Internet commenters were delighted after a delivery driver recounted how one stingy homeowner found themselves hauling a piece of recreational equipment that could've been left at his doorstep.
In a viral Reddit post published on r/MaliciousCompliance, Redditor u/THNielsen (otherwise referred to as the original poster, or OP) said they were delivering a trampoline to a residential area when they were berated for being unsafe, sparking a satisfying instance of schadenfreude.
Titled, "Yell at me for delivering? Well, time to get some exercise," the post has received nearly 15,000 upvotes in the last 12 hours.
"It was nearing the end of the day and I had to deliver a trampoline to a residential area," OP began. "It was a fairly new area with plenty of space - but I had to reverse in 'cause there was no way of turning around."
Continuing to explain that they backed their semi truck hundreds of meters down a heavily-populated street, the original poster said they had no issues—until it was time to unload.
After exiting the truck, the original poster said they were immediately confronted by a furious homeowner who claimed they could have killed all of the children in the neighborhood by backing in, but was completely unaware that the delivery was there for him.
"I was the biggest idiot on this earth!" OP wrote. "How the hell could I even think of going in there with a semi?
"Instead of starting an argument...I calmly asked him where he lived [and] he pointed at the house and said 'Number 74'...and where was I delivering? You guessed it - number 74," OP continued. "I...very calmly told this man: 'Well, in that case I have a trampoline for you...but... since I have no business being here with a semi, I will be waiting for you at the end of the road.'
"The joy it was seeing him coming all the way down the road with his wheel barrow. And then trying to get this 130 pound trampoline...700 metres up to his house again," OP added. "Priceless!"
As the internet's hold on consumerism strengthens in the U.S. and around the world, the parcel shipping industry continues to grow exponentially.
Last year, data published by Statista revealed that in 2020, more than 20.2 billion parcels and packages were shipped within the United States, marking a 37 percent increase from the year before.
Holidays were particularly busy—3 billion of those parcels were shipped between Thanksgiving and Christmas alone and by 2026, shipping company Packola projects that worldwide parcel volume will increase to a whopping 262 billion.
However, large-scale deliveries require much more care and attention than dropping a bubble mailer adorned with a prepaid shipping label in a mailbox outside the post office or with another delivery service.
Where there are less-than-truckload freight deliveries, there are items that must be transported by tractor-trailer truck. And as consumers become increasingly capable of purchasing these items online, there is the expectation that shipping and delivery will be as painless as receiving an Amazon package.
"It's become normal to buy large items like mattresses, treadmills, electronics or other home furnishings via the Internet," freight solutions provider ArcBest asserts. "This way, shoppers can have their order delivered directly to their home instead of handling heavy items themselves."
But like with purchases made at physical retail locations, there are sure to be disgruntled customers upset about items they've purchased and the way they received them.
Throughout the comment section of the viral Reddit post, Redditors responding to the original poster applauded OP's response to their delivery customer's harsh criticism and celebrated the poetic justice that was served as a result.
"You gotta love it when the universe personally hands you a present," Redditor u/mike_pants commented.
"Great job, he asked and you delivered," Redditor u/DRTvL added.
"Chef's kiss," Redditor u/AssistPure chimed in. "Flawless victory."
Separately, Redditor u/Fluffigt shed light on the irony of the homeowner's rage.
"Step 1: order trampoline online," they wrote. "Step 2: be angry that trampoline is delivered. Step 3: ???"
Newsweek reached out to u/THNielsen for comment.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Taylor McCloud is a Newsweek staff writer based in California. His focus is reporting on trending and viral topics. Taylor ... Read more
To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.
