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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that the ocado delivery driver shouldn't ask me if he can leave my shopping outside if I'm not in and he wants to deliver early?

28 replies

ClaireDeLoon · 30/04/2009 21:41

I had a delivery booked for the 7pm - 8pm slot and my mobile rang at 5.30pm and he said he was early. I said I would be home about 6.40pm so he asked if he could just leave it outside my house (at the side of the house) as mine was his last delivery. I think that's a bit wrong as there was chicken etc and not only was it quite warm today but my cats would probably have been in the bags.

I said 'I'd prefer it if you didn't' and fair enough he didn't push it but he was ever so slightly arsey with me when I got home at 6.40ish as I'd said.

I know it's a minor issue really and I'm not too pissed off I just wonder what they're playing at even suggesting it - who wants their groceries left outside on a warm day?

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 30/04/2009 21:44

He asked, you said no, he didn't do it. [shrug]

TheProfiteroleThief · 30/04/2009 21:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

thisisyesterday · 30/04/2009 21:50

agree with soupdragon. he asked, you said no, he delivered at an appropriate time.

i see no problem

scienceteacher · 30/04/2009 21:52

He only asked...

TheProfiteroleThief · 30/04/2009 22:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TheProfiteroleThief · 30/04/2009 22:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lilacclaire · 30/04/2009 22:06

I wouldnt be annoyed that he'd asked, but annoyed that he was arsey about it.

Original poster
ClaireDeLoon · 30/04/2009 22:07

OK maybe IABU unreasonable to think he was wrong to suggest it - I'm not going to complain as I don't want anyone to get into trouble as no harm in the end.

I have noticed though that they are delivering my ocado order earlier and earlier - it is as if they aren't very busy really and struggling to fill delivery slots.

OP posts:
scienceteacher · 30/04/2009 22:07

How is it poor service? The OP got what she wanted.

If I have an Ocado delivery due, I would be quite happy to be asked if I wanted it earlier. It's nice to have the option, and there is no point in being precious and proud.

Isn't it a good feeling to make someone else's day easier?

MmeLindt · 30/04/2009 22:11

What harm was there in asking?

Is the fridge stuff just in normal bags?

Our online supermarket puts the fresh food in insulated bags, like cool bags. I have no problem with them leaving my delivery for an hour as long as they leave it in the shade, and it is good bit warmer here, I suspect.

Poor sod just wanted to knock off early. I doubt he is particularly well paid.

lucasnorth · 30/04/2009 22:12

This happened to me last year - but the delivery man explained that he'd be leaving the stuff in one of the insulated boxes they use in their vans, and would leave it in the shade. I agreed, was home about an hour after he'd left, and everything was still good and cold. They took the box back next time they delivered.

Maybe the driver who spoke to you was planning something similar and didn't explain it well?

Either way, you said no and he waited, so don't see there's an issue really.

mum23monkeys · 30/04/2009 22:15

I think it's the arsey-ness that makes the op more reasonably upset. I'm sure most people can cope with being asked if it's ok to have the delivery earlier (this has happened on a few occasions for me with Sainsbury's) but the op was actually home 20 minutes before the delivery slot started anyway, so arsey-ness is unacceptable. I'm sure the driver did want to get home earlier, but unfortunately it wasn't possible in this case.

Original poster
ClaireDeLoon · 30/04/2009 22:19

It was kind of mild arseyness - instead of saying here is your receipt you have x many substitutions is that OK he said 'your receipt is in the bag' and walked off. Luckily I was OK with the substitutions. But I was left with the distinct impression he was pissed off at having to wait. I could understand that if I'd been late and messed him around but I don;t think I'd behaved unfairly. I accept most think I BU to even mention it though.

OP posts:
hf128219 · 30/04/2009 22:20

I hope you tipped him.

mum23monkeys · 30/04/2009 22:22

they don't accept tips (at least the Sainsbury's ones don't). They hand them back as they aren't allowed to accept them. Be interested if it's different for Ocado.

MamaHobgoblin · 30/04/2009 22:29

It's not the asking if he could come earlier that's annoying, it was the assumption that she'd be happy if he left it outside her house, even though she'd said she wouldn't be able to make it until nearly 7. I think YANBU, and I'd be pissed off myself! It's just not good practise with chilled food.

oldraver · 30/04/2009 22:33

Tip them ?? it would never occur to me

ThingOne · 30/04/2009 22:34

YABU to mind him asking but YANBU to mind him being a bit arsey about it. I've often been rung and asked if I could accept my grocery deliveries early but I've never been made to feel bad if I've had to say no.

pinksancerre · 30/04/2009 22:54

YANBU - he should not have asked if he could leave your shopping outside.

Like others have said - ask if you would be in for an earlier delivery. You say no - end of. He should not have persued it and certainly shouldn't have been arsey. I would complain!

Desiderata · 30/04/2009 22:57

Well, if you've ever done multi-drop driving, I think the mild suggestion of arseness is natural. It's a crap job for very poor pay.

Get rid of the cats?

Original poster
ClaireDeLoon · 30/04/2009 22:59

I'm actually rather fond of my cats thanks - why on earth would you think I should get rid of them? How bizarre.

OP posts:
Desiderata · 30/04/2009 23:02

It's called a joke.

hf128219 · 30/04/2009 23:09

I always tip the Ocado man/woman.

Original poster
ClaireDeLoon · 30/04/2009 23:35

Sorry for being chippy Desiderata, me and DP have just had a 'oldest cat isn't going to keep going much longer is he?' conversation and I was being overly sensitive. Although that said he couldn't get into a supermarket chicken anyway I think his gums would let him down!

OP posts:
KittyBigglesworth · 01/05/2009 00:30

Are you certain that he asked whether he could leave the goods outside? I would have thought that was against their policy. Every time they deliver here, they're always really eager to take them into the kitchen for us.

Occasionally it can be helpful if they call and offer to deliver the goods early but often I'm very busy and there's a specific reason I've chosen that time so I thank them very much for the offer and say that I'm tied up and I'd be very grateful if they delivered it at the agreed time, thanks very much and all that, look forward to seeing you then. End of call.

Why are you asking on here rather than calling customer service and speaking to them about it? If you thought his attitude was off, you have to communicate it to the company you've made the contract with! Unless you've already done so.

He probably just wants to get the deliveries out of the way as early as possible. When he applied for the job and undertook training, he would have been told what was acceptable and what was not. I doubt leaving the goods down a sideway would be acceptable to Ocado. Are you sure you didn't mishear him? Afterall, what's to stop you from taking the goods in and then calling up Ocado and saying that you haven't received them? Or saying that the because they were left outside without refigeration, you've now got food poisoining? It doesn't make sense.