Hermes deliveries smell of smoke!

[theresnoonequitelikegrandma]

I've had 2 deliveries from Hermes recently, both from the same driver (who is very friendly, hands them to me rather than launching over a fence...) BUT both packages really smell strongly of cigarette smoke. Though the objects inside the packaging seem ok, I was planning to wrap one in the box it came in (object inside is tricky to wrap) but now I can't.

Am I being unreasonable to expect deliveries to arrive not smelling of cigarette smoke? Should I complain? I have regular deliveries from other couriers and never have this issue but I don't think it's possible to specify that I don't want deliveries from Hermes is it?

I used to have this with Yodel deliveries, the courier even walked up my driveway with a fag in one hand and the parcel in the other. All you can do is complain to Hermes.

Is it in polythene outer packaging? Some of the grey polythene mailing bags can smell strongly of smoke, so it might not be the driver..

Some retailers let you choose which delivery service you want. If there isn’t a choice, or if you opt for “free” delivery you get whichever courier the retailer has contracted with.

If your local Hermes driver is nice but smokes, it hardly seems prudent (or nice) to complain about him, if the smell is only on the outer wrapping.

OP you don't live in the Tameside area do you? My DH and I hate getting a Hermes parcel. The delivery person is lovely but the parcels always absolutely reek!

I had this in the last place I lived. The parcels were so stinky I had to unwrap straight away and bin the packaging. I considered complaining but didn't feel right potentially risking someone their (probably poorly paid) job. I'm not saying you should necessarily do the same as there definitely is a place for complaining in order to encourage better practice. I suspect Hermes isn't the nicest company though, and I'd be worried their approach would either be a) totally ignore you, or b) get rid of/penalise the driver.

Ours always smell of cigarettes from Hermes, it’s gotten to the point I’ll try and use a different delivery method.

Hmm.

Wonder if the infamous seller of a certain 'teddy bear-decorated' cake has diversified into Hermes delivery driving...

OP,
Is it plain old tobacco smell, or does it have an additional spliff element?

Don’t most Hermes couriers use their own vehicle? So even if he’s not smoking ‘at work’, his car may already smell. I wouldn’t be happy about this, especially as most of the things I get from Hermes are clothing.

I just looked this up to see if anyone had the same experience! The last two packages delivered from yodel stank of smoke, and even worse one of them (which contained blankets, throws and cushions) was delivered wide open and I’ve had to wash them three times to get the smell out. I agree it’s definitely a first world problem but also I don’t think it’s acceptable at all! I actually saw the woman in the passenger seat smoking with the windows shut in the yodel van. Surely they can just step outside and take a smoke break!!

Complain to the retailer who uses Hermes and write a review on the retailer's website. If they're getting bad publicity due to using Hermes as their delivery company of choice and customers aren't happy, there's more chance your complaint will be taken seriously.

I've seen our local courier smoking as he gets out of his van. I was surprised as I though that smoking in company vehicles had been banned?

I don't really know for sure as I've never smoked.

I wouldn't be very happy getting stinky parcels, I do know that

Hermes won’t give a crap, they don’t care if their drivers don’t deliver parcels they certainly won’t care that they smell. Though of course YANBU!

Your best option is to complain to the sender, since they’re the ones who chose to use such a crap courier company, and they’re the only ones who have any chance of Hermes taking notice of (but probably still won’t).

It’s unfortunately not an issue likely to get solved until you get a different Hermes driver, so may just need to avoid buying from companies who use them unfortunately

I agree about complaining to the sender.

I advocate that all retailers should have to tell you the parcel carrier before you order. I am sure enough people would object to Hermes such that retailers would choose someone else.

Yes I know I'm posting in a necro'd thread, but seriously?

People are complaining about cardboard smelling of fags that will only end up in the recyc a few hours later? What about cardboard that got wet in the rain? That ends up in the recyc too.

First world problems.

Our Hermes driver comes to the door with a cig in hand!! The parcels always reek

He's such a nice man... I'd never complain. At the end of the day, what's inside the parcel never smells so it's fine! I do understand it's a bit gross though.

@billyt probably not a company vehicle most couriers are SE.

Hi KatieGGGG,

Liveried van.

Hermes couriers aren't allowed to leave parcels in their vehicles overnight, so if you aren't home when they try to deliver, there's a chance that your parcel is sitting in the driver's house overnight, or even for a few days (e.g. if the next day is a Sunday but that driver doesn't happen to work on a Sunday). Even if you are home, the driver may not have been able to fit all his parcels in his vehicle for one delivery round, and may have taken a batch of parcels home, gone back to the depot for the rest, delivered one batch first, and then gone back home to collect the rest.
There's a very high chance that your parcels smell of smoke for that reason, and not just that the smell has transferred from the parcel being held by/or being in the vehicle of the driver.