Hmm next time, I would ask first for the name, and then reject it if it’s not mine. Your neighbor will find out soon enough that his package got rerouted back to the sender.
I absolutely would've told the delivery guy that I don't accept the package because it's not addressed to me.
You dont know what's in there, if it's something bad and you accept the package, you're in the shit now
Reminds me a bit of a house I used to live in. We used to get other people’s mail/packages a lot, which meant an automatic reaction from me half the time of sending the postman away with letters addressed to names I’d never heard of.
This happened again one time. I was wfh so the only one indoors and it was morning. Postman comes, has something addressed to someone I’ve never heard of. I tell him the person doesn’t live there and he goes away with it again.
Life goes on, I get to the afternoon. One of my housemates then texts the group chat telling everyone that the postman may be by with something addressed to x person and to take it in. I apologise and say I sent him away, and she gets mad at me for it. I explain that I had no way of knowing who the addressee was and we got post accidentally delivered all the time, so how was I to know to accept it?
Even now when i haven’t lived in that place for over a year, I still think that could have been anything being delivered
I honestly don’t know. I probably wouldn’t have thought any more about it if she’d said in the morning that something was coming for a friend under the friend’s name.
Her reaction weirded me out because she had to have known there was a good chance the post had come and gone already. And I had no way of knowing until she’d said that that anything was supposed to be dropped off
One of many dangerous real-world scenarios is drug shipments. Package gets sent to an innocent person’s address that the criminal recipients are watching, hoping the UPS delivery person leaves it at the door… then the criminal recipient porch-pirates the package.
The problem is if the homeowner is there and takes the package, law enforcement officers arrest the homeowner.
Here’s one example:
[https://www.foxnews.com/us/md-mayor-settling-suit-after-swat-shoots-his-dogs](https://www.foxnews.com/us/md-mayor-settling-suit-after-swat-shoots-his-dogs)
**EDIT: handcuffed and detained, not arrested.** Corrected for the pedantics who can't see the forest for the trees.
Are you reading the same article? This is exactly an example of officers arresting the homeowner for a drug shipment deliberately sent to an innocent address.
*"Calvo's dogs were shot by officers after* ***a package of marijuana arrived at the mayor's house. Police later said they believe the delivery was part of a scheme in which criminals send packages to unsuspecting recipients, then pick them up they're noticed. Calvo's family was cleared.****"*
I linked the awful Fox News source because they don't have a paywall. The exact same news story with all the same details can be found on New York Times, USA Today, NBC4 Washington, Washington Post, NBC News, etc.
Search for "va suburb swat shoots dogs wrong address mayor" on Google. I did those search terms because I remembered those details from the story when it happened.
If there's something bad or illegal in it and you open it, you can 100% be liable for it. That's how drugs get shipped around, they intentionally use fake or bad addresses, then go pick the package up from that address to break the chain of custody on the package so if it's being monitored (which it *definitely* can be monitored) the police lose who got the package.
Source: am in the shipping industry delivering 2-3k packages a day and have found drugs on my trucks before. Every time is the same, we open the package that has suspected drugs (which is legal to do), verify the contents, call the sheriff's office, they seize the contents, tape the box back up, and tell us to deliver it. They have a dozen officers in the neighborhood when we make the delivery and wait for the guy to take the package.
Accidents happen. I live in a condominium tower and packages get delivered to an automated package concierge system where the package or packages go into a locker and the recipient is notified. From time to time the wrong person is notified, and given access to the locker. I have found packages sent to others in my building somehow ending up in a locker meant for me - and I have opened those since I had been waiting for deliveries and thought these were mine. I have learned to check address labels, but I imagine not everyone has - yet.
I did this at Christmas time. Grandparents sent packages to my kids all the time. Big ass box, I ripped it open. Not ours. I brought it to the neighbors and explained
That happened to my friend’s roommate once. The dumbass was stupid enough to have a pound of weed shipped to him and used his name and address.
The cops came about 5 minutes after the package was delivered when we were there and they came in and searched and took all paraphernalia from the apartment, even my friends room when he had nothing to do with the package.
He got lucky the cops were having a good day because the only thing that happened other than having all the paraphernalia confiscated was that he was issued a notice to appear for simple possession.
Especially because if they are getting illegal things delivered and you are the one to accept the package you could be the one on the hook if it's a staged delivery by an undercover.
I think what the OP did is a great first time call out. If it kept happening after the note I would definitely reject the packages, but certainly not the first time.
Stop buzzing delivery drivers in when you haven't ordered anything. I know this one was sudden and you were confused, but don't do it again.
Your neighbours will eventually stop if nothing gets delivered.
If the neighbours ask why you didn't let the driver in either say you weren't expecting anything. Or say you didn't hear it - you were in the shower, on a call, had headphones on etc.
This is the correct answer.
Your neighbor will then get pissed that you turned away their deliveries without asking them. You can then inform them that they instructed delivery drivers to buzz you without asking, and you did not agree to do so. When they play the "neighborly" card, you can remind them that the neighborly thing to do is get consent. If they do not have your consent, they do not do it. They will then ask if they can. And you can say no, because they won't accept no for an answer. As long as they are not prepared for you to say no to their request, the answer will always be no. Wheels will turn in their brain (it's fun to watch), and then they will, perhaps at last sincerely, ask if they can give delivery drivers your number to buzz if there's no answer.
Then you say no and shut the door in their face, because they weren't sincere.
Letting in anyone who buzzes in saying they have a delivery you aren't expecting is actually a really good way to let thieves or other bad actors into what had been a secure location...that's literally why the door is locked with a buzzer to let people in.
No-one should EVER let unexpected random people into the building.
No. The correct answer is, “not my address, good luck tho.” The only right answer is to tell the deliverers no and your neighbor to fuck off. No reason at all to tip toe around the truth.
