The summer holiday habit you hope your neighbour doesn't have

What happens when a package is delivered but it's not yours? A debate about etiquette has erupted online. 

‘Tis the season to be sending and receiving packages.

It’s no surprise that December is the busiest season for the postal system - chances are you’re still waiting on Christmas gifts to be delivered, you’ve sent gifts to loved ones, or you’re holding out for sales on Boxing Day.

But, what if your package ended up at the wrong address?

One Aussie has taken to Reddit asking what the etiquette is if the wrong package ends up on your doorstep, after an unfortunate interaction with a neighbour - what would you do?

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“People can't actually be decent for half a second?”

“Recently, I had an Amazon order that was delivered to the wrong address. Luckily, basic GooglePI showed that the delivery photo was next door,” the poster began.

“Now, this happened on a Sunday while we were out. As I was too pre- occupied on the Monday, Tuesday was when I tried to resolve. As no one was home nextdoor when I enquired, my wife attempted that evening.

“So her first internet enquiry was met with a ‘no, nothing was delivered’. After referring to the photo, said the package was retrieved from the individual's vehicle, with the content that they were going to return it to AusPost.”

It was from here that they opened the question to the floor, asking what’s considered the norm when it comes to receiving a package that isn’t yours.

“My question is; would you not try to just pass it on at a reasonable time? After talking to several workmates, they hold onto it until the receiver chases them. But as someone that's received a couple of packages actually addressed to my address, under a different name, I've contacted the intended recipient to pass it on,” they said.

“Is this society so f*cked that people can't actually be decent for half a second?”

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“It’s not super hard!”

Commenters on the post overwhelmingly agreed with the poster, saying they would return the package in a heartbeat if they had the means to.

“I have twice hand-delivered mail for a nearby house. Who wouldn't,” one commenter said.

“I take them to the nearby house they're addressed to, it's not super hard. In fact easier than going to the PO with it,” said another.

“I took a parcel to the correct address today after it was misread. The lady I took it too got teary at it and said not many people would do this. I was like, it's no big deal? I'm just taking something to its correct address, is community really this shit now?” a third said.

“With social media so rife these days, I’ve delivered (& found) a couple of packages through the local residents pages. It’s not that hard to do if you have half an ounce of decency,” another agreed.

“I think they were lying…”

Others assured, though, that this clearly wasn’t the case for everyone, detailing similar negative experiences that they’ve had with their neighbours.

“I used to get mail for someone at 1 Example Street, when I lived at 1 Example Drive. These addresses were only a few blocks apart. On approximately the tenth time I dropped mail off at their place, the resident gave me some mail that should have gone to my address. Some of which they'd had for several months,” one commenter said.

“A few years ago on Christmas Eve, my mum ordered food from iPantry. The parcel was delivered to a house a few doors down according to the image the delivery driver took. Knocked on their door, they didn't have it, they said. Think they were lying,” said another.

“I live near a corner and my packages are always being delivered to the house on the other side of the corner because we both have the same number. We have had probably 4 packages in the last 4 years delivered there by accident,” said a third.

“Every time we have gone over and knocked and they either never answer or just say nothing was delivered. Every single time until the last time. The woman who answered remarked offhandedly about how it was always happening and there has been 4 things delivered before. And then just didn’t say anything about returning them to me. She just brazenly said it’s happened before and left it at that.”

It’s for this reason that some recommended getting to know your neighbours as best as possible - hopefully avoiding any kind of uncomfortable conversation.

“The cheapest home security there is, is getting to know your neighbours, the more you know who is who, the more you can look out for each other,” one commenter said.

“You don't need to get into their business, and be best friends, but having each other's numbers, and getting to know who should be walking around their place can help a lot.”

The Kidspot team weighs in

When asked what they do when a package arrives on their doorstep by mistake, the Kidspot team’s answer was overwhelmingly - give it back!

“Why would you hold onto it? If it's your neighbour's house it will take 2 seconds to pop it in their letterbox. You don't even need to see them!” Emily said.

"We get this a lot when people move out of the building and they haven't left an address. I always mark it RTS and pop it in the post box as I'm walking the dog,” said Nama.

“I think it's basic manners and just being a good human to take it over to them the moment you realise it's not yours. No one wants to go to the post office this time of year! Save them the trip for a mistake that wasn't even theirs. But if it's someone you don't know because the address isn't near you, I'd give it back to the postie next time he comes around,” Leah said.

What do you do? 

Originally published as The summer holiday habit you hope your neighbour doesn't have