To order from Tesco when she lives really close by?

[pontipinemum]

Do you think the delivery driver would judge you for getting your shopping delivered if you live really close - 300 meters - from the shop?

My mother is really unwell right now, using a frame to walk and adjusting to being told she has a life long illness which will have huge implications along with all the medication that comes with it. She also can't currently drive.

I've told her to get the shopping delivered but she is so concerned about what the driver will think. So she is just waiting until one of her sister offers. I can't do it, I live 3 hours away, she's just spent the last two weeks with me. But she wanted to go home to sort out a few bits.

TBH if I didn't have a car I'd probably pay for a weekly shop to be delivered anyway instead of trying to carry it home or do two shops

YABU - that is too close to get delivery
YANBU - get the delivery

Are you sure Tesco is the only one that will deliver to her town? We get Asda delivered and I know their drivers often travel to other towns about 30 miles away when there is no Asda in that town. Actually check online for other supermarkets that might deliver to her even if there is not a branch in her town.

But as others have said, the driver won't care. If anything, they will be please they don't have to drive miles, it makes their job easier.

Just asked DH (Driver for one of the big supermarkets) and he said no he wouldnt judge
there are many reasons someone needs a home delivery, disabilities, small dc etc

I have all the major supermarkets close by. I have deliveries from them all and have done for a long time now. I don't 'look' I'll but I often can't shop myself.

All the drivers are fab, all bring my shopping into the kitchen and all wait patiently for me to unpack it. Some even help. I have never felt judged by any of them.

Tell your mum to crack on and get deliveries. They are people doing a job and if no one ordered they would be out of work! None of them care why you are getting shopping delivered.

Having food delivery is more than geography, it's using your time more effectively. Why waste hours at the supermarket when you can have it delivered.

Home shopping delivery driver here, nope I wouldn't care if you were right next door and nor would I ever judge.

By ordering shopping you are helping to keep me in my job! Put on the order that your mum needs help and for the shopping to be taken into the kitchen please and unpacked.

Order for yourself too, having a car doesn't mean you shouldn't get it home delivered. Heck I get ours delivered and I have a car and walk through the store every shift!

Order away! :)

I live 5 minutes walk away from my local Tesco and get deliveries all the time, no driver has ever commented or seemed to bat an eyelid. I'm perfectly fit and healthy btw, just don't have a car and would struggle to carry the heavier stuff (washing powder/pet food/cat litter etc) on foot so it's worth paying £2 for them to bring it. Hope this sort of example will persuade your DM that it's ok OP

I get where she's coming from as I sometimes think the delivery driver is judging me when he sees the car in the garage.

It has never occurred to me to think that only people who literally can't get to the store get their groceries delivered! I just assumed almost everybody did because it is so much more convenient. We've had them delivered ever since DS was born and he is 16 now.

My dad was a delivery driver and I am sure it never crossed his mind to judge anyone he delivered to, just like an Amazon delivery driver wouldn't think "why didn't you go to a bookshop to buy this?". Also as PP said usually the grocery vans don't come from the local supermarket anyway so they might not even know it was there.

I can see a Tesco from my back garden and they deliver to me every week and I am in my 30s with no mobillity issues!

I get too stressed out trying to do a weeks shop in a busy store. I find it much easier to meal plan and stay focused ordering it online. Nobody will think anything of your mum or how close she lives.

I work in a different supermarket & we have a route that goes out every day that doesn't go further than about half mile radius from the shop. Lots of elderly/disabled/parents with young children/WFH etcAlot of us have elderly parents/grandparents etc that we try to support around our jobs.

The staff don't bat an eyelid over it & definitely wouldn't judge or comment.
The only customers that get judged are the ones that are rude & abusive to drivers, make unreasonable complaints etc.

When my DD was ill I got groceries delivered from the local shop which is less than 100 yards away. It’s a service that you pay for, you can use it as you wish.

@AmiShitsaline

Driver is being paid to do a job, they won’t give a toss. Even if they do judge, so what?!

Exactly this. People can have a squillion perfectly good reasons for having supermarket deliveries when they live slap-bang on top of the store. Too busy to go in person, disability (visible or otherwise), work demands, etc etc. Also, the customer pays extra to have the stuff delivered. I am curious to know where the idea of a delivery driver 'judging' someone who pays his or her wages comes from. Some kind of anxiety issue maybe? In which case, OP, please please please don't worry! It's fine!

That's good to hear. I should have maybe said in the OP, my mum is not elderly she is 56 and used to until recently being completely independent so I think this is a lot of the problem.

Obv I don't know for sure but I think the drivers do come from the local shop, I see their vans back up to a side door to be loaded. But either way I really don't think they will mind one bit. I'm a 30min drive for my Tesco delivery they probably like to mix it up a bit

We live 200m from a Tesco and it never occurred to me that anyone might judge me when I've had a delivery. As people have said it's not a sign you 'can't be bothered', it's just you don't have time or ability to go yourself and that's fine.

I've just checked - my local Tesco is 0.3miles from my house but I get my shopping delivered every week without a second thought! In fact it doesn't even come from that store, the drivers tell us they come from a store which is about 6/7 miles away. I don't think all stores are set up for home delivery, even though the one near to me is one of the really big ones.

Will Ocado not deliver there? I am sure you know, but there is a very good offer for new customers. You could explain to your Mum that it is to take advantage of the offer.

I used to do this. I lived a 5 minute walk from sainsburys but got deliveries. They're not there to judge

Hcbss
I believe the elderly and disabled can apply for priority.

Driver probably won't care a jot but if they did who cares?
Pretty sure they deliver to those with small babies, disabled folk, elderly folk, all those who find it difficult to get out to the shops.
Don't stress about it

Will she be able to take the shopping in though?
The driver will just plonk the box onto her mat and watch her struggle to transfer it.

I have done this when we all have covid, I think it’s really common these days

Why on earth would they judge but why would it matter? Seriously!

Gosh your poor mum worrying over this. I am 300m from my local Waitrose and I order via Deliveroo all the time - in fact today!
Woke up and needed milk and fruit for the kids, but I did not want to drag them out and we are having a lazy day so we ordered. The driver will not care and in fact he will notice her being unwell too, so he really wouldn't care.

There are thousands and thousands of delivery slots available on every day of the week, from about 8 different national chains. Nobody has any problem getting an available slot when they want them. Just like millions of others, I’ve been getting home deliveries for about 15 years and getting a slot has never been an issue. If people are vulnerable and need help, there are additional ways to secure a slot if needed. People who order large shops regularly are what keeps the delivery service available for everyone who needs it.

Online ordering means nobody has to martyr themselves dragging round a half-stocked supermarket after work or at the weekend, along with all the people who seem to go shopping for a jolly. Stop judging other people for doing something perfectly normal and sensible. You sound ridiculous with this unnecessary piety.

They truly wont care. I haven't set foot in a proper supermarket in years, simply because I do not want to. Anyone can order their shopping for any reason, and she is certainly justified to do so.