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Deliveroo and Just Eat and the like make UK cities creepy and miserable

254 replies

Pavementworrier · 01/12/2025 00:32

Guys in balaclavas with no traceable identity (and often no right to work in the UK) racing around on electric bikes in the dark bringing shit cold food to fat lazy punters while cafes, bars and restaurants erode and hospitals fill up with diabetic foot merchants.

I wouldn't ban them but I'd make them treat every single takeaway bandit as a full employee with id checks, criminal responsibility, tax and employment rights.

And people who use them kind of make me sick.

OP posts:
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SleeplessInWherever · 07/12/2025 18:51

@GuteNachte & @ArchieStar - thank you!

ArchieStar · 07/12/2025 17:46

Oh OP, I thought you were uneducated around the ins and outs of deliveroo. Turns out you’re just a pompous self centred judgemental muppet who can’t see past their own nose. Another who stands with @SleeplessInWherever!!

GuteNachte · 07/12/2025 15:59

SleeplessInWherever · 07/12/2025 15:55

I’m not even humouring you with an answer. Because evidently; you’re not able to read/understand.

I have provided you with an explanation, that you weren’t actually owed, as to why some people don’t prioritise home cooked organic meals every day, and recommended you either develop some compassion or keep your nose out.

Everything beyond this point is on you.

I'm all with you @SleeplessInWherever !

SleeplessInWherever · 07/12/2025 15:56

Pavementworrier · 07/12/2025 15:32

And it is my business because your choices make life worse

It doesn’t make my life worse one bit. But thank you for your concern.

SleeplessInWherever · 07/12/2025 15:55

Pavementworrier · 07/12/2025 15:32

You are using slave labour because you can't heft your bum off the sofa... I bet you'd tut tut about people doing the same and I bet you also complain about how hard it is to fit exercise into your day!

I’m not even humouring you with an answer. Because evidently; you’re not able to read/understand.

I have provided you with an explanation, that you weren’t actually owed, as to why some people don’t prioritise home cooked organic meals every day, and recommended you either develop some compassion or keep your nose out.

Everything beyond this point is on you.

Pavementworrier · 07/12/2025 15:32

And it is my business because your choices make life worse

OP posts:
Pavementworrier · 07/12/2025 15:32

SleeplessInWherever · 07/12/2025 15:22

That’s okay, you send like a judgmental busybody… FAOD.

I work 50hrs a week and care for my severely disabled child, which quite often that means we’re awake 3am - 10pm, and then the same again.. and again.

I’m the furthest from bone idle I could possibly be. The mere suggestion is frankly hilarious. But I am also far too tired to walk to the chippy.

Like I said, unless you know everyone’s lives and live in their houses, maybe operate a bit of “minding your own business.”

You are using slave labour because you can't heft your bum off the sofa... I bet you'd tut tut about people doing the same and I bet you also complain about how hard it is to fit exercise into your day!

OP posts:
SleeplessInWherever · 07/12/2025 15:22

Pavementworrier · 07/12/2025 15:17

You sound bone idle faod. I mean fine plenty of people buy from the slave labour outlets in temu etc you're far from alone

That’s okay, you send like a judgmental busybody… FAOD.

I work 50hrs a week and care for my severely disabled child, which quite often that means we’re awake 3am - 10pm, and then the same again.. and again.

I’m the furthest from bone idle I could possibly be. The mere suggestion is frankly hilarious. But I am also far too tired to walk to the chippy.

Like I said, unless you know everyone’s lives and live in their houses, maybe operate a bit of “minding your own business.”

Pavementworrier · 07/12/2025 15:17

SleeplessInWherever · 06/12/2025 20:03

That entirely depends if we’re going to start judging people’s reasons to not be arsed.

I got up for the day at 3:25 today, 2:15 yesterday, and 3:05 the day before.

So no, if we need something right now, I won’t be going out for it. Because I can’t be arsed.

There’s absolutely no way of knowing if other people’s “cba” is for a legitimate reason, or if they’re just bone idle. But since you can’t know either way, it’s maybe better to just not judge strangers.

You sound bone idle faod. I mean fine plenty of people buy from the slave labour outlets in temu etc you're far from alone

OP posts:
SleeplessInWherever · 06/12/2025 20:03

Bjorkdidit · 06/12/2025 09:18

I'd be willing to bet that the 'poorly child in hospital', 'single parent needs calpol at 2 am' or 'disabled person unable to shop or cook for themselves' orders are vastly outnumbered by those for 'can't be arsed shopping or cooking so will order in' ones.