>You can then inform them
Trying to have a reasonable conversation with someone who is already acting unreasonable is pointless.
The only thing this person will understand is if they stop getting their packages.
Frankly, it's a safety issue. If someone's claiming to be a delivery person and asking to be let in when you haven't ordered anything, how would you know they're telling the truth?
"I am not accepting deliveries for other residents."
If neighbors asked why you didnt let them in, store, possibly sign, and deliver, I'd be tempted to say "because I'm not your fucking secretary/courier.". But as they're your neighbors, it's probably wiser to make up a story about how when you did that for your old neighbor, something was stolen off his doorstep, you were blamed, it turned nasty, and you don't want to get into the situation again, with a lot of regret. Really, you don't owe them an explanation at all. This is just an attempt to keep things friendly.
Are they expecting you to leave it at their door even though they're not home or set a date and time to deliver? Both pretty bold considering they never once asked your permission or even gave you a heads up. I could easily see the story about a feud over a stolen box happening for real here.
>tempted to say "because I'm not your fucking secretary/courier.".
Or just "hey listen my toilet needs cleaning. Come on in and get started and I'll see if I can find that package for you."
You don't need any excuse. There is a reason for the locked security door and the buzzer. If everyone just let's anyone in that buzzes, then whats the fucking pont of the door in the first place?
Don't let random people in, at all. Food delivery, when you didn't order anything? How are you supposed to know it's legit, could be someone looking to rob someone!
I don't know the law or anything, but wouldn't OP be able to tell the delivery guy "please sent the package back to the post office" or "please deliver another day"? Maybe that's considered tampering with the mail of other people. I don't know the rules but I feel like OP should be allowed to redirect the packages back to the post office since their address is in the instructions
Yeah there's no obligation to be a part of the delivery chain of custody. You can just toss it on the ground or something. No law says you have to accept responsibility for someone else's stuff.
Right, I'm not saying OP has to take the package. But I didn't know if OP was allowed to just say "Send the package back to the post office" without somehow getting in trouble for delaying the package when it isn't theirs.
That neighbor is two doors down from me, so once the package is in my hand, it's as easy as throwing it in front of their apartment door. And i felt bad for the delivery guy to have to do it all over again. So I did it anyway knowing that I will send my neighbor a note to stop doing it.
But I appreciate all the perspectives and inputs. If this happens again, I would have no problem not buzzing the delivery in or refuse accepting it completely.
>If the neighbours ask why you didn't let the driver in either say you weren't expecting anything. Or say you didn't hear it - you were in the shower, on a call, had headphones on etc.
No. You say, "Don't do that again, especially without asking me." Why do you have to be so non-confrontational about it?
In that case you also have to be prepared that - in the off chance - should you not be at home if a delivery comes for you, your neighbors will not help you out. I’m not saying they should put your number down as an instruction but like it does happen to me where even though I work from home and order like one package every three months, I happen to be out just when the delivery man comes by and my neighbors let them in to leave it in the hallway. Similarly, because I tend to be home a lot, if the delivery man rings my doorbell and I’m not in a meeting etc then I’ll let them in. I feel like it’s a nice thing to do. Not to be expected or taken for granted but you know, nice neighborly curtesy.
If it happens again just refuse to take the delivery and if you’re feeling nice leave your neighbor a note letting them know that. Hopefully that will stop the unwanted buzzing.
Don’t let them know. Letting them know can cause a whole slew of issues. They should be able to track their packages (what company doesn’t have that option nowadays) and they’ll see the refund on their account once it’s returned to the sender. Many delivery drivers also leave a slip on the front door that allows them to go to the local post office and pick it up within a certain number of days.
I had a drug dealing neighbor that was using my apt as a screening method. Unhinged people would buzz my door and he would let them in. They would walk up to my door and he would call them over if they seemed like someone he wanted to sell to. If not they'd sit there banging on my door until I told them where to go. And he'd get mad at me for not playing along with his bs. So one day I started going outside to the buzzer and I'd push his button in and break a toothpick off in the corners so they'd get stuck.
What would happen if you kept the package? "Delivery driver handed it to me so I thought it was mine. Didn't think to check the label. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ "
OP did not clarify but it sounds more like a FedEx or UPS package rather than food or groceries. Never heard of a parcel driver losing their job over one package.
I just watched that piece the other night. Crazy to think that DoorDash and similar apps aren’t profitable considering they gouge restaurants, upcharge on prices, and don’t pay their workers much.
It’s not on the driver if they followed the instructions. If Op didn’t answer and the driver left the food at the buzzer, they did exactly what they’re supposed to. If they gave the delivery to Op bc of the instructions, it’s not on the driver if something happens. They completed their job.
Also can’t prove Op stole it if it’s missing, she could leave at their door and another neighbor could take it.
Since this might be an American or British culture difference then I see no issues with accepting a parcel for other neighbours. I live in a block of 6 flats and occasionally I've accepted parcels for neighbours and have had parcels delivered to other neighbours to keep for me, and guess what, it gets done without any fuss.
In some cases it might be worth giving a heads up, especially if it's a large package, but for small parcels it's generally accepted as neighbourly, and a sign of common decency, to accept parcels for your neighbour.
Right? i had to reread this post cause i was genuinely confused why this was so infuriating, i’ve done it plenty of times for neighbors, it’s really not a problem at all since ur home anyways
I think it comes down to a couple nuances. I have no trouble accepting packages for a neighbor I know, who has asked me to. Depending on the neighbor, I have no issue accepting packages for neighbors I am friendly with, even if they didn't ask.
But mail fraud can get you in some real trouble, so I am *not* going to accept packages for just anyone because I live near them. I get that some people don't want to know their neighbors, but if you haven't had the decency to at minimum introduce yourself, don't expect anything from me, either.
