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AIBU?

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Original poster

Tesco Delivery during Lockdown

39 replies

londonscalling · 19/01/2021 03:38

I recently got a supermarket delivery for my very elderly father.

In the delivery instructions I asked them to leave the shopping on the doorstep and to social distance as he is very vulnerable.

My plan was to go round just before the delivery was due and help him take the things in and put them away.

When I got there the food had already been delivered and it was in the hallway. They'd arrived about 30 minutes early and, as he was confused, he let them in.

I know supermarket staff are doing a great job, but I'm pretty annoyed that they ignored my instructions.

None of us have been out at all since New Year, apart from seeing each other (we are in his support bubble). I therefore feel that they've put him at risk, which then puts us all at risk!

OP posts:
Sinful8 · 19/01/2021 03:45

@londonscalling

I recently got a supermarket delivery for my very elderly father.

In the delivery instructions I asked them to leave the shopping on the doorstep and to social distance as he is very vulnerable.

My plan was to go round just before the delivery was due and help him take the things in and put them away.

When I got there the food had already been delivered and it was in the hallway. They'd arrived about 30 minutes early and, as he was confused, he let them in.

I know supermarket staff are doing a great job, but I'm pretty annoyed that they ignored my instructions.

None of us have been out at all since New Year, apart from seeing each other (we are in his support bubble). I therefore feel that they've put him at risk, which then puts us all at risk!

Maybe they didn't want to leave a confused old man on his own with his shopping on the drive.

Qpecial if he mentioned his daughter was meant to be helping but obviously not there

Original poster
londonscalling · 19/01/2021 03:53

Thanks. He told them his daughter would be there soon.

OP posts:
mortensmike · 19/01/2021 03:57

Can you give them your mobile to call if they are early? We always get a call if they are.

Backbee · 19/01/2021 03:57

I agree with PP, they likely didn't want to leave it outside. But it depends what they did, if the driver was wearing a mask, asked what he wanted done with his shopping and then your DF stood at a distance, there isn't much more risk than the food itself having particles on it. It would have taken hardly any time to get the shopping in, especially if in bags. I wouldn't assume that they wilfully ignored the instructions, but probably adapted to the situation.

Redglitter · 19/01/2021 04:04

I dont really think his shopping being brought in will have put him at risk. The delivery man would have literally been in the house for what about a minute? My Tesco delivery man always wears a mask and the one time they did bring it in for me (when I was unwell) I was asked to step into another room while they went into the kitchen

I dont imagine they'd have been comfortable just leaving an elderly man's shopping on the door step.

I really wouldn't worry about it

WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants · 19/01/2021 04:09

Whether it was put inside it on the doorstep really makes an insignificant difference.

It's annoying when people don't follow instructions, but these guys are under so much pressure to get far too many deliveries done and in situations like this they have to make quick judgement calls. Imagine the furore if the driver had left it outside & you hadn't been able to get there.

Poor buggers can't win.

SkedaddIe · 19/01/2021 04:10

YABU, they do a hard job on minimum wage. My local FB has complaints about them refusing to enter properties since T4 hit.

Did you pay for bags? Some food can't really be just dumped outside imo

Sinful8 · 19/01/2021 04:17

@londonscalling

Thanks. He told them his daughter would be there soon.
Yes but you said he let them in as he was "confused" they may not have been sure there even was a daughter
Original poster
londonscalling · 19/01/2021 04:18

Sorry, I wasn't clear. He's not generally confused as such, but was confused because they'd knocked on the door and said they'd put it inside for him. He didn't know what to say. Apparently the delivery driver was standing pretty close
to my dad in his small hallway.

Let's just hope he hasn't passed anything on!

OP posts:
rawlikesushi · 19/01/2021 04:51

They got ahead with their deliveries and turned up half an hour early.

I've used tesco every week for years and they always ring if they're going to be early but maybe they didn't, or your dad missed the call.

The instructions said 'leave on doorstep as isolating' but they couldn't know that these were left by you with the intention of going round to help.

So they quite naturally asked the homeowner on arrival, do you want this on the doorstep as per instructions, or do you want me to bring it in.

He agreed to them bringing it in. Job done. What on earth can you be unhappy about? Clearly your dad should have told them to leave it on the doorstep in the knowledge that you'd be there shortly. If he isn't cognitively able to do that, add your phone number so that they phone you if they're going to be early.

waydownwego · 19/01/2021 05:54

Tesco used to call if they were running early, but now that everyone is supposed to be at home more often, I find the drivers often take a punt and will arrive up to an hour early. If you're not there, they will wait until you are, but you can't blame them for trying, especially if they know you're vulnerable (and even more likely to be in).

If it was a house with a doorway, I think unloading into the doorway (with your father stood far back or in the next room) would have been acceptable. However, if your father wouldn't move away of his own volition, I'm not sure the delivery men should have told him to - it's a bit off to give instructions like that to someone in their own home.

Am I right to understand that your dad is in full control of his faculties and was just thrown by something unexpected happening? If so, you both just need to think about what could happen in the future and agree on a Plan B.

