Knock-knock-knock.
"Come in!"
Knock-knock-knock.
"Come in!"
...
"mumble mumble... There's a reason I say come in."
The door opened and there in front of me was a woman in a wheelchair. I apologized and let her know that I don't generally walk into the customer's home, even when he or she asks me to. After my explanation she continued to chastise me. "You're delivering in Eugene," she ranted. "It's not like it's New York City or anything." I again apologized and said that I have a very dangerous job, no matter where I live, and I can't let my guard down. Throughout our entire transaction she yelled at me and complained at me about not wanting to enter her home. She even said it won't be a problem anymore, hinting that she wasn't going to be ordering from us again.
No tip.
Really?
Most people I talk to are completely understanding of my safety measures. One can never be too careful. However, this isn't the first time I've encountered someone who was totally offended that I didn't want to cross the threshold. Recently, a man accused me of excessive paranoia and pointed to his children making a sarcastic joke that they were messed up and were going to get me.
Driving jobs are one of the top ten most dangerous jobs already. Add on top of that the fact that I am alone, knocking on countless doors at all hours of the night, interacting with various types of people. My family already fears for my safety. I see news stories of delivery drivers getting robbed at gunpoint, or even killed. I've even seen these stories in my hometown. There is no way I am entering that home.
I honestly don't understand the self-centered attitude of some people. I understand, at first, being slightly offended at not being trusted. However, after I explain that it's for my own personal safety, that should be enough to back off.
When people start nagging at me to go into their homes after I already say no, my next reaction begins to be, "Why is it that important to you that I go in?"
