Companies that have treated us well during lockdown - Deliveries

Unimpressed with Appliances Direct whose website says "Business as Usual" so they took my money for an order of a new dishwasher + removal of the broken one, and then on the day of expected delivery informed me that the new dishwasher would be left on my doorstep and the broken one would not be collected (they offered a refund for that). I was so I cancelled.

Impressed - to the rescue came a local, small appliance repair company who is delivering a new dishwasher, removing the broken one and will even install the new one. Their employees will wear masks and gloves, and I will be in another room.

I echo the praise for the binmen and RM staff, ours have been fantastic. So many unsung heroes in all of this.

When I can next get a delivery slot I'm certainly including a 4-pack of lager in it for our wonderful binmen.ACE, they are!

Our local milkman from Milk and More has been a lifesaver, totally reliable. Also Iceland have delivered because I can’t ever get a slot at the big 4. I’m going to continue with Milk and More after lockdown. I use Iceland anyway. Can’t get on at Waitrose online ?

Our post woman has been brilliant and I am going to get her a present when all of this has gone. Also the bin men are never late and take everything away. Apart from that we have only used Asda - which my husband goes to once per week and they have been great. No complaints. I think the first thing that I want after all of this is a lovely Chinese takeaway from our favourite shop.

My lovely Tesco delivery driver, Paul. Who helped me get a delivery slot and telephoned me himself to tell me who to contact. I am over 75, use to wheelchair and have a serious lung condition. I now have two delivery slots twelve days apart. Have used Tesco delivery every week for years due to mobility issues.
Our bin men who put their lives on the line to take our rubbish.

I, like, Gabriella come under Waverley Bc.
The bin men have been excellent, our local pubs and Indian restaurant offer free delivery on meals which is helping our elderly neighbours and some pubs also offering veg boxes on a delivery or collect basis. The collects are at pre arranged times so social distancing g working well.. Our local fishmonger and butcher deliver and special shoutout to “Graham from DPD” who has been delivering tirelessly. We gave him a bottle of wine as a present, much to his surprise, and he said that, although he doesn’t drink wine his girlfriend appreciated it and he was now in her “good books”!

Waitrose! Like many of us I've had to wait for 3 weeks to get an online shop from Tesco who I have shopped online with for years. When it finally arrived last week the delivery driver
said there were more slots available. I went online as soon as the shopping was put away and it was the same old story, not a slot to be had!! So decided it would have to be back to relying on the corner shop and green grocer in town to deliver our shopping which is quite limited. So to my absolute surprise the next morning I had a text message from Waitrose (who I've used over the last few years, along with Tesco) informing me that they have a slot reserved for me and advised that I get on line and order as soon as possible. To say that I was pleased is an understatement. They were a bit shambolic at the beginning of this difficult time so I haven't bothered to even look to see if they had slots, but they have really come up trumps with this. So again a big thank you to Waitrose. {smile}

Remember No electricity = no heating, no gas, no lighting, no internet and no phone.

Oh yes. SSE. Out very late at night due to 2 recent power cuts. Helpful friendly staff on call 24/7.

I too can say Hurrah and a big thank-you to our fantastic refuse collectors. Never miss a week and always polite. Will collect and deliver back to your garden if you give you council a ring.
Also my local farm shop who will make up a box of your choosing, milk, cream, eggs, cheese, fruit, veg, jams and chutneys and various breads/pies/tarts/meringues. All freshly made within 20 mile radius.
Also pork, chicken (and pheasant in season)
Pay online and collect from bench in old stable block.
Would normally be sold at local markets.
If they have a glut of something they often pop in a surprise treat.
I find that H&M have a fantastic customer service team, 9/10 calls are answered well within 1 minute and they really give value for money. No delivery/returns costs and treats for feedback. M&S bank, Hermes and Yodel and last but not least, Waverley BC. Frankly, the best service.

A company called christophe@brockandsons for their fantastic delivery service and even more fantastic fruit and veg!

Our local postman and postwoman have been delivering wearing fancy dress which cheers everyone up.
Our refuse collectors are working to their normal schedule- even collecting garden refuse. Thanks go to the local council (Newcastle Upon Tyne) for providing a mini bus to accompany every lorry so crew members don’t have to travel 3 to a cab in the bin lorry.

BT engineers are still out which is obviously crucial with people having to rely on online ordering so much. I presume other engineers are too.

