To be royally effed off at Tesco delivery driver

[SoddingTesco]

Managed to get a slot for delivery as am officially shielding. Tesco driver turns up so I put out a big plastic box he can decant my bags into and go to the porch window to let him know he can put the bags in there.

Says he can’t. Says my order has high value items and I have to come to the door.

Fine, whatever. I open the door and stand back, explain I’m shielding as I’m classed as vulnerable.

Just laughs and asks if I want the stuff in the box.... no, I just put it out there for a laugh obviously.

Then he decides my peppers might get squashed so leans in and puts them by my feet. He goes on to explain my substitutions and goes to hand me the paperwork. We both just stand there for a bit before I take it off him. He sees this as an opportunity to hand me more bags and unpacked items even though I’ve just bloody told him I’m shielding! My plan was to bring the untouched box into the porch and leave it there but he ended up handing me half my shopping, a receipt and a bloody leaflet about shopping with Tesco.

No gloves, no mask, nothing.

I’m a bit highly strung today as I have recently lost someone close so just want to know if IABU and need to chill out or whether I should complain?

OP, please ignore all those who think you are over reacting.
We are a shielding household, yes officially to those idiots saying it’s “official” or not. People are saying official to get over the point that they will likely die if they get it told by their doctors to stay at home.

All my deliveries I have written We’re shielding, I also hold a sign up in the window. Never has anyone asked me to open the door. I would refuse, but understand socially it’s hard to do as one delivery driver collecting a parcel I asked to go back 5m and then he walked to the door to ask if I was ok, and social niceties made me struggle to stay stop and shut the door, I panicked for a week.

Or is okay to make a complaint, that shouldn’t have happened.

Very sorry for your loss.

If it helps, I’ve put a not on the inside of the front door which Says “do not open door under any circumstances” it helps. Also look into something like a video doorbell, battery operated by ring so you can talk to them without opening the window.

To all those saying just take the shopping, you are being cruel to someone who needs to maintain distance. They can’t take the shopping. We have to have the shopping left outside, it then has to be washed down in 2 stages, then we shower. Cupboard food goes in the garage for 3 days before being cleaned. Same with any parcels.

When I have Tesco deliveries I pop my head out of the door as they are unloading at their van and shout to tell them to leave it all on my steps by the door.

If there are any subs, they usually say so and the receipt is in the bag so i can look at with them keeping their distance.

(I prefer Ocado as the receipt arrives before the delivery- email- and you can see in advance if there are any subs.)

I think he was wrong, OP, but you are to blame too- it's very easy to be assertive and tell him to back away, and you will shout and discuss subs from a distance.

You didn't have to accept things he handed to you did you?

He didn't follow protocol and I would inform tesco. But you also need to be a little firmer. I'm not shielding but often find myself saying "yeah just put on the wall I'll get it" with a smile.

Just to make it clear I’m NOT going to complain as I also understand how vital these roles are - and how they’re often underpaid and undervalued (I’ve worked as a self employed delivery driver before). Was just angry and upset with it all when I felt I had made it very clear.

My porch window is right next to my front door too. He could see and hear me perfectly fine but just seemed to think it was a bit of a joke.

Thanks for the replies everyone - the kind and the unkind. Stay safe

In fairness YOU could have worn a mask and gloves. It works both ways.

A mask, unless it’s hospital grade and she has a visor, will not protect the OP from catching COVID19 from the driver. The point of being on the vulnerable list and getting deliveries is to protect the customer. What the hell is the point of that if the bloody driver treats it like a joke and doesn’t stay back? She might as well go to the corner shop, in that case. Only she can’t, because she’s SHIELDING!

maybe he couldn't see the OP clearly through the window

It’s very clear throughout the OP’s post that there was no such issue.

Honestly, if posters can’t understand the reasoning behind asking vulnerable people to shield, I give up!

I understand why you are upset, and struggling, and why you didn't handle it well.

At the same time, you didn't communicate at all clearly with him, so it's not really his fault.

Let it go. And condolences.

Agree and with Pedro. Maybe be grateful you can get food delivered and for his clumsy attempt to be helpful. Plus imagine doing his job...

Tbf you didn’t have to take the shopping off him?

@AldiAisleOfCrap as I've said maybe he couldn't see clearly who was at the window. Maybe it was dirty maybe it was full of NHS rainbows who knows. Maybe the solution would be no alcohol only essential shopping then no need for ID.

My plan was to bring the untouched box into the porch and leave it there but he ended up handing me half my shopping, a receipt and a bloody leaflet about shopping with Tesco.

So if you had stepped right back and refused to be handed anything, he would have understood.

You were as bad as him.

