smartypants71
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,992 
Location: Houston, TX
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Post by smartypants71 on Oct 24, 2019 20:49:10 GMT
As usual, there is another thread on my ND where posters are being passive-aggressive jerks.
Please weigh in on this situation:
Neighbor posts that she received a package for a neighbor at her house by mistake and to let that neighbor know that they could come pick it up anytime. She's at 1234 Adam St and the package addressee lives one block over at 1234 Brian St.
So of course, several people have seized this opportunity to tell her how selfish she is for not walking the 3 minutes to deliver to the correct address. Even posting a google map to illustrate how long it takes to get there.
What is the etiquette here? I'm of the opinion that the onus is on the person whose name is on the package. They can then take up their complaint with UPS/USPS, etc if they want. Am I too a selfish jerk? I mean, sure, it's nice to bring it to the neighbor, but if it's cold out, or I just don't feel like it, then why should i be put out? I didn't order anything.
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Post by slowrunner70 on Oct 24, 2019 20:51:42 GMT
Are you 100% sure the person the package was intended for saw the post?
As someone who has several packages go "missing", I would go out of my way to make sure my neighbor would get their package, no matter who has to walk a block or two.
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Post by lisacharlotte on Oct 24, 2019 20:51:46 GMT
What if the recipient isn’t home and you have to walk it back home? Or you just leave it and it’s stolen? Recipient can come pick it up.
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Post by pierkiss on Oct 24, 2019 20:52:16 GMT
I just walk the package over to my neighbors house. This happened like 2 weeks ago. It belonged to the house 3 doors down. No big deal. If it were farther than my neighborhood I would just return it to what ever post service delivered it. Not a big deal. I def wouldn’t post about it on Next Door. I freaking hate that app.
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Post by myshelly on Oct 24, 2019 20:54:29 GMT
How would you get in touch with the recipient?
There’s no way to know whether the person it’s addressed to will see a random nextdoor post.
If she doesn’t want to walk it over there, write “delivered to wrong address” and give it back to the postman.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 19:58:49 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2019 20:57:12 GMT
Do they really just want her to go over there, dump it at their door and risk having the package stolen? What if the OP was disabled or can't leave the house for whatever reason? Yikes.
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Post by pierkiss on Oct 24, 2019 21:01:08 GMT
How is the OP sticking the package by the person’s doorstep any different/riskier than the postal person leaving the package by the doorstep?
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smartypants71
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,992
Location: Houston, TX
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Post by smartypants71 on Oct 24, 2019 21:01:48 GMT
That's a good point about not seeing on ND. My whole neighborhood is very active on it for the most part which is probably why we have so much drama on there LOL! I live in a gate section of 6 homes, so I WOULD deliver to those neighbors. Beyond that, i don't know. I guess it depends on how heavy the package is  |
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Post by hop2 on Oct 24, 2019 21:02:13 GMT
In my old neighborhood I sent my kids to deliver it IF it was small enough to carry. Anything too heavy to carry I call the carrier that delivered it if I knew which it was. If there was no one too call and I can’t lift it I left a note or called or message the neighbor if I knew their number.
Posting it publicly on FB is just asking for it to be stolen imho
At my new complex there was a mistaken package last year at holiday time and I called the number in the label and that happened to be the recipient so they came to get it. Which was great because I had no idea which building was his.
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Post by Basket1lady on Oct 24, 2019 21:12:43 GMT
I think bring it to your neighbor is a nice thing to do, but not a mandatory thing to do. I’d probably let them know that you have the package and either drop it off when I’m out or let them know it’s there if they want to pick it up from my porch. And yes, I’d just leave it on their porch. It’s not any different than the UPS leaving it on the doorstep.
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QueenoftheSloths
Drama Llama
Member Since January 2004, 2,698 forum posts PeaNut Number: 122614 PeaBoard Title: StuckOnPeas
Posts: 5,955
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Post by QueenoftheSloths on Oct 24, 2019 21:17:48 GMT
By posting on a public forum, "I have a parcel for this address, come get it", is she taking responsibility for making sure that any person who comes to her door and says, "that's my address" actually lives there and didn't just find the info online and thought, hey, free parcel?
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Post by myshelly on Oct 24, 2019 21:24:39 GMT
All these people wondering about having the package stolen, I mean isn’t that the risk anytime it’s delivered by anyone? How is that any different than when the post office leaves it to begin with?
