How to stop delivery men knocking my aunt's door to take in parcels for neighbours?

bargain_betty_3

Hello, I wonder if anyone could please offer any advice. My elderly aunt is virtually housebound and she loves to sit by the window on to the front street. Trouble is, almost every day one neighbour or another is having something delivered and because they are often out at work or elsewhere, the delivery men bang on my aunt's door and ask if she'll take in the parcels. She doesn't want to cause ill feeling with the neighbours as she says they all seem nice, but she is getting fed-up with the disruption caused by the delivery men. I have been at her house sometimes when they call, and they knock the door so hard it made me jump (and I'm not 83). Sometimes she doesn't answer but she is afraid they will see her sitting at the window, and now she doesn't want to sit by the window. This is causing her a great deal of distress as she is a very old lady. Is there a sign she could display, similar to a No Cold Callers sign, that would cut down on this stream of delivery traffic for her? Many thanks for any positive and helpful suggestions.
Betty

Dreamnine

She could put up a sign..but that might not stop them knocking anyway.

Best for her just to not answer the door - I wouldn't if it was me.

globetraveller

How friendly are the neighbours? Do they speak to her or could they be called if she needs help?

SevenOfNine

globetraveller wrote: »

How friendly are the neighbours? Do they speak to her or could they be called if she needs help?

The point being that if there's a sign up and it's clear she doesn't like doing anything for the neighbours, it's a possibility they may reciprocate in the same manner if ever needs be! You never know when a housebound person may need a small favour from a neighbour.

Can you encourage her to look on it as an opportunity for a short friendly chat whenever a neighbour calls to collect their parcel?

(Unless she has mobility problems making it difficult to keep jumping up and down to answer the door.)

Perhaps a quick phone call to your local Age UK may throw up some useful suggestions?

bargain_betty_3

Dreamnine wrote: »

She could put up a sign..but that might not stop them knocking anyway.

Best for her just to not answer the door - I wouldn't if it was me.

Thanks for your reply, I am thinking of making a sign for her door.

bargain_betty_3

She is a friendly lady but she is not a parcel reception service. She is frail and the last parcel that came looked like a huge mirror or something wrapped in cardboard. She couldn't possibly move or lift it. She is on 'Hello' terms with the neighbours and does not get mail order herself, if she needs anything I order things for her and take them round.

mummyroysof3

Could she not just play up how much she struggles to get to the door then the postman may get the hint. I guess it's more of a problem all the neighbours turning up to get them at whatever time they feel like it though maybe

bargain_betty_3

The issue is not about whether her neighbours will be offended, she gets along fine with them - the problem is that delivery men see fit to batter her door every other day to save them taking their goods back to the depot. I think a door sign would be in order.

bargain_betty_3

mummyroysof3 wrote: »

Could she not just play up how much she struggles to get to the door then the postman may get the hint. I guess it's more of a problem all the neighbours turning up to get them at whatever time they feel like it though maybe

Thanks for your reply, she doesn't mind the neighbours, it's the loud and insistent knocking from the delivery men that upsets her because she just wants to sit by the window and look at the trees etc, without some bloke tapping the glass!

shop-to-drop

If she refuses a few times they will stop doing it. But a sign may be a good idea. Does she like having the contact with the neighbours as this is a way to build a relationship with them? I understand why it is inconvenient but she needs to make the decision herself. A well worded sign may also be a good idea.

wealdroam

Sorry Betty, realistically there is nothing you (or your aunt) can do about this.

You would need to contact every delivery service in the country to ensure everyone knew.

And by the time you had done that, more delivery companies will have been created.