To Marty Winger: Thank you for your comment Marty but having a lock as part of my courtyard gate does not mean it is locked. It has not been locked in 23 years!
Over and over again I have watched the drivers as they stand in front of that gate, take the time to read the message and then drop the package right in front of the outer gate, regardless of it’s size. Often it has been a large, heavy box and since that gate opens OUTWARD, I would have to go around to the garage and drag the package in from there.
Interestingly, as Janis wrote, my delivery instructions always accompany my order regardless of where the order comes from. In my opinion, asking a delivery person to walk a few steps more to place it inside the gate where it is not visible from the street is not asking much and is, after all, their job!