To think that Waitrose should not ask my 23y DS for ID for fruit&veg delivery

[funnyperson]

My foot fractured so when the local Waitrose home delivery came this morning my bearded DS went down in his pyjamas to answer the door. The delivery boy asked if he was over 18 years and DS said (truthfully) he was. I was then astonished to hear the delivery boy asking for DS's identification. This is probably our 15th waitrose home delivery, prepaid, mainly fruit and veg, milk and eggs, no alcohol cigarettes or medicines in the delivery. I asked DS to ask the delivery man to come upstairs and asked him why he was requesting ID. He said because if someone looks ver 25 and it is a delivery pf alcohol we need to see ID. I said but you have the list in your hand to be signed off and can see there is no alcohol/cigarettes etc. I signed the form.
AIBU to think my 23 yo son should not have to produce his passport to the local delivery of fruit and veg on a Saturday morning? Especially given it wasnt the first delivery? Abel and Cole simply leave their fruit and veg with my DD who is 21 and have never requested ID.

[teddybears]

You sound horrible op. Do you have an unhappy life or have some insecurity as you clearly get some satisfaction from talking about 'delivery boys' and looking down your nose at those who you perceive to be beneath you? Yabu, and my advice is to fix what's wrong in your own life and don't pass the unpleasantness on to others.

[EnriqueTheRingBearingLizard]

[Redglitter]

And why on earth would the OP think the 'delivery boy' would get the sack when he's been doing his job properly and the way he's been trained

I love the fact the shopping there for 25 years is meant to go for anything
You're nothing more than a number to them don't kid yourself you're anything more. in fact chances are your delivery doesn't come from your naice local branch anyway.

My local supermarket is 5 mins from here. Been going there 34 years now since I started high school and went with my mum every week. 2nd generation customers now you'd think my shopping would come in a special van or something wouldn't you or in gold baskets

[Nightboattocairo]

Hey, OP, the 1950s is

[MaggieJoyBlunt]

2nd generation customers now you'd think my shopping would come in a special van or something wouldn't you or in gold baskets

[Nightboattocairo]

Mark Price himself should deliver mine.

[SoupDragon]

Given the T&C state that deliveries can only be left with an adult aged 18+ you need to get over it. It is not unreasonable to think that ID would be required if the delivery driver thinks someone is under age.

There is really no need to be unpleasant.

[BeaufortBelle]

Gosh the OPs getting a hard time on here. I can see where the OP is coming from. The world is going slightly mad in the context of bureaucracy and general unhelpfulness.

Oddly, my daughter has ordered herself a pizza/sushi/wagamama when I've been out pretty regularly now since she was about 13/14 and there has never been a single issue with the deliveries - she has also taken in deliveries for neighbours, etc., over the years.

In recent weeks we have just moved house. The most unhelpful people were people like Virgin, the Banks, insurers, etc., usually due to automated scripted systems based overseas. Paradoxically I had call HMRC last week and was pleasantly surprised at how helpful and customer orientated they were.

When I was 21 I bought my first property. It was an age ago now but I managed to buy things like beds, furniture, have a kitchen fitted and deal with all the utilities without once being asked for ID. I have also been known to eye roll when my 20 year old, sensible and rather mature son has nipped back home on his way for a night out because he has forgotten his passport. Surely the stolen passport issue on a night out along with the potential for stolen identity has to be far greater than a teenager buying an alcoholic drink at 16 or 17. I used to do that all the time and survived without getting blind drunk or becoming an alcoholic.

[mrsplum2015]

I had a big argument with Waitrose as they were late with my Christmas delivery one year - it had obviously all gone tits up in the store and I was due a delivery early afternoon but they were proposing to deliver after 7pm. Unforunately we were going out to start the Christmas celebrations and our DC were going to be at home with our very well trusted 15 year old babysitter and Waitrose would not
a) deliver to our babysitter as she was under 18
b) deliver without the wine in the order
c) leave the order in the porch with or without the wine

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

It became bigger than Ben Hur and a store manager ended up coming out with the order in her car the following day - at about 3-4pm (can't remember if this was Christmas Eve or the day before!). They brought a box of chocolates and a bottle or two of (extra!) wine to say sorry. I was really annoyed - they did try to make it good obviously but something had gone horribly wrong, which you don't really expect from Waitrose as a main reason I shop there is the customer service.... I didn't stop using them but I agree they can be a bit of a PITA at times. However I never take it out on the delivery guy - obeying company procedure is not wrong.

