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

gloriouslyhappy

Here's the link to register as vulnerable:
https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable

gloriouslyhappy

"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."

But the government advice is also to go to work if you can. Couriers and delivery personnel are keeping everything going, and as Pollycat pointed out, have strict instructions around avoiding contact during the delivery process. It should be a safer time with fewer vehicles on the roads now. But it sounds like some delivery people are not happy about having to work now, and it's a pity they're not being given a choice. A family friend who was made redundant a while ago and was finding it difficult to get another job is very happily now working night shift as a picker - packer for supermarket deliveries. So opportunities for some, but worries for other. As I said, it's a pity delivery people aren't being given a choice, but while online shops are available, I'm making use of them, and have just ordered a load of the plants which would otherwise have to be thrown away by the garden centre. They're going to be delivered in a taxi van tomorrow, and by arrangement left just inside my garden gate, then the driver will call me from his mobile phone, and leave  as soon as I answer so there'll be no contact whatsoever.

Savings_Needed

Good question! People's health should of course be the first priority, but there are so many people that are not eligible for the furlough scheme (due to changing jobs on 28th February/ 2nd March) who have taken delivery jobs to help them pay their bills. Real moral dilemma as of course their choice is become homeless or risk them and their families contracting COVID-19.

Pollycat

typistretired said:

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.

I have a parcel on its way from Wilko via Hermes.

From Hermes website:

Coronavirus response

Following the recent outbreak of Covid-19 in the UK we’ve put in place a number of measures to protect our customers as well as our parcel people, so we can make sure that our business is as prepared as possible.

We would like to reassure you that we’re actively following all government guidelines as health and safety remains the top priority across our business to protect our customers and our people. Public Health England has advised that people receiving parcels are not at increased risk of contracting the virus as it doesn’t survive long on non-metallic surfaces.

There is currently no impact on our parcel delivery services but you will see some differences in how your courier will go about delivering your parcel from now on as we reduce physical contact.

Divert your parcel to a safe place

We’re encouraging all of our customers to choose their preferred safe place for deliveries. If you have a tracking number for your parcel, you can go to the tracking section, choose ‘divert’ and select a safe place. This can also be done in the MyPlaces settings on the Hermes app.

Steps our couriers are taking to avoid contact

If no safe place is available or a signature is required, we’ll knock on the door and step back. When you answer we will ask for your name to ensure a safe delivery, but we won’t ask you to sign using a handheld device. If there is no answer, we’ll re-attempt delivery on a different day.

An earlier poster mentioned being forced to be in contact with over 100 people every day but it seems Hermes at least are limiting contact and I'm pretty sure other couriers have same/similar steps in place.

devoncourier

I think some people are missing the point. Taking into account other drivers/warehouse staff and customers it’s in excess of 100 people per day and I have no choice in this.  Don’t be fooled into thinking the courier companies are looking after staff, it’s all about the money. I’ve noticed a few people on here are mentioning the government Guidelines.  They say don’t travel unless essential, stay at home, protect the NHS. Others on here have said it’s helping the economy. Make your mind up. I have no issue in delivering essential’s, happy to do it, but why do people think it’s alright for others to put themselves at greater risk for something that can wait. Plants are essential are they? Different world to mine

Crumble2018

devoncourier said:

I think some people are missing the point. Taking into account other drivers/warehouse staff and customers it’s in excess of 100 people per day and I have no choice in this.  Don’t be fooled into thinking the courier companies are looking after staff, it’s all about the money. I’ve noticed a few people on here are mentioning the government Guidelines.  They say don’t travel unless essential, stay at home, protect the NHS. Others on here have said it’s helping the economy. Make your mind up. I have no issue in delivering essential’s, happy to do it, but why do people think it’s alright for others to put themselves at greater risk for something that can wait. Plants are essential are they? Different world to mine

But everyone will feel differently about this. For every courier that feels the same way as you, there will be another that is grateful for the work.  I m having to go into work at a non-essential factory.  I'd rather not, but as I have friends that currently have no income at all, I think I'm the lucky one!!  In an ideal world I'd rather be at home, but life is rarely fair.

Pollycat

devoncourier said:

I think some people are missing the point. Taking into account other drivers/warehouse staff and customers it’s in excess of 100 people per day and I have no choice in this.  Don’t be fooled into thinking the courier companies are looking after staff, it’s all about the money. I’ve noticed a few people on here are mentioning the government Guidelines.  They say don’t travel unless essential, stay at home, protect the NHS. Others on here have said it’s helping the economy. Make your mind up. I have no issue in delivering essential’s, happy to do it, but why do people think it’s alright for others to put themselves at greater risk for something that can wait. Plants are essential are they? Different world to mine

I really think your issue should be with your employer.

Or the Government.

Close down the places selling non-essential items.

Restrict those shops who sell essential and non-essential items to selling only the former.

It's really up to the Government to make their mind up.

They are the ones issuing guidelines.

Takmon

devoncourier said:

I think some people are missing the point. Taking into account other drivers/warehouse staff and customers it’s in excess of 100 people per day and I have no choice in this.  Don’t be fooled into thinking the courier companies are looking after staff, it’s all about the money. I’ve noticed a few people on here are mentioning the government Guidelines.  They say don’t travel unless essential, stay at home, protect the NHS. Others on here have said it’s helping the economy. Make your mind up. I have no issue in delivering essential’s, happy to do it, but why do people think it’s alright for others to put themselves at greater risk for something that can wait. Plants are essential are they? Different world to mine

Dealing with this Virus is a careful balance between keeping the economy going so that when all this is over it will recover and people will still have jobs and making sure that the NHS is not inundated by too many cases at once so they can save as many lives as possible. If they shut down everything non essential then there would be many businesses that collapse and if there are less businesses sending goods then your job would be at risk. 
I'm still working in what is a non-essential industry and i can potentially come into contact with 500 people but everyone knows the importance of social distancing and cleaning down any shared work spaces so if everyone follows these rules the risk is low. But i would much rather be at work helping to ensure my company survives this than stuck at home and not being able to go out much for weeks on end. 

meknowalot-51

Why not shop online?there's enough for all and the safety of drivers and all other staff is down to the individual.Same as those that restak the shelves in your local supermarket or those that deliver the local newspaper.You say your concerned for all the people involved in the shopping on line chain catching covid,what about the refuse collecters?,should we all stop putting out rubbish in our bins?Mind you,it's also a good time for you all to have a good close look at what you buy,can you do without?It won't be too long before you realize how much money you can save and increase your own personal wealth,have you really been buying that crap every week?,what a waste of money.Give your home and finances a good detox,a good old fashion springclean and reset the family budgets.

gloriouslyhappy

"I have no issue in delivering essential’s, happy to do it, but why do people think it’s alright for others to put themselves at greater risk for something that can wait. Plants are essential are they? Different world to mine"

But it can't wait. Garden centres all around the country are having to dispose of plants which they can't sell. April to June is their equivalent of Christmas, those sales keep them going for the rest of the year, and all their production is geared towards raising plants to be ready for the spring growing season. Now of course, they have to close, so all these plants - and the future of the garden centre and its employees - are heading for the rubbish dump. If they can recoup a little money by selling plants online to people like me, I'm all for it.

Given I'm stuck at home isolating with vulnerable family members, being able to go into the garden for fresh air and exercise, and raise a few salads for the dinner table while potentially helping other people to stay in work is a good thing. I'm very sorry devoncourier isn't happy in his job, but plenty of other people are very glad to be working and earning.