Either way, it's an exploitative, tax avoiding business model so I'm surprised so many on MN are happy to overlook this, it's rare to see these companies get the same vitriol seen from the 'I don't use Amazon or Temu' virtue signalling crowd.

That entirely depends if we’re going to start judging people’s reasons to not be arsed.

I got up for the day at 3:25 today, 2:15 yesterday, and 3:05 the day before.

So no, if we need something right now, I won’t be going out for it. Because I can’t be arsed.

There’s absolutely no way of knowing if other people’s “cba” is for a legitimate reason, or if they’re just bone idle. But since you can’t know either way, it’s maybe better to just not judge strangers.

Bjorkdidit · 06/12/2025 11:48

Dodgy because the bike is illegal, no lights, registration, insurance, or MOT, ridden on the pavement, speeding on the roads, illegally modified. Dangerous. A teen was killed near me not so long ago and the report has just said that the throttle stuck and the brakes failed and he died of head injuries after crashing into a tree.

The rider is wearing dark clothing that does not provide suitable protection for riding a motorbike, and does not have a helmet.

Applies equally whoever the rider is and plenty of them are UK nationals, born here, white British heritage. You could say they're just trying to make a living, but the system encourages them to break the law to do this, and the companies who facilitate it have a duty of care that they're not fulfilling.

But as long as you get your takeaway or groceries quickly and cheaply......

WalkDontWalk · 06/12/2025 11:31

treat every single takeaway bandit as a full employee with id checks, criminal responsibility, tax and employment rights.

That would be a very good idea. Also restaurant staff. And Amazon delivery people. And anyone else in a 'gig economy' job, where the system is gamed by the employer so that you can't earn a living wage and your rights are severely curtailed.

Incidentally, can you provide the evidence that the food delivery people often have 'no right to work in the UK'? What do you mean by 'often'? The majority? How do you know? Are you counting heads or worked hours? Surely your objection - that they have no traceable ID, for instance - makes it impossible for you to say whether or not they have the right to work here.

And what do you mean by 'dodgy-looking'? What do you think people should wear on a scooter in the city at night in winter that would not be dodgy-looking?

I mean, unless it's not the clothes that you think look dodgy.....

CassandraWebb · 06/12/2025 10:06

MyAmusedPearlSquid · 06/12/2025 09:29

Have a look and see if snappy shopper are in your area their much more reasonable for groceries for when your stuck and deliver

Oh thank you! I shall take a look!

Kirbert2 · 06/12/2025 09:35

Bjorkdidit · 06/12/2025 09:18

I'd be willing to bet that the 'poorly child in hospital', 'single parent needs calpol at 2 am' or 'disabled person unable to shop or cook for themselves' orders are vastly outnumbered by those for 'can't be arsed shopping or cooking so will order in' ones.

Either way, it's an exploitative, tax avoiding business model so I'm surprised so many on MN are happy to overlook this, it's rare to see these companies get the same vitriol seen from the 'I don't use Amazon or Temu' virtue signalling crowd.

Probably.

It doesn't take away how much they genuinely help people in those situations though or how much people would struggle without it in those situations.

There were always delivery drivers at the entrance of the children's hospital my son was at. Always.

MyAmusedPearlSquid · 06/12/2025 09:30

Some of us don't drive op and have no takeaways near us to walk to so I'm really sorry about that if it is so bothering to you lol ! 😂

MyAmusedPearlSquid · 06/12/2025 09:29

CassandraWebb · 01/12/2025 07:30

I use deliveroo to get shopping when I am too ill to leave the house (not infrequent due to my health condition).

I don't like using it as it is desperately overpriced, but it is really helpful.

I am trying to reduce reliance on it by getting an odd box, so I have more fruit and veg

If there were alternatives to deliveroo that more run on more ethical lines I would use them.

But when I realise I need milk and salad and some potatoes and I can't go and get them then I am grateful to have to the option

Have a look and see if snappy shopper are in your area their much more reasonable for groceries for when your stuck and deliver

Bjorkdidit · 06/12/2025 09:18

I'd be willing to bet that the 'poorly child in hospital', 'single parent needs calpol at 2 am' or 'disabled person unable to shop or cook for themselves' orders are vastly outnumbered by those for 'can't be arsed shopping or cooking so will order in' ones.

