Reader reports from the front porch: Misdelivered package; solicitor suspicion

From the WSB inbox:

MISDELIVERED PACKAGE: Jenny R says this was not a case of package theft – the US Postal Service shows her package was delivered today, and she was home when her carrier left only envelopes. This is something that can’t just be replaced so she’s wondering if you can check YOUR porch or other delivery spot:

I know people have things misdelivered all the time, but this was a custom-made dress I bought for my upcoming 40th birthday and 15th wedding anniversary, so I’m wondering if neighbors can check their front porches for a priority box addressed to me. I live in the 9400 block of 21st Ave SW. I’m sad.

If you ended up with Jenny’s package, let us know. (SUNDAY MORNING UPDATE: Jenny reports in comments that it was delivered four blocks away and has been returned to her!)

SOLICITOR SUSPICION: Reports of suspicion-sparking door-to-door solicitors are starting to surge again – here’s one, from Bill:

Wanted to alert neighbors of a very aggressive door-to-door solicitor. He said he was looking for donations to attend culinary school. He claimed to be a neighbor and mentioned one of my neighbors by first name. He had a wad of folded/laminated papers, but no badge that I could see. I thanked him and told him I was not interested, but he persisted. I told him two more times I was not interested, then finally had to ask him (twice) to leave my property. As he was walking away, he made a disparaging comment about me being rude.

With door-to-door season seeming to rev up, we’re reminding you about the major rules. As most recently published here last fall:

*Door-to-door (residential) selling is allowed between 8 am-9 pm.

*The entity for whom the seller is working has to have a license, and the seller (agent) must have ID showing the license and the agent’s name: “All licensees and agents shall conspicuously display on their outer clothing their residential sales license or residential sales agent licenses when selling.” If you choose to open the door, ask to see it immediately: “Each residential seller or agent shall, immediately upon contacting the prospective buyer, disclose to the prospective buyer his/her name, company, and the product or service represented.”

*Solicitors are required to honor a “no soliciting” sign if you have one. Whether you do or don’t, they’re also required to honor this part of the code: “If requested to do so, (the agent) shall leave the premises immediately.”

Read the full set of rules by going here.. And note the city says they don’t apply to sellers of “newspapers, or fresh or perishable food items”; nor is a license required for a person who turns up at your door seeking charity donations. (That of course does not mean you can’t ask for ID or further information on what a donation would go toward.)

If you do buy something from a solicitor, you have cancellation rights.

20 Replies to "Reader reports from the front porch: Misdelivered package; solicitor suspicion"

  • Alki Resident June 10, 2017 (11:47 pm)

    Jenny

    Try driving over to 20th and 22nd streets going to your exact address. It happened to us twice that they delivered to the wrong street but right address numbers. I hope you find your package fast.

  • Erithan June 11, 2017 (12:17 am)

    Good luck finding your package, may be worth calling delivery company as well, sometimes things will get marked delivered but they haven’t actually been delivered.

    hope you have a wonderful birthday!🎂

  • wssz June 11, 2017 (1:32 am)

    When a similar situation happened to me, I contacted the delivery company and they immediately were in touch with the driver. He realized that he had delivered to the right address but two streets over. He retrieved the package and re-delivered to me. It would be worth your calling the postal service to see if the delivery person remembers where they left your package.  

    I hope that your package finds its way to you quickly. 

  • Ric June 11, 2017 (7:49 am)

    Happy birthday and happy anniversary. Have yourself a marvelous day!

  • Eddie June 11, 2017 (8:10 am)

    Good luck contacting the delivery company (USPS). And fat lot of good it would do either.

    I wish you luck finding your package.

  • Dp June 11, 2017 (8:30 am)

    We have a no soliciting sign on our gate and some people just ignore it

  • misoginger June 11, 2017 (9:08 am)

    I have a “no solicitors” sign on my property. Last year when a solicitor approached my door and I pointed out the sign, she said she’s not a solicitor and that the sign didn’t apply to her. She said she was an “opportunist” and that’s different. That reminds me, I need to add another sign to my property–“no opportunists.”

    • JanS June 11, 2017 (11:26 am)

      hahahahahaha…opportunist…that’s pretty funny !

    • Double Dub Resident June 11, 2017 (2:27 pm)

      I also have a no solicitor sign and some people ignore it and /or say they’re not a solicitor. 

      I remind them that the dictionary defines soliciting as asking for or trying to obtain something from someone and that’s exactly what they’re doing and leave

    • Tired of scammers June 11, 2017 (3:01 pm)

       No Solicitors, No Opportunists, No Political Soapbox/Petition Gatherers, No Seekers of Phony Charitable and/or Other Contrubutions, etc. etc.  Too bad I can’t find a sign like that to hang on my door–oh wait, it would probably cover the entire door.  😏

  • JRR June 11, 2017 (9:12 am)

    Thank you! It was misdelivered four blocks away! A young man just brought it back to me! 

    • Erithan June 11, 2017 (11:26 am)

      Yay! So glad you got your package back! And again happy birthday and anniversary!

    • Heather June 11, 2017 (8:54 pm)

      Yay!

  • JRR June 11, 2017 (9:19 am)

    Cheers to the goodness of our neighbors. Thank you! 

  • Marty June 11, 2017 (10:06 am)

    Why is door-to-door soliciting still allowed? I don’t know of anyone who actually wants someone selling at their door. It seems like there is more bad than good caused by these people.

    • Wb June 11, 2017 (12:55 pm)

      Yes,why is this a thing? 

  • Chelsea June 11, 2017 (10:28 am)

    The same thing happened to me once when I was expecting a package over the weekend. USPS tracking showed the package as ‘delivered’ when it was not and I had been watching carefully for it.

    What happened in my case was the mail carrier delivered it on Monday. I intercepted him and he admitted that when something has an expected delivery date on the weekend and they run out of time, they just mark it delivered and get to it when they can. He also said he was told to do this by the West Seattle Post Office manager.  Our post office is terrible and they legitimately don’t care that they’re terrible.

  • dsa June 11, 2017 (2:14 pm)

    Twice now FedEx has delivered a day early.  That might sound petty, but if you plan to be home on Friday to get a package and away on Thursday, it is not petty.  The first time I complained to the shipper, but it happened again.  Yes the package clearly is marked Friday delivery.  At least they got correct house.

  • AT June 11, 2017 (7:28 pm)

    Somebody tell the solicitor that culinary school isn’t worth the money.  If he has basic kitchen skills and the drive, he can learn on the job without having to beg or borrow.  Even working for free as an apprentice is cheaper than culinary school, and most chefs I know are chronically searching for cooks lately.  If he actually wants to cook, he should go ahead and cook.

  • Jude June 12, 2017 (11:21 am)

    I’ve lived on Alki for over a year and I had a young woman knock on our door after walking in the gate at 9:30 pm to gather my view on women’s reproductive health rights. REALLY?! Though I was wary of the situation, because I happened to be alone that evening, I was more stunned that door-to-door still occurred.

Sorry, comment time is over.