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AIBU?

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Original poster

To have hijacked the DPD van!

163 replies

IchWill · 16/12/2018 13:58

Just taken a Christmas delivery and DP reminded me about something that happened a while ago. Feeling a bit mortified on reflection! Blush

I ordered some shoes in-store at Kurt Geiger, got home from work to see DPD had tried to deliver and the card said to go online to book a new slot. The next morning I went online to rebook and see the next slot was the next day, at lunchtime so I could be home from work to accept the delivery.

Then later that day, I was home from work, saw the DPD van pull up and notice it's the exact time I had rebooked for, but it was obviously the day before.

Thinking I'd made a mistake, I went out to the driver as he delivered at the house opposite and was looking like he was about to drive away, I showed him my card and asked if he has my parcel, he checked the back of the van and he did. So be scanned it and said that he couldn't give it to me as the delivery was cancelled that morning (at the time I'd gone online to book a slot) and it seems that DPD had put the parcel back in the van to reattempt delivery that day, despite the fact that I hadn't booked a slot myself at that point.

So when I'd gone online, I effectively "cancelled" it from his deliveries that day, in favour for delivery the day after. Odd system.

Anyway, I said to him, well look you're here now, as am I. I really want that parcel, so please can I have it. He refused. Said he can't. So I asked him to call someone senior to ask if they can authorise it, he started to get rude and said no. I understand they are under pressure for deliveries, but I was frustrated by his rudeness and just being a bloody-minded jobsworth. I'd been extremely polite to him.

I pleaded with him, to please call a supervisor, he's stood there with my parcel and I can't have it.

Again he refused and lobbed my parcel into the back of his van and started to close a door.

I saw red at this point, the way he threw the parcel and his manner tipped me over the edge.

So before he could close his second door, I flung myself into the van like a mad woman and sat in it, with my legs dangling out of it and said I wasn't moving until I got my parcel. He was speechless and said I need to move. I again asked politely and asked him to call someone to get authorisation to give me my parcel.

Seeing I wasn't budging, he complied and rang someone. I heard them say to him, "Of course she can have the parcel, don't be so silly!", so sheepishly he gave me the parcel.

I thanked him, apologised for my drastic action and went back inside.

My shoes are lovely by the way. (See pic).

To have hijacked the DPD van!
OP posts:
BewareOfDragons · 16/12/2018 16:57

Power to you. Well done. He was being a jobsworth.

gamerchick · 16/12/2018 16:58

I think those of us who have knowledge of the back end workings of delivery companies are less likely to see the funny side.

For eg. Dpd brought in the precise which is a bit of a nightmare for drivers. You could have a precise for 10am and your next door neighbour could have one for 2pm. Now common sense dictates that both parcels could be delivered at the same time wouldn't it? But no, the driver has to leave after yours and come back later on at the right time. A waste of time and fuel. Not to mention the customers who book delivery and aren't in the ruddy house in the hour they've been told.

Then you get arsey customers on top who think the whole thing is simple with the attitude that their parcel is the most important or the only one.

No I can't see the funny side of what you did. I'm sure it's something to dine out on for a while as has been said though Wink

TheOrigBrave · 16/12/2018 16:58

I am very impressed you can walk in those shoes with a slipped disc!

silkpyjamasallday · 16/12/2018 16:58

Yes it's annoying when there is a computer says no moment, its happened to all of us, but I'm in agreement with others that your behaviour just wasn't funny at all. You are always told to see how people treat waiting staff on dates as it makes it clear if you're out with a total dickhead or not. Messing around with people in lowly paid, time sensitive jobs just makes you a dick, not terribly clever or funny as you seem to think. It was a pair of fucking shoes that you would have got the next day anyway, why cause unecessary stress for the driver?

ItWentInMyEye · 16/12/2018 17:06

'Flung' yourself into the van with a slipped disc?

Original poster
IchWill · 16/12/2018 17:09

My slipped disc is being treated by regular chiropractor appointments, acupuncture, ice packs and painkillers when it flares up. I can sometimes go weeks without any pain.

OP posts:
Withbellson88 · 16/12/2018 17:31

This doesn't make sense. The time slot isn't allocated the day before. It's on the morning so clearly the parcel was coming your way.

Parcels are also often automatically sent out with dpd the next day.

Not a classic story OP. Try again.

tabulahrasa · 16/12/2018 17:38

“He was being a jobsworth.”

You have to be though, or you lose your bonus, the pay or your route.

You have no leeway at all and if you take it to your supervisor - you’re told no.

I’ve had to deliver things that were leaking because the outside wrapper was intact so couldn’t be returned as damaged, so it was deliver it or not be paid.

It’s ridiculous, but you’ve no comeback if you don’t follow what the computer system wants you to do.

