Supermarket driver nearly two hours early

[StillCoughingandLaughing]

I had a Sainsbury’s delivery booked for 10 - 11 tonight. I wasn’t particularly fussed about having a late slot, but it was the only one with no delivery charge, so I booked it. I wasn’t planning to go anywhere.

Earlier today, a friend invited me for a drink. I said I’d have to leave at 9.30 to be back, which she said was fine, so I went. At 8.20 I got a call - it’s my delivery driver wanting to know why I’m not answering the door. I explain my slot isn’t until 10, but he tells me I’m the last delivery of the day, so he’s there now and can I answer the door. He doesn’t speak great English, so it takes several attempts to explain that I’m not at home.

Eventually he gets that I won’t be there before 10. After a big sigh, he eventually says again, ‘I’m here now - you’re my last delivery’ - but then says he’ll wait for me. As I was arriving home at 9.45 he was on the phone again, wanting to know where I was.

This has happened to me before with Sainsbury’s, and from the missed calls on my phone, I can see it’s the same driver. I’m torn, as it’s massively frustrating when you’re trying to plan your day to get irate phone calls asking why you’re not in 90 minutes - two hours before your booked slot. I absolutely wouldn’t have minded an early delivery if I had been in, but I can do without being treated like an inconvenience. Because it’s happened before, part of me wants to complain. On the other hand, I wouldn’t want the driver to get the sack over it either.

Should I say something or not? Obviously it’s not a big thing, but shouldn’t I be able to plan around a slot rather than two hours either side ?

When our Tesco delivery driver recently came to the house we thanked him so much for all he's doing at the moment. He then went on to tell us it's the easiest job he's ever had. No bosses breathing down his neck etc and no stress. We do live in the countryside. I'm sure it would be much tougher in an inner city!

I didn't say you should. I just hink the whole things a bit petty. On all sides, given everything else going on Only my opinion

Jesus does bloody COVID have to excuse all things? Oh you're not dying of Covid so be grateful I brought your shopping you paid for, you ordered for a certain time and you should be thankful and leave wherever you are to accept a TWO HOUR early delivery!

Oh jog on, Covid s here for a long time and does not currently excuse bad service.

My partner is a home delivery guy with another supermarket. Quite often he gets double trips, meaning he is working over his time. He starts at 6:30/7am, if he can try to get all the shopping delivered early he does. I’d actually like him home to help with our kids bedtimes but because of double trips he is often home late! If its not double trips, he is sent to rescue a broken down driver, meaning he has to take their deliveries when he has already done his, again late home. I’d just be grateful i got my shopping tbh.

Oh and the same phone number doesn’t mean its the same guy! They have work mobiles, they don’t use their own for obvious reasons.

@Bigkingdom that's nothing tondo with the consumer, it's to do with the employer.

Speak to the employer about the issues, not try to make the consumer responsible and "just be grateful they got their shopping"

*to do not tondo

Well really it is. My partner is too nice and will say yes just so the customer gets their shopping! If he says no he won’t stay past his time/do double trips/rescue broken down drivers then those orders will be cancelled. Simple as!

@Bigkingdom well then that's his issue if he's too "nice", again not the consumers issue.

@Bigkingdom if he didn't do it, after many complaints the supermarket would address it or lose custom. Simple as.

I’ll make sure in future that he refuses to stay later than his hours to ensure people get their shopping don’t worry. If people aren’t grateful that these drivers are working their butts off then theres no point in them ‘putting the customer first’ And busting their gut.

Brilliant idea @Bigkingdom and then the situation will be addressed! Otherwise it won't be addressed, will it?

I'm sorry if you've got an option to select time, then you can, otherwise don't give the option?

It won't be your DH that gets the backlash it'll be the people on customer service.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.forbes.com/sites/andrewbusby/2020/04/08/tesco-profits-soar-as-costs-rise/amp/

So it's not like these supermarkets are on their knees is it?