Shop workers ,who are turning up everyday for work so we stay fed.... I worked for Tesco for 21 years before retiring a few years ago, and I’m telling you customers are not always very nice, and treat shop workers with disdain, you can see some of them are quite afraid to be there, but turn up anyway. The dustbin men and women who are excellent around our way, and always make sure your bin is brought back to your house properly. Before lockdown I was always out when our bin was collected , but now I make a point of opening my front door and saying “thank you”... I usually get a “no worries love” back from them. The Sainsbury’s driver who delivers my shop.... I’m only getting a slot every 14 days or so, so make sure I get the heavy/bulky items..... I will go out for fresh occasionally,usually just once a week. The postie.. ... can’t say he’s always cheerful, but think he’s doing double shifts at moment. All these low paid... low kudos jobs that some people think are unimportant, we all know different now don’t we!? Also those folk who are keeping our gas and electric going , AND our pumping station workers...... we would be up to our eyes in s* without them. Well done to you all.Flowers

Wiltshire Meals have been brilliant delivering meals for my mum. They have looked after their regular customers really well.

Ditto most of above but lets not forget the water boards without whom we could not wash our hands. And also the military who are standing by ready to do absolutely anything even though a soldier gets paid less than a nurse.

Thumbs up to Premier Inn for a prompt refund of a weekend away I had booked for May.

Thumbs up to Aston Martin (sorry!) who are fixing any problems with local NHS staff cars promptly for free

Thumbs up to our local greengrocer who delivers a couple of hours after you phone in an order.

Thumbs up to our local Cake Decorating shop, who is ordering in sacks of flour and sugar and then weighing them out hygienically whilst people queue outside.

Thumbs up to our local pub, which has become an unofficial Meals on Wheels delivery service.

And I'm sure there are more out there.

Thumbs down to our local council who in their wisdom have sealed all our street bins so no one can use them so now people aren't picking up after their dogs or worse still bagging it and leaving it next to the bin!!! who do they think is going to move it!!!

Thank you to Iceland who not only have an hour for vulnerable people to shop before anyone else but also do it online. From 5-6pm last friday i could do a shop and get a delivery slot. I also managed to do one for my 87 year old mum. You dont always get everything you order but i think thats a risk you take with all the supermarkets.
Thanks also to Hermes, always delivery with a smile and our postman who must do lots of shifts as he never seems to go home!!

Nannan2

Ocado are definitely delivering, we've had a delivery every week to 10 days and very few substitutions or missing items. When substitutions are made they are very sensible, pretty much like for like. We had 3 missing items the first week but none since. All in all they have been excellent.

Certainly none of the food stores delivery people. I have been along time customer to Sainsburys and often had click and collect or homedelivery and since all this cannot get a slot for love or money. No I am not over 70 but still have health conditions but apparently not enough of them to get shopping delivered. Even Royal Mail are getting slow delivering letters/packages I have had a package held up at some mail place since last Wednesday as I keep tracking it. I have had enough of them all so all I do is queue up for shopping or medication. My brother is 70 and six months and he has had no help either and has to do the same as me join all the queues he was even stopped by the police last week and asked why he was out. He said to them "To buy some bloody food" where else will I get it. They just told him to be careful and not stay out to long.

Maybe the safety of the refuse workers is down to the individual companies who employ them ? Or the Council that gives out the contracts because I assure you our refuse collectors have high vis vests no masks and have only just starting wearing kevlar gloves. They travel 3 in a cab which I'm led to believe doesnt breach H&S rules but these are unprecedented times and personally I think they deserve more protection as they are going from bin to bin to bin to cab to home. I personally feel really angry for them. If our refuse collectors pulled their labour well.... remember New York

My son has the unenviable job looking after cemeteries and burying peoples loved ones. The enormity of what is still to come hasn’t escaped him and is taking a toll on his mental well-being. Sadly no one wants to acknowledge those dedicated to ensuring those poor souls who have been snatched by the virus ( and others) are given the very best send off possible and with dignity and respect, as it means they have to acknowledge death and no one wants to do that

Asda are amazing, happy smiling delivery drivers with nothing too much trouble. Sainsbury's, on the other hand, have really let us down. We've shopped with them for years but never again, Asda all the way from now on.

Can I mention my son, an HGV mechanic who is a key worker, keeping those delivery trucks on the road?