Money Moral Dilemma: Should I be shopping online during the coronavirus lockdown?

Pollycat

devoncourier said:

I’m a courier who is apparently a ‘key’ worker for a big national company. I’ve noticed a fair few comments regarding keeping the economy going by ordering non-essentials online. My life and those of my colleagues is worth more than your lawn mowers/plants/cakes/kettle drums/plants/clothes/diy items/gallons of paint etc etc, the list is endless. Think on......actually think of others you selfish *******

But your employer is still selling stuff online...

If they chose to close, people wouldn't be able to buy online.

If the Government forced these companies to stop selling online, people wouldn't be able to buy online.

I think you're directing your ire at the wrong set of people.

devoncourier

Pollycat said:

devoncourier said:

I’m a courier who is apparently a ‘key’ worker for a big national company. I’ve noticed a fair few comments regarding keeping the economy going by ordering non-essentials online. My life and those of my colleagues is worth more than your lawn mowers/plants/cakes/kettle drums/plants/clothes/diy items/gallons of paint etc etc, the list is endless. Think on......actually think of others you selfish *******

But your employer is still selling stuff online...

If they chose to close, people wouldn't be able to buy online.

If the Government forced these companies to stop selling online, people wouldn't be able to buy online.

I think you're directing your ire at the wrong set of people.

We are a national courier company delivering for various online suppliers.
I've basically been told If I refuse to work I will be replaced with no job to come back to. Drivers and warehouse staff have been told the same, money before welfare.
 If people didn't buy non-essentials online then the seller would close down during shutdown.
I agree that the government should force non-essential good sellers to shut but they haven't so just stop being selfish.
Ask yourself if you'd be happy if a member of your family was forced to be in contact with over 100 people every day whilst everyone else is told it's safer to stay at home, lucky you

Pollycat

devoncourier said:

Pollycat said:

devoncourier said:

I’m a courier who is apparently a ‘key’ worker for a big national company. I’ve noticed a fair few comments regarding keeping the economy going by ordering non-essentials online. My life and those of my colleagues is worth more than your lawn mowers/plants/cakes/kettle drums/plants/clothes/diy items/gallons of paint etc etc, the list is endless. Think on......actually think of others you selfish *******

But your employer is still selling stuff online...

If they chose to close, people wouldn't be able to buy online.

If the Government forced these companies to stop selling online, people wouldn't be able to buy online.

I think you're directing your ire at the wrong set of people.

We are a national courier company delivering for various online suppliers.
I've basically been told If I refuse to work I will be replaced with no job to come back to. Drivers and warehouse staff have been told the same, money before welfare.
 If people didn't buy non-essentials online then the seller would close down during shutdown.
I agree that the government should force non-essential good sellers to shut but they haven't so just stop being selfish.
Ask yourself if you'd be happy if a member of your family was forced to be in contact with over 100 people every day whilst everyone else is told it's safer to stay at home, lucky you

I stay at home because I'm retired.

I thought couriers were advising drivers to leave parcels on doorsteps, knock on the door and step back to allow recipients to open the door and pick up their parcel.

This is what Royal Mail are doing:

In order to protect both our people and customers, we are temporarily not handing over our hand-held devices to customers to capture signatures. Postmen and postwomen will instead log the name of the person accepting the item, and can sign on their behalf. This will apply to all deliveries that require a signature. Additionally, for all customers (including those who are self-isolating) where we need to deliver any parcel that won’t fit through their letterbox, we will place their item at their door. Having knocked on the door, we will then step aside to a safe distance while they retrieve their item. This will ensure the item is delivered securely rather than being left outside.

https://www.royalmail.com/d8/coronavirus-protection

Does your company expect you to do something different?

How are you being forced to have contact with up to 100 people per day?

I'm waiting for a Wilko delivery, coming apparently via Hermes.

There's no information regarding coronavirus on Hermes website but I'm really not expecting to have contact with the person who delivers my parcel and if I see him stood on my doorstep through the window in the door, I'll be shouting through the door for him to put the parcel down on the step and move away to the end of the drive before I open the door.

devoncourier

Like I said lucky you. I take it your item from wilko is essential and everything else you order is?
I watch the government advert which quite clearly states 'you should not leave your home for non-essential trips'
If it's safe to be out and about delivering non-essentials then everyone might as well go about their daily life's as normal and the government should be told there's quite clearly no point in staying safe at home

Lizzie2015

devoncourier said:

