You're standing at a locked gate with a 6-foot fence, the customer's not home, there's no intercom, and the parcel has authority to leave. You can see the front porch on the other side. The temptation to just lob it over is real — especially when you've got 90 stops left. But this is one of those decisions that can come back to bite you hard. Here's why you should never throw a parcel over a fence, and what to do instead.
Why It's Never Worth It
Damage
You don't know what's in the box. It might say 5kg on the label, but that could be a ceramic vase, a laptop, or a bottle of perfume. A 1.5 metre drop onto concrete or garden pavers can shatter anything fragile inside. If the customer opens a box of broken goods and checks their door camera, you're the one who'll be answering questions.
Under ACCC consumer guarantees, consumers are entitled to a repair, replacement, or refund for damaged goods. When the damage is traced back to the delivery — which it almost always is — the cost comes back down the chain to the courier company and ultimately to you.
Door Cameras Are Everywhere
Ring doorbells, Arlo cameras, Eufy systems — a huge percentage of homes now have video surveillance at their front door. The days of nobody seeing what you did are over. Videos of drivers throwing parcels go viral on social media regularly, and they've ended careers. Even if the parcel isn't damaged, the footage of you throwing it over a fence is enough for a formal complaint and disciplinary action.
Your company's reputation takes a hit too, which means your supervisor takes a hit, which means the conversation you'll be having isn't a pleasant one.
What to Do Instead
Card it. If you can't access the property safely and securely, leave a card. The customer can arrange redelivery or collection. Yes, it means a failed delivery on your stats. But a failed delivery is infinitely better than a damage claim or a viral video.
Call the customer. If you have their phone number (some manifests include it), give them a quick call. They might be home and can come open the gate. Or they might give you specific instructions — "leave it at the side gate" or "put it behind the bin."
Check for side access. Many properties have a side gate that's unlocked even when the front is locked. A quick check can save you a failed delivery without resorting to throwing anything.
The bottom line: if your only option for getting a parcel to the other side of a fence involves throwing, lifting, or dropping it — don't. Card it and move on. Your job, your reputation, and the customer's goods are worth more than the 30 seconds you save.