Irritation called package pick-up points

If corona has taught us one thing, it is that ordering is a blessing. Only now that we are fully in ordering mode and our normal life is starting to resume a bit (did I mention that I am getting vaccinated tomorrow? I am getting vaccinated tomorrow!) a new problem arises.

Because when the doorbell rings, I am no longer home. And neither are my neighbors. So the package goes hups to a PostNL pick-up point. In the past, the wine shop around the corner had a spot reserved for all our new purchases, but he was nearly overwhelmed by all the huffing villagers claiming their packages, so after denying two people access to the store (it wasn't me, don't worry) he quit.

And now, my packages are being dropped elsewhere. Man, you could make a TV format like HuntMasters out of how I am sent around the city. Today it was the Truus Oversteeghenstraat's turn. After trudging through the city for half an hour, I was there. But upon arrival, the store slash pick-up point in question was closed, even though their site stated they opened at 10:00 and I rang the bell at 11:15.

A fellow package collector told me she would be there in five minutes. Fine, I could look up who Truus Oversteeghen was (resistance fighter/sculptor, painter, passed away in 2016 in Grootebroek) and after some more pondering, I decided to call the lady in question. Ten minutes, then she would be there. ‘But there is a guy here who called you ten minutes ago and then you said five minutes,’ I stammered. And that it was quite strange that she wasn't present at the time she claims to be open. Did I find that strange, she asked. I confirmed. We hung up and I went home. What did I find there? A you-were-not-home card. But no worries, the package was delivered to the DA on Amsterdamstraat. Probably not close to my house either.

Dear planners of PostNL, what was wrong with offering a package a second time? Or have you been commissioned by the Ministry of VWS to help us bike off our corona kilos? Or hired by the local businesses to get us back into the stores? I can tell you: it works, but whether I like it, that's another question.

By the way, this is the solution, but I find it so ugly.