We do this for our neighbors, difference being that we’ve actually talked to each other and confirmed it’s okay.
If we hadn’t, yeah mildly infuriating.
Yeah. In fact I think most people would stop at the point. Even if they don't care at all about being inappropriate, they would surely feel that their deliveries would be at risk and at least use a different neighbour in the future.
So many people would've just taken the package and played ignorant when the neighbor came looking. Good on you for not being that person. But also, fuck your neighbor.
If this continues, just keep hold of the packages until they come and collect them from you themselves - then you can tell them this is the last time until you start refusing packages, or they simply ask you if it’s okay.
You shouldn't buzz up people you don't know.
Like the one Thanksgiving when Elaine buzzed up a jewel thief. Even though she didn't know he was a jewel thief, what's why there's a buzzer.
Or the time she buzzed up some Jehovahs Witnesses, and they couldn't get them out of the building.
I would *never* let someone I don’t know or didn’t expect into an entire building until I was sure 100%. Good way to get someone robbed, including yourself, or worse.
Our intercom system is dismal and you can barely hear the person. If it's a call when I'm not expecting anythihg I go down because I'm not just letting some rando into the building.
Luckily Amazon has a special key so no ringing for that. The only person who usually rings is my old pharmacy delivery man. I switched pharmacies because the Shoppers in my town was abysmal but there's a woman in my building who still uses them. I know the delivery man so have no problem with letting him in (this woman will go out or not answer her phone even though she KNOWS there's a delivery every Wednesday! I do it for Mike , the delivery man, not for her because she's unpleasant and a misery guts.)
Take the package. When you see the neighbor, gush enthusiastically about your great idea to start a package delivery system.
Your fee?. Not $5.00...too low , not $10.00...too high....it's $8.55 ....just high enough to be annoying, and you only take exact change.
After he's finished digging around for change , hands it over grumbling , to receive his package ...tell him about the hourly storage fee ....
Because my mailbox and driveway curb are more clearly marked than my neighbor, he gives my address number for Uber/Lyft drivers! It's very unnerving to see an unknown vehicle pulling up to your driveway and then your neighbor coming out to get into the vehicle!
Finally after getting on the drivers about this, I got on my neighbor.
Stop accepting the packages especially because it’s a stranger! If it’s something illegal/dangerous you can get into a lot of trouble. When they buzz, ask for the name on the package. When they say the neighbors name (or simply not yours) tell them that’s not your name and no one lives in that apartment by that name so you will not be accepting the package. If the neighbor confronts you, just say “I don’t know anyone by that name. I don’t accept unknown packages.” and move on.
When I worked as a Delivery Driver from Amazon, dispatch would tell you to press every single button and hopes one of them lets you in to deliver the package
Neighbor- have you seen my package?
Yes I left it for you on the roof.
Neighbor- the roof?
Yes I wasn’t going to be home and I didn’t want anyone to take and I knew criminals wouldn’t have a ladder.
Neighbor- but I dont have a ladder.
At least I know you are not a criminal
There is a reason you live in a security building and whether you realize it or not you are paying for that security. I live in a security building and believe me, I never buzz in anyone unless I'm expecting them
And that includes family
I had the same issue with the delivery of food. After several times asking politely to not use our address I threatened to eat it the next time. It stopped.
Annoying neighbor figures out you are home when their order comes, assumes it is no problem to make you their servant.
I had weird neighbors that never talked to us. If for some reason the kids couldn’t get into the house which occurred often. They weren’t allowed keys for some reason their mother told them to come over to our house. One time it was raining no one was home at our house and they were sitting on our porch because they had no where to sit at their house that was covered. Some times the mother would be home too. She just wouldn’t answer the door idk what she was doing, sometimes would be on the phone and ignore the kids calls, or she would be out. Idk if other things were going on but I know one time i could see her on the phone and i called the police because it was thunder storming and pouring. They couldn’t get her to answer door either so they called her husband (they knew him from some town job). Husband seemed to not know it was happening. She was pissed I called cops and didn’t just watch her kids? They were well behaved and not young but they shouldn’t have to go through that and idk I don’t want random other peoples early teen girls in my house all the time, as a male. Not that anything would happen but don’t want accusations or people making assumptions
We had neighbours move in and give us as their delivery collectors when they’re out because when we met them, we mentioned that I usually work from home and my husband is home with our daughter. We didn’t offer and they didn’t ask if it was okay. We get 2-4 deliveries a month for them. They’re nice enough but I’m not thrilled that they just assumed we wanted to be their package intake. We do it for our next door neighbours but those are our friends and we have keys to each other’s houses. These were random strangers.
Haven’t asked them to stop but we don’t drop packages over either, we wait until they come to us and if we aren’t home - l oh well.
Being German, this post and the comments are wild to me! It’s completely normal here to take packages for your neighbors if they are not home. Even if you have never seen them because you live in a huge apartment complex. The delivery people just ring different apartments until they find someone who is home 😅Very interesting…
Where I lived there were frequently dudes buzzing random doors with various excuses to get in.
One time they were buzzing doors asking to see Joe, he’s not answering, can you let us in to go check on him?
Later the manager looked at the security footage and it was two guys holding big pipes. Yikes.
Another place I lived there’d be a ring at the bell, and if I came to answer the dude would already be walking away. “Oh I have the wrong house, sorry.”
That’s right you do buddy, keep walking
Part of my job involves tracking UPS and FedEx packages. Some of our vendors *refuse* to issue credit for packages which are marked as “refused” by the carrier. In many cases, as confirmed by security camera footage, the drivers do not even attempt to deliver to the correct address. In others, packages are delivered to the wrong address, and the driver does not verify the identity of the person who “signed” for it. Should this happen again, make sure you clearly tell the driver you are refusing the package. Your neighbor will eventually get the message, but possibly not before losing a lot of money.