The Plan B could be as simple as, 'You are here early, so please wait whilst I call my daughter.'

They have to wait if you ask them to.

If your father, however, is starting to lose control of his faculties, this needs to be flagged up with Tesco so the delivery drivers call you next time they're not on schedule and ask you how to proceed rather then putting that decision onto someone who might not be well placed to make it.

Sinful8 · 19/01/2021 06:07

@londonscalling

Sorry, I wasn't clear. He's not generally confused as such, but was confused because they'd knocked on the door and said they'd put it inside for him. He didn't know what to say. Apparently the delivery driver was standing pretty close to my dad in his small hallway.

Let's just hope he hasn't passed anything on!

So he wasn't confused in a medical sense, he's not mentaly vulnerable?

Then him letting them in isnt the driver ignoring instructions its your dad ignoring then

Eviebeans · 19/01/2021 06:08

I use the service regularly and they always call if the schedule changes - they haven't yet just turned up - probably need to bear in mind that it is not a bespoke service and they are making multiple drop offs per day -
perhaps you could have the shopping delivered to you and take it round...

Penny2021 · 19/01/2021 06:15

What time were you planning on going round? Maybe you should have been half an hour early too if it was that important?

Mummyoflittledragon · 19/01/2021 06:17

Evie
Good plan. I also think you should have it delivered to you. Tesco doesn’t deliver in bags anymore apparently. Either in baskets or a massive crate liner bag thing, which is rammed full and very heavy. Ocado still do bags.

Oooohbehave · 19/01/2021 08:28

YABU. Why don't you do his shopping and take it round?

balalalala · 19/01/2021 08:41

I also always used to get calls if they would be early, now they just rock up when they like as they work on the basis you're home. Doesn't help when you're in virtual meetings. I'm sympathetic to the drivers, but I feel that it should sit with Tesco. Don't offer a fixed slot if it won't be, remove the function and just offer the flexi slots! What i would say is generally their customer service is brilliant, so if you are concerned, give them a call to pass on your feedback.

BakedTattie · 19/01/2021 08:45

Agree with pp.

It was your dad that changed the plan. Not the delivery driver.

Maybe tell your dad to ask them to leave it on the doorstep. Then forget about it, it’s done now, not worth getting your knickers in a twist.

stablefeet · 19/01/2021 08:47

My mum is putting a mask on when she goes to the door. She says that people are now noticeably thinking and staying back, whereas they weren't always doing that before.

FlyingByTheSeatof · 19/01/2021 08:48

YABVU.

Tesco delivery people leave the food on the doorstep due to covid and they have a job to do so can not be hanging around for relatives who dont even live at the property.

As you DDad is confused either he brought in the shopping or they very kindly placed it in his doorway at a safe covid distance.

The issue I'm afraid is with you and your expectations and not with them. They are often a bit early which as everyone is still at home should make no difference. My Tesco drivers always call before hand if they're going to be a bit early to ask if it's ok.

It's highly likely they called your DDad first and even if they didnt they delivered his food as required.

Next time have the shopping delivered to your home and take it round to him instead.

MsSquiz · 19/01/2021 08:52

@londonscalling

Sorry, I wasn't clear. He's not generally confused as such, but was confused because they'd knocked on the door and said they'd put it inside for him. He didn't know what to say. Apparently the delivery driver was standing pretty close to my dad in his small hallway.

Let's just hope he hasn't passed anything on!

If he's not generally confused, why didn't he say "it's fine to leave on the step/outside the front door" When the driver offered to put it inside for him?

The driver probably thought he was being nice by offering to bring them in!

Your dad also didn't have to stand close to him in the small hallway, he could've moved away.

I think it's your dad you need to speak to if you have an issue with what happened, not tesco

FlyingByTheSeatof · 19/01/2021 08:52

Basically you're deluded if you expect a delivery driver to wait for someones relative to turn up from another property to the one they're delivering to when the actual homeowner is there.

Gazelda · 19/01/2021 09:14

I get that you're fearful that your DF might have been exposed to CV. But realistically, this is a tiny possibility.
And I think you must know that it's unfair to be cross with the Tesco driver. He was doing his job, trying to be helpful and had permission to do what he did from the householder.

Forrasee · 19/01/2021 09:20

I don't think you are being unreasonable at all and I used to be an online shopper for a big supermarket!

What's the point in having a special instructions slot on the order and making a big deal out of being able to deliver to the isolating and vulnerable if you're not going to do it?

Doesn't matter that he let them in, they turned up early, ignored the instructions and potentially put someone vulnerable in harms way. That's not ok just because of their wages or being busy or maybe thought it was the right thing. None of those are reasons to just fail to deliver what is offered/purchased/expected.

Bubbles1st · 19/01/2021 09:27

Were they early or were you late? Usually they would call if they were going to come before your time slot?

Or did you want it leaving outside altogether? My experience is they have to have knowledge that someone is in, either if they then deliver socially distant.

I only know this as I have a vulnerable friend who had an emergency and wasn't home during the delivery and despite her saying she was as near by they wouldn't leave it. She even left her porch unlocked.

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