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Original poster

Is it ethical to order non essentials on line?

28 replies

DrSeuss · 26/03/2020 15:23

I really want to but think I probably shouldn’t. I would like some items to do some DIY projects to keep me busy during lockdown but they are obviously totally non essential. I have not yet got beyond browsing. I would buy from small eBay sellers, not huge multinationals such as Amazon. I would have them delivered and left outside so no contact involved.

Pros-
Support small businesses in difficult times.
Provide employment for delivery drivers who need money too

Cons-
I want these things. I do not need them.
Delivery drivers are paid peanuts and so would be forced to risk infection for 50p a week.

I had better wait, hadn’t I?

OP posts:
funnelfanjo · 26/03/2020 16:14

I would go ahead and order - you are supporting small businesses and the delivery drivers are leaving stuff on steps and knocking, and don't actually come into contact with people in their houses.

madcatladyforever · 26/03/2020 16:19

I ordered a load of kallax inserts from IKEA, I'm filling days off by doing DIY projects, then thought exactly the same thing. Should I have ordered.
Thery just leave the stuff on the steps but IKEA is hardly a small business.

HollowTalk · 26/03/2020 16:20

I think you're helping self employed people. I'd do it.

IceKitten · 26/03/2020 16:20

Yes, I agree with the above posters.

CheshireDing · 26/03/2020 16:21

I have ordered craft stuff etc fir the children, any post/parcels now just get left on the step.

ArriettyJones · 26/03/2020 16:24

Couriers will be grateful for the work, I think, as PPs have said.

Also any way of (safely) keeping the economy ticking over has to be a good thing.

Paperdaisychain · 26/03/2020 16:25

I think its ok as there is no actual contact but some partners of delivery workers were on another thread saying other wise. I would think if it's a problem then it will be stopped.

MysteriesOfTheOrganism · 26/03/2020 16:26

Yes, it's fine - desirable, actually, as we don't want the economy to go into complete meltdown.

forkfun · 26/03/2020 16:26

Why don't you call the business and find out? Our local businesses are all advertising on FB, making deliveries on bikes and their own vans.

duvetdaysgone · 26/03/2020 16:28

I thinks it's wrong to order no essentials online at least for a few weeks. Doing so is putting warehouse workers and delivery drivers at risk & then their family's. what part of essential work do you people not understand? My partner normally delivers 60/70 parcels a day, just now he is delivering over 120 & most of them are Next, Bodem etc. Why should he risk his health so some twat can flounce round their house in new threads. Most couriers are classed as self employed, will you pay his wages if he has to self isolate? Stop being so selfish people!

slipperywhensparticus · 26/03/2020 16:29

People are still delivering because things need to be delivered

lentenwonder · 26/03/2020 16:32

I’d have thought delivery drivers better off than warehouse staff - all our parcels are left outside our door now so the only interaction is bell pressing, and presumably they can have work gloves?

Warehouse staff will be tricky as a lot of warehouses are mixed purpose, and they’re less at risk than nhs workers or shop workers as they’re only dealing with warehouse staff.

paradisefalls · 26/03/2020 16:34

I work for Royal Mail and I thought that parcels would calm down a bit with all this going on but nope, there's more parcels than ever before. Everyone at work are so worried about what's going on but we will be one of the last to close because we deliver medical supply's.

speakout · 26/03/2020 16:41

Oh please do.

I am a small onlne business, and very grateful that people are still buying my ( non essential ) products.

I buy a lot of my materials from other small online suppliers too- and they are very keen to keep going through these difficult times, I have had messages from many - encouraging us all to keep going.
We do need to keep some wheels turning so there is money in the economy for people to buy essentials and fuel.

And if I think my ( non essential but uplifting and nurturing) products are easing someone's burden in a difficult situation then I am delighted.
I will keep going as long as I can.
Many small businesses will collapse duting this time,

SquashedSpring · 26/03/2020 16:43

I feel torn about it too. On the one hand I want to try to keep the economy and people's jobs ticking over, but on the other hand, I worry about people being put at risk.

In terms of delivery drivers, I phoned John Lewis this week to ask if I could have an order left outside my house and I was told that it would have to be signed for and there was no way around this.

