Some delivery drivers knock.
Some leave a card and claim they did.
Some don’t even leave a card.
Like a lot of Aussies, I work from home. My office is right by the front door — if someone even breathes too loudly on the porch, I’ll know. Yet at least once a month, I’ll get that dreaded “We missed you” card from Australia Post or a courier service claiming nobody was home.
Nobody was home? Mate, I was home, I was working, and I was ready to sign.
So when a frustrated Aussie went viral this week after leaving a handwritten sign begging his postie to actually deliver his parcel, I felt that deep in my soul.
The Viral Sign That Spoke for All of Us
The post, shared on Reddit, showed a letterbox plastered with a polite but pointed message:
“I am home! I can help with my package if needed as it is heavy. Please feel free to knock and ask!”
He even added context in the caption: “Very expensive and large package coming today… Ain’t no way in hell I’m driving to the airport to pick it up because of my area’s driver!”
They’re not doing it to me again this time…
byu/Chaosoneby inAustraliaPost
You can probably guess what happened next.
By the end of the day, the same guy shared an update — a fresh “collection notice” tucked neatly into the letterbox. No knock. No ring. No delivery. Just déjà vu and collective rage from everyone who’s ever had to drive across town to pick up a parcel that was literally right there in the van.
Everyone Has a Story
The comments section quickly filled with relatable tales of delivery drama.
One Aussie shared security footage of a driver who didn’t even bother to get out of the van — they simply rolled across the garden bed and shoved the card in the letterbox before driving off. Another said they caught their postie doing the same thing on camera “while watching from their home office window.”
The theories flowed thick and fast: some reckon drivers pre-fill “missed delivery” cards before leaving the depot; others blame the system itself, where underpaid contractors are forced to prioritise speed over service.
Either way, it’s clear the Aussie public has had enough. Some even joked about setting up chairs next to the mailbox just to catch their postie in the act — or at least make sure the knock actually happens this time.
A Nationwide “We Missed You” Epidemic
I’ll be honest — I’ve been that person.
You know, the one refreshing the tracking link every five minutes while sitting metres away from the front door, only to get a text saying, “Delivery attempted – no one home.”
The worst part? I’ve managed to call the depot within five minutes of that text, only to be told the driver has already moved on and I’ll have to collect it two suburbs away. If it’s a courier, it’s usually a 20-minute drive.
Maybe that’s why this Reddit post hit a nerve — because it’s not just one guy with a sign. It’s all of us.
Australia Post Responds
Australia Post issued a statement saying they have “strict protocols” for delivery drivers, which include knocking three times, waiting 30 seconds, and taking a photo of the front door or intercom.
Which sounds great in theory. In practice? Let’s just say a few more knocks and a little less card-slapping might go a long way in restoring faith in the post.
The Real Message
If you’ve ever waited all day for a parcel that never arrived, this one’s for you. The handwritten sign might have gone viral, but it also sums up an entire nation’s frustration.
We’re not asking for miracles — just maybe a louder knock on the door.
Because trust me, we’re home. And we really want that package.
