For those who are ordering unneccesary items

[Gingerkittykat]

There has been a [[https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/scots-amazon-depot-hit-coronavirus-21792591?fbclid=IwAR03giRYScdXJOAh7HgFQuuLGIsdQ2zoh1fEQmVgu9fduZ28ywN8Hs9BClc confirmed case] of COVID 19 in the Amazon warehouse where my sister works. The guy works the nightshift, as does my sister.

Please think before you order.

This is just stupid. We’re in a lockdown - online deliveries mean no need to shop outside the home, and therefore a massively reduced risk of infection for everyone. They need to keep going no matter what.

We’re in a lockdown - online deliveries mean no need to shop outside the home, and therefore a massively reduced risk of infection

Yes for you. Not the workers traveling of buses or trains. Not the minimum paid workers cramped in together. Not the people who could be sent home as non essential workers who are busy picking out birthday glitter, by a company who could afford to pay their staff for the duration and not notice a dip in their bank balance.

It’s ‘I’m all right Jack attitude’ that sucks

Sorry Op, but I totally disagree
As others have said many small businesses benefit. If we all stopped buying ,even more people would lose their jobs
Furthermore, we all have different ideas of what is a necessity.

I've ordered loads! And it's coming super quick. Well chuffed!

I find it very puzzling that there is outrage about buying but little about takeaways and absolutely nothing about clearing out. Our local pages are full of requests for recommendations for skips or disposal of their extra waste as everyone seems to be using the time as a chance to clear out. Total disregard for recycling as tips are closed and nothing saved for jumble sales, freecycle or charity shops. I think it is absolutely appalling especially as so many people are going to be in need and products harder to obtain. Not one person was concerned about this and everyone else was looking to do similar. It has quashed my hopes for thinking that this situation might lead to a change in some of the worst consumerism, selfishness and total disregard for the environment within our society.

Yes for you. Not the workers traveling of buses or trains. Not the minimum paid workers cramped in together. Not the people who could be sent home as non essential workers who are busy picking out birthday glitter, by a company who could afford to pay their staff for the duration and not notice a dip in their bank balance.

Yes for me and the vast majority of the population. I’m sorry, but if there’s a policy that protects the vast majority of the population in a pandemic, then you have to take it. What’s the alternative - everyone piles into the shops and gets infected, including all the workers you just mentioned? That’s crazy.

My ds will be 15 in a fortnight and I'm really struggling with do I order him stuff or do I not, his birthday will be shit, and when you read threads like this it makes me feel even more guilty for wanting to order him something to open on his birthday, I even feel guilty for buying him a supermarket cake as it's non essential. I can transfer money into his bank account that he then isn't supposed to spend online!

I'm still working, I'm also still ordering online. Does my 'key worker' status cancel out my 'selfish bitch who ordered things not necessary to sustain life' status, I wonder?

I'd pay an extra £5 for each delivery if it was guaranteed to go to Amazon staff and not Bezo's already groaning coffers.

I've ordered bits from small companies, some biscuits, a personalised folder for DS, a bra, craft gin club subscription and some beer for dp. I've stopped buying from private sellers on eBay and haven't ordered anything but food and toiletries from Amazon, which I get delivered monthly anyway. Small businesses need help to stay afloat at the moment, me included, and those shopping from me are giving me money to spend shopping with other small businesses.

and when you read threads like this it makes me feel even more guilty for wanting to order him something to open on his birthday

There is no need to feel guilty whatsoever. Ordering online instead of going to a shop is one of the most efficient ways of cutting the national infection rate.

What’s the alternative

The alternative is buying essential items only, things that keep you alive and well.

The more stuff you buy the more workers are crammed into small spaces for shifts.

Like the OP said they don’t have PPE yet are expected to work alongside others in close contact.

These people are worth saving as well. They are part of someone’s family, they are friends, sons, daughters, they have a right to live.

As a frontline key worker, I don't see the problem, sorry.

Lots of us are putting ourselves at risk. NHS staff, food retail staff, etc. Why would warehouse and delivery staff be any different?

It's all well and good having a holier than thou attitude, but unless you want to protect every vulnerable worker, it's a bit convenient that you're only concerned about one job type because it's a family member involved.

I honestly don't think many people are ordering loads of tat, purely because most of us have lost wages/income right now. And those who haven't often get paid sfa. Let people order what they want and stop trying to dictate.

