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Post by 3piggles on Dec 21, 2017 16:46:17 GMT
I've never lived in a populated enough area for delivery companies to need to use private delivery services. We mostly get our packages delivered by the postal service, UPS(United Parcel Service) and FedEx. FedEx seems to only deliver up to a certain size package, and I think they have some other restrictions, too, so postal service or UPS, mostly. We have a great UPS driver in our neighborhood. He'll honk the horn to let us know he's there, if it's a heavy package we want put in the house for us. He's knows we're older people, here, so could often use the extra help. Also, UPS just bought a whole fleet of delivery trucks from Tesla, so they'll be electric trucks. I wish the postal service would get better trucks, as most rural postal deliverers use their own cars. Our guy has needed a new muffler for over a year. At least we know when the mail is delivered  We used to have a lot of problems with similarly named streets, and it got bad enough that emergency services were going to the wrong addresses. We now have an emergency system that shows the callers location on the map on the dispatchers screen, but I don't know if delivery companies have anything like that. Our main delivery problem is porch pirates, people who drive around stealing packages from people's front porches. One man rigged up an exploding shotgun shell, so when someone tried to move the package, it exploded. Some police departments partnered with Amazon to have empty Amazon boxes containing a GPS chip, delivered to problem area. Last they reported, no one had tried to steal one of those boxes. Having a news segment about the program broadcast on every channel, probably didn't help. So many people have security cameras, now, that show the people taking the package within minutes of its delivery, the pirates must be following the deliver trucks. Perhaps the delivery companies could partner with the police, to put cameras on the trucks to get the license plates of vehicles that follow the delivery trucks too often. |
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Post by Bean on Dec 22, 2017 8:38:22 GMT
I don't think they're paid very well as they really rush round to get all the deliveries done - I usually find that they pass me the package and are halfway down the drive by the time they shout out asking me what my name is!
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Post by jolovespiggies on Dec 22, 2017 8:49:08 GMT
They aren't paid very well Bean love and considering the stresses of a job like this, I think it is really unfair but what is fair in this world?
Hugs
JO xx
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Post by 3piggles on Dec 22, 2017 15:26:53 GMT
Do both supermarket delivery people to that, Bean, or just one? Do they need to note who took the groceries, and what do they do if you're not home at the time? Just curious. It's possible someone would schedule a delivery for a time when they thought they could be home from work, then they get stuck in traffic, or something else happens, and they're a few minutes late. Would the delivery be left for them, or not? I'm just trying to get an idea of what's involved, in case I find a place that will deliver.
I know the large delivery companies, such as UPS and FedEx, pay decently, decently enough that it's hard to get a job at those places. I really doubt any store delivery person earns very much, or it would be added to the cost of doing business. I think the stores hope the shoppers will tip the delivery people, to add to their income.
Delivery, if it were possible, and I got the items I ordered, would be a big help for a lot of people who can't do shopping on their own, that's for sure. Even when I don't have to retrace my steps for items I forgot, or hunt for an item, the supermarkets are always full of people, so getting around is hard. People power shop all over me, with no consideration. I even had one woman pull the carriage out from under me to get to something I was blocking, without ever asking me to move. I was leaning on the carriage because my back was hurting, and she just wrenched it out from under me. I really wouldn't mind avoiding that.
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Post by Bean on Dec 23, 2017 9:03:43 GMT
The supermarket delivery drivers have special refrigerated vans, they don't work out of their own cars - that tends to be the couriers who work for companies like Amazon. No one tips package delivery drivers here (only takeaways etc - oh the random nature of tipping..), so I don't think any company thinks their employees are making any more than they pay them.
If you're not in when the supermarkets deliver, they'll ring you and try to redeliver later that day if possible. (I think if you missed deliveries a lot, they'd not be so accommodating!) If that can't happen, they just refund you (although I've never actually had it happen, so I'm not sure if the delivery fee would be refunded too).
They won't leave the shopping unattended though, someone has to sign for it (and it has to be an adult too - and you have to show ID if you have booze etc and look under 21 - I've never been asked!). So when my delivery came late, they asked if there was a neighbour who could take it in for me. But all the neighbours I know well enough to feel comfortable asking them to do that are in their 80s, and having a week's worth of food for a family cluttering up their hallway (especially since I get it delivered without bags, and move it from their crates to my own bags when the delivery arrives) would not be the safest of plans! Plus I had fridge and freezer items so it wouldn't have been the best idea as we weren't going to be home until a couple of hours later.
