To expect Asda delivery person to be fit enough to deliver my shopping

[Crybabyghoul]

They recently always send me a guy who can't manage it, I am two flights up, and I'm very grateful he does it because I'm not able to do it myself due to health reasons (otherwise I'd be getting it all from lidl myself), but he struggles so much I worry for his health.

I try to time the shopping for when my boyfriend is home so the person has someone to help them but its not always possible.

I feel like I'm being really horrible here because most of the delivery drivers are nice (this guy barely even says hi to me) and they never complain, I tip them and I'm not left feeling guilty.

He literally sounds like he's going to have a heart attack, and I feel really bad for him. Bearing in mind it's a weekly shop (£50) and does include cat litter and some bottles of diet coke, but it's not a huge amount.

I feel like emailing asda although the last time I did, asking them if the delivery could come towards the end of that delivery slot so my boyfriend would be there to help the driver, their attitude was "oh don't worry about it the driver will carry it all up for you anyway."

Sorry for the rant, I am feeling horrid. I feel like asda just don't care about their staff. They sent me an OAP once who genuinely could not manage one crate up the stairs, and another time I told the driver to leave the stuff downstairs and he left the bags strewn all over the hallway, tampons and everything falling out.

I feel like boycotting them altogether.

[Dreadwitch]

I'm disabled and live on the 8th floor.

[PinkyPrincessy]

If you want someone to deliver to your door/fridge whatever then Asda aren’t going to be the supermarket to do that, are they? Switch to Ocado if you want decent service

[ILoveYou3000]

ugh, even more reason to change supermarkets

Please don't do that if you can help it. The only people this ends up impacting is the staff, whose hours depend upon sales.

Also the new contract isn't as bad as it's being made out. A lot of the pushback is coming from the very long term colleagues who are nearing retirement and will now have to work under the same t&c's as every other person in store. Those already on the contract have felt little to no impact other than they're on more pay and have more holiday each year. A lot of it is the union stirring up a frenzy.

[SchadenfreudePersonified]

Walmart has a policy, about not receiving any sort of gift or money from customers and suppliers and they are really strict on it.

I suppose this is to reduce fraud. If I get a cracked egg in my shopping, the driver gives me the whole box free (it's Sainsbo's policy - I'm always thrilled to find a leaky egg box! :) ). On one occasion I got a free tub of cream because the plastic lid was missing and I was going to refuse delivery anyway, so the driver very kindly refunded as "damaged - left with customer".

If this happened and then it turned out that the driver was getting tipped, his feet wouldn't touch the floor, even if he was totally innocent of any wrongdoing.

[Becca19962014]

I'm sorry if my post sounded aggressive, that wasn't my intention.

[Crybabyghoul]

@PerkingFaintly I am much calmer now I have been to my pottery class and its definitely time for a cup of tea!

[PerkingFaintly]

It doesn't sound like it would be a problem however when you feel helpless and need others to do things for you it isn't nice to think that you might be exploiting someone.

Oh god, I empathise with that so much.

Time for some and , brought by your helpful delivery person.

[Crybabyghoul]

Thanks for the replies, this is the first thread I've created here and I didn't expect so many!

I do hope I haven't come across as entitled I am far from it. I just currently need this service and had a bad experience today and it made me feel like shit.

@NotExactlyHappyToHelp well I would never mention it to anyone other than the driver himself, so unless they want to get into trouble then I'm sure they won't be saying anything either, I hadn't realised honestly.

@Teddybear45 I am currently unable to lift things using my upper body, so yes I am 'able' to live in a second floor flat but the whole point of me having shopping delivered is because I can't carry it.

@Becca19962014 I have never heard of any driver NOT bringing the shopping to your door. And when I have brought the issue up with asda their attitude has always been that of course the driver will bring the shopping up. Also I know I am very lucky, I'm not disputing that fact.

@BrokenWing yes that's what the response from asda has been however I feel that if they expect their drivers to deliver upstairs they really should make sure their drivers are able, as its unfair on them otherwise.

