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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Supermarket driver nearly two hours early

320 replies

StillCoughingandLaughing · 14/10/2020 22:18

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 ?

OP posts:
MillieVanilla · 18/10/2020 11:12

If he had of been polite and said he was nearby and his deliveries had gone quicker than expected, but you'd have explained no I'm out, then no don't complain.
The fact you've said he was irate, hell yeah complain.
What if he behaves the same way to an older or vulnerable customer? You're the customer, he is being paid to be convenient to you,not the other way round. He has absolutely no right to be irate with you.
If he is sacked that's on him. There are lots of driving jobs and maybe he will behave in a manner befitting a public facing role next time

Sczp · 18/10/2020 11:13

15 minutes before her delivery slot he rang, probably wanted to remind he
Op booked the original slot and had already been rang once and discussed it wasn't her slot. I doubt anyone would think someone would forget especially after they'd already discussed this, he was probably ringing to pester about her not being back even though she wasn't late.

Jeremyironseverything · 18/10/2020 11:18

When it's happened to me they've apologised and asked if it's ok. That's fine. Getting arsey about it, isn't.

They should expect to work till the end of the shift and take it as a win if they manage to get off earlier.
Presumably he was being paid till 11 anyway so delivering on the dot of 10 still means he's home early.

StillCoughingandLaughing · 18/10/2020 11:38

Exactly Sczp. @ancientgran seems I think I’m a goldfish.

OP posts:
LindaEllen · 18/10/2020 12:10

In these situations it's likely he just didn't have anyone in the earlier slot and was trying his luck to get an early finish. So he should have phoned you and asked whether it was convenient to bring it early, and when you said no, he should have graciously said no problem, I'll see you at 10pm.

You shouldn't have to wait at home all day on the offchance they might turn up early, that would be ridiculous, and entirely defeat the object.

Vivana · 18/10/2020 12:36

The driver may have already finished he's shift but may of been asked to stay on

ancientgran · 18/10/2020 12:42

No I really don't think you're a goldfish.

If he had of been polite and said he was nearby and his deliveries had gone quicker than expected, but you'd have explained no I'm out, then no don't complain. Where does it say he complained, I've read the OP and she says his English wasn't good so took more than one attempt to explain, said he sighed, said he paused - perhaps working out what to say as his English wasn't good. She later mentions irrate calls but what she describes isn't irrate, it was a normal question and he waited. The OP asks if she should plan for 2 hrs either side of the delivery slot, no she doesn't she just has to calmly say she isn't in and will be back in time for the delivery. Obviously deliveries being late is a different issue as if there is a hold up on the road e.g. car crash, road works etc, then a late delivery can be something beyond anyone's control, probably why they allow extra time and are sometimes early.

For heaven's sake he waited and she got her order, talk about making a fuss about nothing. If he'd demanded she come home fair enough, if he'd sworn at her fair enough, if he'd refused to wait fair enough. He didn't do any of those things. She was bothered that he arrived early, that's with her it wasn't causing her any problem.

whatsyournamenow · 18/10/2020 13:12

@ancientgran I don't think the OP would forget would she really?

Keep on clutching at those straws though, maybe arrange a home delivery of some?

whatsyournamenow · 18/10/2020 13:22

For heaven's sake he waited and she got her order, talk about making a fuss about nothing. If he'd demanded she come home fair enough, if he'd sworn at her fair enough, if he'd refused to wait fair enough. He didn't do any of those things.

He was insistent, answer the door, repeating it's my last call, that's rude.

She was bothered that he arrived early, that's with her it wasn't causing her any problem.

This makes no sense whatsoever!

Vivana · 18/10/2020 14:15

MillieVanilla

Biscuit
Vivana · 18/10/2020 14:18

ancientgran

It's OK on mumsnet they think that supermarket staff are beneath them on here and that the customer is always right which is far from the case now. Perhaps these people should thank the supermarket staff for putting there health at risk and making sure people are getting there food.

whatsyournamenow · 18/10/2020 14:25

The driver may have already finished he's shift but may of been asked to stay on

And that's OPs fault because? It's the employers that are at fault!

No I don't think that anyone is beneath me @Vivana, but carry on with taking rubbish!

How did Op Think the employee was beneath her? Please do enlighten me?