It could be that the person I spoke to wasn't up to speed, as they seemed quite confused when I was explaining that we're in 14 day isolation and had to keep going away to check with someone. In the end they said I could have my delivery in 14 days time when it would have to be signed for. I'm going to phone again nearer the time and if they haven't changed this policy, I'm going to cancel.

EmeraldShamrock · 26/03/2020 16:44

Try to order off the one seller to minimize delivery orders.
I ordered from wallpaper and paint from a local supplier who has shut face to face trade.

cologne4711 · 26/03/2020 16:45

Depends on your definition of essential I suppose. Someone on here said this morning that milk wasn't essential and you could manage with black tea or coffee. Well I could, but it would be unpleasant and I wouldn't drink it. I would say groceries and parts to repair things are necessary with a fairly wide definition of grocery (to include chocolate and wine).

Whether it's ethical to order adult clothes or make-up remains to be seen but I think that's between each person and their conscience. Personally I don't think it's a good idea to trash the economy more than necessary and think employers should protect warehouse staff.

MaJoady · 26/03/2020 16:47

@duvetdaysgone This thread is precisely because people don't want to be selfish!

On the one hand we are being told don't buy for the sake of the warehouse and delivery staff and on the other hand small businesses are desperately trying to get people to place orders and support them. Exactly as other responses in this thread show.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 26/03/2020 16:47

Someone on another forum had a go at me for ordering something non essential online - I was apparently selfishly adding to the strain on the post office.

It was something I’d seen weeks ago and coveted, but didn’t buy because I couldn’t justify it when we didn’t actually need it, but with all this going on I thought sod it, indulge myself and support the shop, too.

DesLynamsMoustache · 26/03/2020 16:49

@SquashedSpring That's crazy! None of the delivery firms here are making people sign. They drop it outside door, ring or knock, then retreat, you go out and wave to acknowledge it and if it needs signed for you just tell them your name and they type it in their thing and go away.

Anyway we've bought some things like stuff for the garden as we are using it a lot more and DD needs wellies etc. Our Hermes man, who delivers a lot of our stuff, is self-employed and actually posted on our community FB group saying he needs to deliver to afford to live! Hopefully with the predicted help for SE people he won't be struggling as much.

I think there's such a difficult balance between supporting smaller firms and thinking of the delivery drivers, but they so far all seem to have been well kitted out and not coming into direct contact with other people.

Sindragosan · 26/03/2020 17:03

If this was a short term plan 2-3 weeks and then normal life would resume I'd say that you should wait.

However, with this potentially lasting 12-18m I'd think about which businesses you'd like to see survive this - many will not.

1Morewineplease · 26/03/2020 17:05

Tricky.
@duvetdaysgone
I agree that most couriers are self employed and you wonder who would pay their wages if they had to self isolate. That is exactly why people want to continue with ordering online... if the couriers self isolate NO ONE , currently, will pay them anything. Why can’t they continue to try to keep a roof over their heads , feed their families etc... if they can keep a safe distance, wash /cleanse their hands regularly and maybe spray disinfectant or wipe their packages then let them, as long as they want/feel safe to.

Bienentrinkwasser · 26/03/2020 17:08

Delivery driver on a local Facebook group keeps losing her shit about people ordering things and how many deliveries she’s having to do. Totally unprofessional IMO. She needs to take it up with her employer (not sure if she’s Amazon, Hermes or what), not just demonstrate local people if she’s not comfortable doing the job!

I had to order some travel sickness bands today as a last resort as medication is doing nothing for my pregnancy sickness. I don’t feel guilty. Felt pretty essential.

Ethelfleda · 26/03/2020 17:27

Do it. The government haven’t said we have to stop receiving mail otherwise they’d have suspended the postal service/delivery couriers.

duvetdaysgone · 26/03/2020 17:31

My issue is the amount of delivery's has almost doubled with non essentials. His van was full with online clothing retailers. He is classed as an essential worker. Delivering someones bargain in the Next sale is not essential right now. His health & that of his family IS ESSENTIAL. The workers in the warehouse & depo health is at risk. Can't see the CEO of next on the shop floor helping, no their safe at home during the lock down.