They're making massive profits from consumers, therefore the consumers deserve excellent customer service.

The OP didn't get it, she needs to complain to the provider and they need to address it. If it's because people are working double shifts for no extra money then the company need to address it.

I’d just be grateful i got my shopping tbh.

More fool you. What’s to be grateful for about getting what you pay for?

More fool you. What’s to be grateful for about getting what you pay for?

This 💯!

@Bigkingdom I agree that your husband shouldn't be staying late to help out. I doubt he gets much thanks from his employer either for doing so!

We get home deliveries and we're always so grateful to the drivers. We've never had a problem yet but we always try and make it as easy as possible for them.

Please tell your husband thankyou from a home shopper! :)

You should say something, I've been getting Sainsburys for over 10 years now and they have always called me to see if its ok to come early, sometimes it has been and other times it has not, its never been a problem with the drivers if I'm not free to take it early.

In fairness it's not "unreasonable" customers making the job hard (although in no way was the OP unreasonable!), it's the awful employers that are raking in massive profits and then saying our workers are hero's (not saying they're not). But they don't treat them like that!

But it's not the customers that need to change their attitudes it's the employers, they've got more profits, employ more staff, get more reliable vehicles,

I'm not sure why people are expecting the op to not complain, because actually the more complaints may make the employer sit up and listen?

I think the days of ‘oh I’m just grateful I got my shopping’ have passed. We are six months in to covid and large supermarkets have had more than adequate time to adjust.

Sorry, but they’re not giving the food away, they’re not even delivering it for free. I just paid £7 for mine delivering on Sunday morning (because that’s when suits us). I’m paying for a service I’m not ‘just grateful’ for whatever slap dash job Sainsbury’s churn out.

At the start of Covid I fully accepted items with the same use by date as delivery date, adhoc delivery times or mass ‘substitutions’ but now I’ll be complaining hard if they pull that.

I also don’t think all delivery drivers and cashiers are ‘hero’s’ they’re being paid to do a job, like we all are. I’d say the real ‘hero’s’ are those volunteering their help for free in places like food banks which have struggled to function through covid.

My DH is a hospital Dr and best friend a nurse, they don’t view themselves as ‘hero’s’ and don’t expect anyone else to, they have literally just been doing their jobs.

I paid £30 for a year's deliveries from Sainsburys. I think it is a bargain and a great service. I've only had substitutions a handful of times and the substitute has been fine, the drivers are all friendly and helpful. I'm avoiding shops as DH is very vulnerable and yes I am truly grateful for the service.

@ancientgran do you have to spend a minimum each time? I’ve never done an online food shop.

Customers do need to change there attitude tho. Customers have become more rude and abusive to supermarket staff more than ever. I have had it myself and witnessed it many times. Glad I'm out of it now and don't have to deal with idiots all day long

People are also forgetting that supermarket workers worked right through lock down. Drivers working all hours so people could get food. Supermarket staff pushed to the limit and being around strangers who may have covid. Not social distancing and coming up close asking where products are.

People are also forgetting that supermarket workers worked right through lock down.

Who has forgotten?

No ones forgotten @Vivana but it doesn't mean that supermarkets can give poor service! They're making more profit than ever and need to up their game and give customers the service they deserve.

No there not they have cut back on so many departments some have lost there jobs etc. Just because they made profit in one department they lost in others that's how it works there. And it does not give customers right to abuse staff at all.

@whatsyournamenow

I didn't say you should. I just hink the whole things a bit petty. On all sides, given everything else going on Only my opinion

Jesus does bloody COVID have to excuse all things? Oh you're not dying of Covid so be grateful I brought your shopping you paid for, you ordered for a certain time and you should be thankful and leave wherever you are to accept a TWO HOUR early delivery!

Oh jog on, Covid s here for a long time and does not currently excuse bad service.

Just you calm yourself down. Il decide what I think, thanks.