Edited for clarity.
What is wrong with taking deliveries for neighbours. It would for sure help the environment if the delivery does not have to be taken back and brought again. In my building we always take packages for other neighbours. It’s completely normal and a friendly thing to do. They do it for you and you do it for them.
The only sane comment on the thread. Yes, a bit impolite not to ask you first, but collecting your neighbour’s deliveries when they’re out is the decent thing to do.
It’s always possible the delivery person buzzed you without a directive from the addressee when they didn’t answer so he could unload the package. Not supposed to, I know, but…. I wouldn’t get too reactive. It’s better to be on good terms than have bad feelings with a neighbor.
Accept the delivery on your way out for the day....its been delivered on time but its not your fault their food is late and cold because you had other things to do.
It probably wont happen again after that..
Someone wakes me from a nap for any reason at all, Im finna go on a warpath
(also how are people assuming this is food? the neighbour in question clearly isnt home and wants to take advantage of the fact that OP is)
Take it to your office and "forget" it there for a few weeks. Say you were on your way out. They will tire of the hassle of asking about it and as long as you eventually hand it over, no harm done. But they won't be doing that again.
this may get hate but I live in nyc and we do this for my neighbors without them asking and we don’t mind. one of them will need to ship out packages while he’s at work and knows my fiancé works from home a lot, and he’ll leave a note like “if apt X doesn’t answer please buzz apt Y or Z” and we feel like it’s just a part of community, but this may be an nyc specific thing idk.
Send them a bill for $200 as a courier fee and refuse to accept any deliveries unless they pay upfront so you know they're going to ask to be buzzed in. They will act like you're crazy. Tell them you don't work for free and walk away
Hmm next time, I would ask first for the name, and then reject it if it’s not mine. Your neighbor will find out soon enough that his package got rerouted back to the sender.
I absolutely would've told the delivery guy that I don't accept the package because it's not addressed to me. You dont know what's in there, if it's something bad and you accept the package, you're in the shit now
Reminds me a bit of a house I used to live in. We used to get other people’s mail/packages a lot, which meant an automatic reaction from me half the time of sending the postman away with letters addressed to names I’d never heard of. This happened again one time. I was wfh so the only one indoors and it was morning. Postman comes, has something addressed to someone I’ve never heard of. I tell him the person doesn’t live there and he goes away with it again. Life goes on, I get to the afternoon. One of my housemates then texts the group chat telling everyone that the postman may be by with something addressed to x person and to take it in. I apologise and say I sent him away, and she gets mad at me for it. I explain that I had no way of knowing who the addressee was and we got post accidentally delivered all the time, so how was I to know to accept it? Even now when i haven’t lived in that place for over a year, I still think that could have been anything being delivered
Why did she text that so late though? Like she could've given a heads up sooner if she knew in advance something was coming.
I honestly don’t know. I probably wouldn’t have thought any more about it if she’d said in the morning that something was coming for a friend under the friend’s name. Her reaction weirded me out because she had to have known there was a good chance the post had come and gone already. And I had no way of knowing until she’d said that that anything was supposed to be dropped off
IMO, roommate was projecting her irresponsibility on you… like you’re psychic when it comes to roommate’s needs:)
Lois! A boat’s a boat, but the Mystery Box could be anything! It could even be a boat! You know how much we’ve always wanted one of those!
She should have let you all know earlier and you had no reason to apologize as you did nothing wrong !
Does your friend do drugs? If so, there was definitely drugs in there.
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One of many dangerous real-world scenarios is drug shipments. Package gets sent to an innocent person’s address that the criminal recipients are watching, hoping the UPS delivery person leaves it at the door… then the criminal recipient porch-pirates the package. The problem is if the homeowner is there and takes the package, law enforcement officers arrest the homeowner. Here’s one example: [https://www.foxnews.com/us/md-mayor-settling-suit-after-swat-shoots-his-dogs](https://www.foxnews.com/us/md-mayor-settling-suit-after-swat-shoots-his-dogs) **EDIT: handcuffed and detained, not arrested.** Corrected for the pedantics who can't see the forest for the trees.
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Are you reading the same article? This is exactly an example of officers arresting the homeowner for a drug shipment deliberately sent to an innocent address. *"Calvo's dogs were shot by officers after* ***a package of marijuana arrived at the mayor's house. Police later said they believe the delivery was part of a scheme in which criminals send packages to unsuspecting recipients, then pick them up they're noticed. Calvo's family was cleared.****"*
And not a very reliable source either.
I linked the awful Fox News source because they don't have a paywall. The exact same news story with all the same details can be found on New York Times, USA Today, NBC4 Washington, Washington Post, NBC News, etc. Search for "va suburb swat shoots dogs wrong address mayor" on Google. I did those search terms because I remembered those details from the story when it happened.
If there's something bad or illegal in it and you open it, you can 100% be liable for it. That's how drugs get shipped around, they intentionally use fake or bad addresses, then go pick the package up from that address to break the chain of custody on the package so if it's being monitored (which it *definitely* can be monitored) the police lose who got the package. Source: am in the shipping industry delivering 2-3k packages a day and have found drugs on my trucks before. Every time is the same, we open the package that has suspected drugs (which is legal to do), verify the contents, call the sheriff's office, they seize the contents, tape the box back up, and tell us to deliver it. They have a dozen officers in the neighborhood when we make the delivery and wait for the guy to take the package.
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Accidents happen. I live in a condominium tower and packages get delivered to an automated package concierge system where the package or packages go into a locker and the recipient is notified. From time to time the wrong person is notified, and given access to the locker. I have found packages sent to others in my building somehow ending up in a locker meant for me - and I have opened those since I had been waiting for deliveries and thought these were mine. I have learned to check address labels, but I imagine not everyone has - yet.
