Ocado Etiquette....arrival/unpacking

[fluffyhamster]

Used to have a regular slot and mostly the same driver. He would empty the van and pile up the crates outside my front door before ringing the bell.
He (and I) would then bring all the stuff into the kitchen within a couple of minutes.

This driver seems to have changed and the last 3 deliveries they have all been different. They have all rung the doorbell to let me know they've arrived before they've unloaded the crates.

This annoys me because:

• I work from home (have an office in the loft) so once I'm downstairs I'm twiddling my thumbs waiting for them to unload the van.
  
• I don't know whether to shut the front door again and say 'ring when you've got all the crates out' or what?
  
• The driver today unloaded ONE crate at a time and left my front door wide open each time he went outside, letting in the freezing cold air!
  

I did say why didn't he get everything out first and he just looked at me as if I was mad (not sure if he spoke English and understood?)

• I usually unpack everything before putting away in cupboards/fridges, so I don't want to start putting away items one by one as they arrive in the kitchen.
  

Yes, I know, 'first world problems' , but WWYD?

[PurpleDaisies]

How much time does this honestly add to your shopping delivery?

I just unload the items from the crates intel my own collapsible boxes in the hallway and take everything to the kitchen to unpack it afterwards.

[DubiousCredentials]

I would ask him to ring again when he’s unloaded all the crates and then ask him to help you take it in to the kitchen. That’s not unreasonable. He’s just got a different routine. I like them doing it one crate at a time as I have a tiny kitchen and it gives me time to plan where it’s all getting dumped!

[Antoniacaenis]

I think they buzz first to make sure you're in. I don't think it's all that uncommon for people to miss their slots. That way they don't have to reload it all and the perishables aren't spoiled etc.

It's a pain though as you are indeed hanging about. I always use the toddler excuse (DCs will escape etc) and shut the door while they sort out the crates. Ask them to ring again when they are ready.

[Antoniacaenis]

If you've not got small DCs you could always invent a cat or free flying budgie!

[Oddish]

I don’t know if there is a glut of drivers in my area but I’ve never had the same one, ever. They all vary, some don’t knock until the crates are stacked by the front door (kids spying, they love Ocado day 🙄) and others knock them fanny around in the van for a while, sometimes bringing all the crates on a trolley, sometimes one by one.
I can see why they might want to check you are in first but it’s clearly not policy. Maybe mention it on driver feedback? I don’t know OP, they are friendly but strange creatures these Ocado drivers!

[Bluntness100]

I agree with you op, it annoys me when they ring to say they are here. They also want to converse. “Here’s your receipt, it’s all here, how are you today, traffic is bad, blah blah blah” . It then takes them another ten mins to unload the van and bring the shopping down the path. I much prefer the ones who bring it then ring the door bell and just get the job done,

The other annoying ones are the ones who don’t want to unpack it. So they do a crate at a time, then drop it at your front door, walk slowly up the path and only come back with the next one when you’ve done unpacking it.

I did say to one dude “why don’t you just stack the crates on your trolley and bring them all down at once” and he just looked at me blankly and said “I prefer to carry them one by one”. Eh ok.

Overall though they are very good. One did moon me the other day though, bent over to put the shopping down and his whole arse was literally out. His trousers were too big for him and just slipped down. I actually felt a little embarrassed.☺️

[squiz81]

If they knock and then go back for the crates i either push the door to or shut it completely, and then i just keep an eye oit for them reappearing. I may even say im shutting the door to keep the heat in. I tjen find something to do for the few minutes it takes (normally this is seeking out my carrier bags to return and couting them)

Ive never had a driver that expected me to unload the crates i also never get them to take it to the kitchen, i justvtell them to dump it in the hallway. Maybe i am missing a trick!

[fluffyhamster]

Mine usually asks 'where do you want it?'
Our kitchen is just off the hall i.e. just a few more steps, so once they have 5 bags in each hand it seems easiest just to take it in there.

I always collect up the bags into one as I unpack and then mark on the outer one how many with a Sharpie pen, so the following week I just hand them over and say 'it's 13'.

[smurfy2015]

Ocado don't deliver in my area but I have regular deliveries from Asda and Tesco.

There is a small note re delivery section just before you checkout to add a note, mine asks that they press intercom first before unloading van, watch out for Houdini / joyriding cat, need help unpacking in kitchen due to disability

I'm told by drivers if it is noted for someone having ill health or disability they are allowed a bit extra time to do that delivery as the person may need extra help to unpack etc

Something might be useful to know, you can ask in that note for them to put all the crates together before knocking the door