And assuming the delivery drivers are social distancing and using PPE etc, their lives are not at risk.

PoprocksAndCoke · 18/10/2020 14:46

@Vivana

The driver may have already finished he's shift but may of been asked to stay on
That really is irrelevant though, he would have accepted the route as overtime knowing the op had booked the slot she had ant therfore he wouldn't be finished till after then. If he didn't want to work that late he could have said no
StillCoughingandLaughing · 18/10/2020 14:47

She later mentions irrate calls but what she describes isn't irrate, it was a normal question and he waited.

I didn’t mention irate calls. You’re making that up. But I was annoyed he rang at 9.45. What for?

It's OK on mumsnet they think that supermarket staff are beneath them on here and that the customer is always right which is far from the case now.

You are being beyond ridiculous. It’s really not hard to grasp the concept of ‘be there between 10 and 11’. I don’t think it’s suggesting I think someone is ‘beneath It's OK on mumsnet they think that supermarket staff are beneath them on here and that the customer is always right which is far from the case now. me’ to expect them to meet an appointment time. I have a call with my boss at 9.30 tomorrow. If I just ring at 8.15 because I’m twiddling my thumbs, would she be wrong to point out that that’s wrong? Would she be suggesting I was somehow beneath her - or would she just be expecting me to follow a simple instruction?

The customer might not always be right - but in this case, I am.

OP posts:
whatsyournamenow · 18/10/2020 14:50

The customer might not always be right - but in this case, I am.

Too bloody right!

Also, risking life? Is it safer to deliver at 8.30pm instead of 10pm then?

Jeez!

Vivana · 18/10/2020 15:31

whatsyournamenow

LOL carry on your making me laugh Grin

Vivana · 18/10/2020 15:35

I defiantly agree with ancientgran now as going on about a driver being early and then going on about how he cannot speak English properly and getting irrate about it.. Op your the one being ridiculous you got your shopping but making such a drama out of it.

Jeez

whatsyournamenow · 18/10/2020 15:57

@Vivana not as much as you're making me laugh with "risking lives" delivering shopping!

GrinGrinGrinGrinGrin

hypochondriacseveywhere · 18/10/2020 16:10

Fuck me some of these replies are stupid! I hope you did end up complaining OP.

You booked a specific time slot and you expect it to be honoured. If my shopping delivery comes a few minutes early before my time slot and I'm at home I don't mind at all but if I was out I wouldn't be happy.

Vivana · 18/10/2020 16:19

Perhaps you could tell that to the drivers family I know of whom died from covid during lock down as a family didn't report to the company they had it. Perhaps also tell that to the checkout workers family who I also know died of covid. Retail is one of the highest occupations where staff are more at risk of getting covid.

whatsyournamenow · 18/10/2020 16:23

Never ever spoke about checkout people @Vivana ! So why are you now bringing that into it?

Delivery drivers can very easily distance, why would they be at risk?

You tell me a pour the postman that died, my OHa a postman!

ancientgran · 18/10/2020 16:35

If my shopping delivery comes a few minutes early before my time slot and I'm at home I don't mind at all but if I was out I wouldn't be happy. As long as they wait till you get home what exactly would make you unhappy?

Vivana · 18/10/2020 16:37

If you read one of my pp I said supermarket staff that means all staff who work in a supermarket. Perhaps you may want to read properly

StillCoughingandLaughing · 18/10/2020 16:38

I defiantly agree with ancientgran now as going on about a driver being early and then going on about how he cannot speak English properly and getting irrate about it.. Op your the one being ridiculous you got your shopping but making such a drama out of it.

I’m hardly ‘going on about it’. You keep coming back to thread and replying - does that mean you are going on about it’ too?

You keep trotting out the same old nonsense and it’s become very, very boring.

OP posts:
saussaggessandmasshh · 18/10/2020 16:40

@AlwaysLatte

I never book late slots, I did once or twice but the drivers often come really early and I totally understand it - imagine sitting in your van for two hours and not being able to go home to your family. So much more likely to happen in those last slots. Could you book early mornings or just a day that you're in at an earlier time?
The whole point of choosing a delivery slot is so it fits in with tv your life.

Why on Earth should the OP book around the possibility of the delivery being early and getting a pushy driver trying to deliver when it isn't convenient?!

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