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Original poster

Supermarket delivery leaked and damaged my floor

48 replies

HoleyMole · 10/07/2020 12:22

Just that really.

Delivery from one of major supermarkets last night. Left bottles in bags on the floor to put away in the morning (today) and didn't realise one was leaking. Chemicals (Roundup) in one has bleached the floor - tried to neutralise as soon as realised what had happened but no success.

Waiting for call back from the supermarket manager - any idea what my rights are.

thanks

OP posts:
Wheresthebiffer2 · 10/07/2020 12:27

I'd assume that once you took ownership of the goods, they became your responsibility. Presumably you ordered the Roundup, so it wasn't a random item among your shopping. Obviously it shouldn't have leaked, but I don't think the supermarket could reasonably be responsible for a leakage? (maybe I'm wrong?). Hope you can claim on your household insurance for the damage.

DeltaFlyer · 10/07/2020 12:27

I would have thought they owe you new of the items it has leaked on but the floor is on you for leaving it.

Ulrikaka · 10/07/2020 12:28

Legally, I have no idea. However, you really want to blame the supermarket for the fact you didn't put away your shopping when it was delivered?? Be cross with yourself for leaving it, I know I would be mightily pissed off if it had happened to me,but I really don't see how you can try and blame someone else.

ArthurMrdr2 · 10/07/2020 12:30

It's your fault really for leaving your shopping out. Was the lid faulty on the weed killer?

AuntImmortelle · 10/07/2020 12:32

The damage to floor is in no way the responsibility of the supermarket. None. Nada. Zilch.

At best you'll get a refund of the product and perhaps a voucher as a goodwill gesture.

The damage to the floor will be your responsibility knowing you had bought chemicals and left them unchecked in a bag overnight.

You could claim on home insurance though.

Reminds me of sitting in a hairdressers and a teenager's mum came in with her GHDs which had caught fire. She wanted a new set. Although the idiot daughter had left them turned in, sitting on a carpet and left the room for some time. Poor bloody hairdresser who had to deal with that.

AuntyPasta · 10/07/2020 12:33

Why did you leave it on the floor overnight? You need to claim on your household insurance.

Microwaveoven · 10/07/2020 12:34

Its your fault. Suck it up and learn a lesson. It's never to late to learn. Note to self. Always put shopping away and check shopping before delivery driver leaves.
You're not 5, you can handle being in the wrong.

KingofDinobots · 10/07/2020 12:36

My guess is the supermarket could be liable, because the bottle was leaking ie was faulty.

However failing to check the goods in a timely fashion is probably contributory negligence - so any damages you might get would be reduced by a percentage, to reflect the fact that this is partly your fault.

See how you do with the supermarket, but I’d be amazed if they agree to replace your flooring.

DoubleTweenQueen · 10/07/2020 12:37

Your responsibility to check and safely store items once received. Particularly hazardous chemicals! Be very careful when cleaning up - wear thick gloves and a mask/eye protection, and don’t let children or animals anywhere near the area until fully clear. If it’s soaked into the floor, you have a problem.

ScottishStottie · 10/07/2020 12:39

😂😂

Actual lol that you think the supermarket should pay for your floor because you couldnt be bothered putting your shopping away!

When you take in the shopping, agree any subs etc you are also agreeing the quality of the shopping. If the bottle was damaged on arrival then you should have spotted it and refused the item. If at that point it had damaged other items then you refuse them too. But once you accept it its yours.

NothingIsWrong · 10/07/2020 12:41

Ummm, I don't think the supermarket can be liable for you not putting your shopping away? Do you have accidental damage insurance on your home insurance

AuntyPasta · 10/07/2020 12:45

‘If the bottle was damaged on arrival then you should have spotted it and refused the item. If at that point it had damaged other items then you refuse them too. But once you accept it its yours.‘

That’s not true. There’s no way you can check every single item in the time it takes for the driver to put down the bags and leave. I use Ocado and they have no problem refunding for damaged items that I’ve only found while unpacking. If the OP had unpacked that night and found the floor damaged they might well have been able to get something towards the cost of replacing it.

Original poster
HoleyMole · 10/07/2020 12:46

I hadn't thought so either - but I did want a refund on the leaky product. It was the supermarket contact who seemed to think I should speak to the manager ......... hence the post.

