Two years ago we replaced the “you-can-see-sunlight-through-the-cracks” original wooden front door on our 1954 house. We didn’t realize until after the contractors ripped it off and disposed of it that this meant losing our front screen door. I was a little dismayed at the time but we didn’t have the extra cash to spend on getting a new screen door as well.
Now due to my husband’s online shopping addiction, I’ve always received a fair amount of packages. Add to that the fact that I’ve started winning stuff online (woohoo!) and requesting product for review, and I am currently receiving a LOT of packages.
The packages arrive by a variety of methods, Canada Post, DHL, UPS, etc, and show up at different times throughout the day. Despite the fact that I’m home all day, the delivery person often just leaves the package sitting in the middle of my front porch. They don’t knock. They don’t ring the bell. Back when I still had a front screen door they would leave leave it sandwiched between the two doors, which was pretty ideal. Now they leave it leaning up against my front door, or even better just sitting at the top of the stairs. Maybe I’m a little jaded, but I am paranoid that people are going to snatch my stuff. I’m developing a nervous compulsion to look out my front window hourly.
Okay, I know many of my readers are also bloggers who do product review. Or maybe you enjoy shopping online, or like me you have a husband who is addicted to eBay. How do you deal with parcels?
Maybe I just need to buck up and get a new screen door. Or I’ve considered putting some sort of container on the porch to hold packages, but then how do I coerce the delivery guys into using it? And what sort of container? I’m thinking maybe one of those plastic bench seats that lift to store stuff…. Suggestions?
A tote with lid would work, and leave a note on the door. They are pretty good about reading the notes 🙂
Hmm… I once had a delivery guy leave a 2-foot tall box UNDER MY DOOR MAT! Haha, it wasn't well hidden, that's for sure!Is there a way you can arrange for the person sending you the package to leave delivery instructions? I know there is a space on the packing slips for that kind of thing. Or, maybe leave a note asking the delivery people to knock? Hope that helps!
Rochelle – that's funny. I live in a 2nd floor condo. My front and side doors are about 6 feet apart. Although the side door is the one you come to first, at the top of the stairs, the FedEx guy ALWAYS leaves a note on the door and hides the package. I found one about 2 weeks after it was delivered. UGH! Between the boxes waiting to be recycled and the newly delivered ones (plus the ones stores by Santa outside) I'm always confused…
You're not alone! I do the same thing — look out the window hourly to see if anything has been dropped off…or I'm online checking the tracking!! Our mailman doesn't even attempt to put it on the porch or been knock; usually packages are half on the front step half on the porch. We live in the first house in our development, so everyone drives and/or has to walk by our place. We've never had a problem, I'm just paranoid. I do like the idea of a tote with a lid with a "please place deliveries here" note. Good luck!
My delivery guys usually get lazy, and leave a notice saying that I wasn't home…and then the packages go to the nearest Canada Post! Drives me crazy. I'm ALWAYS home. They don't even bother to ring the doorbell.:o)
When you order, I think you can specify where the package should be placed in case you're not home. My husband has ordered many car parts, most of which I cannot carry because of my back so they put the packages at our side door/backyard. We've even had stuff shipped to our neighbors. Our neighborhood is really safe so we trust that packages will stay put. Have you also considered leaving a note on your door to tell them where to put it or better yet, that you'll pick it up from UPS?
@Rochelle A two foot package placed under your door mat? That's hilarious!Thanks for the suggestions guys. I had never considered specifying where the package should be placed when ordering. I'm going to try leaving a note out front and see what happens. But then I worry that leaving a note on my front door makes it looks like I'm not home, so someone is going to try and break in here. It's not that my neighborhood is particularly lousy, I'm just paranoid. 🙂