I can't believe all the people here saying the OP is the one who's been unreasonable! What the hell is the point of spending weeks confined at home, being ultra-careful with your contact with the outside world and chasing up hard to find delivery slots (and ALL the supermarkets have a statement about contactless delivery) - only for some twat of a delivery driver to make contact like that??

If someone hands something to you, you do automatically take it. He wrong-footed her. I'm sure he didn't do it on purpose but he was thoughtless and stupid. What does he understand by 'I'm shielding', FFS? Just goes to show how bloody stupid people can be.

I'm angry because this also happened to my mum. She's elderly and vulnerable and requested a contactless supermarket delivery. As soon as she opened the door, the guy just leant into the house to put the bags inside. She asked him not to and he continued. She complained and so should the OP. It's just fucking, wanton stupidity. People aren't isolating and shielding for shits and giggles, are they?

Sorry should have clarified the high value item was razor blades, not alcohol or anything! Razor blades to shave my legs with, but a big box so like £30 worth.

OP, there’s an old expression, which I’m sure you’ve heard before,
manners cost nothing. You need to realise things have changed. Manners can cost you your life and I’m sure you’d rather stay healthy than have your obituary read, “and she had lovely manners”.

You need to learn to be firm, if you get repeated stupid behaviour from a driver.

I wouldn't be at all happy about that if it was supposed to be contactless. We have had one Asda delivery ane one morrisons in the last few weeks, not had a Tesco. Both of these the drivers phoned to say they were nearly here and asked exactly where we wanted it leaving. They never came within 8 ft of us and there was no paperwork, everything was sorted via email. I do know Tesco have a lot of temps atm, but I suppose most supermarkets have.
I'm shocked at people saying the OP is 'bitching and moaning'. People who put 'self-isolating, please use contactless' on their instructions are either vulnerable, or may have CV - the instructions could be just as much about protecting the driver, and his other customers as themselves. Of course we are all grateful to everyone who works in supermarkets. That doesn't mean we don't want them to do the job properly and safely, for their sake as well as ours. We are grateful for all the wonderful doctors and nurses. But don't tell me you'd be happy to have surgery done by someone who didn't bother washing their hands...

You were both as bad as each other.

He didn't do what you asked but you were a total idiot in taking paperwork and bags from him and doing everything you have been told not to do.

Stand up for yourself, OP. Your life is YOUR responsibility, nobody else's.

Let me think .....

NO

I’m sure the OP is fucking delighted that she has an underlying condition that puts her on the delivery list. It must be a fucking hoot, knowing that Tesco is delivering to her because she’s so fucking vulnerable and at risk of being seriously ill or worse, if she catches COVID-19!. 😒

Well I for one are grateful there drivers are still helping the vulnerable and shielded like my own mother who can't lift her shopping due to her disabilities and the kind drivers who still help get her shopping inside . If I can't be there to bring it in for her . Until I can come round and clean it for her and put it away.

1TheOneAndOnlyPedroPony yes how ridiculous of OP teying not to die
Clown.

I'm not shielding
Ocado driver this week knocked the door. Stood 6 feet away and asked about substitutions. Then said to go back in house and shut the door. He would put it all outside in bags and would ring doorbell when finished. Seemed sensible

@SoddingTesco ah ok sorry for suggesting it was alcohol but razor blades are an age restricted item too.

Two weeks ago my Asda driver came at 8am for Saturday delivery. Asked to see DH's ID before he would give us the shopping so took it off him then handed it back (not socially distancing). No reason whatsoever to check ID as we'd bought nothing that has an minimum age limit for purchase, literally our fruit and veg for the week.

That's rubbish for you OP. I assumed the drivers would be well versed in contactless delivery by now. Try putting a note on your door saying you are isolating and to please leave deliveries on the doorstep. Also state that you require contactless delivery in the comments box if that's an option when ordering.

Bit over dramatic.

My Tesco delivery driver phoned to say he was outside.

I opened the door and he shouted from the van that he will be putting bags on doorstep.
I stepped back inside and waited till he was done.
He got back in his van, drove off and then I went out and collected bags.
It took me a good while to get stuff out of bags, disinfect and put away food but I managed.
The only disappointing thing was having to throw away lots of plastic bags.

My principle when making a complaint about an employee of any company is always to go direct to the top.

If you feel you want to make a complaint write directly to the CEO. The email of his executive team is:

ceo.customerservice@SoddingTesco

Bear in mind this may have consequences for the individual concerned.

With very few exceptions have always found Tesco drivers to be helpful and friendly over the many years that I have used the online service. Remember that these employees are under a tremendous strain at present doing a difficult job and anyone can have a bad day.