Buying online delivery problems.

[SteviegtrParticipant @steviegtr]

I just wondered what the implication are about buying items from, as a main example ebay. From a private seller. with postage free, or at whatever the ad price. So unless the person selling has a courier to pick up said item. Technically he cannot go to the post office or courier company to drop your item off.

I am sure you can win the bid or buy it now, but how are you going to get it. I buy a lot from ebay, but just now I am being shy of doing so with the chance I might not get it.

I bought a lot of milling cutters form a private individual. He posted them to the Argos of my choice, (huge mistake on my part). The items were delivered last Friday to the store. Now the store is closed down. I have no items that I have paid for. Hence me being cautious.

It would seem any items from ebay etc at any Argos store that has closed will be returned to sender. I am hopeful that this is the case with my items. The seller has said he has a pickup agreement with Hermes so he will re despatch to my address. Just be cautious. Anyone else had any problems.

Steve.

Edited By Steviegtr on 26/03/2020 23:42:01

[SteviegtrParticipant @steviegtr]

Mainly ebay

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Still a lot of things being advertised as 'collect only'. Kind of dumb as strictly only eligible for people within walking distance who have a hand cart.
Some sellers might agree the sale is concluded with payment of a deposit and pickup when appropriate. Ebay rather slow on the uptake should have brought in procedures to handle this. But hey they get their fees and it's the users problem.

How about if you drive there with a pasty (food delivery) and they include a jam tart (food collection). Or you both meet in a supermarket car park.

Edited By Bazyle on 27/03/2020 00:08:48

[SteviegtrParticipant @steviegtr]

I think that maybe the only way it would work. But I just wonder how many people are still buying & expecting delivery.

Steve.

[pgk pgkParticipant @pgkpgk17461]

Our local post office, like many others, is in the local shop so it seems entirely reasonable to post parcels while out to get some milk or the newspaper assuming the seller is prepared to go out at all or indeed really needs supplies. As this bites more folk are finally going to hunker down and ration themselves.

[Micky TParticipant @mickyt]

I work for Royal Mail and I'm classified as a key worker so still going to work We still have plenty of items coming through infact it is nearly as busy as it is at Christmas.

Post Offices are one of the businesses on the high street that are allowed to stay open under current guidelines so if you order from one of the sellers on eBay that use Royal Mail then you should get your item.

Micky T

[Mick B1Participant @mickb1]

When you receive anything, is a wipe with a soapy damp cloth enough? You can't know who's handled it or what precautions they took – or not.

[HowiParticipant @howi]

Buying lots of bits and pieces on ebay, post office delivery seems quicker at the moment, no problems as of now.

As I am now at home 24/7 apart from the daily constitutional in the morning, being in for delivery is no problem.

even had stuff from China!!!!!

[Clive IndiaParticipant @cliveindia]

Posted by Howi on 27/03/2020 09:13:35:

Buying lots of bits and pieces on ebay, post office delivery seems quicker at the moment, no problems as of now. As I am now at home 24/7 apart from the daily constitutional in the morning, being in for delivery is no problem. Even had stuff from China!!!!!

Yes, me too – with no probs.

Even a PCB by sending files for construction by email, was made and in my hands today in 5 days.

Challenge Norah Doomsberg and the BBC to put a negative spin on that!

[VicParticipant @vic]

Yes I’m still getting deliveries of a wide range of stuff.

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

Royal Mail is still delivering, have had a couple of deliveries via courier ( Amazon & eBay ) plus postings from China. Well done to all delivery staff.

George.

[Bob Unitt 1Participant @bobunitt1]

The cautious approach I'm taking came from one of our suppliers (can't remember which). When taking delivery of anything non-perishable (parcel or letter) first put it, still packaged, in an isolated place (I use our porch) for 24 hours, and immediately wash your hands thoroughly. After 24 hours remove the packaging or envelope without (if possible) touching the contents, dispose of the packaging safely, then wash your hands thoroughly again. You are now as safe as you will ever be to handle the contents…

As for the Post Office – our local one is in the Co-op, but is shut anyway for lack of staff.

Edited By Bob Unitt 1 on 27/03/2020 10:59:20

[John Paton 1Participant @johnpaton1]

Posted by pgk pgk on 27/03/2020 06:47:42:

Our local post office, like many others, is in the local shop so it seems entirely reasonable to post parcels while out to get some milk or the newspaper assuming the seller is prepared to go out at all or indeed really needs supplies. As this bites more folk are finally going to hunker down and ration themselves.

PGK

Still creates an unnecessary risk in my view. Too many people are 'trying to get away with it' or failing to understand just what we are trying to achieve.

If you must post items, use disinfected gloves and a 4 day quarantine to ensure packages are virus free but even by going in the shop you risk spreading the virus if you happen to be contaminated. (with this disease you simply don't know if you are)

The longer this goes on the greater the aftermath affect will be on all of us (through loss of those dear to us, to recover lost income and to pay off our share of the National debt)

For now lets focus on minimising interactions and help get this virus under control as quickly as we can.

[OldironParticipant @oldiron]

Posted by Mick B1 on 27/03/2020 09:04:59:

When you receive anything, is a wipe with a soapy damp cloth enough? You can't know who's handled it or what precautions they took – or not.

Wipe with an antiseptic or mild bleach solution it seems is the recommended fix.

BBC article.

Be safe stay home. regards

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Despite ordering an hour after the deadline for next day free delivery late yesterday afternoon, the item arrived this morning at 11pm, 5 hours early. I think this is a record, 17 hours from order to doorstep.

Driver left the box by my front door and we had a successful delivery conversation separated by a 5 metre air-gap. He said the roads are much less congested than usual and people are in when he calls.