[SoupDragon]

I was really annoyed - they did try to make it good obviously but something had gone horribly wrong, which you don't really expect from Waitrose as a main reason I shop there is the customer service

The store manager liveried your order personally, in her own car, with extra wine and chocolate and you think this is a failing of their usual level of customer service?? Asda would have told you it was tough, cancelled the order and kept the money ring fenced on your credit card for ages.

[BeaufortBelle]

But the manager wouldn't have had to do that soupdragon if the order hadn't been messed up in the first place. You don't expect Waitrose to mess up in the first place - that's why some customers pay a bit more.

[mrsplum2015]

Yes it was a big bloody failing as I needed the order 24 hours before and at Christmas with the absolute precision planning needed if you're catering for loads of people 24 hours is crucial. I needed to make deserts etc in advance with my order. Fair enough they did what they could to make it up but my point was how ridiculous it got to that point in the first place (and to be fair Asda would have probably delivered to the porch - I remember Tesco doing that for us when we moved house once and they were really late so we'd gone out to get dinner - no wine or other restricted items were involved).

[Nightboattocairo]

The pickers don't walk around with a handwritten shopping list just doing your shopping, you do know that? There are computer systems that go wrong, it's bizzare not to expect Waitrose to have any problems at all.

[Nightboattocairo]

Bizarre!

[bittapitta]

OP - 1) why did your adult son cause you all this stress and aggro? He should have calmly reasoned with the delivery driver and explained there was nothing age restricted in the delivery, and told him regardless you were unable physically to take the order. If he's 23 why isn't he acting like an adult? You are misdirecting your anger at the delivery driver when your son should have dealt with it.

2) you should shop at Ocado. Waitrose products, but far better customer service.

[EvansOvalPiesYumYum]

Young adults in this age range are used to being asked to produce ID nowadays. I do wonder why your 23-yr old (beardy!) son was not able to produce some ID.
Surely that would have solved the problem within a minute? Then no drama at all

[laflaca]

This thread has been an eye opener: the next time I have a Waitrose delivery, I shall treat the driver with extra respect, now that I know how much ridiculous shit he has to deal with in an average day.

[FayKorgasm]

Oh dear OP you did make a bit of an eejit of yourself. You agreed to the terms and conditions,which it sounds like you didn't read or understand and then threw a tantrum over it. Don't get too worked up over it,and for goodness sake ring and offer your apologies to the delivery man.

[Starbrite00]

I've owned by own home since I was 22, I'm 34 now. When I bought my own property I would get a lot of door to door people knocking trying to sell random home stuff, they always used to ask for my mum or dad. I just used to laugh.

[Starbrite00]

The way you are speaking about your soon OP I think the delivery man was right to ask for ID.
You make your son sound like a ten year old.
He is 23 , old enough to be in his own home and married.

[Olddear]

Why did your son have to answer the door? Surely that's the butlers job?

[funnyperson]

olddear thats very funny and made me laugh.

My son wasn't too bothered about being asked for ID actually - I suppose some of you are right and young people these days have come to expect it. I was the one who was bothered.

I didn't give the delivery boy a hard time at all actually- you are all quite under the wrong impression: I signed off his delivery note (which was in my name anyway) without saying much to him. Coming upstairs is routine for our delivery as our kitchen is on the first floor, same as the sitting room, so I didn't 'summon' him upstairs as some of you seem to think.

But I did complain to management. Producing ID for under 25's is in the T and C for Sainsbury's and Tesco but not for Waitrose. If my 21 year old daughter had answered the door she wouldn't have had ID on her as she lives away from home and doesnt always carry age proof with her. In fact I have asked her to bring her ID with her when she comes to help me out later on in the week. DS lives away from home too and was there to help me but he does carry his passport and licence around with him.

I dont feel upset today: it is nice to have all your diverse views, gives one a sense of perspective and all that and besides my leg hurts less.

[Olddear]

Glad I made you laugh and you're feeling better. Now, why don't you go online and order yourself a nice big bunch of flowers from Waitrose........oh! maybe not!

[Volenflo]

I can totally see why you were pissed off.

[muminhants1]

I'm astonished by the number of people who say "it's in the terms and conditions so you have to accept it".

No. See my post above about consumer protection legislation. And if it's reasonable, but stupid, it's worthwhile pointing it out.

And the op's son wasn't party to the contract and therefore isn't bound in any event. And what would he do if he didn't drive and didn't have a passport?

And I wonder how many of you who are blithely saying "they can ask for ID if they like" were implacably opposed to having ID cards a few years ago. Personally I'd rather have ID cards (as long as they are accepted without having to have anything else like bank statements etc). But I'd object to someone asking me for ID for no good reason. And this was for no good reason. Company policy is not the same as the law, whatever some retailers may think.