The etiquette when a parcel is left with a neighbour

AskAsk

northwalesd said:

I took in a parcel for next door today. Normally I'd expect one of them to pop round to pick it up, but I'd been out shopping after work and one of the neighbours pulled into their driveway 30 seconds after I'd pulled into mine. So I unlocked the house, got the parcel and took it round.

if our neighbour does not come and collect it the day it was delivered, then we go and give them the parcel the next day as it probably means that they did not receive the card and we don't want to keep the parcel in our hallway for another day.

jennystarpepper

Thrugelmir said:

jennystarpepper said:

My neighbours are not so good, house party and hot tub parties during lockdown...  both in jobs with vunerable adults.

We went on holiday, another lockdown came in, had to come home 2 days early and self-isolate.

Had 2 parcels whilst we had been away, both unexpected.  An Amazon parcel, we have no idea to this day who or what it was / or who from.  The other was the Octopus large teddy free for signing up.

We could not knock at neighbours for obvious reasons, after X days had passed husband went to ask for parcels.... Octopus had been opened by them.... with some BS about 'we was going to send it back, looking for the return address, (which was on the top of the parrcel / box)' and in the next breath they said... we thought you had gone away (same time each year) and no Amazon parcel, Amazon person, scanned it left with neighbour and then came back for it, yet the Amazon person left us a card telling us where they had left it!

Just before husband got back into the house, after asking for parcels and saying sorry unable to call  (neighbours have a child under 5 who visits) a big AAAAWWWW rang out....we think the child was expecting to keep the Octopus toy!

Relationships are mutual. If asked you could always decline to return the favour at some point in the future. 

I agree and have taken in parcels in for them in the past and have since declined all requests.  

Alias_Omega

My neighbour brings mine around, and reminded me that she is single 

Generally, the parcel is sat on the door step for a week or so. If possible, ill order from Amazon and have it dropped off at a locker ~ or the midweek accommodation address (rare).

MrsStepford

Thank them for taking it, apologise for the inconvenience and complain to courier company/RoyalMail.

Previous neighnours expected me to take in car parts while they were at work, without arranging nything with me and opened a box from Fortnum & Mason and another from Harrods (Christmas present) so I started refusing their parcels and making sure mine were marked o not leave with neighbours. 

Husband is working from home 90% of time now so doesn't arise, for us. 

Pollycat

MrsStepford said:

Thank them for taking it, apologise for the inconvenience and complain to courier company/RoyalMail.

Previous neighnours expected me to take in car parts while they were at work, without arranging nything with me and opened a box from Fortnum & Mason and another from Harrods (Christmas present) so I started refusing their parcels and making sure mine were marked o not leave with neighbours. 

Husband is working from home 90% of time now so doesn't arise, for us. 

Why would the OP complain to the courier company/RoyalMail?

The neighbour may have offered to take the parcel or at the least may have been happy to do so if asked by courier company/RoyalMail.

Some people are good neighbours - posted up-thread:

Pollycat said:

I'm happy to take a parcel in for anyone, I've actually approached a delivery driver who is trying to deliver a parcel for someone who is clearly not in and offered to take it.

Your neighbours don't sound good but the OP is new to the area and I'd personally gauge the feeling of the neighbour before complaining.

Marvel1

I always order from Amazon and arrange for delivery at their lockers.

Fiona236

You collect the it. I wont take parcels for my neighbours anymore as it was up to me to continously try to get their parcel to them. They'd never answer the door.  They buy a lot too. 

MovingForwards

Fiona236 said:

You collect the it. I wont take parcels for my neighbours anymore as it was up to me to continously try to get their parcel to them. They'd never answer the door.  They buy a lot too. 

Worse when you can hear they're in, but not answering the door!

Jaybee_16

At my previous address delivery companies seemed to knock on my door to take packages in because they seemed to know I was home. Never took a package for the next door neighbour as they never called to collect it, and I would have to knock on several occasions because they wouldn't answer the door.

Another example was a card from Royal Mail stating they left my package at a neighbour a few doors down. When I knocked on their door to collect it, they told me they had put my package in the post box at the end of the road.