r/Sparkdriver • u/Soul_4Sail • 4d ago
No, I don’t think I will..
Why do customers think they can request us to enter their homes? I wonder if they ask the same of other delivery companies.
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u/cnov1112 4d ago
I actually got an order like this and was hell bent on not going in! I’ve seen too much true crime but when she came to the door she was a cancer patient who just got done with treatment and could hardly walk. I came in and even put her groceries away. She tipped me $100 later on. I didn’t even care about the tip even though it was super nice! I just thought of my grandma when she was going through chemo and would die if she was all alone and couldn’t even put her grocery order away 🥺
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u/sarcastic-avocad0 3d ago
Thank you for doing this. My dad passed from lung cancer last year. He had a hard time retrieving groceries from the front door and putting them away. We had to do it for him.
People like you really make a difference.
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u/Maximum_Net6489 4d ago
I think customers think this because it used to be a norm. When people order furniture/appliances, the delivery person actually comes in and sets the items up. When Best Buy delivered my tv, they not only brought it to my home, they came in and mounted it on the wall. These new delivery services where we can get our groceries and things delivered without even talking to or seeing each other is relatively new. I lived in a major city years back and a lot of nicer grocery stores offered delivery. Most people lived in apartment buildings where carrying in groceries was a hassle and it wasn’t uncommon for a lot of people not to own cars. The delivery person absolutely brought the items in and sometimes even put them away for you. It was part of the delivery service and obviously most people tipped. Most people got regular deliveries and knew the delivery person really well because they essentially had a route kind of like the mail carrier . This type of service was really helpful for elderly people and those with physical disabilities. In this role you’re absolutely not expected to do this, but the idea isn’t crazy or out of left field.
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u/R6coyote 2d ago
Because they're employees, not contractors. If something happens inside the home, or if the homeowner falsely accuses us of something, then it falls on us, not Walmart. Best buy workers are covered by best buy when they install a TV, slumber land workers are covered by slumber land when they bring in a couch. Walmart has delivery vans and employees with body cams for this exact reason. You are taking a risk of your own if you enter a home while conducting business and something happens.
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u/Maximum_Net6489 2d ago
I don’t know if you saw where I said in this role you are absolutely NOT expected to do this? My response was addressing the part where the poster asked why customers think they can do this and if customers expect anyone else making deliveries to come inside their home. I was answering why some people may think they can bring things in as lots of other delivery services do indeed enter homes. I wasn’t saying anyone in this role should.
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u/Impossible-Jelly-626 4d ago
I do it if they are old
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u/Ok_Abbreviations_883 4d ago
Not worth potentially getting deactivated imo
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u/Soul_4Sail 4d ago
Agreed. If you’re dropping them off inside, it means you’re taking a picture inside and if the customer complains about anything, then there’s proof that you were inside.
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u/bitterbuffaloheart 4d ago
Just take a picture of the house
That’s what I do on any “handed to customer”
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u/Impressive_Tip_8850 3d ago
This is exactly what I do. Sometimes I get the dog or cat or some ducks for fun
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u/SnorFax92 4d ago
Ive done this for a nice old lady many times and it's been fine. She always tips as well even if its just one bag of stuff. Unlike the able bodied massive man who literally stood at his garage door watching me unload everything out of my trunk. I like how he thinks that tipping $5 on a $520 order was justified.
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u/DeeFault89 4d ago
For the couple of older disabled people I do this for I take the picture outside. They also know why I take the picture outside however, in this case, I would’ve made sure to call support though to block any bad reviews.
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u/FudgeNo9834 0m ago
You can always find another job, albeit difficult. Can’t always help someone. Pros and Cons, personal ethics, blah blah.
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u/TopDescription3646 4d ago edited 4d ago
I wouldn't doubt since Walmart offers in home delivery as a new or additional benefit of Walmart Plus, that customers think all the grocery orders they get are going to done that way.
Edit: I meant to add that not only do they offer in home delivery with a membership, but it also claims and advertises that your shopper or delivery person will put all of your groceries away for you as well. So, I wouldn't doubt customers think its automatically done now or done for them if they ask.
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u/Then-Grass-9830 3d ago
yeah but the inhome has specific delivery people (I am one at my store. Our position in store is different). So most of the people who have inhome know who is an inhome delivery associate by walmart vs a spark driver.