And I would like to watch any of you have checked the shopping for for damage when the chap lobbed eight bags through the door in one go and sprinted off for his next delivery. He wasn't going to wait.

OP posts:
ThisismeT · 10/07/2020 12:48

I had these before, where cleaning product or chicken juices leaked all over other items in a bag. But I never left in in bag and noticed it immediately in the kitchen. I rang the shop and they refunded me all items affected in the bag.
But I must say you shouldn’t leave it over night and check immediately.
So I don’t believe it’s the supermarket fault at all.

Randomfatty · 10/07/2020 12:51

Hi, I had this issue with some bottles of bleach that were leaking and damaged a rug and some seat cushions on my kitchen chair. I put in a claim to the supermarket and had to show evidence (pictures) and they gave me a voucher and the cost of the rug / cushions. As ultimately they should have a provided the undamaged items. However, I did notice straight away as I was unpacking the shopping.

SlothMama · 10/07/2020 12:51

You cannot blame the delivery driver that bottle could have cracked at anytime. It's your own fault for not putting the items away, you'll get a refund on the broken item but the floor is on you.

Doyoumind · 10/07/2020 12:54

Surely you can speak to your insurer about the floor?

BadBear · 10/07/2020 12:54

Similar thing happened to me (less expensive to sort out) one of the products leaked and made a mess all over the carpet which had to be professionally cleaned. The supermarket refunded the product and that was that.

Shit happens, put it down to that and let it go. There's not much you can blame the supermarket for if you left the products unchecked overnight.

DoubleTweenQueen · 10/07/2020 12:55

He doesn’t need to wait. You are still able to check the shopping without him being present and take pictures of any faults to report back to the supermarket. Leaking bottle and contaminated contents should be placed in a plastic box or bucket to contain, and be away from the house .
Roundup should not be included in a general grocery order though and needs very careful handling & storage. Are you in the UK?

Roselilly36 · 10/07/2020 12:59

I had an issue many years ago, when I had my shopping delivered, milk leaked all over my hall carpet, the delivery driver saw what happened, the supermarket paid to have my carpet cleaned.

Mnhealth202020 · 10/07/2020 13:05

@Randomfatty

Hi, I had this issue with some bottles of bleach that were leaking and damaged a rug and some seat cushions on my kitchen chair. I put in a claim to the supermarket and had to show evidence (pictures) and they gave me a voucher and the cost of the rug / cushions. As ultimately they should have a provided the undamaged items. However, I did notice straight away as I was unpacking the shopping.
OP, I wouldn’t rely on this outcome.

As others have explained, legally your recourse is limited. You could attempt to sue them, but even if the judge (somehow) thinks the supermarket is responsible your own negligence would be taken into account when any damages are awarded.

With the quoted poster, they noticed straight away so mitigated the damage caused. The cost of replacing the rug/cushions is presumably much cheaper than new flooring & installation. These factors meant that the supermarket were more inclined to offer a goodwill gesture to resolve this. They may not feel your situation has the same merits and therefore won’t offer the same, or any, gesture beyond the item refund.

GoGold · 10/07/2020 13:05

I would definitely be pursuing the cost on insurance. How are the supermarket to know the stain wasn't already there and you're pulling a fast one? It's a bummer, but shopping should have been out away/checked sooner. I do sympathise though.

Mnhealth202020 · 10/07/2020 13:06

The item refund being the faulty Roundup refund, to clarify

Fantasisa · 10/07/2020 13:13

A bottle of bleach I had bought from a supermarket leaked all over my clothes when I unpacked it at home. The supermarket refunded me for the clothes but it was very fortunate that I happened to have the receipts for that particular outfit whereas most of my clothes I wouldn't have had any receipts.

Buffthemagic · 10/07/2020 13:24

A few years ago my supermarket delivery turned up with some cans of drink leaking. Loads of the bags ended up covered, so was my floor as it was dripping everywhere and it was noticed by the delivery driver as he brought it all in. He refunded everything on the spot. Had I not noticed at the time of delivery of would have just requested a refund for the damaged items and left it at that. I don't think you can expect them to pay for the floor, just the leaking product.

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