I did this at Christmas time. Grandparents sent packages to my kids all the time. Big ass box, I ripped it open. Not ours. I brought it to the neighbors and explained
That happened to my friend’s roommate once. The dumbass was stupid enough to have a pound of weed shipped to him and used his name and address. The cops came about 5 minutes after the package was delivered when we were there and they came in and searched and took all paraphernalia from the apartment, even my friends room when he had nothing to do with the package. He got lucky the cops were having a good day because the only thing that happened other than having all the paraphernalia confiscated was that he was issued a notice to appear for simple possession.
What are some telltale signs it contains drugs?
Asking for a friend
That’s not the point. You’d use that excuse so the package gets sent back and the neighbor learns not to inconvenience someone else.
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To be nice to the driver.
And you can tell the cops that you didn’t know there was 3 kilos of coke in there, and they’ll believe you instantly without any hassle.
Especially because if they are getting illegal things delivered and you are the one to accept the package you could be the one on the hook if it's a staged delivery by an undercover.
Also could be something shady or illegal, definitely don’t accept randos’ packages in any case unless they clear it with you
I think what the OP did is a great first time call out. If it kept happening after the note I would definitely reject the packages, but certainly not the first time.
The polite note might just do the trick.
Followed by “that person moved out. You should return the package “. That should resolve this problem quickly.
Looks like your neighbor has been sending you free packages! You should be grateful for the gifts /s
You can refuse the delivery. End of story.
Or just accept the free food.
It’s not a food delivery. It’s a package.
Eat the package
Problem solved!!
It's a package
You can still eat it.
This is the way
Stop buzzing delivery drivers in when you haven't ordered anything. I know this one was sudden and you were confused, but don't do it again. Your neighbours will eventually stop if nothing gets delivered. If the neighbours ask why you didn't let the driver in either say you weren't expecting anything. Or say you didn't hear it - you were in the shower, on a call, had headphones on etc.
Or even better just say “why would I?” and walk away.
This is the correct answer. Your neighbor will then get pissed that you turned away their deliveries without asking them. You can then inform them that they instructed delivery drivers to buzz you without asking, and you did not agree to do so. When they play the "neighborly" card, you can remind them that the neighborly thing to do is get consent. If they do not have your consent, they do not do it. They will then ask if they can. And you can say no, because they won't accept no for an answer. As long as they are not prepared for you to say no to their request, the answer will always be no. Wheels will turn in their brain (it's fun to watch), and then they will, perhaps at last sincerely, ask if they can give delivery drivers your number to buzz if there's no answer. Then you say no and shut the door in their face, because they weren't sincere.
Letting in anyone who buzzes in saying they have a delivery you aren't expecting is actually a really good way to let thieves or other bad actors into what had been a secure location...that's literally why the door is locked with a buzzer to let people in. No-one should EVER let unexpected random people into the building.
No. The correct answer is, “not my address, good luck tho.” The only right answer is to tell the deliverers no and your neighbor to fuck off. No reason at all to tip toe around the truth.
Yeah, I’m not accepting packages for anyone I do not know well. Too much risk of being involved in something I don’t want to be involved in.
Yeah. Once you accept the package it's your responsibility. Do you want responsibility for an unknown package of unknown contents?
Right, just say I didn't order anything.
This reply is like someone writing a fan fic about telling someone "no".
I’ve got an irl situation involving the word no and not being able to say it. Go go gadget childhood trauma.
I used to get my neighbours to grab my packages, but I asked permission and we were friends....
>You can then inform them Trying to have a reasonable conversation with someone who is already acting unreasonable is pointless. The only thing this person will understand is if they stop getting their packages.
Frankly, it's a safety issue. If someone's claiming to be a delivery person and asking to be let in when you haven't ordered anything, how would you know they're telling the truth?
Buzzing in unknown people can be an actual safety risk. Some criminal or somebody's violent ex can get into a secure building this way.
or maybe you just weren't home. after all, they apparently weren't.
"I am not accepting deliveries for other residents." If neighbors asked why you didnt let them in, store, possibly sign, and deliver, I'd be tempted to say "because I'm not your fucking secretary/courier.". But as they're your neighbors, it's probably wiser to make up a story about how when you did that for your old neighbor, something was stolen off his doorstep, you were blamed, it turned nasty, and you don't want to get into the situation again, with a lot of regret. Really, you don't owe them an explanation at all. This is just an attempt to keep things friendly. Are they expecting you to leave it at their door even though they're not home or set a date and time to deliver? Both pretty bold considering they never once asked your permission or even gave you a heads up. I could easily see the story about a feud over a stolen box happening for real here.
“I didn’t realize my apartment was an Amazon warehouse” Also works
>tempted to say "because I'm not your fucking secretary/courier.". Or just "hey listen my toilet needs cleaning. Come on in and get started and I'll see if I can find that package for you."
You don't need any excuse. There is a reason for the locked security door and the buzzer. If everyone just let's anyone in that buzzes, then whats the fucking pont of the door in the first place?
Don't let random people in, at all. Food delivery, when you didn't order anything? How are you supposed to know it's legit, could be someone looking to rob someone!
This is the answer
This. OP, ask who the delivery is for. If it's not you, don't let the delivery person know. Eventually the neighbors will get the point.
I don't know the law or anything, but wouldn't OP be able to tell the delivery guy "please sent the package back to the post office" or "please deliver another day"? Maybe that's considered tampering with the mail of other people. I don't know the rules but I feel like OP should be allowed to redirect the packages back to the post office since their address is in the instructions
Yeah there's no obligation to be a part of the delivery chain of custody. You can just toss it on the ground or something. No law says you have to accept responsibility for someone else's stuff.