@Sparklingbrook yes maybe you're right, I just don't want to make it look like I'm complaining about him but I'm sure I can bring it up with them over email and get my point across.

@Mummyoflittledragon yes I have they are well aware. Also that's not true, there are all types of disabilities not all of them affect your ability to walk or climb stairs.

@Dyrne not discriminating, just a concern for the welfare of asda staff, im sorry if it came across that way

@AnchorDownDeepBreath definitely not complaining about him, just a concern and I shouldn't have to feel this way for getting my shopping delivered. Plus I should add that even when I have asked them to leave the stuff downstairs for my boyfriend to get they refuse. Apparently they're not allowed to do that.

@Proteinshakesandovieshat good point maybe he likes his job. The fact that he doesn't even smile or say hi and seems bloody miserable suggests that he doesn't, but I could be wrong. About the tipping, I didn't realise until now they weren't allowed to accept tips, I was raised to tip taxi drivers, hairdressers, waiters, bar staff, etc etc and they are all allowed to accept tips usually so I wasn't aware it was an issue. I can't promise I'll stop but I certainly would never tell anyone.

@DexyMidnight I'm not sure what your point is - I'm not complaining about him, I know it's a shit job with shit pay. I'm expressing my concern over the fact that asda are employing people who are struggling and they don't seem to care. It is also unfair on me because I'm left feeling like I've basically exploited someone.

@Bunnyfuller noted, I guess maybe I'm overreacting it's just shocking to see someone in that state and it makes me worry

@jennymanara good point I guess I'm just worried about him that's all.

@CedarTreeLeaf I hope that's the case then! Good way of looking at it. I should maybe add that he delivered to me once a few months ago and was in the same state so it doesn't seem to be working but itlf that's the case good on him

@PerkingFaintly thank you, from some of the replies I think they've misunderstood me a little, yes I want my shopping brought to the door but not at the expense of someone's welfare, hence I always try as much as possible to arrange someone to help. I didn't want this to come across as entitled, it's a dig at asda, not the drivers as I do appreciate them.

@Raphael34 according to asda customer services he is not doing me a favour it's his job, however even if he was contracted to climb up all the stairs I would still feel he was doing me a favour as I am a grateful person and do appreciate when people go the extra mile for me.

@NoBaggyPants ugh, even more reason to change supermarkets

@Ticklemeelmo poor guy indeed and I feel fucking horrible to be honest if I didn't need to do my shopping that way I wouldn't be

@OverpricedFloorCushion we have no transport (he has a scooter but it doesn't hold much) so it's really currently the best option. Also I have a monthly deliver pass and for my boyfriend to take it in a taxi would cost four times that at least per month and I'm a student so money is a bit tight!

@Princess (sorry can't tag you) well indeed with bagless deliveries it's even worse, it kind of makes it impossible for the drivers not to bring it all the way up as they won't leave the crates, I could go down with bags and take a small amount at a time but they'd be there forever.

As for all the suggestions, I have had deliveries in the past from tesco and sainsburys and I have to say they were so much more pleasant, I switched to asda for money reasons but I feel like I shouldnt have to be left feeling so crap and it might be worthwhile spending a little more.

Morrisons have also started delivering here so might give them a go.

It doesn't sound like it would be a problem however when you feel helpless and need others to do things for you it isn't nice to think that you might be exploiting someone.

[PrincessFiorimonde]

I live in a first-floor flat and over the years Asda delivery drivers have usually offered to bring the shopping upstairs (though I've always said no thanks, I can manage). As their deliveries have recently gone 'bagless', I was under the impression - as per BrokenWing's posts - that they are now obliged to offer to do this.

So I think the OP is right to expect this service. And I can see why she's concerned about this driver's fitness, though I take the point made by a pp that he might be fitter than he appears.

PS I always tip delivery drivers. I had no idea that accepting might count as gross misconduct!

[OverpricedFloorCushion]

Could you do click and collect and get your partner to collect it for you?

That might be easier than trying to arrange a specific delivery time/ driver.

