Milk delivered earlier - is this unacceptable?

[rathertakenaback]

We get milk delivered once a week (only two of us, apart from DD who is here about 2 days a week right now). We don't use a huge amount of milk, so have 4 pints delivered on a Monday morning. In reality this is usually delivered at about midnight on the Sunday, sometimes later.

Yesterday morning (Thursday) I opened the door to find a milk delivery - delivered 4 days early. I rang the company up to query this (it's a medium sized dairy, not a one man set-up), only to be told that they are delivering Monday's milk early so that staff can watch the football!

I'm not a huge football fan myself, but even I've been watching the England matches, so to some extent I get this, but 4 days early?! The milk had also stood outside in quite a warm place until nearly midday as I've booked this week off work, and I actually didn't have a reason to go out until later in the morning. In fact, it's lucky we were here at all as we had planned to go away.

AIBU to think that this is not on? Yes, I know it's only 4 pints of milk, but delivering early to me implies a few hours or one day earlier. They should at least have informed us of the change in delivery day! (But if they had emailed an excuse like that I'd have been on the phone telling them that it's not on!)
They've been a bit flakey before (not leaving milk in the specific place requested with the result that it's been stolen), and after making changes to the delivery because of the football I'm wondering whether to kick them into touch!

It's not great but I'd overlook a one off.
If it's not in glass you can freeze it

This has been explained elsewhere as you don't understand how milk delivery works

it has been explained elsewhere because I don’t understand how milk delivery works? This is the first post I have ever made regarding milk delivery and cancelling it for football.

The rest of your post is irrelevant as I have already said what people should do in my post.

@doyouneedtowean

Rescheduling in itself is fine, but the way they handled is bonkers and unacceptable.

@onlyhereforthecake It’s unacceptable and bonkers to send emails to your customers mentioning what’s happening in advance and giving them the option to cancel?

Ok then

did they bother checking if that has been received? Clearly not.

Lazy and bad customer service. It's them who will lose clients, not me!
They are a very fragile business. people don't NEED them, that's the point.

You can get careless when you are in a strong position (you shouldn't but you can), not when it's cheaper and more convenient to go to the supermarket.

It is a once in a lifetime event. England has reached first final of a big football match in 55 years.

it's all a bit of fun, but some people have really lost all sense of perspective!

did they bother checking if that has been received?
Clearly not.

@onlyhereforthecake Don’t be so ridiculous.

They should rightfully expect their customers to be competent adults capable of checking their emails and acting accordingly, rather than treating them like children they have to follow up on.

[quote Fiddliestofsticks]@caughtinanet

Why are so bitter? What nasty messages to write to the OP, as if her and her husband having some time away from dealing with general admin tasks is somehow a direct slight to you. I'm sure you'd love to be able to ignore emails but that doesnt mean you get to be bitter and nasty to someone who can. Are you also bitter and horrible to people who dont need to work? Or who get to go on better holidays that you? I really cant understand what point you're trying to make with all the "oh, other people would love to not check their emails but we've got kids in school and it's not fair wah wah wah!".

I'm in Scotland. My kids' summer holiday has started. I spent the first week not doing any admin at all. Didnt read emails, didnt even reply to text messages unless they had an actual purpose. Just took a week not dealing with my phone. Are you angry and jealous of me to? Going to give me a lecture about how hard it is for you reading emails so I should shut up about any other complaint I have in life?[/quote]
Well said. I was going to post a similar message, but you have put it much better than I would have.

@doyouneedtowean

did they bother checking if that has been received? Clearly not.

@onlyhereforthecake Don’t be so ridiculous.

They should rightfully expect their customers to be competent adults capable of checking their emails and acting accordingly, rather than treating them like children they have to follow up on.

great business model.. .I don't care, but people can't complain when they lose clients with a poor attitude like that.

I am guessing you have never run your own business or had your own clients if you believe that being professional means "treating them like children" 😂

@WaltzingBetty

It's not great but I'd overlook a one off. If it's not in glass you can freeze it

If it is in glass, you can decant and then freeze.

It is a once in a lifetime event. England has reached first final of a big football match in 55 years.

I think the women’s team have been there a couple of times more recently.

I would let it go as a one off and in fact be quite happy at this small nod that looks after their staff. From someone who despises football. I also couldn’t be annoyed given they did email and your partner didn’t read them.

Our milkman puts a little note with the milk if there is any change to the schedule - i think that's a much safer option because I may not notice an email from him, I get so many junk ones and the only ones that are ever of any importance are the school, my violin repairer lady and DD's instrument teacher, so I tend to just skim down the inbox and may think one from the dairy was just junk like I get from practically every other company I've ever dealt with!

Haven't RTFT but here's my take.

As a business which has to compete with the ridiculously low prices in the supermarkets, they should recognise that most people who get milk delivered are doing so because they want to do their little bit for the environment, and also support local business.

While it's lovely to have milk delivered, there are various aspects which you have to take care of that you wouldn't if you were buying it with your weekly shop.

You need to rinse and return the bottles, you need to cancel when you go on holiday (or make a frantic call to a neighbour to get your milk in if you forget to cancel!), you may need to alter what you need depending on usage or number of people at home, you need to pay (separately to your main shop). None of this is a big deal, but I don't think milk delivery is such a strong business that they can afford to piss their customers off.

I tell you what, I can not believe some of the comments on this thread.

THESE WERE KEYWORKERS

The service they provided was a life line to many.