I'm sorry there re so many inconsiderate people around when you shop. When I go to the supermarket, the only thing I really notice is people just stopping to look at something for 10 minutes with their trolley jutting out unsociably, completely oblivious to the line of people behind them waiting to pass! I think here all the people who are short on time tend to have deliveries, so you mainly get the meanderers at the shops now. But as you say, in rural areas, you can't always get deliveries, so it's probably a lot different for you.
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Post by jolovespiggies on Dec 23, 2017 16:16:00 GMT
I always have my coir delivered for the snailies via DHL. They are a bit on the expensive side but they are helpful and very friendly. I have even been asked if I want the box putting anywhere in the house and he would carry it through for me. I think that is really nice. I used to get so cross about that too o when I was shopping Bean love and I can imagine what it is like now. Paul says everywhere is manic.
Hugs
JO xx
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Post by 3piggles on Dec 23, 2017 22:32:05 GMT
It's really about being considerate of other people, and not going out in public as if you're the only one in the whole place. Too many people need to learn some manners.
Ah, I don't think our supermarkets have refrigerated delivery trucks. They might in other places, where it's big business, but I've never even seen those in our biggest city. Might be different in Boston, or one of the major cities, but Manchester has 600K people, and no supermarkets deliver, there. I wonder why? Liability, maybe. We are a lawsuit happy society, and I'm sure there are people who would try to find something wrong with every delivery, just to get a refund or discount on the next purchase. I should think a couple of those problem deliveries, and the supermarket wouldn't deliver to those people, any longer.
We're also not very good at being inconvenienced, so having to wait at home for a delivery wouldn't go over well. Too many people work, and aren't home during the day. Can't really blame supermarkets for not offering delivery to people who would make it really difficult on the delivery people.
All things considered, I think being able to order the groceries, then get curbside service, is pretty good for us. I will check that out, once Vic retires.
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Post by Bean on Dec 24, 2017 9:06:06 GMT
I hope you find somewhere that can provide the service you want when you come to need it.
Ours usually offer 1 hour delivery slots, but also offer green slots, which are a 4 hour period, and then on the morning of delivery, they plan the route for all the deliveries for that day in the most efficient way (often the drivers can end up driving from one side of the city to the other all day which isn't great for the environment or local traffic!). At that point they give you a 1 hour slot.
I think that's such a great idea and would love to have used it, but there aren't many days where I can commit to being in for any point over a 4 hour period until the last minute, so I've never used them. Great if you're around more though.
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Post by 3piggles on Dec 24, 2017 20:51:14 GMT
Since gas/petrol got so expensive, setting the most efficient routes is imperative, or they'd go broke. I wonder if they have traffic news to use? We have apps that let us check routes for road repairs, accidents, traffic jams, etc., but they don't work on the small side roads. I would think those apps would be a great boon to delivery companies. We live within the delivery area of the Chinese restaurant we use, a family restaurant, and I think two pizza restaurants that deliver. If I can't get out to shop, I'll order take out I can make a Chinese order last for 5 or 6 meals, so I'll be all set, lol I'll manage Temps got above freezing for a while, today, and the sun reflecting off the back porch had the thermometer registering 40F. Lots of good melting on the roads and walkways. All set for us to get 4-8" tomorrow. The storm warning is for 11 tonight, through 3 p.m. tomorrow, so I'm hoping people will real take their time getting to where they're having Christmas, tomorrow. It should be beautiful to watch while we're opening our gifts, and doing dinner Definitely a white Christmas. Vic already said, if he gets bored, he can go outside and play with the snow blower I doubt he'll get bored |
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Post by jolovespiggies on Dec 27, 2017 17:32:41 GMT
When we can afford it we tend to use the same takeaways as the food is always good and they deliver our order promptly even when they say it is going to be quite a while. They get to know their regular customers too which is great.