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Post by dewryce on Oct 24, 2019 21:25:31 GMT
I don’t use ND so I would never see it. Our neighborhood isn’t large so we would just put the package on their doorstep if they are not home. It used to be horrible in our neighborhood so there was a lot of that. On FB our complaints were not about the residents not getting the mail to the right person, but the Post Office and carrier. Our complaints were mostly related to picking up dog poop and the shenanigans unaccompanied children got up to in the pool. But I haven’t been on in a year so I have no idea what gets everyone’s panties in a twist these days.
Telling them how to handle it when they didn’t ask seems like sticking their nose in someone else’s business and the person that posted the google map seems pissy and just loads of fun. Sure to get an invite to bingo or wine club.
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Post by monklady123 on Oct 24, 2019 21:25:56 GMT
I vote for returning it. I've taken packages and mail to its intended owner many times (we have terrible postal service here). I'd appreciate it if someone did it for me, so....
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Post by PolarGreen12 on Oct 24, 2019 21:27:14 GMT
If it’s not a neighbor that I know, after my last experience, I’m likely to leave it out with a note for the postman to see the next day and they can re-deliver to the correct address.
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Post by lucyg on Oct 24, 2019 21:31:39 GMT
When I get someone else’s mail or package, I just drop it off at the right address. It never occurred to me to try to get them to come pick it up, and if it did, I wouldn’t think posting “come and get it” on Next Door was the way to go.  But I don’t think there’s anything wrong with asking them to come get it, either. But usually I wouldn’t know how to reach them. And again, not Next Door.  |
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Post by crazy4scraps on Oct 24, 2019 21:32:18 GMT
In the past, we have dropped off misdelivered packages at the correct recipient’s address. We’ve had things come via UPS and also USPS that weren’t for us left at our house. Even when it’s the same house number but a totally different street a half mile away, we would take it over because we don’t know the people.
Sometimes on UPS labels there is a phone number listed for the recipient. If the package was particularly large or for some other reason I didn’t want to take it there myself I might call the number and leave a message for them that their big heavy box is sitting safely at my house, and leave my number for them to get back in touch with me to either come get it themselves or to notify the carrier where it is so the carrier can come pick it up.
I wouldn’t ever leave a message on ND that I received someone else’s package. That’s asking for trouble IMO.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 19:58:49 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2019 21:34:28 GMT
If you deliver and the person is not home you have to take the package back home until you try again.
If you leave the package on the homeowners doorstep and it gets stolen are you liable?
If you keep the package and post on ND you see the shit storm it brings up.
You can't really win nowadays.
I found a woman's wallet in the local grocery store parking lot. I took it inside and the store service desk would not take it - it had credit cards and they didn't want to be liable for it. I took it home and found the woman's phone number and called it. Two days later I didn't hear back so I left it at the local police station. On the fifth day the woman called me back. When I told her that her wallet was at the local police station she threw a fit and started yelling at me as to why I would do something like that. I hung up.
It's hard to help people when you're treated like crap but I'll still keep doing what I think is right.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Oct 24, 2019 21:37:06 GMT
All these people wondering about having the package stolen, I mean isn’t that the risk anytime it’s delivered by anyone? How is that any different than when the post office leaves it to begin with? True, the package could be stolen after it’s delivered. Those crimes are typically by chance, when someone criminally minded sees an opportunity (or makes one, by following the UPS or mail truck). But usually when a person orders something that’s being delivered to their house, there isn’t a media blast on a neighborhood group advertising the fact that a package is on the way and to look out for it on their porch. ETA: I see nothing wrong with going to the person’s house and just leaving it there if nothing was posted about it being misdelivered though. In that case it’s no different than if the carrier left it as they should have in the first place. |
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Post by disneypal on Oct 24, 2019 21:38:23 GMT
I think it is rude of others to tell her to walk it over. She didn't HAVE to let them know that the package was at her house - her message was kind and to the point - I think she was fine with what she posted and the intended person can come pick up the package - I would be happy if my package was delivered to the wrong address and someone posted that - I'd be glad to go to their house and pick it up - I wouldn't expect them to bring it to me.
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peabay
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,975
Jun 25, 2014 19:50:41 GMT
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Post by peabay on Oct 24, 2019 21:44:14 GMT
In my town, there are two roads both start with the same tree name and one ends with "Grove" and one ends with "Hill." I live on "Hill" and I occasionally get packages and mail for my "Grove" counterpart. I get in my car and I drive it over to their house. How would they know to come to my house and get it? It doesn't put me out - it's about a 10 minute drive and I feel like I've done a good deed. I don't care that the USPS screwed up; this person lives in my community and I'm doing a neighborly thing. I just leave it in their mailbox or at their front door - I don't knock or bother them. They probably have no idea that I've done this for the last 18 years. I would hope someone would do the same for me.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 19:58:49 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2019 21:45:44 GMT
How is the OP sticking the package by the person’s doorstep any different/riskier than the postal person leaving the package by the doorstep?