[Ticklemeelmo]

Poor guy that's actually shocking. They clearly don't vet whether their delivery staff are physically capable of doing the work

[Raphael34]

They’ve also treated their employees like crap. I remember them being forced to change their policy a few years back of only hiring women part time to get out of paying them maternity pay if they got pregnant

[NoBaggyPants]

Asda treat their staff like shit. Here's their latest effort, forcing workers onto new contracts that leave them worse off.

www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2019/08/asda-employees-strike-controversial-new-contract-terms/

[Raphael34]

My neighbours son is an asda delivery driver and it’s literally written into their contracts that they only deliver to the front door of any building, and they enter at their own risk and discretion. He’d normally take the shopping to the front door, but had a complaint against him once for refusing to enter a building and the customer refused to get her shopping. Reason being is he opened the door to the communal hallway and their were homeless junkies sat there injecting heroin. Most other supermarkets apart from the asda also have a policy to not deliver above the first floor if there is no lift. He’s doing you a favour

[PerkingFaintly]

By the way, Crybabyghoul, to you for being so kind and thoughtful about the delivery people.

It's clear you're putting a lot of care into trying to make sure they're looked after, and spending time and effort trying to organise your life to make their lives easier. (Even though whether someone's in an appropriate job is NOT your responsibility – it's the responsibility of that person and their employer.)

You're the absolute opposite of a horrible person!

And yes, it's absolutely fine to go with another supermarket for any reason at all, including that these delivery folk aren't a good match for your particular needs. You deserve to be looked after too!

[CedarTreeLeaf]

Maybe the job will help him get fit and that's why he chooses your flat on purpose? I could be wrong though, I'm just saying there might be a chance that he wants to get fit so he chooses the more strenuous deliveries?

[TheFairyCaravan]

I'm disabled and have Tesco deliver my shopping. Most of the time DH or one of the kids is here, but that's not always possible. They deliver to my kitchen and always help me unpack. I've put it on the notes section so they're all aware but most of them have been coming for years now.

When DS2 lived in a flat 3 stories up at uni he'd carry one crate up and the Tesco driver would carry the other one.

[EllesBells123]

Maybe try a different supermarket. I've tried them all for home delivery and been sticking with Tesco for a while now. You can cover the cost of the delivery saver plan with clubcard points too so it only costs a couple of pounds in points every month for all your deliveries. I never had a problem with them bringing stuff to the door when I lived in a flat and all the guys in my area are relatively young and very polite. I was told once by a driver that they aren't allocated any extra time for flats, which I think is why sometimes people have had problems with drivers not bringing stuff to the door especially if they've had several flats on their route and they end up behind. Still cheeky but I can sort of understand if they get penalised in some way for being behind.

[Scarlett555]

You should switch to Ocado. I also live in a 2nd floor flat, Asda will only bring the shopping to the communal hallway while Ocado will bring it up the stairs. That is why Asda only charges £1 for delivery.

Also I am sure it is not gross misconduct to tip the delivery guy?? Surely it's only like tipping a takeaway delivery driver?

[Mummyoflittledragon]

Crispsandwiches
That sounds terrible. I didn’t realise things were so bad.

Yabbers
Was there really a need to be so snarky? I am disabled myself, chronically ill. Have had 2 big surgeries relatively recently and as I have ME my brain doesn’t always work perfectly. Excuse me if sometimes I don’t fully think things through.

[Nousernameforme]

Could you try another supermarket Morrissons is as cheap as asda i find and as it's run by Ocado it's delivery service is lovely

[jennymanara]

How do you know he isn't actually capable? He is doing the job so is capable of doing it. He may have a lung condition such as COPD which makes him out of breath more quickly, but the advice with COPD is not to stop doing things just because it sounds to everyone else that you are really struggling. COPD is not uncommon as people get older.

[whattodowith]

If he isn’t capable, he should say ground floor deliveries only and not be assigned to your flat.

[Awwlookatmybabyspider]

It sucks, but That’s their policy. He’s doing you a favour.

Since when it’s his job. .

[Auldspinster]

When i used to get deliveries from Asda they'd only deliver to the main door of my block of flats, occasionally a driver might bring it up to my second floor flat but that was very rare.