What is wrong with some people? ?

I feel lucky to have deliveries at all. I saw a bit on TV about people leaving face masks and drinks for the delivery people here in the states. I don't have extra masks but I did put up a "Please help yourself" sign next to the door along with some bottled water and packaged snacks. My door is around the corner from the front so I haven't had any stolen, which is fortunate as we also have a lot of "porch pirates" here, too.

@GG54 - I agree with you and I could probably have phrased my comment better - certainly didn't mean to imply there was anything wrong with delivery drivers/foreign delivery drivers/anyone else. Some of the delivery drivers are lovely and very helpful. And our postman is yummy in so many ways.

but

last week we had a delivery of gas bottles intended for a house about three roads away. Driver was unable to understand that we were a different road, although they both began with P. All he kept doing was pointing at the pad he wanted me to sign, and the name and address. I kept shaking my head, eventually I wrote down the name of our road and by lots of sign language directed him to the right road and drew him a map. If he hadn't been getting a bit frustrated and angry towards the end it would have been funny. Yes he could talk, he wasn't deaf, dumb or stupid - what he did say was all in very heavily accented English and generally monosyllabic.

happens quite often to us.

Only had a few parcels but the courier has knocked then left the parcel on the doorstep and stepped back to wait for us to open the door.

Possibly a new courier taken on because of the increase in deliveries and not quite clear on the rules.

Being a deliveryman is a hell of a job, especially at the moment. They all seem to be following the same procedure - knock and step away. He would probably have stepped back when he saw you coming to the door. No harm was done by him, you didn't open the door.

I have only had two deliveries plus one grocery delivery recently but all have stayed at a distance and have been cheerful and friendly.

Oopsminty this happened some time ago but a parcel I ordered from Amazon was left outside someone's front door,
but obviously not mine as the delivery driver had taken a photo of it sitting there as proof of "delivery".

@19.45
That was for SuzannahM

Yes, I realise the parcel wasn't for you. Meant to put 'the OP' not 'you'.

SuzannahM
I think you're missing a trick here.
Couriers must be able to read road signs.
Must have been able to pass his driving test. Must be able to read addresses and delivery notes that customers can add to the courier app/website such as specific directions as to where to leave parcels.
IMO (s)he was wanting to make sure you were in...just in case it went missing.
You cannot justifiably put it down to that person not being able to read.
EllanVannin
What a shameful remark.

Knocking/ringing to advise me of delivery I can well understand-do you think I’d be annoyed if that’s all it was? It was the fact that he was standing there waiting for the door to be opened so he could hand the parcel in! This became apparent during our (through the door) conversation. He wasn’t halfway up the path either....had I opened the door we would have been standing pretty much face to face, certainly a lot less than 2mtrs.

My house is ‘upside down’ so I am likely to be upstairs when the doorbell is rung. Couriers would sometimes flee before I got downstairs to the door. Last year I got a doorbell connected to a telephone handset. When I answer, the caller can hear my voice. I have found this really useful.
My sister has an app on her phone attached to a cctv camera. Wherever she is she can not only see the caller but, communicate with them.

Did you not consider that after he knocked, if you hadn't answered he could have thought you were unable to get to the door - perhaps fallen down and therefore alerted the emergency services?

A bit of a long shot I know but it it could happen.

Bluebell got it from argos. its only small narrow one, nothing flash just basic one.

I think they knock to make sure you're in

They won't want to be leaving parcels on doorsteps in case they get stolen

You’re lucky bikergrsn we can’t get any freezers at all round this way

I don’t think he did anything wrong he didn’t come in your house or touch you Why did you shout at him couldn’t you have just called out “Thank you I ll pick it up when you’re gone”
I had some compost delivered from the local garden centre yesterday he left it on the doorstep knock and by the time I opened the door he was on the path and we acknowledged each other When I looked at the invoice to check the price it said ‘leave on doorstep and run’ well I m not on any special lists and they didn’t know my age so I can only presume that’s his normal instructions for these strange times

Im having Fridge freezer Delivered tomorrow...I wonder if they will leave on in the pathway...I may need an extention lol.

(and before the Freezer police ask) no I am not getting one to Panic Buy, I ordered it because my other one has given up the ghost.

All our delivery people knock or ring - we the acknowledge them through the door and off they go, knowing that we’re aware of the parcel. He could have just been doing the same thing?

I wish the delivery man had come to our door. If I hadn't gone out at 8 pm to clap and ring the school bell for the NHS, I would never have found the 2 parcels that had been left just inside the garden gate. We can't see the gate from the door. As it happens, the parcels were very heavy and DH had to move them. They were compost he'd ordered on line as the garden centre is closed.

Yes - he'd need to take reasonable steps to ensure that you were aware of the parcel regardless of your notice, which, to be fair, was not particularly helpful.

The very kindly couriers ring the bell to say the item has arrived and then they stay well back, more than 2m when you answer the door. They are doing their job and doing it well. Add a note to say to stand well back

We have steps up to our house. A delivery guy rang the bell, then moved halfway down the steps to make sure I answered. I wouldn’t have known the parcel was there if he hadn’t rung the bell.

Most of the couriers that deliver to me seem to be unable to speak much English, so I doubt they can read it.

Or maybe he doesn't come across shielded households much, as so many people seem to be carrying on as normal, so didn't understand what was required of him.

..sorry posted too soon...and not taken any further action.

Some of our delivery people take photos too.