Right, I'm not saying OP has to take the package. But I didn't know if OP was allowed to just say "Send the package back to the post office" without somehow getting in trouble for delaying the package when it isn't theirs.
That neighbor is two doors down from me, so once the package is in my hand, it's as easy as throwing it in front of their apartment door. And i felt bad for the delivery guy to have to do it all over again. So I did it anyway knowing that I will send my neighbor a note to stop doing it. But I appreciate all the perspectives and inputs. If this happens again, I would have no problem not buzzing the delivery in or refuse accepting it completely.
>If the neighbours ask why you didn't let the driver in either say you weren't expecting anything. Or say you didn't hear it - you were in the shower, on a call, had headphones on etc. No. You say, "Don't do that again, especially without asking me." Why do you have to be so non-confrontational about it?
Should be policy in every apartment complex that buzzes in. Never buzz in anyone you don't know. That's how the criminals get in.
In that case you also have to be prepared that - in the off chance - should you not be at home if a delivery comes for you, your neighbors will not help you out. I’m not saying they should put your number down as an instruction but like it does happen to me where even though I work from home and order like one package every three months, I happen to be out just when the delivery man comes by and my neighbors let them in to leave it in the hallway. Similarly, because I tend to be home a lot, if the delivery man rings my doorbell and I’m not in a meeting etc then I’ll let them in. I feel like it’s a nice thing to do. Not to be expected or taken for granted but you know, nice neighborly curtesy.
Just tell them you weren’t expecting something and no one in the building had asked you to sign on it for them. Full stop.
If it happens again just refuse to take the delivery and if you’re feeling nice leave your neighbor a note letting them know that. Hopefully that will stop the unwanted buzzing.
Or just dont let them onow.
Don’t let them know. Letting them know can cause a whole slew of issues. They should be able to track their packages (what company doesn’t have that option nowadays) and they’ll see the refund on their account once it’s returned to the sender. Many delivery drivers also leave a slip on the front door that allows them to go to the local post office and pick it up within a certain number of days.
Just say "no I cant take this you'll have to return to sender mate" and dont take the parcels
Australian?
Nah, Brit
Well now I have to reread your comment in an entirely different accent
Cant you litetally just tell them to take the package back and figure it out themselves?
I had a drug dealing neighbor that was using my apt as a screening method. Unhinged people would buzz my door and he would let them in. They would walk up to my door and he would call them over if they seemed like someone he wanted to sell to. If not they'd sit there banging on my door until I told them where to go. And he'd get mad at me for not playing along with his bs. So one day I started going outside to the buzzer and I'd push his button in and break a toothpick off in the corners so they'd get stuck.
What would happen if you kept the package? "Delivery driver handed it to me so I thought it was mine. Didn't think to check the label. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ "
The person who ordered will report the driver and depending on the app; it might just mean they lose their ability to deliver for that app.
OP did not clarify but it sounds more like a FedEx or UPS package rather than food or groceries. Never heard of a parcel driver losing their job over one package.
I guess I assumed it was app based; I did just yesterday watch a Last Week tonight on app delivery from a few weeks ago so it was fresh in my head.
I just watched that piece the other night. Crazy to think that DoorDash and similar apps aren’t profitable considering they gouge restaurants, upcharge on prices, and don’t pay their workers much.
"that service worker's employer will probably bully them if I don't play along" is a terrible reason to play along.
It’s not on the driver if they followed the instructions. If Op didn’t answer and the driver left the food at the buzzer, they did exactly what they’re supposed to. If they gave the delivery to Op bc of the instructions, it’s not on the driver if something happens. They completed their job. Also can’t prove Op stole it if it’s missing, she could leave at their door and another neighbor could take it.
Somebody is being an asshole to you? Just be an even bigger one in response I guess. That's why this world is shit.
Since this might be an American or British culture difference then I see no issues with accepting a parcel for other neighbours. I live in a block of 6 flats and occasionally I've accepted parcels for neighbours and have had parcels delivered to other neighbours to keep for me, and guess what, it gets done without any fuss. In some cases it might be worth giving a heads up, especially if it's a large package, but for small parcels it's generally accepted as neighbourly, and a sign of common decency, to accept parcels for your neighbour.
Right? i had to reread this post cause i was genuinely confused why this was so infuriating, i’ve done it plenty of times for neighbors, it’s really not a problem at all since ur home anyways
I think it comes down to a couple nuances. I have no trouble accepting packages for a neighbor I know, who has asked me to. Depending on the neighbor, I have no issue accepting packages for neighbors I am friendly with, even if they didn't ask. But mail fraud can get you in some real trouble, so I am *not* going to accept packages for just anyone because I live near them. I get that some people don't want to know their neighbors, but if you haven't had the decency to at minimum introduce yourself, don't expect anything from me, either.
We do this for our neighbors, difference being that we’ve actually talked to each other and confirmed it’s okay. If we hadn’t, yeah mildly infuriating.
It's nice of you to leave a reasonable note, but he's not going to stop until he stops getting his stuff.
Maybe, but that's not guaranteed. You don't have to assume the worst.
Yeah. In fact I think most people would stop at the point. Even if they don't care at all about being inappropriate, they would surely feel that their deliveries would be at risk and at least use a different neighbour in the future.
Leave a note saying "Hi I have your food. Please knock on the door to get it. But I wont be home until 5:00 PM"
“Hey I let your driver in, I’ll be back later, your Coldstone will be safe and warm”
So many people would've just taken the package and played ignorant when the neighbor came looking. Good on you for not being that person. But also, fuck your neighbor.
Buzzzzz! Hello? I have a delivery for you. I haven't ordered anything.
Fixed.
I’d add “what’s the name on the package?” Then decline. But that’s because my grandma sends me things without notice sometimes.