Re Bob's advice about unpacking, I agree except packages should be left for 72 hours for total security, not 24. (That's how long snotty tissues are to be isolated before disposal as ordinary rubbish.) Not so extreme myself: I unwrap immediately in my utility room and abandon the packaging for later, then wash-hands. Contact with people is the main risk, not packaging.

Dave

[Henry BrownParticipant @henrybrown95529]

I've been doing exactly the same as Dave, deliveries are getting through on time or slightly ahead here, we have the same Posites who are brilliant. I have lots of material coming in for the Economy engine and a few cutters reamers etc. I've never washed my hands so often, must have been a dirty old bu99er…

[Bill PhinnParticipant @billphinn90025]

Afraid I can't report normal performance levels from Royal Mail in my area, notably for parcels rather than letters.

I've placed 8 mostly small orders with 8 big UK commercial sellers over the last three weeks. One didn't arrive at all, two sent out first class took over ten days to arrive, I'm still waiting for three others between six and nine days after dispatch, one went to the wrong address, and one was only ordered on Tuesday so it's perhaps too soon to be pessimistic about its non-arrival.

I think my local sorting office/postman is the problem. My usual highly prized postman has been doing a different round the last few weeks. Before he left he confided in me that in addition to sustaining an increasingly heavy workload these days he is "carrying" various junior colleagues who can't get their act together. It seems these junior colleagues are now the people delivering my mail – or not, as the case may be.

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

"big UK commercial sellers" are probably more affected by staff shortages and perhaps deliver bulk drops to the post office that is either busy or wanting to leave the pile a while to detoxify.

I've had two deliveries of junk mail. I've previously suggested the postie not bother in miserable weather to brush past the water laden shrubs drooping over the path but he says he is legally obliged to and likes the garden in summer at least.

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

I had a meter of hex bar which I thought would be "stuck in the system" but the doorbell just rang and there was no-one there except a long heavy lump, santa must have delivered it

New project can begin…

[old martParticipant @oldmart]

I have had some ebay bought things arrive from China, but an item from this country has not been marked as despatched, so far, even though I ordered it on the 16th of March.

[SparksParticipant @sparks]

I do a fair bit of ordering and dread the post coming with this Covid-19, postmen don't seemed concerned this way, I've been tempted order various sized PCB drills with shanks from China, the last lot served me well… somehow I feel queasy now, any thought's here?

Dave

[pgk pgkParticipant @pgkpgk17461]

Posted by Sparks on 27/03/2020 20:53:06:

I do a fair bit of ordering and dread the post coming with this Covid-19, postmen don't seemed concerned this way, I've been tempted order various sized PCB drills with shanks from China, the last lot served me well… somehow I feel queasy now, any thought's here?

Dave

If you are concerned about parcels arriving with contamination then the logical answer is to deal with that contamination. It's surface not airborne contamination so a pair of marigold gloves protects you enough while you sterilize the virus. Simplest option is to stick the parcel in a bowel of bleach solution. The following link is a quick reliable one I found that states 0.1% sodium hypochlorite kills the virus in under a minute. Open the parcel in the bowl or bucket if really worried.

Link

[Bill DawesParticipant @billdawes]

My wife and I are in self isolation being classed as vulnerable. We have established a routine for handling post. Anything that is plastic wrapped such as ME magazine are removed from wrapping with rubber gloved hands, wrapping disposed, contents quarantined for at least 24 hours. Rubber gloved hands washed, gloves removed.

I understand that paper and cardboard can be contagious for up to 24 hours, metals and plastic surfaces up to 72 hours.

Might not meet medical standards but every bit helps hopefully.

Keep safe guys.

Bill D.

[SteviegtrParticipant @steviegtr]

I just had a message from ebay saying all parcels at an Argos store that is closed will be sent back to sender using the same courier as it was delivered with. Once the parcel is back with the sender a full refund will be given.

Steve.

[John Paton 1Participant @johnpaton1]

Lets be clear Antiseptic alone is known to be ineffective for this virus. The virus has a coating of greasy protein which is cut through by soap. Then the core (essentially a tiny bit of something like DNA I believe) needs disrupting.

As I understand it Bleach will do this at reasonable concentration, as will Antiviral cleaner (which has degreasant). Not sure about disinfectant but this probably works if it incorporates a grease cutting agent. Disinfectant and bleach however are not suitable for use on skin – they are formulated as strong surface cleaners.

I have been told on good authority that normal household antibacterial cleaners/surface wipes simply do no kill the virus and that medicated soap is no better and is probably not as good as normal soap for killing the virus. (Its medication makes it kinder on sensitive skin not more powerful).

Advice given by Government is therefore correct in saying wash with soap and hot water, throughly and often!

A piece on TV this morning looked at Hand Sanitiser which seemed to work quite well but soap was better if used properly.

We use Isopropyl Alchahol (IPA) as a weak degreaser so it is logical that at decent concentrations it will have an effect – this being the active ingredient in sanitiser gels.It does not however incorporate the other active ingredients incorporated in antiviral products.

Also look at the virus lifespan on different surfaces – for some it is 24 hours, for plastic it is said to be over 72 hours, so safest to leave at least 4 days if unsure.

Have you seen that Cats and (especially) Ferrets have been found to catch Covid 19 also? It is not know if they can then pass it to humans. Dogs have been found to have traces but is thought do not 'catch / pass it on' – maybe contaminated by being stroked with contaminated human hands?

The good news I suppose is that cats and ferrets tend not to sneeze in our faces or kiss us!! Given what dogs roll in I hope most people already wash their hands in between stroking dogs and handing food.

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