Our local deliveries were so maxed out, all the milkmen were putting into ridicilous hours to make sure that everyone who suddenly wanted milk to their door so they could minimise their shopping trips (or cut them out) were satisfied.

They bust an absolute gut around our way

And now a bunch of ingrats are whinging because they aren't getting their milk on one day because its football and they think this is unreasonable?!

These are people who could easily have said, 'fuck off I'm not doing extra to help these selfish fuckers out, we should stick to normal and only deliver to those loyal customers'.

I think its GREAT they are at least doing something to recognise their hard work and to give something back.

The alternative was likely to be people whinging on Monday that their milk hasn't turned up, because so many milkmen mysteriously had to isolate pending a PCR test on Sunday / Monday. Then people would have complained even more! So the company have headed it off at the pass and informed customers.

And they are still whinging.

TBH I suspect they will be grateful at a slight loss of customers so that things can return to an even keel and more manageable rounds.

I think I will be trying to get a message to the company that they are doing absoluetely the right thing and GOOD ON THEM.

Its a once in a lifetime thing, at the 'end' of a couple of years of shitness and loads of hardwork.

Can't people give them a break for once and just stop thinking of their own fucking selfishness.

@TheOrigRights

Haven't RTFT but here's my take.

As a business which has to compete with the ridiculously low prices in the supermarkets, they should recognise that most people who get milk delivered are doing so because they want to do their little bit for the environment, and also support local business.

While it's lovely to have milk delivered, there are various aspects which you have to take care of that you wouldn't if you were buying it with your weekly shop.

You need to rinse and return the bottles, you need to cancel when you go on holiday (or make a frantic call to a neighbour to get your milk in if you forget to cancel!), you may need to alter what you need depending on usage or number of people at home, you need to pay (separately to your main shop). None of this is a big deal, but I don't think milk delivery is such a strong business that they can afford to piss their customers off.

Rinse and return???!

This isn't the 1950s.

Did you know they had emailed your husband before you started this thread?

Anyway, sounds like you are unhappy about the service so ditch them.

I love the idea of a milk delivery but it seems very expensive compared to supermarkets.

@RedToothBrush

I tell you what, I can not believe some of the comments on this thread.

THESE WERE KEYWORKERS

The service they provided was a life line to many.

Our local deliveries were so maxed out, all the milkmen were putting into ridicilous hours to make sure that everyone who suddenly wanted milk to their door so they could minimise their shopping trips (or cut them out) were satisfied.

They bust an absolute gut around our way

And now a bunch of ingrats are whinging because they aren't getting their milk on one day because its football and they think this is unreasonable?!

These are people who could easily have said, 'fuck off I'm not doing extra to help these selfish fuckers out, we should stick to normal and only deliver to those loyal customers'.

I think its GREAT they are at least doing something to recognise their hard work and to give something back.

The alternative was likely to be people whinging on Monday that their milk hasn't turned up, because so many milkmen mysteriously had to isolate pending a PCR test on Sunday / Monday. Then people would have complained even more! So the company have headed it off at the pass and informed customers.

And they are still whinging.

TBH I suspect they will be grateful at a slight loss of customers so that things can return to an even keel and more manageable rounds.

I think I will be trying to get a message to the company that they are doing absoluetely the right thing and GOOD ON THEM.

Its a once in a lifetime thing, at the 'end' of a couple of years of shitness and loads of hardwork.

Can't people give them a break for once and just stop thinking of their own fucking selfishness.

Yes to all of this, well said!

It wouldn't bother me in the slightest. It's a one off ffs and it's milk. Go to the shop if you're that bothered for one day.

Rinse and return???!

This isn't the 1950s.

Why wouldn't you? Milk is still delivered in glass bottles isn't it?

I wouldn't be happy and this is the kind of thing that made me cancel milk deliveries. Four days early is useless to most people. If a woman's team was a final they wouldn't be giving everyone a day off but because it involves men the whole world has to stop.

I've just read your replies and you're incredibly self absorbed.

As the saying goes, no point crying over spilt milk. Well, in your case milk being delivered early .

@Belladonna12

I wouldn't be happy and this is the kind of thing that made me cancel milk deliveries. Four days early is useless to most people. If a woman's team was a final they wouldn't be giving everyone a day off but because it involves men the whole world has to stop.

Give over 😂.

@tallduckandhandsome

Rinse and return???!

This isn't the 1950s.

Why wouldn't you? Milk is still delivered in glass bottles isn't it?

Mine is indeed delivered in glass bottles, so I rinse and leave them on the door step. Just like the 1950's when we threw far less out.

@tallduckandhandsome

Rinse and return???!

This isn't the 1950s.

Why wouldn't you? Milk is still delivered in glass bottles isn't it?

Obviously.

Over the years we've tried to get milk delivered but it's been so unreliable I won't be trying again.

I don't think this is your hill to die on OP.

My milk got delivered this morning & the date on it is 17th July, I also still have Tuesdays unopened in the fridge (13th) as DC haven't been here much over the past couple of weeks & I only opened last Fridays milk (10th) yesterday.

I couldn't care less about the football & I'm usually a moaner about minor inconveniences but even I'd let this one go - they made attempts to update you & you missed them.

@TableFlowerss

I don’t know what people get milk deliver these days tbh when they sell it at the supermarket.

The only reason I could image is they want to support local small business’s?

That was why we did it. But we had so many problems we cancelled it.

I have to say though, i am enjoying people calling an early milk delivery and prospect of going to a shop to get milk on Sunday 'madness'.

Especially when they were prewarned and could have cancelled.