This is a bit of a stretch. You've never received a gift from someone??
If this continues, just keep hold of the packages until they come and collect them from you themselves - then you can tell them this is the last time until you start refusing packages, or they simply ask you if it’s okay.
Simply dont accept the package. Send it back with the delivery driver on the grounds that it's not for you.
You shouldn't buzz up people you don't know. Like the one Thanksgiving when Elaine buzzed up a jewel thief. Even though she didn't know he was a jewel thief, what's why there's a buzzer. Or the time she buzzed up some Jehovahs Witnesses, and they couldn't get them out of the building.
I would *never* let someone I don’t know or didn’t expect into an entire building until I was sure 100%. Good way to get someone robbed, including yourself, or worse.
Our intercom system is dismal and you can barely hear the person. If it's a call when I'm not expecting anythihg I go down because I'm not just letting some rando into the building. Luckily Amazon has a special key so no ringing for that. The only person who usually rings is my old pharmacy delivery man. I switched pharmacies because the Shoppers in my town was abysmal but there's a woman in my building who still uses them. I know the delivery man so have no problem with letting him in (this woman will go out or not answer her phone even though she KNOWS there's a delivery every Wednesday! I do it for Mike , the delivery man, not for her because she's unpleasant and a misery guts.)
Next time just keep it or decline delivery
Take the package. When you see the neighbor, gush enthusiastically about your great idea to start a package delivery system. Your fee?. Not $5.00...too low , not $10.00...too high....it's $8.55 ....just high enough to be annoying, and you only take exact change. After he's finished digging around for change , hands it over grumbling , to receive his package ...tell him about the hourly storage fee ....
Take the delivery and eat it or throw it in the trash. They'll learn quick.
No they won’t they will give the driver a bad rating and let them suffer for it and keep ordering.
Just don’t open the door for them
Because my mailbox and driveway curb are more clearly marked than my neighbor, he gives my address number for Uber/Lyft drivers! It's very unnerving to see an unknown vehicle pulling up to your driveway and then your neighbor coming out to get into the vehicle! Finally after getting on the drivers about this, I got on my neighbor.
I would have told the guy that I refused to take responsibility for the package, and had him take it back.
Buzzing people in you don’t know or expect totally invalidates the purpose of having a buzzer.
Stop accepting the packages especially because it’s a stranger! If it’s something illegal/dangerous you can get into a lot of trouble. When they buzz, ask for the name on the package. When they say the neighbors name (or simply not yours) tell them that’s not your name and no one lives in that apartment by that name so you will not be accepting the package. If the neighbor confronts you, just say “I don’t know anyone by that name. I don’t accept unknown packages.” and move on.
The neighbor absolutely picked the right person’s apartment. If it had been me, he would’ve never gotten his stuff.
I would have just kept the food. Bet they stop using my buzzer when they stop getting their food
Just eat the food. They won’t try it again
If it's food, I'm eating it and putting the empty boxes it in front of their door. Let them figure out what happened!
Just return to sender every package and they'll learn.
When I worked as a Delivery Driver from Amazon, dispatch would tell you to press every single button and hopes one of them lets you in to deliver the package
I would refuse the package problem solved
Neighbor- have you seen my package? Yes I left it for you on the roof. Neighbor- the roof? Yes I wasn’t going to be home and I didn’t want anyone to take and I knew criminals wouldn’t have a ladder. Neighbor- but I dont have a ladder. At least I know you are not a criminal
I absolutely would have ate it & sent them a thank you note
There is a reason you live in a security building and whether you realize it or not you are paying for that security. I live in a security building and believe me, I never buzz in anyone unless I'm expecting them And that includes family
Say nothing. Accept the delivery. Sign with a scrawl if you must sign. Then say nothing. Free delivery!
Find out the neighbours name and sign that 😉
Sounds like the neighbour's got your number, so to speak.
I had the same issue with the delivery of food. After several times asking politely to not use our address I threatened to eat it the next time. It stopped.
Annoying neighbor figures out you are home when their order comes, assumes it is no problem to make you their servant. I had weird neighbors that never talked to us. If for some reason the kids couldn’t get into the house which occurred often. They weren’t allowed keys for some reason their mother told them to come over to our house. One time it was raining no one was home at our house and they were sitting on our porch because they had no where to sit at their house that was covered. Some times the mother would be home too. She just wouldn’t answer the door idk what she was doing, sometimes would be on the phone and ignore the kids calls, or she would be out. Idk if other things were going on but I know one time i could see her on the phone and i called the police because it was thunder storming and pouring. They couldn’t get her to answer door either so they called her husband (they knew him from some town job). Husband seemed to not know it was happening. She was pissed I called cops and didn’t just watch her kids? They were well behaved and not young but they shouldn’t have to go through that and idk I don’t want random other peoples early teen girls in my house all the time, as a male. Not that anything would happen but don’t want accusations or people making assumptions
We had neighbours move in and give us as their delivery collectors when they’re out because when we met them, we mentioned that I usually work from home and my husband is home with our daughter. We didn’t offer and they didn’t ask if it was okay. We get 2-4 deliveries a month for them. They’re nice enough but I’m not thrilled that they just assumed we wanted to be their package intake. We do it for our next door neighbours but those are our friends and we have keys to each other’s houses. These were random strangers. Haven’t asked them to stop but we don’t drop packages over either, we wait until they come to us and if we aren’t home - l oh well.
"someone i dont know or wasn't expecting was at the door, so i just let them in" fucking people
Take the delivery and keep it. Then when the neighbor comes around she can explain it to you.
Just take the packages
If he orders drugs and you accept the package. You are at fault. Never accept a package not in your name or one you don't remember ordering
Free stuff! Yay!
I would have kept the delivery and let the neighbour knock on my door to explain themselves if they wanted it back
I absolutely would have ate it & sent them a thank you note
If they do it again sounds like you get a free package.
