been ruined or stolen.

Buttcraic · 05/12/2025 05:25

It's the fucked up business structures of couriers now. Evri for example, you use your own car and fuel and get paid per parcel so not for the time loading and sorting. This means £7/hr before fuel and wear on the vehicle. Amazon's emphasis is speed speed speed too, they'll all be the same it's a race to the bottom.

JaninaDuszejko · 05/12/2025 05:28

This is becoming a problem because of cardboard and paper packaging, in plastic it wouldn't be such an issue. I'm also finding more and more couriers are sending emails to let you know about deliveries rather than text messages, I'm much more likely to pick up a text message (although some companies - La Redoute, I'm looking at you - see to have started sending sale notifications by text) due to the volume of emails I get at this time of year, and trying to unsubscribe from email lists doesn't seem to work any more.

Disturbia81 · 05/12/2025 05:31

Most people want their item quickly whatever, I’d rather they leave it in the rain than not leave it at all. If it was electronics I always make sure I’m in or get it delivered to a shop.

JayJayy · 05/12/2025 06:09

gousto did this to me last weekend, rather than pressing the buzzer and leaving it in the communal entrance DPD left the box in the car park, 10ft from the main door in the pouring rain and ran. Only when the delivered notification came up and I saw the photo did I realise.
fortunately it wasn’t stolen or run over but was quite damp. I complained to Gousto as it’s not the first time they’ve dumped it rather than ring the bell and they fully refunded it. I order it for a Saturday as I know I’ll be in so no excuse for them.

Newlittlerescue · 05/12/2025 06:35

I had an Amazon order of paper bags, wrapped only in paper packaging, left flat on the wet door step (not even propped up vertically like they usually do) in the pouring rain at the weekend! No knock either.

JayJayy · 14/12/2025 18:37

Small update to my last post. Gousto did exactly the same thing again. Parcel dumped in the car park in the rain. I cancelled all my boxes and went to hello fresh.
it should have been delivered yesterday by Yodel but the label was damaged and missing the flat number, I missed the call from the Yodel driver. Called him back and explained I hadn’t got my hearing aids in and missed the call but not to worry, not his fault, bless him he dropped it in for me on his way past again.
hope he delivers every time as he’s great!

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