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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to turn away my takeaway?

208 replies

FlayOtters · 19/05/2026 19:42

Opinions please! My friend thinks me and my husband are being completely ridiculous but I'm adamant we're in the right (but happy to be told otherwise!)
Ordered an Indian takeaway on ubereats for tonight (50% off woop woop!). Asked for scheduled delivery 7.40-8. All good, order accepted, confirmation email, your order will be delivered at 7.40.
Come 6.10 there is a ring on the bell and it's our food! We were just starting to try and calm our 5 and 2 year olds down before bedtime started, and were basically nowhere near ready for dinner! So we said "no". The man just stood and stared at us like we were utterly insane. After about a minute of silent staring he went back to his car to call his manager and then yelled out of the window that he'd come back later and drove off.
Now I know there is a reasonable chance he'll just being the exact same food back (possibly with added spit), but I think the principal remains. What is the point of being able to schedule delivery if it's totally ignored?? We wanted hot, fresh food at about 8 after the boys were asleep and we could relax. My friend happened to call a minute ago and basically said that I was being ridiculous and should've just taken the food. Who's right?
YABU - just take the damn food whenever it comes, Otters!
YANBU -you paid for the food to be delivered at a certain time, it's reasoab to want it at that time.

OP posts:
wherearethesnacks · 19/05/2026 22:11

I'd have more sympathy if it hadn't been 50% off. I doubt they were making any money on it at that price.

LoveOldFilms · 19/05/2026 22:11

Thanksforyourlackofthought · 19/05/2026 21:23

I’m just trying to get my head around the fact that you couldn’t eat if your children were wake.

?? Are you a parent? Or are your children much older and you have forgotten what it's like to have a 5 and a 2 year old?

Can I eat with 2 kids of those ages around? Yes, absolutely and do so frequently.

Will I enjoy it? No, it will be wolfed down while hearing "mummy mummy mummy" 100 fucking times from 2 overtired munchkins from day of nursery/school, and I will have maybe 30 seconds to digest before I have to take over bedtime duties with one of them

Sitting down with a takeaway and a glass of wine after kids are in bed is pure bliss.

pinkksugarmouse · 19/05/2026 22:17

It sounds as though you were rude to the driver and it wasn't his fault. I would have accepted, reheated, made a complaint and not ordered from them again. I shudder to think what state that meal came back in. I hope you didn't eat it.

Darlinghag · 19/05/2026 22:18

I’d probably have taken it but understand why you did it.

I’ve found if i am choosing a later time adding a comment saying ‘please don’t arrive before x time as we are not home yet and timing for our return’ has generally worked though.

MyCottageGarden · 19/05/2026 22:18

suburberphobe · 19/05/2026 20:24

Of course you buzz them in and accept the food, like previous people say, heat it up when ready to eat.

They're not at your beck and call, OP!

Buzz them in? To where? Why would they invite the delivery driver into their house?

ForeverTheOptomist · 19/05/2026 22:19

I wouldn't have taken it. No way.

ChocolateAddictAlways · 19/05/2026 22:21

The problem is that a mistake from the kitchen or whoever juggles app orders caused a headache for you and the driver.

I would have just kept the food myself but only because it wasn't the driver's fault and I wouldn't want the faff of a redelivery. I would assume it would be the same food sent back...while nothing beats a totally fresh naan, a naan that's been packaged and delivered has usually had some condensation and isn't the same as one straight from the oven to a plate anyway so I wouldn't feel fussed about that.

pinkksugarmouse · 19/05/2026 22:23

Thanksforyourlackofthought · 19/05/2026 21:23

I’m just trying to get my head around the fact that you couldn’t eat if your children were wake.

Tell me you don't have children without telling me you don't have children. 🤣

Of course the OP can consume food in their presence but having a takeaway when the kids are asleep and you can eat without constant interpretation is a fantastic treat.

ohyesido · 19/05/2026 22:25

Did you really just say no and stare at him?

pinkksugarmouse · 19/05/2026 22:26

wherearethesnacks · 19/05/2026 22:11

I'd have more sympathy if it hadn't been 50% off. I doubt they were making any money on it at that price.

Well they shouldn't have put on the offer then. Hardly the OP's fault for taking them up on it.

Saltedcaramelchocolateteaspoon · 19/05/2026 22:29

Completely agree with the OP. What's the point in specifying a delivery time to have it completely ignored. What if they'd been out?? It wasn't just a bit out, it was 1.5 hours out. Whilst it's not the driver's fault, he is the face of the company and should take accountability on their behalf, because that's the professional thing to do. Of course, the OP should remain polite, but it sounds like she was.