I’m a courier who is apparently a ‘key’ worker for a big national company. I’ve noticed a fair few comments regarding keeping the economy going by ordering non-essentials online. My life and those of my colleagues is worth more than your lawn mowers/plants/cakes/kettle drums/plants/clothes/diy items/gallons of paint etc etc, the list is endless. Think on......actually think of others you selfish *******

Useful to hear a courier’s opinion. I wonder if other couriers feel the same? I must admit I ordered a few new toys and stationary supplies for my kids, and also some shed paint...However I did feel guilty about it! At the moment though it is not against government advice as far as I’m aware.
I have however removed the eBay items that I had for sale as government advice clearly states no non-essential travel (ie trips to the post office!).

nightstar12

The problem I have with the guidelines is that it doesn't give 'key workers' the choice whether they want to carry on working and risking their lives and if they did they should be rewarded for it (e.g. those who opt out of working to receive 80% of wages and those who stay get 50% extra). There are a few couriers who are saying that their companies are threatening to fire them if they don't work and that it out of line and should be raised to the media so that those companies would be forced to protect their workers. I'm sure I read somewhere that everyone's jobs is protected during this time, but you'd need to research it. 

Personally, I've stopped selling on eBay, but have been ordering online, especially from small businesses. If everyone follows the guidelines they will be safe, but I have read stories of couriers deliberately contaminating post/parcels in the US by licking them etc, so make sure to wear gloves and disinfect your hands after handling on both ends. 

elgoo

If you've ever ordered from Sainsburys, you should have had an email from them about priority slots. They appear to be the only supermarket to realise that disabled and unable to go out to take advantage of the early morning hour reserved for 'vulnerable' people, means just that! 2 weeks ago they emailed me to say that as they could see from past orders, I am over 70 and therefore self isolating, and were reserving priority delivery slots. I am also disabled and not allowed to drive. The first day, all slots were all gone. The next day there were loads of slots. I booked a very large order for delivery the next day, and there it was! This week they emailed that it would be weekly. I've done another large order to be delivered tomorrow. Don't think I'll need to order again for a while. As you are under 70, you aren't in that category. But your neighbours are, so show them how to get an email address, using your computer/laptop/ipad. and register with Sainsburys to order food for delivery. Alternatively, if your husband has an email address, same goes. Good luck!

typistretired

I have a relative who has lost their job as a result of the coronavirus so he has joined Hermes.  The drivers are told to ring the bell leave the parcel on doorstop and then back far away until someone answers the door. If no one answers the door they check if they have left a note for a safe place.  If not they post a card through the door with telephone contact details.  Most people get in touch to advice where to leave parcels.  There is no signing by the customer, courier keeps their distance from customer.
If we stop ordering online the delivery companies will go bankrupt.

elgoo

elgoo said:

If you've ever ordered from Sainsburys, you should have had an email from them about priority slots. They appear to be the only supermarket to realise that disabled and unable to go out to take advantage of the early morning hour reserved for 'vulnerable' people, means just that! 2 weeks ago they emailed me to say that as they could see from past orders, I am over 70 and therefore self isolating, and were reserving priority delivery slots. I am also disabled and not allowed to drive. The first day, all slots were all gone. The next day there were loads of slots. I booked a very large order for delivery the next day, and there it was! This week they emailed that it would be weekly. I've done another large order to be delivered tomorrow. Don't think I'll need to order again for a while. As you are under 70, you aren't in that category. But your neighbours are, so show them how to get an email address, using your computer/laptop/ipad. and register with Sainsburys to order food for delivery. Alternatively, if your husband has an email address, same goes. Good luck!

This was in answer to Purplepen on page 1. In short, to get a priority slot from Sainsburys, you must be over 70 and have ordered from them before (I think!).

gloriouslyhappy

"elgoo said:

This was in answer to Purplepen on page 1. In short, to get a priority slot from Sainsburys, you must be over 70 and have ordered from them before (I think!)."

Actually, to get a priority slot now, you need to have a Nectar card and Sainsbury's account, and register on .gov/vulnerable . You'll need to provide your date of birth and NHS number, and answer health questions. After that you get a text from .gov saying they've checked or are checking your details, and then a couple of days later you get a similar text from Sainsburys.

This is the stage I'm at now, and hoping to hear again from Sainsburys soon, saying they've checked my details and offering me a priority delivery slot. We are not over 70, but are self-isolating due to severe COPD and heart condition so qualify as vulnerable. The categories are clearly listed on .gov.

If you don't have a Nectar card or Sainsbury's account, go online and sign up first before registering with .gov.