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?

If ordering non essentials was a problem right now then we would have been told not to do it and those companies selling and delivering them closed down.

People making u their own coronavirus rules and berating others got not following them are just causing people more angst than necessary.

If or when the government tells us not to order things for the good of the cause then that is when people need to stop.

I do think we're heading for a depression anyway- this plus Brexit makes it pretty much guaranteed

Then that means we should do as much as possible to keep the economy afloat. As bricks and mortar shops are shut, that means shopping online.

Mental health is vitally important right now. Millions of people are currently stuck at home and are only able to go out once a day, if that. They need to keep busy and active, ideally both mentally and physically.

People should absolutely spend if they can afford to. Books, art equipment, exercise kit (indoor bikes etc), kids toys, garden toys and furniture all have a part to play. If people can then go out and enjoy their gardens and their homes during lockdown then good for them.

We don't need to sit at home wallowing and feeling sad all the time.

The postman is the only one touching the letterbox so if there are virus's on it it's because he put them there!

viruses

People making u their own coronavirus rules and berating others got not following them are just causing people more angst than necessary.

This 100% I keep seeing it all over mumsnet right and its making the forum a more toxic place than usual.

I bought vitamins, liquorice panda sticks for my keyworker DP to get a boost and maple syrup for my son.

Perhaps we should self-flagellate in punishment ?

My non essential delivery yesterday. Allergy syrup, head lice treatment, pens, notepads, index stickers, and 2 books. I would consider at least the first 2 to be pretty neccessary for living quite comfortably.

@MonaLisaDoesntSmile I am shocked people are shocked. Do we really need to live in self-abnegation, and spend the rest of the year kneeling in the corner on sharp stones, whipping out backs and eating a grain of rice once a day? No right to do something nice for ourselves every once in a while? I don't think we have that right if it puts other people's lives at risk, no.

I have ordered a few non-essential things online from small family businesses but won't be using the likes of Amazon or any large companies as they are just too big and I don't trust them to look after their staff properly. Delivery workers and warehouse staff don't have some kind of special immunity from this virus and they are real people, just like you.

Things would be far harder for many without online deliveries for essentials and non-essentials alike.
After delivery, I tend to leave the item in the box in my hallway (for a couple of days) then wash my hands after touching.

Not at all unethical. It's keeping the economy and businesses afloat, particularly if you're ordering from local or small businesses. I have a family member who works for a courier service and he's been given a pay rise and an increase in overtime pay too - he is very happy to still be working and actually prefers it as all deliveries are contactless

If it worries you that much then don't order anything. Very unreasonable to be questioning peoples ethics though.

I ordered a case of wine yesterday. The company I got it from explained on their website the measures they were taking in the warehouse to make it safer for staff, and also pointed out that many of their small winemakers abroad were likely to suffer if they lost too many sales. On that basis, I felt quite ok about ordering the wine....

I've just ordered toiletries from Cult Beauty and GCSE revision guides and text books for my dd who is year 10- pretty essential I think!

Totally agree with this-
"elivery drivers are, in most cases, putting the goods down and stepping away from the door to minimise contact.

If you're really worried, sanitise your deliveries afterwards and wash your hands.

As for the economy, a lot of these people are paid per delivery and are on contracts that won't be covered by the government's current compensation plans. So if we don't order, they might not get paid;

Also, if like me you're going to be stuck inside for possibly months with a child, you really need to invest in some entertainment for your mental health!"

Delivery workers and warehouse staff don't have some kind of special immunity from this virus and they are real people, just like you.

Nobody has suggested otherwise.

But you need to look at the bigger picture. If nobody buys anything except food and medication until the lockdown is over (June at the latest guess) then thousands of businesses will go under. Millions more people will be out of jobs. The economy will be in an even worse situation than it will be.

People need to stop making up their own rules. The government has said online shopping is FINE. Italy, Spain and France are still allowing online deliveries too. If you don't want to shop online then that's your choice but it's not right to shame other people for it.

You do what you want OP and I will do what I want and that includes getting deliveries

Ive still been ordering stuff, its my daughters birthday soon and i wont see her without any presents. Lifes only.pleasure at the moment....

Why don't we all just lock ourselves in an empty room and stare at the ceiling for fun? The psychopaths are in charge, don't forget that.

The thing is you don't get to decide what is necessary for someone else's survival,wellbeing or comfort.

I've ordered non-essentials from small businesses too. We normally use Amazon regularly, but have cut that back to complete essentials only, so very little. I would be gutted if my friend's businesses all go down the pan.

its a grey area .

What is essential ? If you are in a "shielding" family you feel very responsible for the vunerable person and want to avoid going out as much as possible ( I know that's the same for most people) but I am ordering freezer food - plus getting myself organised with things to help being more organised in batch cooking and freezing deliveries I can get. Also needed bits to set up a home office . What about people who need hobbies to help with the children and their own MH ? we don't all have arts and crafts equipment to hand but there are lots of free on line tutorials etc? I have wiped down and cleaned each package left on the door . My main concern is whether the employers are conforming to H&S guidelines ?

I would have thought delivering parcels is one of the safer jobs out there! It's a solitary position- one person in a van, alone- no need to come into close contact with anyone- knock on door, leave parcel on step and retreat back to van!

I'd feel much safer doing that than I will tomorrow when I have to go into school to look after a bunch of NHS workers kids!

I have ordered some printer ink for DS's schoolwork, and some zinc and camomile tea to help our recovery. I may order some books soon. I don't want warehouse workers and drivers to be at risk, so I feel a bit conflicted about this, trying to keep it minimal.

@adaline - hope you are recovering well.

I've ordered a new duvet set and 2 pairs of pjs over the last couple of days.Nothing wrong with it imo.

It's not so much the drivers, it's the folk in sorting offices.

OP, have you considered death toll from potential suicides if people with MH were unable to order anything, and equally some people survive as traders on these deliveries (many not entitled to self employed scheme or can't last till June and need to eat)?