Tableforjoan · 19/05/2026 22:29

All those saying to accept it. Op picked a time for a reason what if she wasn’t in.

I wouldn’t have accepted it and wouldn’t have ran the risk of the spit / cold reheated food later either.

IAmBeaIDrinkTea · 19/05/2026 22:33

FlayOtters · 19/05/2026 19:42

Opinions please! My friend thinks me and my husband are being completely ridiculous but I'm adamant we're in the right (but happy to be told otherwise!)
Ordered an Indian takeaway on ubereats for tonight (50% off woop woop!). Asked for scheduled delivery 7.40-8. All good, order accepted, confirmation email, your order will be delivered at 7.40.
Come 6.10 there is a ring on the bell and it's our food! We were just starting to try and calm our 5 and 2 year olds down before bedtime started, and were basically nowhere near ready for dinner! So we said "no". The man just stood and stared at us like we were utterly insane. After about a minute of silent staring he went back to his car to call his manager and then yelled out of the window that he'd come back later and drove off.
Now I know there is a reasonable chance he'll just being the exact same food back (possibly with added spit), but I think the principal remains. What is the point of being able to schedule delivery if it's totally ignored?? We wanted hot, fresh food at about 8 after the boys were asleep and we could relax. My friend happened to call a minute ago and basically said that I was being ridiculous and should've just taken the food. Who's right?
YABU - just take the damn food whenever it comes, Otters!
YANBU -you paid for the food to be delivered at a certain time, it's reasoab to want it at that time.

I can understand you want it when the kids have gone to bed to have it in peace and they've settled down, but why not order it when they've gone to bed then?!
So for that you are unreasonable.

ThisCandidMintGoose · 19/05/2026 22:33

YABU for ordering a take-away hours before you actually want it frankly. It's not a taxi service, most places give an estimate and try to deliver as quickly as they can.

It's a 50% discounted Indian take-away, get over yourself frankly.

ThisCandidMintGoose · 19/05/2026 22:34

LoveOldFilms · 19/05/2026 22:11

?? Are you a parent? Or are your children much older and you have forgotten what it's like to have a 5 and a 2 year old?

Can I eat with 2 kids of those ages around? Yes, absolutely and do so frequently.

Will I enjoy it? No, it will be wolfed down while hearing "mummy mummy mummy" 100 fucking times from 2 overtired munchkins from day of nursery/school, and I will have maybe 30 seconds to digest before I have to take over bedtime duties with one of them

Sitting down with a takeaway and a glass of wine after kids are in bed is pure bliss.

Show quote history

but then when you have young children, you don't order when in the middle of bath time. You wait until you know it's safe for the food to arrive.

Tableforjoan · 19/05/2026 22:35

If take aways don’t want to deliver at your time they shouldn’t give you the option to pick a time 🤷🏻‍♀️

AgentPidge · 19/05/2026 22:36

I would've accepted it and put it in the oven. Sounds as if you got a very good deal anyway, and they can't be making much of a profit.

Awfulinlaws · 19/05/2026 22:37

Just accept and put it in a warm oven. Way better than the food arriving too late.

BarrellChested · 19/05/2026 22:37

I’d have accepted the food, put to one side, and reheated once the kids were asleep, and put it down to experience should I ever order from the same place again.

Bananainpyjamas1980 · 19/05/2026 22:39

Sods law on this post as sometimes you order food that says delivery will be in 45 mins and an hour and half later you're really starving and still no sign!

lornad00m · 19/05/2026 22:41

'We wanted hot, fresh food at about 8'

Flipping Nora! Then just reheat it.

I do that anyway as I prefer mine piping hot.

What a fuss about nothing. 🙄

Tiredmumnosleep · 19/05/2026 22:41

We’ve had this before - annoying but we kept it warm until after bedtime and learnt our lesson - now we only place the order once we are part way through bed time!

pontipinemum · 19/05/2026 22:46

I mean, you are right and fair play for actually doing it. But I would have taken the food and heated it later.

basoon · 19/05/2026 22:50

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 19/05/2026 19:50

I think YABU actually, it’s not the drivers fault and you were incredibly rude

I think it's pretty obvious they didn't just say no and slam the door.

Tahlbias · 19/05/2026 22:52

What if you were out? Completely baffles me ha ha !