I think it depends on whether there are delivery instructions when the order was placed and/or whether that person plans to be home to receive the package. I have a GF that will stay home and wait for a delivery because she's had several packages stolen.
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Post by Layce on Oct 24, 2019 21:55:19 GMT
Like most of you, 1f it's the good ol' USPS I would put the pressure on them to handle it, redeliver, etc.
Don't most people have USPS "confirmed delivery?" You go to USPS.com and see what you're supposed to receive that day, and if anything's missing you click on the box. I mean, there's a scanned copy of each piece your of mail right there on the screen!
I've had to click on a missing piece of mail or package several times in the past year, and believe me they are quite responsive to getting it corrected the same day.
Don't USPS drivers have to take a test to get the job? That's just lazy to deliver to a completely incorrect address. MAKE 'EM DO IT RIGHT.
Layce
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Post by Eddie-n-Harley on Oct 24, 2019 22:05:21 GMT
If it's the good ol' USPS I would put the pressure on them to handle it, redeliver, etc. Don't most people have USPS "confirmed delivery?" You go to USPS.com and see what you're supposed to receive that day, and if anything's missing you check the box. I mean, they have a scanned copy of each piece of mail right there on the screen! I've had to click on a missing piece of mail or package several times in the past year, and believe me they are quite responsive to getting it corrected the same day. Don't USPS drivers have to take a test to get the job? That's just lazy to deliver to a completely incorrect address. MAKE 'EM DO IT RIGHT. Layce Informed delivery, and you don't have it if you didn't sign up for it or your post office lacks scanning equipment. It also only shows the mail that goes through that equipment so, say, the weekly shopper newspaper doesn't get pictured. Also, you won't have any package info if it doesn't have tracking (though most does), although some packages don't automatically appear on my dashboard unless I manually add the tracking number. I'm sure it has to do with whatever program is used to print the postage, but I haven't tried to figure out the commonality yet. |
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Post by twinks on Oct 24, 2019 23:55:07 GMT
I have that happen to me quite often - same street # but the coordinates are opposite. It is around the corner from me. It is a popular home for medical students/residents as it is close to the university, so occupants change every 3-4 years. I will get obvious Christmas presents from out of town family, birthday cards, and other mail - especially during the holidays and/or when we have a substitute mailperson. I just take a mis-delivered letter or package over and introduce myself. I explain the situation and they have been very nice to reciprocate when the opposite happens. No big deal and definitely not worth getting your panties in a wad over.
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scrappington
Pearl Clutcher
in Canada
Posts: 3,157
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Post by scrappington on Oct 25, 2019 0:07:49 GMT
Last Friday amazon delivered a package to me that wasn't for me. Same number but different street. It was a five minute drive. I just got home after sitting in traffic for a stupid amount of time. I just wanted to start my weekend. But I was waiting for my package so that person probably was too.
So I drove it over there. Knocked on door. No one there so left it like amazon would.
I'd hope someone would so that for me.
If the person isnt able to drive or get around then I get it. But I had no way of getting in touch with this person and calling or contacting amazon I figured would take longer than the 10 mins it was going to take me to go drop it off.
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ashley
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,571
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Post by ashley on Oct 25, 2019 0:13:26 GMT
I’ve always delivered things to the correct home that came to mine incorrectly. It’s a small thing to do and considerate.
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Post by verdepea on Oct 25, 2019 0:14:14 GMT
My neighborhood enclave has a facebook group. We post things there and make pickup arrangements between the two parties there.
The etiquette is that you posted the info in the group.
I am not on nextdoor.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 19:58:49 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 25, 2019 0:26:29 GMT
Unless I personally knew the person or was positive they were on ND, I would walk it over. I live on one street and got a package for the same house number but for a street three streets over. I dropped it off after my mailman refused to deliver it and this was a couple days after a big snowstorm. Our streets were barely plowed. The mailman did not want to deal with sidewalks that had not been shoveled yet.
I am in the camp of walk it over.
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Post by ametallichick on Oct 25, 2019 0:40:24 GMT
One of my neighbors and I have the same house number but different streets one block over. They mis-deliver packages to both of us all the time. If I get his, we text him and he comes and picks it up and vise-versa. I can’t understand your neighbors in thinking that it’s the neighbor who was delivered to responsibility to deliver to the addressee.
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