Money Moral Dilemma: Should I ask my neighbour to pay for the meat they spoiled?

MSE_Kelvin

This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks...

I recently ordered around £40 worth of meat online. I was at home when it was due to be delivered, but received a text saying it had been left with my neighbour. I went over 10 minutes later, and they told me via their video doorbell that they'd gone out and wouldn't be back until late. I picked up the parcel the next day, and it turned out they'd left it on a radiator, despite it saying 'perishable goods' on it and containing ice packs, so I had to throw all the meat away. Should I ask my neighbour to cover some or all of the cost?

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74jax

Nope.

I never read someone's parcel info anyway.

How do you balance a box on a radiator... 🤔 

NBLondon

Difficult - did you expect the neighbour to keep it in the fridge for you?  Assuming they had room.
If you didn't previously agree that the item could be left with a neighbour - report it to the supplier.as arrived damaged.  They should replace or refund and then claim from the courier.

Nikkilou86

No, if you order something perishable that needs to be refrigerated either arrange delivery for a time someone is home or arrange with a neighbour to take it and store it appropriately for you. If you leave it to chance and someone is kind enough to take it in for you don’t expect them to check what it is and wait in for you to collect it. 

maisie_cat

Nikkilou86 said:

No, if you order something perishable that needs to be refrigerated either arrange delivery for a time someone is home or arrange with a neighbour to take it and store it appropriately for you. If you leave it to chance and someone is kind enough to take it in for you don’t expect them to check what it is and wait in for you to collect it. 

The OP was at home, per the initial post, the courier appears to have made a mistake.
The courier is an agent for the sender, if you didn't give them a safe place including neighbours, then they should replace it. 
I do hope it's not musclefood though, I had a similar issue a couple of years ago and they basically called me a liar, they did replace but I haven't used them again.

Marvel1

I wouldn't know what perishable goods meant.  
Not their fault.

elsien

You can ask. They are equally entitled to tell you to do one.
What action would you then propose to take? I suspect if they were going to offer a contribution they would have done so at the point you collected it, along with an apology.

elsien

Nikkilou86 said:

No, if you order something perishable that needs to be refrigerated either arrange delivery for a time someone is home or arrange with a neighbour to take it and store it appropriately for you. If you leave it to chance and someone is kind enough to take it in for you don’t expect them to check what it is and wait in for you to collect it. 

If you read the OP again properly, they had arranged delivery for a time they were home. 

Aleann

Nope. Suck it up and put it down to experience.You’ll fall out with your neighbour when they were trying to do you a favour. Your expectation wasn’t realistic.
Possible solution - You were home so the fault lies with the delivery company. Did you have “leave with a neighbour on your delivery instructions. 

SASSENACH98

if only overnight. how could it spoil. ?? should have cooked it and shared it with your neighbour.  or frozen it. 

_nate

It is absolutely nothing to do with your neighbour.