Hacker News Reader

Comment by mlent | Hacker News Reader

Except that your name is also put on your doorbell with a label-maker, so anyone in your apartment could easily find out which flat was yours. Furthermore, the downstairs/apartment building's set of doorbells also proclaims last names, and are often ordered by floor. E.g. I live on the third floor, and my doorbell is second highest.

In fact, it's advised that you don't put any first initials/first names on your doorbell, because then people could be inclined to send you prank takeaway food, for example, because they know your address and full name just by standing outside the building.

So...this point doesn't make any sense.

View on HN

"Except that your name is also put on your doorbell with a label-maker"

Never seen this in Germany. Not that I remember, but most places, no, this doesn't happen.

"downstairs/apartment building's set of doorbells also proclaims last names, and are often ordered by floor"

They thought of that. So they mix it up, or just list, it has nothing to do with floors

"In fact, it's advised that you don't put any first initials/first names on your doorbell"

Correct, they usually put last names only.

I've generally found that the order of the names on the doorbell list roughly matches your floor. So if you're on the 2nd floor, right side from the stairs, your doorbell is second from the bottom, on the right side.

Obviously, there's no standard nor convention, but Hausmeisters seem to find it convenient, and I like it when I can do that when visiting a friend for the first time.

Of course there are, however, apartments whose Haustür (the door to the apartment building) leads to several different buildings or staircases. In that case, good luck ever finding that person even if they want you to come visit.

Well, where I live the (last) names are at the bell at the building entrance as well as the bell at apartments doors

> Never seen this in Germany. Not that I remember, but most places, no, this doesn't happen.

What are you talking about? Every apartment building has a set of labeled doorbells at the ground floor.

At the bell next to the apartment door, not on the entrance to the building.

In my city (Leipzig), all apartments have these. All the last names are listed on doorbells, and you have a phone in your flat, from which you can unlock the apartment building's front door without coming down.

So, in total, your name is three places in the apartment: at the entrance next to a doorbell (which effectively "calls" your flat), on your mailbox, and above the actual doorbell near your flat's front door.

I live in Leipzig and I have no name on the doorbell near my flat door. If they deliver a packet to a neihgbor I have to go out and ring the doorbell at the entrance, or guess which apartment it is :)

Of course there is a name next to each bell. How would you ask to be let inside otherwise?

Reply on news.ycombinator.com