AIBU to complain about online grocery drivers

[Redesul]

I've always had my groceries delivered, and never had problems until a year and a half ago, when I moved to a flat on the second floor. I get a delivery every 10 days or so, and it varies who from. Since I moved here I've always had problems with the drivers, asking me to go and get the shopping, to help them with it, "why is there no lift", "I don't know my way around the building", "I'm not able to carry up stairs", "the corridor doors open the wrong way"

First off, I state it very clearly in the delivery instructions that there is no lift. I also give directions to my door, not that it is difficult.

When I explain to them that I have a toddler up here so no I can't go and get it myself, I've greeted with huffs and puffs and dirty looks and snide comments. More often than not I'm in too much pain to lug shopping up the stairs. Not that I should need to justify my decision to use online shopping.

AIBU to be in the frame of mind that it's their job, not mine. I wouldn't expect them to do my job, why should I do theirs? I appreciate some may have the job because they have nothing else, but if they have difficulties bringing stuff up stairs, They shouldn't be doing it.

I'm starting to feel guilty for having shopping delivered. I feel like complaining, but to start with, I'm not sure if I'm overreacting, secondly, it's three different shops, and thirdly, a lot of the time my groceries are battered anyway and I'm worried complaining will make everything turn up broken

[OreosAreTasty]

Perks of living in a flat. I've always lived in a house until a few weeks ago when I moved into a 2nd floor flat (also no lift) only 6 homes in this block. Doors clearly labelled. Not hard to navigate at all but I give instructions and get the same treatment as you do. YANBU op

[Redesul]

I should state that I frequently see all three places deliver to other people here, on all floors. At least 3 times a week. So they should know by now there's no lift. It's a 100+ year old listed building , so no chance of a lift being fitted.

[NewNameNotTheSame]

No, YANBU. It is their job to deliver your shopping to your door. It's what you pay for. It's like a delivery driver leaving my shopping at my gate and me having to lug it down the path and into the house.

[Redesul]

oreos glad I'm not the only one. In theory they're supposed to deliver it to fridge door if you ask. I'd like to see somebody try. I personally don't let them in the flat as my parrot goes ballistic at strangers .

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

I suspect you are a bit U. I think most (all?) say in the Ts and Cs that while they will endeavour to deliver to your door if you have a long driveway/lots of stairs they may not be able too. It's a health and safety and a time issue for the drivers.

[OreosAreTasty]

It's crap isn't it.
A second hand shop that does deliveries left my "new" (to me anyway) sofa outside in the pissing wet rain when I told them I couldn't come down to help. I complained and was refunded but it doesn't change the fact that I had to wait 15mins for Dh to get home and get it up the stairs. I have lung and back issues so couldn't really help (held the door and guided him a bit but
Couldn't do any lifting).
I've managed to clean up my sofa with the help of about £20 quids worth of cleaning stuff,
My Hoover, my steam cleaner, washing machine and towels (lots of towels!) but for a well know company I was pretty shocked and upset and just wanted the sofa gone by this point as it stank and the covers still look a bit grim (sort of suede material)!

[Cheerybigbottom]

Now, don't quote me, but I think some delivery drivers consider the front entry door of the flats as the address, not your door within the property?

When I had tesco deliveries they would deliver to my front door and offer to bring inside to my fridge door. With asda, I'm lucky if they stop the van before unloading the delivery

[andintothefire]

YANBU. Which delivery companies are you using? I find ocado to have very good drivers who bring shopping up to my (lift-less) flat. I usually offer to come down and help them with bags, but often they refuse any offer of help.

One of the reasons I pay for delivery is because it is difficult for me to carry heavy items up the stairs. They should pay enough to their drivers and allow enough time so that deliveries can be brought to the front door of flats. If they can only deliver to the ground floor then that needs to be made very clear indeed because I would not use a company on that basis.