Hugs
JO xx
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Post by 3piggles on Dec 27, 2017 19:58:31 GMT
-15F when I got up this morning, felt like -21F. Not supposed to warm up much for the next week or so. We're leaving the faucets dripping overnight, and until the temps get on the plus side. Frozen/burst pipes are the pits! Can't complain, though, as it was -33F in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I love the cold, but I'm really glad I'm not there! I heard Chicago was in the deep freeze, too, actually it's a whole swath across the top of the country from the west coast to the east coast, with us getting the least of it. Stay warm, Baz! Hubby went back to work today. The house is slowly getting back to normal, laundry being done, etc. We're not New Year's celebrators, so at best we stay up to give each other a kill at midnight, then go to bed. Santa was very good to me, and brought me a new food processor, so I hope to use that a whole lot. I got a sweet gift from a Facebook friend in Vancouver, B.C. She sent me a shopping bag with a bunny on it, and asked me to send her a picture of my guinea girls going after greens in the bag, next time we bought greens. No problem Just so sweet of her to think of me Still haven't had Christmas with our daughter and granddaughter. They didn't come Monday because of the snow, and by our planned time on Tuesday, daughter had a stomach bug and was grounded in bed. Not sure when they'll make it up here, but maybe this coming weekend. I think I will have eaten all of her anisette cookies by then, lol I hope everyone is well, and ready for another year to start. |
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Post by jolovespiggies on Dec 28, 2017 15:41:42 GMT
I like the cold too Piggles hunni and it is certainly a tadge chilly here today. Even though I love Christmas Boxing Day is the day when I get back to normal. I need to do my laundry every day really so missing one day is all I can manage. That bag sounds lovely hunni, the only gift I had this year was from an email penpal who I have never met, it was a gorgeous bunny ring holder. I hope you see your daughter and granddaughter soon lovey but as for being ready for the New Year, I will have to think about that one. Hugs JO xx |
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Post by 3piggles on Dec 28, 2017 20:42:52 GMT
Technically, Jan 1 is only another day, and the day after Dec. 31. Changing the number on the year only changes the fiscal situation, and nothing else. Some people think changing the year changes their luck, but it's really just another day. Sometimes it helps to feel you can put the situations of one year behind you, by changing dates. Perhaps believing that is all that's required to change your luck, just having a positive attitude. I certainly wish you the very best of luck, or the very best life possible, so maybe just using the change of year as a chance to start over again is what's needed  |
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Post by jolovespiggies on Dec 29, 2017 10:25:29 GMT
That is how I have always thought of the so-called New Year Piggles love. It is only new because we make it that way and as you say, it changes nothing. Things continue to be good or bad as with any other time. I am glad that some people get comfort from it though and they feel that there really is a new leaf turned and things are going to be better for them but it has never been that way for me either.
Hugs
Jo xx
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Post by 3piggles on Dec 29, 2017 14:43:21 GMT
Back when we wrote checks all the time, instead of changing the check dates to the next year, I always wrote something radically different, no idea why. It always took me a while to get used to the idea of the year changing. Glad I don't write many checks anymore!
We're in a bitterly cold streak, all across the upper US. Follow the Canadian border, and the temps are brutal. We were at -10F this morning, and just broke 1, so we're on the plus side. Other places, especially around the great lakes, have been deep in the negative double digits, and haven't come out of it during the day, and they have up to 60" of snow to add insult to injury. Feeling lucky to just have some manageable bitter cold, here. Definitely staying inside.
Today is the last Friday of 2017.
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Post by butterfly88 on Dec 29, 2017 17:35:42 GMT
When I was in school I'd always put the wrong year on the date on my homework all through January, sometimes into February.
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Post by 3piggles on Dec 29, 2017 21:28:08 GMT
With all the fanfare about changing the years, you'd think we could get it right, lol |
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Post by butterfly88 on Dec 29, 2017 22:14:16 GMT
Lol, yes you would think.
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Post by Bean on Dec 30, 2017 8:14:30 GMT
I'm always forgetting which year it is when I fill a form in - I don't think I've got used to this millennium and writing anything from 2000 still makes me feel like I'm in a futuristic world!
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Post by jolovespiggies on Dec 30, 2017 15:11:18 GMT
When I worked as a secretary I had to keep remembering the New Year. Sometimes I still do and I have been with it for nearly 12 months. Me too Bean hunni, it took me a long time to adjust to the New Year too. I still can't believe we are in the new millennium, it seems, as if time is galloping and nothing improves.
Hugs
JO xx
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