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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To complain about delivery driver?

45 replies

Chipbutty67 · 13/03/2019 08:40

I had a grocery delivery scheduled for this morning. It was the 6:00 - 8:00 slot, and I saw the driver pull up just as I was leaving on the school run with the kids.

I went over to the driver and said, ‘I’m sorry, I’m just leaving to drop the kids. Would you mind taking the groceries to the kitchen, please, and my FIL will sign for them.’ I unlocked the front door and left.

I have to reverse off my drive and then had to wait for a bus to pass, so have to drive past my front door again to leave, and as I did I saw FIL struggling to carry in the crates of groceries, all unloaded on the front step, whilst the driver stood and watched.

I was so angry. My 70 year old FIL has had chemo and 2 strokes which have affected his balance in the last two years. He’s staying with us to recover from the latest and is far too polite to say anything but was really struggling.

I had to park the car, run back, unload all the groceries, making me late in the process.

I never ever complain, but I’m so angry. All the driver needed to do was to tell me if he couldn’t/ wouldn’t take the delivery to the kitchen.

I sorely regret not making the point there and then but FIL was very active before his illnesses and gets embarrassed at finding everyday tasks difficult, so I didn’t want to stress the point in front of him.

WIBU to complain?

OP posts:

Oblomov19 · 13/03/2019 09:10

YABVU. Book it for a time that you are in.

pinkyredrose · 13/03/2019 09:11

If you were there when the delivery turned up why the hell didn't you take it in there and then, would've taken a minute? Sounds like you ordered the driver to do what you wanted then turned your back and went. Don't blame him for not doing your bidding.

Original poster

Chipbutty67 · 13/03/2019 09:12

Just to clarify on a couple of points

yes, as long as the delivery is in by 8:00, I can leave and be on time. I agree, I was cutting it a bit fine, as there is always the possibility of drivers running late, but I thought in that scenario, at least I know there will be someone in the house to sign for the delivery.

I completely understand that the driver isn’t required to bring the delivery inside. It was an ASDA delivery, and they usually ask where you want it and have taken it into the kitchen before. My problem is if the driver couldn’t take it in for any reason (policy, health, didn’t want to) why didn’t he just say so? Rather than saying nothing and then doing the opposite?

OP posts:

Magenta82 · 13/03/2019 09:16

Ocado drivers are meant to bring it to your kitchen, mine always have, if yours isn't Numptysod then maybe let Ocado know.

I have different slots and drivers every time but all of them have thanked me for my help when I go down to help them bring the order up.

UnspiritualHome · 13/03/2019 09:16

I agree that common politeness means that if the driver couldn't take it into the kitchen he should have said so. It might be worth suggesting to Asda that they are least train their drivers in the appropriate response.

Original poster

Chipbutty67 · 13/03/2019 09:18

I didn’t think that FIL might have offered to do it, that’s definitely a possibility. Will have to discreetly ask him if he did.

OP posts:

NannyRed · 13/03/2019 09:23

Don’t book deliveries for the 6.00-8.00 slot if you have a school run at the same time!
What would you want from a complaint? Are you looking for the driver to lose his job? Or just get a bollocking because you was going out?

FemalePersonator · 13/03/2019 09:40

What would you want from a complaint?

Apologies, compensation and, in the future, delivery drivers to be the OP's servants.

Perhaps the next complaint will be that the delivery driver didn't put away the delivered items.

JustBloodyCold · 13/03/2019 09:42

Ocado drivers always put the delivery where I ask, which is just inside the door because I don't want strangers coming into my house. They take the bags out of the crates. Sainsbury's, however, just come to the door with the crates and stand there while I take all the bags out. I prefer the Ocado approach.

nauticant · 13/03/2019 09:44

You put the delivery driver into an awkward position. If you complain you might get him into a disciplinary process.

Have some compassion. Especially since the arrangements you made caused this problem.

tessieandoz · 13/03/2019 09:57

I am not sure that I would complain as such but would certainly phone up to find out what the policy is.
I use Tesco's and they always bring it in for me on to the kitchen work top and we unpack as quickly as possible together..

AliceAforethought · 13/03/2019 10:00

No, you shouldn’t complain unless it was firmly established that the driver had firmly, verbally agreed that he would take it in, but then left your FIL to do it. If he’d clearly refused, then you could have stayed and taken in yourself.
If you just shot off an instruction at him then rushed off, then it’s you that’s in the wrong.

It is annoying, all this “at the drivers discretion” thing: some people will have no idea whether theyre going to get help or not. I use Tesco and Sainsbury’s and the drivers have all, without exception, taken it into my kitchen.
I used Asda once and they dumped it on the doorstep. There were two of them. The shopping was not in bags, and it was chucking down with rain. I can’t lift those crates so had to take in a huge shop a couple of items at a time. It didn’t bother me, but It took forever. I must admit I didn’t exactly rush. They just stood there getting wetter and wetter and looking pissed off. It would have been better for them to have taken it in!

Bobbycat121 · 13/03/2019 14:09

Yabu shouldnt have booked it for the school run! they run late occasionally so would you complain about that aswell?

MeltedCheese82 · 13/03/2019 14:11

Think people are missing the point, if he wasn't able to take them into the kitchen, she expected to tell her so.

Bobbycat121 · 13/03/2019 14:14

Maybe he didnt hear her!

coffeeismyspinach · 13/03/2019 14:17

I'm really amazed drivers are allowed to enter homes. That puts them and the customer at all kinds of risk, tbh.

adaline · 13/03/2019 14:25

I would imagine your FIL offered to do it.

But it's completely upto the driver whether they deliver to the door or the kitchen or not. I don't think complaining will get you anywhere - he didn't do anything wrong.

MadSweeney · 13/03/2019 14:27

Another Ocado customer. Every delivery I'm asked if they want me to bring it through to the kitchen.

Biancadelrioisback · 13/03/2019 14:39

OP YANBU. You asked if he could take it in for you, he didn't say no so you assumed he was agreeing. All he had to do was say no. No idea why you're getting a hard time! He stood and watched a 70yo struggle. He sounds rude. All he had to do was say no.

CloserIAm2Fine · 13/03/2019 15:07

You chose to book a delivery at that time. I would expect deliveries in rush hour are more likely to be late than ones in other slots, so if you need them to not just arrive before 8 but also have completed the whole delivery before 8 then you need to choose a more convenient time.

You jumped to the assumption that the driver is unreasonable without even considering that fil might have said it was fine.

Delivery drivers are not your personal servants. They have often very tight schedules, especially if they were already running late.

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