The demise of the milkman/woman.

As a child we had “Harry the Milkman”. Everybody knew him and he worked for a small local dairy. He served several small villages and kept everybody up to date with local news. He would also pass messages on or drop something off.

I can remember my Mum making him steaming hot coffee made with milk as he stood there wrapped up against the very cold weather. He loved listening to my Mum’s Irish accent.

We don't have a milk delivery but there is a greengrocers van which parks up on village greens etc. Unfortunately I am at work on the day it is near us.

Infoman, thanks for putting if you can afford it.
Our nearest delivery service comes from a farm 27 miles away and costs £1.46 per bottle. We get through at least 5 x 2 litre containers per week @ around £1.75 each and the shop is within walking distance.
I regret the use of plastic, but the way forward needs to be finding a biodegradeable replacement.

That's a shame,
if you might be considering to stop your milk delivery's, can I ask you to think again.
Also to suggest if you don't have milk delivered to try the service again if you can afford it.
Please remember that only one plastic bottle in ten is recycled.

I just couldn't get the hang of ordering/cancelling on line, after years of leaving notes in the bottles. I was informed by a sad milk man that the round had been cut to 3 days a week instead of 6 and NO more notes in bottles and NO more cash left in envelopes. I rung up once to cancel my order whilst on holiday,but a very impatient lady informed me it all had to be done on line, so I cancelled altogether

I was never sicker or fatter than when I was married to the milkman. Chronic sinusitis, bronchial conditions including pneumonia and lots of weight all disappeared after my divorce. As a nurse, I've helped people give up dairy only to find that a lifetime of inhalers and asthma magically disappeared as lungs cleared. Too much mucus from dairy.... I don't miss it at all but I still have a husband who gets up at 4 a.m. to go to work, lol.... just a healthier career.

I signed up with a mikman about 18 months ago. It was fine to start with; we had one delivery a week (it's only me and my son) and, as long as I remembered to put the empties out, everything went smoothly. A couple of months ago I opened the front door at 11pm and found the next morning's milk already on the step. I queried it with the firm and didn't really get an explanation. The next week the same thing happened. I had a look at prices in the shops and realised I was paying quite a lot of money for my few bottles, which seemed to be a day older than I had thought when they were delivered. So sadly I cancelled the order.

I have a milk delivery even though I live within walking distance of Lidl and Tesco! My milk is delivered in glass bottles. I have had a milk delivery for years and it was one of the first things I arranged when we moved a year ago.

I always had milk delivered by the milkman, it was just so convenient to have it delivered early in the morning and in glass bottles. But when we moved house I phoned to arrange delivery, only to get put through to a call centre with a foreign woman unable to understand me, so I gave up and buy locally.

I’m another Milk and More customer and very happy with the service. Milk arrives three times a week, delivered in glass bottles and placed in a cool box before 6am. Payments, holidays and additional orders are all dealt with online so no fuss. I have never seen my milkman, but he’s very quiet and never gets the order wrong.

Blimey not surprised milkman never read the note being barked, growled and chased by 3 dogs. I would have done exactly the same.

Years ago we had a milkman but often needed to cancel as we didn't use a regular amount. We were often overcharged as they failed to keep proper records. We then went over to a system where you bought tokens from the Co-op and when you wanted a bottle of milk you put a token in an empty bottle and they left a full one. That worked well but only until I moved house. I haven't used a doorstep delivery since. I still don't use a large amount of milk unless someone comes to stay with me so it's much easier to buy from the supermarket.

We have had doorstep deliveries for years now- never heard or seen the milkman- order extra or cancel on the app- we live in a big city never have had any problems- I like to support him x

No hope here in central London.
I was brought up in the country and lived on many farms. Drank milk straight from the cows or goats. I’m still here. I have high cholesterol apparently but I see it as borderline. For years I used Benecol and Flora. I’m going to die of something so hopefully it will be having a good time and drinking Jersey full cream milk and French wine.

I was a partner with the Ex and we had a Dairy Crest franchise for a couple of years. We loved it but the dairy got greedy with their vehicle charge (written into the contract, couldn't go elsewhere!) Supermarkets, as I'm sure you are all aware, killed the trade. We got out and resumed "normal life"! I've not had a doorstep delivery since those days, but I have just taken it up again, twice a week, guaranteed to arrive before 7 am and he/she doesn't wake the dog! Hubby says the delivery arrives at just after midnight, so some late nights may beckon when we get the promised heatwave! So far I'm very happy with it, bit pricey, but so useful.

We started getting milk delivered before the pandemic. My husband thought I signed up as I felt pressured on the doorstep. I put him right!and it was a godsend when the lockdown struck.
We were happy for years but the company became national and you had to give loads of notice to add items.
When a local farm offered delivery we switched. It’s genuinely a family farm diversifying, we could walk to collect the milk if we wanted. So properly local.
Interestingly they use 1 litre glass bottles, presumably so the rival national company can't nick their bottles.
They deliver cream in the most adorable 250ml glass bottles.
We’ve done a cost comparison and it’s about 4p a litre dearer so about 20p a month.

Always have milk delivered to the house. No plastic, but nice glass bottles. I choose the organic for more goodness. Have never been disturbed by the milkman, nor has the milk ever been stolen or gone off.

Yes we have a milkman been having them deliver our milk for few years. 3 times week anytime between midnight and four in the morning . Very pleased with their service. Sometimes I hear the milk float and the milk bottles jangling dosent bother me. What’s a few jangling milk bottles. Worse things could be happening !

vickya

In the 1970s with two small children milkman was a godsend. No supermarket deliveries then. The milkman had eggs, yoghurt, butter, cream, and I think bread and potatoes.

We have got a delivery from a small local one now around here but I've had the Tescos one for ages so not tried that.

When I was a child our one even had cigarettes 😂

I do see milk outside people's doorsteps though when I go out for a walk so it could go off or get stolen.

In the 1970s with two small children milkman was a godsend. No supermarket deliveries then. The milkman had eggs, yoghurt, butter, cream, and I think bread and potatoes.

We have got a delivery from a small local one now around here but I've had the Tescos one for ages so not tried that.

I use longlife milk as well. I’ve always got about 4 in the cupboard/garage

Yes, rural Essex and our milkman delivers quietly at about 3 am.

They all stopped were I am. There is a company that comes round once a week.

The reality is there isn't the demand anymore. I don't think the milk would stay on the doorstep for long in many areas before someone took it now.

There will always be 'elderly/disabled people who rely on doorstep deliveries'. It isn't financially viable for companies. Things have changed whether we like it or not.

My Dad gets long life milk. We stock him up and they last for months. Sainsburys do a good one, Dad keeps around 40 under the stairs and opens them as and when before putting them in the fridge.

Haven't seen milk deliveries for years. Nowadays we are lucky to get a postman and his/her deliveries can be spasmodic and any time between 11 and and 3 o'clock. Sorting office only open 8 to 10 am. Not great for a busy market town.