Starting a shopping service.

ironed_out

I went to deliver an Avon order to a lovely elderly couple of which the lady is housebound, and I always stop for a chat. She told me she probably wouldn't be ordering next time as they'd just had a bill in from our local council for the 'shopper' and for 5 weeks @ 2 hours pw their bill was £130!!
I told them I'd be more than happy to do their shopping for them, but she was more concerned about the girl who does it for her now,(who is employed by the council) being out of a job. She then said the girl can get it done in less than an hour and a half so basically she's being overcharged by at least 1/2 an hour each week. (and could have saved approx £30 on that bill)

I am amazed at what they are being charged each week. Would it be viable to offer this service, and if so, how would I go about it?

I'd be quite happy to visit 2 or 3 shops (to support local shops if they so wish) or could do one big shop at a supermarket.

Any views and/or ideas welcomed

lynzpower

I used to work for social services and used to "help" older people commission shopping services and I would say to you right now GO FOR IT!

Its about time the older folk of our country stoppped getting effectively RIPPED OFF by what are effectively big businesses in the "care sector". Not being funny but the council used to recommend 17 ph shoppers- ARE YOU MAD?! the poor old fellas only had a tiny amount of money left to try and fashion a reasonably balanced diet out of what was left after hes forked out for his "shopping service"

It would make your stomach drop as well - I used to hear far far too many stories of the "shoppers" keeping the change, keeping items, and generally financially mismanaging and ripping folk off and thieving from them .

YOU GO FOR IT! But do arm yourself with your CRB just to be on the safe side.

As you are doing avon and may well be "floating around a bit" might you also be able to take in washing ( or are you really ironed out ) only I know that we also used to commission 17ph carers to effectively drop off clothes to the laundrette :wall: the other one is hoovering and heavy cleaning, that also used to commission crazy rates. As it was the carers themselves never got anything like 17ph ( sorry to burst your bubble) more like min wage, but the rest was crafted out to the fat cat profit makers.

Any more help do come back to me, its a subject SO close to my heart x

simpywimpy

It sounds a great idea for a service but you would need to be careful. If you get someone who's not fully aware and they lose some money, you could unwittingly end up in the firing line.

lynzpower

simpywimpy wrote: »

It sounds a great idea for a service but you would need to be careful. If you get someone who's not fully aware and they lose some money, you could unwittingly end up in the firing line.

definatley a good point.

Worth investing in a recipt book from say smiths, getting them to sign a recipt for them giving you the cash to buy with, and a recipt for the change.

ironed_out

Thanks for the replies.
I do a couple of cleaning jobs and used to have an ironing business which I really enjoyed but after a few years I really was 'ironed out'....hence the name :rotfl: which is when I started doing the Avon. (although I don't mind doing the ironing again now)

I am just so incensed at the council's charges:mad: Makes me so mad.

Also I wouldn't expect anywhere near the £13 the council charge!

rachel83_2

i agree, the elderly are ripped off all the time,
you go for it i bet you would provide them a better service aswell.
good luck with it and let us know how you get on

lynzpower

please keep me posted how you go on, Id be really interested to hear how you do.