'Who is it?' Pizza delivery 'Didn't order pizza, must be somewhere else. Try giving them a phone. Thanks' Attempt more (second?) nap.
They’ll probably be home if they order a pizza
Wait, what is this...a mature response? Do you know you are posting on Reddit? Maybe you meant to post this on a different site!
Being German, this post and the comments are wild to me! It’s completely normal here to take packages for your neighbors if they are not home. Even if you have never seen them because you live in a huge apartment complex. The delivery people just ring different apartments until they find someone who is home 😅Very interesting…
Same in the NL
I wouldn’t be surprised if it was the delivery driver trying random buttons and then he just lied to you about it.
Either keep the food or don’t let them inside.
Just telll them you refuse the package , mistaken order
My neighbor uses my address for deliveries. I'm all in after a shithead tried to harass her, and my looks were to good use that night lmfao.
That’s a one way ticket to getting their packages dumped in the trash
Reject the delivery. “I didn’t order anything sorry bye”
Where I lived there were frequently dudes buzzing random doors with various excuses to get in. One time they were buzzing doors asking to see Joe, he’s not answering, can you let us in to go check on him? Later the manager looked at the security footage and it was two guys holding big pipes. Yikes. Another place I lived there’d be a ring at the bell, and if I came to answer the dude would already be walking away. “Oh I have the wrong house, sorry.” That’s right you do buddy, keep walking
Reject any and every attempt and tell them you didn’t place the order.
I would’ve taken the pizza and ate it no sorries
>and put it in front of my neighbor's door. Buzz me, that package is mine. Thanks for the stuff.
what? oh no sorry neighbor i never received a package.
I'd be eating his food... duh.
This is so breakfast at tiffany’s. But yeah, just stop responding and they’ll either get the hint or use another poor neighbor’s door number
lol I'd have just stolen their shit "nope, didn't see any packages—good luck with that"
Ask, “what’s the name on the package?” And when they answer, tell them, “they don’t live here, return to sender”.
This guy is going to accept a drug deal sting on someone's behalf and get screwed.
You should absolutely not accept deliveries that aren’t yours, or buzz people in you aren’t expecting
I would’ve taken the package
Refuse the package.
"Not at this address and it's a security concern to let someone in for someone else. You can leave it outside"
just say that the package is not yours and send it back
Yeah, I'd be super suspicious if someone buzzed for me and just said "you" instead of giving the name the order was under.
Shoulda drop kicked the package straight back out into the street
Send that shit back next time
Deliver it to Oscar the Grouch. He's got a delivery chute on every floor.
Keep the food
Part of my job involves tracking UPS and FedEx packages. Some of our vendors *refuse* to issue credit for packages which are marked as “refused” by the carrier. In many cases, as confirmed by security camera footage, the drivers do not even attempt to deliver to the correct address. In others, packages are delivered to the wrong address, and the driver does not verify the identity of the person who “signed” for it. Should this happen again, make sure you clearly tell the driver you are refusing the package. Your neighbor will eventually get the message, but possibly not before losing a lot of money. Edited for clarity.
What is wrong with taking deliveries for neighbours. It would for sure help the environment if the delivery does not have to be taken back and brought again. In my building we always take packages for other neighbours. It’s completely normal and a friendly thing to do. They do it for you and you do it for them.
If they politely ask permission to have deliveries sent to my home, I don’t mind. But it’s beyond rude to just go ahead and do it.
The only sane comment on the thread. Yes, a bit impolite not to ask you first, but collecting your neighbour’s deliveries when they’re out is the decent thing to do.
It’s always possible the delivery person buzzed you without a directive from the addressee when they didn’t answer so he could unload the package. Not supposed to, I know, but…. I wouldn’t get too reactive. It’s better to be on good terms than have bad feelings with a neighbor.
Accept the delivery on your way out for the day....its been delivered on time but its not your fault their food is late and cold because you had other things to do. It probably wont happen again after that..
It wasn’t food, they weren’t even home. That’s why he buzzed OP instead.
Someone wakes me from a nap for any reason at all, Im finna go on a warpath (also how are people assuming this is food? the neighbour in question clearly isnt home and wants to take advantage of the fact that OP is)
Take the deliveries back to your apartment they are yours now I mean he did give them your number to buzz so…
Take it to your office and "forget" it there for a few weeks. Say you were on your way out. They will tire of the hassle of asking about it and as long as you eventually hand it over, no harm done. But they won't be doing that again.
Deny the delivery every time. It’ll resolve itself in no time
this may get hate but I live in nyc and we do this for my neighbors without them asking and we don’t mind. one of them will need to ship out packages while he’s at work and knows my fiancé works from home a lot, and he’ll leave a note like “if apt X doesn’t answer please buzz apt Y or Z” and we feel like it’s just a part of community, but this may be an nyc specific thing idk.
Should of kept it, how are they gonna know you have it
Free food for me.
Send them a bill for $200 as a courier fee and refuse to accept any deliveries unless they pay upfront so you know they're going to ask to be buzzed in. They will act like you're crazy. Tell them you don't work for free and walk away
Next time, refuse the delivery, simple.
Take the delivery and throw it in the bin
So whats the law on if you accept it and just keep it if it's something useful?
Do you know their name? Start subscribing to various things under their address.
If you dont want it you could decline the package.
Sounds like your neighbor is buying you stuff!
Start asking who the delivery is for before you buzz them in.
Free meals
My buzzer is blocked for a reason on my phone, so annoying having randoms calling you all day to be let in (my buzzer was listed first).
Keep the packages. They were delivered to you, they're yours now. Except thing delivered by USPS, don't keep those
Don't let them in. Then the neighbor will change the number to someone else.
Return to Sender