Hermes - must be great to work for ...

OneYorkshireLass

The parcels which my regular Hermes courier brings always stink of cigarettes, and today's parcel was really bad. I emailed Hermes and they said they can't help me and I should speak to the store where I bought the items in the parcel.

Why would Debenhams care about this? The courier isn't working for Debenhams, she's working for Hermes who passed the buck. If that's what you can get away with then I fancy a job with them ...

System

I assume that the smoke is because your local courier is smoking in his car/van while delivering the parcels. Are you legally allowed to smoke in a work vehicle? I don't smoke myself but I am sure I read somewhere that vehicles used for work are covered by the smoking ban?

OneYorkshireLass

I thought it was covered too.

mattyprice4004

Debenhams hired the courier, not you. It's their issue.

SADIE

Hermes use self employed couriers, they use their own vehicles so the non smoking rule doesn't apply.

You can complain to the company you ordered from and they will contact Hermes, they can't demand your courier doesn't smoke but they will tell them they have had a complaint and who from etc.

Couriers don't have any rights when they have to collect items, smoke, chip fat and worse, I carry fabreeze and use it often. I don't think smells penetrates through the plastic wrapping so shouldn't damage the item.

In the Summer I used to spray my smelly returns and peg the bags on the line for 10 mins before I'd store them in my house.

kezzygirl

hi op, completely agree.I ordered something from debenhams earlier this month and when it came it stank of stale cigarettes.I thought it was just my imagination, but obviously not if you have had the same problem!!

sarahg1969

tomjonesrules wrote: »

Spot on - the OP has no contract with Hermes.

The OP has no contract with Hermes, sure, but do they not still owe her a duty of care under common law?

SCO

The smoking ban DOES apply to self employed couriers using there own vans/cars.

They will have to tell there insurance company they are using the van for business use so therefore it is a work place, all smoking is banned in work places.

Tell Debenhams of your concerns they will then get onto Hermes if nothing improves and enough people complain say they will go elsewhere Debenhams will soon drop Hermes for another courier

johnnyboyrebel

SCO wrote: »

The smoking ban DOES apply to self employed couriers using there own vans/cars.

They will have to tell there insurance company they are using the van for business use so therefore it is a work place, all smoking is banned in work places.

Tell Debenhams of your concerns they will then get onto Hermes if nothing improves and enough people complain say they will go elsewhere Debenhams will soon drop Hermes for another courier

I don't think it makes any difference to the drivers, they still smoke in the vehicle whether they are self employed or not. There is nothing more stubborn than a delivery driver! We have various deliveries every day, most of which have a fag in their mouth when they turn up.

headoutthesand

I've ordered things from Debenhams too and they were really bad.

I think it's must be the packaging as the guy who delivered mine also delivers things for my work and there is no smell - ever - from those things.

SCO

johnnyboyrebel wrote: »

I don't think it makes any difference to the drivers, they still smoke in the vehicle whether they are self employed or not. There is nothing more stubborn than a delivery driver! We have various deliveries every day, most of which have a fag in their mouth when they turn up.

True, same as people still use there mobiles.

Does not make it any less illegal though.