[cexuwaleozbu]

I suspect they are huffing and puffing and moaning as a way to angle for a decent tip. I know you pay their employers already but just the cost of an after-work pint or two might make them altogether cheerier about doing it, way more than a complaint to the boss. I had a (female) delivery driver walk carrying 8 shopping bags along a 50 yard path from the nearest road access to the steps then up a flight of stairs without batting an eyelid, I think the supermarkets recruit for strength as far as possible!

[Redesul]

itsallgoingtobefine I hadn't considered that. I'll check later before I decide to complain. But I'd have thought they'd say so a bit clearer. Especially as they deliver to this building frequently.

Oreo I'm sorry about your sofa! Glad you got a refund though. To leave it outside is one thing, but to leave it in the rain is another.that's just unprofessional

[TheGruffaloMother]

IIRC, I read on here once that different shops have different policies on this. One won't do anything above ground floor, one will go up 2 flights, etc. It's worth checking in the delivery conditions what each store's policy is.

[TheGruffaloMother]

A tip cex?? Do people tip delivery drivers?? Mine are always very lovely and I've never tipped them.

[cexuwaleozbu]

I've never tipped myself except at Christmas but I have seen threads here on MN that some people tip every time, especially if they are difficult to get to or tend to order lots of heavy stuff.

[Redesul]

andintothefire I use sainsburys, Tesco and ocado. It was one of ocados drivers that complained that the doors opened the wrong way. I had no idea what to say to that.

cex she sounds like a keeper!

Maybe a tip now and then would be a good idea, but to tip for rude behavior? I'd be happy to if they were polite. To be honest I've never been one for tipping. My OH is a nurse and nobody would tip him for saving a life. I work in pathology, nobody would tip me for testing their body fluids. Would be wildly inappropriate. That's the general way I view it

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

I always thought the drivers weren't allowed to accept tips (although a mice our at Xmas doesn't seem to count...)

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

mince pie at xmas

[greathat]

Never had problems with Tesco. They will take it to whatever room you want

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

Sainsburys and Tesco both say they may not deliver to flats etc. Ocado don't.

So you would be U to complain to Sainsburys or Tesco, but not U to complain to ocado ;)

[Redesul]

I mice pie? They're not THAT bad for you are they?? :P

I will look into the whole stairs thing, because I could be a bit more lenient and plan a bit better so o could help otherwise. I don't mind having to help, but my 3 year old cannot be trusted with the windows up here

[19lottie82]

I don't think they're obliged to bring it any further than your front door? Although most do.

[Redglitter]

Asda have it hidden in their T&C that they only have to deliver to the front door of the building. That's why I stopped using them. Tesco will deliver it no problem. I stay on the 2nd floor and Tesco deliver right into my kitchen. I'd check the T&C or Google before you complain- just in case

[OrangeFluff]

ASDA always brought my shopping up to my door when I lived in a second floor flat with no lift. I just used to buzz them into the building and then wait by my own door. Never realised they could refuse! They were always lovely and friendly too.

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

Sainsburys delivery drivers are like vampires - they can't cross the threshold unless you invite them in

[Redesul]

red glitter many years ago I needed something that only asda sold but not one near me within miles. So I did a shop. They pulled up on the neighbours flower bed, literally dragged and chucked the crates out the van, slammed it on the door step, knocked the door, when o answered simply said "unload that", gave me something to sign and snatched it right out my hands. Dunno if he'd had a bad day or what I don't really like asda in general. It's my local supermarket now with nothing else for miles. Hence the deliveries

[Binkermum29]

I have used Ocado for 7 years. Delivery to my kitchen is up 2 flights of stairs including a spiral staircase as the kitchen is on a top floor mezzanine. Only once have I had a driver who wouldn't go up there - 'I don't do heights' he claimed. It's hardly Snowdon but I let it pass.
My delivery is always many many bags, several of which are 🍾🍾🍾🍷🍷
= heavy. Apart from the gravitationally challenged gent ( who may have had a genuine problem ) I have always been met with big smiles and assurances that it's all part of the job. Seems I've been lucky.