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

ireallycantyodel

NaughtiusMaximus said:

ireallycantyodel said:

"Perishable" without context ALWAYS means it needs to go in the fridge. 

What? No it doesn't.

Perishable means it has a very short shelf life and could equally apply to live plants, cut flowers and fresh foodstuffs which don't need to be refrigerated.

Erm...Plants don't come in heavy boxes - they are much lighter? And even if that was so, I would have not accepted it if I knew I was going out because plants could possibly die too, in a box for 24 hrs by the radiator

ireallycantyodel

driver01 said:

As a courier. If the parcel said leave safe or with neighbour. Then the courier is absolved from blame. Likewise the company who sent the parcel. However. If it didn't say either. Call the company and the courier. You might get your money back with either. as the terms of the contract were broken. But and here's the rub. Most couriers are allowed to leave with neighbours unless specifically noted on the parcel. So,as far as the courier is concerned its left safe and signed for. Their contract has ended. You might get more sympathy and a better result from the company itself.
Your neighbour will give you stick and basically say. aint my problem. You should be in. And this is why I am loathed to use neighbours as delivery points  unless asked to use a specific neighbour. The hassle aint worth your parcel.

So if the customer says that nobody knocked on his door, would it not be your word against theirs?

Peachleopard

I would bring it back to the company you bought the meat from. Express your disappointment on how it was handled and tell them you'd be reluctant to order again as you were at home waiting for this delivery when it was delivered to a neighbour oblivious to what was in the parcel.  Let them take it up with the courier.

Torry_Quine

When I take in a parcel I don't look at it for information. I leave it in the hall and it's  coincidentally near to the heater. Unless the delivery man pointed out any specific conditions I'd be unlikely to notice. 

tain

Blimey this has really blown up! Thanks everyone for the responses.

I'm the person who had my delivery nabbed by the neighbour. I won't ask them for money as I can't see a polite way of doing that. But I kind of wanted to get a feel for if I was in the right to be disgruntled at them because of it, and possibly mention it when I see them again (e.g. 'don't take in our deliveries if that's ok please'). This isn't the first time they've taken in a delivery then immediately left for the day and night (just not perishable beforehand). 

My view is that your intentions mean nothing in this situation - you haven't done anyone a 'favour' until the neighbour has received their delivery in the same condition as you received it in. For instance, if it said fragile you don't have the right to throw it about and say 'oops, I meant well though' with no consequence.

I tried following it up with the courier as the guidance to them was to leave it on the doorstep if delivery wasn't possible, so I'd have got the package quickly and put it in the fridge. But as a successful delivery was made, they won't cover the perished contents. 

And even though it's clarified in the post - the delivery driver didn't knock at my door using either the knocker or the bell. They either didn't knock at all, or they tapped on the window, which I can't hear from my kitchen where I work - that's why we have a huge knocker and a bell.  

tain

Pict_66 said:

Who puts a parcel on a radiator? Are they daft? Also why don’t you support your local butcher instead of mail ordering your veal? You’d get the cuts you want and help your local shops survive. Sounds like a load of mince to me. 

This is a mail order from a 'local' butcher. It's a very specific meat cut for BBQ, so there are no local butchers in a 30 mile radius that can provide it for me (I've asked!). 

tain

TBagpuss said:

No. 
You can complain to the supplier / courier company about the fact that they didn't deliver to you even though your were at home.

Your neighbour did you a favour by taking in your parcel.
(Also - I'm really surprised it was 'spoiled' - I've ordered meat etc online and the packaging is really good - at most I would have thought it may have thawed, in which case your solution would have been to cook it and freeze the cooked meals - maybe not ideal but certainly better than binning it. 

This is it - it was in light packaging surrounded by ice blocks. They would have felt how cold it was when they took it in, and if they hadn't have placed it on a radiator, the ice blocks would have maintained a chilled temperature for at least 24 hours. Which is the delivery company's get out of jail card. 

gloriouslyhappy

I'd contact both sender and delivery company, and get a refund from them. Normally neighbours taking in parcels and not handing over til the next day isn't a problem but it was here. As OP was in, the courier should have delivered to them, so a refund is due from the sender who should then chase the courier company.  

I had a parcel left at my front gate next to the pavement despite delivery instructions being to leave inside the porch ten steps from the gate - the daft thing is that the courier left the delivery notice inside the porch then turned around and left the actual parcel by the pavement! Someone took the parcel but as the courier was caught on my ring doorbell delivering the notice but not the parcel, I got a full refund once I sent them the footage. The thief taking the parcel has been tentatively ID'd by the neighbourhood watch people and I'm leaving that for them to deal with. I'm still isolating despite having had both jabs so get everything delivered and usually don't have a problem, most couriers are honest and hardworking. But when mistakes are made, it's down to the courier company to rectify it, not the neighbour.

tain

I really do need to reiterate though - the number of people saying 'your neighbour did you a favour' when my delivery was sitting on their radiator. That really isn't a favour. Their intentions were good, but the consequence is that a favour was never provided. I can't cook good intentions on my BBQ or add it as credit to my bank account. 

If people believe taking in a delivery for their neighbours is a favour, you need to pause and think for a little. It's only a favour once they've received it. And if they're unable to receive it because of your own actions, you're actually a barrier for them, not a kind neighbour. 

If you're unsure, just say 'no' to the delivery. I've said no loads of times. I'm baffled by the number of people who don't see refusing the delivery as an option, or who think they're a bad neighbour if they do so. 

pphillips

If you gave delivery instructions to leave with a neighbour, then it's between you and the neighbour.
If you didn't give those instructions, then it's between you and the company (which they will need to take up with the courier).