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Covid

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Original poster

Would you be annoyed about this?

50 replies

senorafridgidaire · 13/12/2021 17:08

Furniture delivered this afternoon, for an upstairs room. It arrives, 2 chaps get out of the van and start carrying it into the house. I asked them to wear a mask, they discussed it for a moment (in a different language so no idea what was said - I don't know if they didn't have masks or just didn't want to wear one), and then one shrugged and said they were both vaccinated so they don't wear them. I asked again, they refused and said they would leave the furniture at the front door instead (when I had paid for delivery to the room of my choice).

I tried to keep well out of their way but they reversed the furniture into the room I'd gone into to keep out of their way, and one chap walked straight into me, then stood huffing and puffing on the landing for a good minute or two while he took pics of the furniture.

I'm not totally OTT about covid but with everything going on and the fact that they'd been in and out of houses all day, surely they should be wearing masks if someone requests?

I called the delivery company and they said they do give the drivers masks and ask them to wear them but they can't enforce it, but they have had a lot of complaints from people about the same issue. Ironically they send you a nice long email before delivery telling you how covid safe their deliveries are!!

I'm really annoyed!

OP posts:

TurnUpTurnip · 13/12/2021 17:47

They wouldn’t expect you to sign they would just take a pic of it on your door step as proof it was delivered🤷🏻‍♀️

Beadebaser · 13/12/2021 17:58

You could have a supply of masks by your front door - in case it happens again. It’s not your responsibility - they should have been masked - but might give you peace of mind.

lesenfantsdelesperance · 13/12/2021 17:58

It's very poor customer service. You're right to be annoyed.

SirensofTitan · 13/12/2021 18:05

It wouldn't bother me. I assume you kept your distance and if you were worried opened the windows. But then I go in shops several times a week and go out to work so not much if any extra risk for me.

NannaMcPhoo · 13/12/2021 18:36

There is nothing for it.

You need to move house ASAP.

AppleJane · 13/12/2021 18:38

How fucking hard is it to put a mask on for 2 minutes when someone politely asks?

Willdoitlater · 13/12/2021 18:55

We are pretty firm with tradesmen. We ask 'Do you have a mask?' If they say yes we reply 'Please put it on then', if they say no we hand them one and say 'There you go'. Although watching some idiots constantly fiddling with them on their faces does make one wonder if its their first day on planet Earth. Although with windows wide open I wouldn't actually be worried.

Katie517 · 13/12/2021 19:01

Wow are people still like this? This is like an April 2020 post! I wouldn’t even think to ask people coming into my house to wear a mask, our cleaner comes while I work in the house and she doesn’t wear one so I certainly wouldn’t expect a delivery person to.

megustalacerveza · 13/12/2021 19:18

@Katie517

I can't believe people are still like you. In the middle of a pandemic and you don't think delivery people who spend their entire day in random people's homes should wear a mask? I'm just shocked that it isn't automatic.

MrsJackWhicher · 13/12/2021 19:21

Poor guys trying to do a difficult job snd getting harangued by busybodies about masks.

Fizzbo · 13/12/2021 19:22

It wouldn’t bother me in the slightest. I’d just be really grateful to them for carrying in my new furniture. If you are still so worried about things, don’t invite delivery people into your home.

Original poster

senorafridgidaire · 13/12/2021 19:51

I thought the definition of a busybody was someone who sticks their nose in other people's business?! They were in my house, so definitely my business 😂. I'm pretty laid back about a lot of things, they were really late, the guy was quite rude to me on the phone when I called to ask if they would be much longer, they wore their shoes in the house after for some reason deciding to walk across the muddy front garden rather than up the drive. Did I make a peep about any of those things, no. I know its not the easiest job and not the best paid. But I don't think a polite request to wear a mask should be met with a nonchalant shrug and point blank refusal when their employer makes a huge deal of how covid safe their delivery process is.

OP posts:

megustalacerveza · 13/12/2021 19:57

@MrsJackWhicher

Poor guys trying to do a difficult job snd getting harangued by busybodies about masks.

