Who is BU here?!

[confused14453]

Our local courier for a well-known delivery company, is a smoker and packages often arrive smelling heavily of cigarettes. Personally, although I don’t smoke, it doesn’t bother me because when you take the outer packaging off and throw it in the bin, then the smell has gone away.

I have a family member who lives in the next road along from ours, and therefore also has things delivered by this courier. They messaged me earlier to say that they are thinking of reporting the courier to the company because of the smell of the packages! I think this is an incredibly selfish thing to do, to potentially get somebody into trouble. She has delivered to us a lot, especially since lockdown when we have bought so much more stuff than usual online because of the situation. Always with a smile on her face and on time. I absolutely don’t think she deserves to be reported for this at all. Thoughts?!

I think it is grim. Not sure what I would do about it, but I'm surprised so many aren't bothered.

@Throwaway999

The packages should not smell of smoke. It’s a horrible smell and really does linger.

I once received a takeaway pizza where the box smelled of smoke (local takeaway probably using a driver who uses his own car). I’m not suggesting that the driver smoked whilst driving with my pizza, but the smell obviously lingered in his car an permeated the pizza box. I contacted the takeaway, returned the pizza, and will never use that takeaway again.

If your family member doesn’t report the delivery driver then I’m sure someone else will.

How precious

I think its a really spiteful, petty thing to do. Couriers earn shit money for very stressful jobs, plus the vast majority own the vans and are perfectly entitled to smoke in them. I think I would want to smoke if i had to do that job. If someone has nothing better to worry about than if their packaging which generally goes straight in the bin is smelling of smoke then they should count themselves lucky.

My mum's cardboard recycling is an open box that only goes out on 3 week bin day. In her little cottage, that would stink out the under stairs cupboard in the kitchen. No, that's not on. Sorry. I'd be having a word too.

@BluebellsGreenbells

So you’d change your clothes and wash - bit leave packaging in a kitchen bin rather than an outside bin? Double standards.

Sorry who is that aimed at? I meant it go straight in the outside bin.

Are you absolutely sure it’s not the packaging itself?
Plastic envelopes and packaging do have a smoke type smell naturally. I imagine when you have a van full of them they would smell quite strongly.

ShadierThanaPalmTree

I would report also even though I am an occassional smoker. When I smoke I do it outside, and wash/change clothes as soon as I'm finished because I hate the smell. I don't want my new items stinking of smoke. It doesn't matter if its "only" the packaging, because having the packaging in the bin still makes the whole kitchen smell of it.

Gross I don't blame them for complaining but they don't have to rage about it, just raise it as an issue. I doubt she'll lose her job but it's not professional IMO.

Finding your job stressful has never been an excuse to do it badly, or to impact negatively on the customers.

You just can't deliver items that stink of smoke.

Many nurses are finding their jobs more than stressful right now, they don't start smocking in the middle of the ward, they don't go and treat patients stinking of smoke either.

But if a nurse smelt of smoke would you complain whilst he/she was saving your life?

Was coming on to say what adobe said, could be the packaging. A lot of them especially those grey, plastic envelopes smell exactly like cigarette smoke. I always notice it and also that cardboard packaging sometimes smells like vomit

Some of the mailing bags smell of smoke. I have some and they reek. I'd check before someone gets in trouble.

I'm with the family member, tbh.
I know it is a slightly weird situation in that the 'workspace' is generally their own car, but they are still smoking in their workspace, and that is making the parcels smell.
I wouldn't want to take in parcels that stank of smoke.
Generally, you don't take the wrapping out of your house straight away - parcel might be for another member of your household, or for a neighbour, or, even if you unwrapped it straightaway, the recycling box isn't outside in many houses.

@BluebellsGreenbells

So you’d change your clothes and wash - bit leave packaging in a kitchen bin rather than an outside bin? Double standards.

@BluebellsGreenbells as in wash the clothes straight away so that they're not sat in my house. Not everyone has outside bins!

@BluebellsGreenbells

I do think they should speak to the delivery person before reporting it

Yes, they all her parcels will be wet and crushed instead

Not necessarily but even then surely you would report it and say exactly why it's happening.

I just think it's fair to give the person a chance as they may not know but then I suppose reporting it doesn't mean they'd lose their job or be disciplined, maybe just warned that it's been reported...

I would tell her that I've a vulnerable adult in the house and the smell of smoke from her deliveries is making his chest worse. Give it a couple of weeks and if no change, report it.

@Sparklfairy

I'm pretty sure it's illegal to smoke in a 'work vehicle'?

I'm a smoker and never smoke on the job. Tbh I'd report. Peoples personal lives and habits shouldn't impact on customers.

I can on to be say this. The van is deemed a 'work place' so illegal to smoke. Why not mention it next time she delivers?

I agree you're not legally allowed to sole in a workplace regardless of what this and they shouldn't be smoking.

I smoke but wouldn't dream of inflicting it on other people.