It's just mindblowing that for years we've all known how these workers are fucked over by their employers regarding fair pay and conditions yet it takes a global pandemic for anyone to speak out. It's a bit late, isn't it?

I'm trying to buy online from any small local businesses that are still operating. I think they need the support and it's easier to do social distancing within in a small business than in an enormous crowded warehouse.

The damage to the economy is going to be horrendous, I think it is extremely important to support businesses that are trying to keep going. The country can’t afford to furlough people for ever.

Would you all stop food shopping and just have a basic parcel of food (that you can’t choose yourself) delivered to your door ... and someone still has to pack and deliverthe food.

Personally I’ve never liked Amazon so am not using them but have sourced a couple of things directly to be delivered and supporting local initiatives ie; our garden centre is delivering plants, compost etc - not essential but it will keep us occupied and hopefully keep the garden centre going if lots of people use the service.

It's just mindblowing that for years we've all known how these workers are fucked over by their employers regarding fair pay and conditions yet it takes a global pandemic for anyone to speak out. It's a bit late, isn't it?

This. It's never been a secret that this is the case, it's more concerning that nothing has ever been done about it. You would hope that in this country, you would be able to order something without having to worry about the welfare of the staff as poor practices wouldn't be allowed, but here we are.

Buying from local or small businesses is good, it's what will help them survive. The postie here (I guess they will all have different opinions) was saying he didn't mind, RM is struggling to stay competitive with couriers becoming more popular, any work was good. I do think they could utilise them better as they're out and about anyway, consolidate deliveries rather than some houses getting deliveries from several companies and them all passing eachother on the roads. Would not fancy trying to organise that though.

Sucking the life out of everything . What about the jobs of the delivery drivers and companies .

Fed up with the halos coming out

Sorry op, I am not sure what you were expecting. On line deliveries are by far the safest way to distribute things. You can hardly expect people to go out without every single thing for a three month lockdown, we need to be realistic.

I am a keyworker, as are much of my friends. I am blessed to still have a job, perhaps another way to look at it maybe that these people all still have work. As much as possible risk needs to be reduced, as much as possible social distancing should be adhered to, but to stop all on line shopping that is essential or non essential is madness, and stopping deliveries will be the quickest way to ensure the lockdown ends over night. It would be dangerous and ill advised.

I am not sure you have thought this through.

Perhaps a more pertinent thread would be about the conditions generally for Amazon workers, and I am pretty sure you would get lots of support.

There’s a difference in supporting your local business, feeding their family , and supporting an international business purely run on profit for the benefit of multimillionaires safe at home.

I’d definitely help out our local garden centre I’m going to see if they are doing the same.

When I see ASOS workers desperate that they are crammed together (not that I ever used them much but I’m sure they are not alone) I’ll just order from local companies.

I'm a general prepper. I did all my essential shopping months ago.
Op, give me advice on how to celebrate DD's 13th birthday. We already have some presents in. We already have had to cancel one of her expensive gifts (tickets to a gig). We have a cake. We have candles. She was looking forward to hanging with her mates. She just has us two and the cat.
Forgive me for buying some shit online to decorate the house a bit for a big birthday in lockdown in order to cheer her up and show we've noticed it's happening.

Just to add that when all this is over, we shouldn't expect anything to change. We'll all be trying our best to get back to 'normal ' ie the way things were before the pandemic. Nurses won't be paid better, other key workers will not be celebrated, air traffic, road traffic, pollution will no doubt bounce back up.

So it's OK for NHS staff to put themselves at risk but not for anyone else?

My neighbour is a delivery driver for Amazon and is desparate to keep working. You don't speak for everyone.

I ordered a desk chair which isn’t strictly essential. However for the first few days working at home I had horrendous headaches because my home isn’t actually a working environment. So I wanted to make it a bit more comfortable. Is that ok? No small local business was selling desk chairs.

A couple of nights ago my vacuum broke so we ordered a new one. A vacuum definitely isn’t essential, I should probably have just ordered a sweeping brush. Or made my own with twigs from the garden maybe.

My Patio Magic just arrived so I will be able to crack on with de-mossing the patio and paths at the weekend as the weather is going to be nice.

Don'tgoIntoTheLongGrass Um, you've ordered rechargeable batteries in case of a blackout?

Rechargable batteries lose their charge if not plugged in to a power source. You don't charge them and leave them in the cupboard for weeks.