For the love of God, if your own home and health and safety isn't your business, what is?

Twiglets1 · 14/12/2021 07:36

What a fuss when you could have just opened some windows shown them to the room while keeping your distance and let them get on with it. How do you think school staff cope every day with dozens of pupils not wearing masks because they are “exempt” ( no evidence required)?
Seriously, these guys are doing a physical job lugging heavy furniture around. If you’re that bothered about strangers coming into your home, don’t order new furniture. They weren’t breaking the law so try having some empathy for how it would feel carrying heavy furniture while wearing a mask

Bookmarket · 14/12/2021 07:42

Yes, I'd be annoyed, especially if the company make a big deal out of their covid precautions. Its a customer service issue. I'd expect the company to deal with their delivery staff if they weren't complying.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 14/12/2021 07:46

I wouldn't care one bit. My child is at school all day unmasked.

Original poster

senorafridgidaire · 14/12/2021 10:46

Interesting - I should have done a YABU/YANBU vote as clearly opinions are pretty split! Thanks for all the input - some of it has given me a bit of food for thought. We have no DCs, we both WFH and have been relatively cautious throughout the whole pandemic, and any visitors are people we know well and who we know are similarly cautious to us. Any workmen that have come into the house have automatically worn masks without being asked, so I just assumed that was the norm (we are in Wales so masks have never really gone away like they did in England).

So I guess having unmasked strangers in the house who have been in and out of random houses all day perhaps feels more 'dangerous' to me than it would to a lot of people who are more exposed via work, children in school etc - I'm used to our house feeling very safe with no covidy intrusions! I think a few weeks ago I would have been more relaxed about it, but all the Omicron stuff has made me a bit anxious again.

OP posts:

Dutchesss · 14/12/2021 11:27

In most circumstances I would expect masks to be worn, however, for carrying heavy furniture I can imagine a mask would be very uncomfortable so I would have turned a blind eye. The risk is very low and the drivers are likely to routinely test for work.

VoyageInTheDark · 14/12/2021 12:13

I wouldn't be bothered by people not wearing a mask for a very short visit but given you asked them to, I would be bothered by the rudeness of their refusal and by the disconnect between the company going on how covid safe they are and the reality of their procedures

AppleJane · 14/12/2021 13:07

There's a real sense of 'I'm alright Jack so I don't care about anyone else' attitude on Mumsnet these days.

littlepeas · 14/12/2021 13:10

Nope. It would not annoy me in the slightest.

rookiemere · 14/12/2021 13:14

I think the company that you bought the item from would be surprised to hear of your experience, you may well get some vouchers or flowers if you phone or email them.

In answer to your question, it wouldn't bother me personally, but I would expect anyone coming into your house for a delivery to be prepared to put a mask on if asked to do so.

littlepeas · 14/12/2021 13:15

@AppleJane

There's a real sense of 'I'm alright Jack so I don't care about anyone else' attitude on Mumsnet these days.

True. But I think it is a case of people feeling more confident about voicing their true opinions, rather than hiding behind a more pc view that they don't really believe in. When it comes down to it most people are selfish - we are evolved to be so. The people who want restrictions, masks, etc are not usually thinking of the wellbeing of people they don't know - they don't care about strangers any more than those who don't want restrictions - but of themselves or someone they love who is vulnerable. Obviously there will be exceptions on both sides (particularly altruistic, particularly sociopathic), but most are in the middle somewhere and just behaving as humans do.

AppleJane · 14/12/2021 23:34

@littlepeas I understand what you're saying but I don't think good manners (ie wearing a mask when asked politely to) should be confused with being PC. And tradesmen who are going into lots of different homes are surely more likely to be super spreaders. Someone said they'll be testing regularly but if they can't be arsed to wear a mask for a couple of minutes then I doubt they're bothering to test either.

Dutchesss · 15/12/2021 07:39

If they left it on the doorstep, I wouldn’t sign for a completed delivery and would be screaming down the phone to the company.

Screaming down the phone? I really hope not.

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