So broken handset for instance means no record of delivery and no pay and an enquiry into what’s happened to the parcel... even when you can go, it was a middle aged couple, the man answered but the woman was behind him and they have an apricot toy poodle called toffee that was very friendly (actual conversation btw)

InSightMars · 16/12/2018 17:43

It's all so exhaustingly tryhard and 'I'm mad me' though Dagnabit and there's the soliciting similar tales of derring-do without actually saying 'tell me about your similar moments of madness.' Clearly it fell a bit flat this time because some feel a bit uncomfortable about crowing over 'victories' gained at the expense of people caught between a rock and a hard place in the gig economy. They're going to be in trouble with someone or out of pocket whatever decision they make.Yeah OP got her shoes - to massive applause - but there's a bigger, nastier issue than arsey jobsworthy drivers underlying the gig economy, you know, the reasons why they might be arsey and jobsworthy.

As for the regulars getting fawned on, well, haven't AS'd, but I do see this OP as a regular. She is all over the place: breathlessly awaiting pats on the back for her RAOK, being heroic in getting her seats and shoes, whipping up the indignation re shoe fetishists and again re rapists' WAGs standing by them. Someone asked if she was a DM journo on one thread! Me, I suspect not in this case, just an everyday life and soul of the party attention-seeker type and you know how that goes down around here, especially on AIBU, some adore that style of poster others are a bit meh about them. i think this OP has a thick enough skin to survive it either way.

Original poster
IchWill · 16/12/2018 17:45

@InSightMars Aw, you're stalking me. Flowers

OP posts:
Withbellson88 · 16/12/2018 17:50

You are lying about the time slot being allocated the day before. That's not how DPD operates.

Biancadelriosback · 16/12/2018 17:55

@InSightMars maybe that's why I LOVE those shoes. Honestly OP I'd fling myself in a van for them Wink

ThierryEnnui · 16/12/2018 17:55

Spot on, InSight.

Bibijayne · 16/12/2018 18:12

You're probably being unreasonable but I suspect I'd have done the same.

brizzledrizzle · 16/12/2018 18:15

The more I look at the shoes the more I think 'call girl'

whatshappening101 · 16/12/2018 18:17

@IchWill From this post you've flagged yourself up as a spoilt brat. The gig economy is an exploitative one and you the consumer are reinforcing it. Nothing to be proud of and your "anecdote" is truly abysmal

IWannaSeeHowItEnds · 16/12/2018 18:24

They were the OP's property - she paid for them and driver was being a prick not handing them over. If we all just blindly follow dumb arse rules, we just end up with more dumb arse rules.

BreakYourselfAgainstMyStones · 16/12/2018 18:37

I'm in a shitty poorly paid job where twats think they can say and do as they like and demand things constantly too.

You behaved like an arsehole, made that guys day just that bit harder for something you would only have had to wait another day for and didn't need at that moment.

Posting on here for a pat on the back just makes you seem like more of a twat.

Starlight456 · 16/12/2018 18:53

Well I lol and then read it to my 11 year old Ds who also laughed

No wonder this country is so fucked up . France have days of unrest over there lifestyle in this country you are not even supposed to pick up a parcel that us yours.

Good on you op.

MarthaArthur · 16/12/2018 19:01

Genuine question here isnt he technically stealing if he refuses to hand it over to the owner as you paid and own the shoes. The delivery company dont own it so can he legally refuse to give it to you? That aside thats hilarious and sometjing i would do.

MarthaArthur · 16/12/2018 19:14

Also i really love the shoes. I also despise shitty delivery drivers being dicks (round here they dont even both delivering we stay home all day and still get a sorry you missed us card.) He could have phoned head office and rearranged straight away. Dead shit for the environment as well. Also why do people keep banging on like the op is rich putting a poor lowly min wage worker in his place. Whag if op is min wage too?

melj1213 · 16/12/2018 19:53

Yabu to have made such a scene but tbh as affront line retail worker the first rule of working with customers is don't tell them you have something if they can't have it immediately.

If I was in the driver's position and knew that - even if I had your parcel- the rule was that I couldn't give it to you, I would have said I didn't have it, pretended I couldn't find it in my system or some other minor obfustication because all of those options are going to leave the OP disappointed but isn't going to lead to a confrontation.

The second he said he had the parcel he should have been willing to hand it over or explain he couldn't because of the system but then immediately offer to contact the office to "see if they will make an exception".

Nottheduchessofcambridge · 16/12/2018 20:14

Wine I’m loving this thread. The cattiness is astounding! I’ve never seen women (sorry If I’ve assumed anyone’s gender) behave in such bitchy ways! It’s as odd each poster is trying to out bitch the last one! Keep it classy ladies!

Biancadelriosback · 16/12/2018 20:19

Amazing isn't it notthedutchess
Honestly, whether you like the shoes or not, is there any need to act like a pack of bitches? Saying they look tacky or slutty or call-girl-ie. Tell the OP if you think she is BU or not, stop acting like a bunch of mean girls!

Withbellson88 · 16/12/2018 20:29

I'm amused the OP hasn't come back since I found an obvious hole in the story. Times are never allocated the day before with DPD.

Suspect a NC will be coming up soon.