Either way, it's an exploitative, tax avoiding business model so I'm surprised so many on MN are happy to overlook this, it's rare to see these companies get the same vitriol seen from the 'I don't use Amazon or Temu' virtue signalling crowd.

Kirbert2 · 06/12/2025 08:41

Notsoblackfriday · 06/12/2025 08:36

So basically...

It's fine it became highly exploitative industry because it helps few people 🥰

(who could order groceries from normal supermarket deliveries)

Not at 2am when you have a poorly child in hospital you can't.

It was the only reason I ate something other than a nibble of toast during the early days when my son was critically unwell.

Notsoblackfriday · 06/12/2025 08:36

So basically...

It's fine it became highly exploitative industry because it helps few people 🥰

(who could order groceries from normal supermarket deliveries)

2025emanresu · 06/12/2025 07:52

PyongyangKipperbang · 06/12/2025 00:35

You are totally missing the point that the PP made.

She doesnt want to ask for help, she manages it herself by utilising the services that you are slagging off.

So is it great that she can do that due to her (in your eyes) genuine need, or is it shit that (taking from various PP's) "lazy....overweight.....eating shit" people are using those services for reasons you have prejudged without knowing about?

Pick one because right now you sound like those rascists/ageist etc who say "Oh well not you, you are different" when called out on their predjudice.

Um excuse me? I haven't called anyone lazy, overweight or said anyone eats shit? Are you confusing me with someone else?

I don't like the atmosphere countless delivery drivers bring to my town, whilst people out socialising has seemingly dropped. The getting some Calpol delivered at 1am is an example of how invaluable the service can be, although my
point was people jump to paid help instead of asking friends/family.

PyongyangKipperbang · 06/12/2025 00:35

2025emanresu · 05/12/2025 23:58

Of course it isn't always possible. I think it's great that for those times that people haven't got to do without or be forced to leave their house, but I think these delivery companies have made people forget about any other option and overall it's breaking down community spirit.

edited to add
i guess in an ideal world people would still help each other out more, with deliveries left for more unusual situations. That wouldn't be a profitable business for the companies though.

Edited

You are totally missing the point that the PP made.

She doesnt want to ask for help, she manages it herself by utilising the services that you are slagging off.

So is it great that she can do that due to her (in your eyes) genuine need, or is it shit that (taking from various PP's) "lazy....overweight.....eating shit" people are using those services for reasons you have prejudged without knowing about?

Pick one because right now you sound like those rascists/ageist etc who say "Oh well not you, you are different" when called out on their predjudice.

2025emanresu · 05/12/2025 23:58

CassandraWebb · 01/12/2025 11:04

I have regularly helped elderly neighbors etc.

But actually it suits me to order a shop online when my condition flares and I don't want to be dependent on neighbours.

Not least because when I am flaring my speech slurs and it's actually not safe for me to chat to people as it makes my swallow even weaker. I am sorry if that ruins your idea of what a community should look like.

Of course it isn't always possible. I think it's great that for those times that people haven't got to do without or be forced to leave their house, but I think these delivery companies have made people forget about any other option and overall it's breaking down community spirit.

edited to add
i guess in an ideal world people would still help each other out more, with deliveries left for more unusual situations. That wouldn't be a profitable business for the companies though.

nomas · 02/12/2025 13:19

CassandraWebb · 02/12/2025 13:15

Quite. This comment made me feel so uncomfortable on so many levels. Ageist/racist /classist

Yes, these people are proponents of invisible labour, where they rely on immigrants for low‑paid services (cleaning, caregiving, food delivery etc), but also want those immigrants to remain out of sight, excluded from public life, and to be invisible, so they only have to look at 'fresh faced' people.

CassandraWebb · 02/12/2025 13:15

nomas · 02/12/2025 13:13

What does fresh faced student mean? White?

And what does faceless drone mean? Black?

Students can still apply to be delivery drivers, no one has banned them.

Quite. This comment made me feel so uncomfortable on so many levels. Ageist/racist /classist

nomas · 02/12/2025 13:13

Kleeneze · 02/12/2025 13:06

Yes but in my city there was a market supplied by fresh faced students on push bikes prior to them being put out of the market by faceless drones doing 40mph on illegal e-bikes. We can arrange delivery services in the UK without resorting to illegal workers.

What does fresh faced student mean? White?

And what does faceless drone mean? Black?

Students can still apply to be delivery drivers, no one has banned them.

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