The ethics of unnecessary deliveries

[nomdefuckit]

AIBU to wonder about this?

We're doing a 12 week lock down as DH in the shielding group. Nobody gets in or out, including toddler

I would love to order more stuff to keep him entertained, garden stuff, DIY stuff etc

I haven't because I thought it was wrong for a number of reasons

1: infection risk - every delivery has that potential
2: employees of delivery companies should not be pressured to work more than necessary for their own health
3: more drivers going out and about is more opportunities for the virus to spread
4: there is limited capacity in the system for deliveries. It should be left for essentials

Yet I have seen on here and elsewhere (fb mainly) people talking openly about the nice candles, home furnishings, make up etc that they have ordered

Anybody else a bit shocked by this?

I ordered myself an expensive highlighter palette last week, it was half price and I've wanted it for years. It goes a little way towards making me feel better about stuff. Also my Craft Gin subscription box is still going (money went out on the 24th) so that's unnecessary too.

I completely agree with you OP.
People in the western world are so addicted to shopping that even in a pandemic they fully justify it.
Only food and medicine and a few essential toiletries are truly necessary.

MN has recently exploded with moral superiority posts.

We’re in lockdown.
Hard times ahead.

Just follow the godforsaken rules and please wind your goddamn necks in.

Fucking hell.
Stop looking for someone to look down on and judge.

This place is becoming a cesspool of misinfo it’s utterly bizarre.

@Bookoffacts

One day they'll fine out that things do not make you happy

They scratch an itch that an adman gave them

You don’t sound very happy OP

@Bookoffacts 👏👏👏

This has turned into a very nasty thread.

I did see a luxury online retailer has stopped distribution and service due to safety of staff

They are using their branded vans for food deliveries

It puts them in a really good light.

If there's one thing MN does well it's competitive superiority threads.

It used to be the number of times in a day you shower or wash your towels or change the bins, now it's competitive quarantining.

This is what annoys me about ppl complaining about deliveries and the slaughter Next recently got for their sale... we need to keep the economy going! Thousands have lost their jobs already if we suddenly pull out of buying anything but “essentials” millions will lose their jobs. Also some people still need things other than food and medicine (i.e. people with small children who need new clothes every 3 months...)

Depends. Do you want companies to go bust? People to lose their jobs? Higher rates of depression, suicide and abuse? We have to be realistic. I personally think the risk is quite minimal for workers at the moment. Every company that is still operating should be doing its utmost to protect its staff by following the necessary guidelines (and if it isn't then the staff can report it). It's a fine line to draw but we can't kill ourselves in other ways because of this pandemic fear.

Besides which, charities and lobbying groups been hammering on for years about mindful shopping, protecting the environment and paying higher prices for products so that they are not made by children in factories. All actions that could potentially save lives. But it's largely fallen on deaf ears in the past. Amazing how people's attitudes change when they suddenly feel threatened themselves.

Wtf? What did I do?:/

Could not care less what you think of the ethics of my shopping habits @nomdefuckit. If they are open, then people are free to do as they like. They don't answer to you.

Really got my back up that you have people with mh conditions on here, trying to justify to you why they are ordering! Shame on you making them feel judged.

the whole infrastructure will grind to a halt fairly soon anyway, its unsustainable

workers are dropping by the day

but we are all on full pay should we isolate, and overtime is freely available, so at least we won't be on benefits

@JustStayAtHome

Huh? No idea what you are talking about! One person delivered it (left outside the door, no contact) and my DH assembled it in the garden.

Can see both sides of the argument. I’ve discovered over the last few weeks quite a few local, family businesses who are crying out for business atm and specially offering deliveries.
I can’t risk supermarkets because of vulnerable loved ones. Don’t need anything for a while but will certainly use local dairy, greengrocer and butcher deliveries when we do.

I do think it's bizarre so many of you are so angry and defensive about this.

It's perfectly fine to pose the question.

In my country (New Zealand), couriers were forbidden last week from delivering any non-essential items. There is some concern that the list of permitted items (food, medicine, cleaning supplies, etc) is too restrictive, as winter is coming on there and people currently have no way of buying winter clothes, blankets and so on.

I think it's good we still have a choice here, but I doubt it will be for long.

I'm hoping we will. I have never been so scared in my life and blasé way that people are treating it all is incredible.

Of course you are, because you aren't going out anyway, so things wouldn't change for you. Most people are not being blasé, but for some not being able to leave the house at all would be really difficult and detrimental to their health.

Of course even if we do go into full lockdown, some of us keyworkers will still be expected to leave the house and be put at risk.

Here in the UK, I mean. The machine will stop quite soon.

I can see it both ways.
On the one hand I agree with you OP especially after seeing the reports on fast fashion warehouses
However, it’s keeping the economy going, keeping people in work, keeping people’s spirits up

I'm a post lady. We have a quarter of the staff in our office off, no ppe, impossible to keep 2m apart whilst in the sorting office and we are really struggling to cover all the deliveries. Royal mail have done nothing to help us except say leave packets on doorstep and stand back. They are money grabbing and care not one but for their workers. The only reason most of us stay there and deliver is so we can support our customers. Not all firms are complying with the social distancing rules.

I see both sides but think if it was a problem it would have been stopped by now. It quite probably will be stopped shortly, so I'm buying while I still can. Not panic buying, but my baby is due in 11 weeks, and whether I'll be able to buy things I want/need, that aren't available in stores but are online, in the next few weeks isn't a given.

Interflora say that florist shops have shut but they're still doing online deliveries. They say:

According to information published on The World Health Organisation’s website: “the likelihood of an infected person contaminating commercial goods is low and the risk of catching the virus that causes COVID-19 from a package that has been moved, travelled, and exposed to different conditions and temperature is also low.”

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52066454

This one looks nice - mentioned in the guardian - part of a collective trying to keep Isle of Mull shops going with no visitors. I might send some of these soaps as cheer up gifts isleofmullsoap.scot/

@Hopefulmama34 oh dear!! its not just the driver dropping it off on your doorstep....several people have to handle the item before it gets to you!! putting themselves at risk for your non essential tat!!

working longer, near other people, etc etc....