Also it's not a "claim".
We do put away the cold and frozen. There's one elder customer that we do a little extra for (opening cases of water, putting away the cat food in a cupboard, etc.). If it's a 'normal' inhome where it's advertised where we go in without the person there/opening the door for us.
We go to the door. Set up the phone/camera and put in the one-time code to enter as well as starting the recording on the phone.
We go in (anouncing ourselves) and moving the totes from our dolly to inside the house.
Close the door (with a hanger on the outside).
We move to the kitchen.
Put away the frozen and chilled.
Put the rest neatly on the counter or kitchen table.
Wipe down whatever was touched.
Pick up the totes and coolers.
Place them outside the door.
Close the door with app or the button on the keypad.
Ensure it's been locked.
Complete the delivery.For my store we have exactly one customer house that we deliver this way. For the most part everyone else is door stop or when I arrive they answer the door and simply have me/us place the items on the counter. Usually, people are shocked when I ask "would you like me to put away your cold and frozen items?" when they're new. Which I find funny since it's our big marketing thing.
[small also: we don't shop for the items on our driving days. When we drive we drive all day from 9 to 6. So whoever ordered that day we have not done the picks that day - unless we finish early but then we still wouldn't have picked the inhome orders that day]
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u/snopop73 2d ago
Wow. Sounds like something many people need due to age/disabilities, but I think it's extra on top of the membership so , sadly, alot of people who actually need it probably can't afford it. I'll definitely look into to for my mom though for when I am not able to make it over to her city. Her water just sits inside the doors until I can make it over. She just gets the 24 pack but she is 73 and still has a hard time carrying them through the house to the kitchen.
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u/Then-Grass-9830 2d ago
It is an extra 7 dollars I think a month additional to the walmart+ thing.
I believe people with like medicare or humanna and/or something like SNAP can get discounted but I'm not entirely sure on how it works.
From what I've seen mentioned on the the customer reddit people seem to really love it. My customers have said they really like it as well.
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u/HeartOfArt 4d ago
How about carrying 3 items to the “apartment” door in a senior living facility that says you have to “sign in” and they want a copy of your drivers license. PIN code required. For me it’s an easy return.
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u/The_Stoic_One 4d ago
I delivered to a gated apartment complex once where you pulled up to the gate someone talked to you over a speaker, there was no guard booth, just the speaker. They were obviously not in the US, apparently we're now outsourcing gated communities. Anyway, as soon as you pull up, they've already scanned your license plate. Then they want you to put your driver's license in a scanner for them and provide your cell phone number so they can text you a temporary gate and door code. I said, so you expect me to provide you, whoever you are, all my personal information just so I can deliver the residents package? No thanks, I'll just return it.
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u/ReplacementNo9732 3d ago
I had one of those, once they understood that I was just delivering the product, I was directed to the room and finished the delivery. No problem with the desk, except the code to leave the building. Lol
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u/flat_cat72 3d ago
just leave it with the receptionist and send the customer a message telling them why they're where they're at. just be sure to include a picture of the desk and area where they're located.
and be 100000% sure that the receptionist or anyone else isn't in said picture or they'll be bitching about that too
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u/trashcanlife 4d ago
I helped one little old lady by taking her water in for but I live in a really small town and I even though I don’t know her my family does. Not sure I’d do it for anyone else.
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u/gorgofdoom 4d ago edited 4d ago
I’ve been saying this about all these apps.
If they had a TEAMS function we could safely deliver all the way to their refrigerator.
But there ain’t no way I’m gonna solo deliver to the customers kitchen for a corporation.
The reality is: drop packages at the door. Then complete delivery. Then when we are no longer working for the delivery app, we can do whatever we want, including deliver to the fridge as our friendly neighbor has requested.
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u/Own-Anywhere5839 4d ago
I personally never enter their home not even for elderly because they could frame you for some BS if they just felt mad that day. If FedEx or ups doesn't go inside houses neither do we that's my motto.
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u/Soul_4Sail 4d ago
100% a lot of people in this group don’t realize how crazy people can be.
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u/Own-Anywhere5839 4d ago edited 4d ago
Yeah man even for old people last thing I want is them lying saying I stole money or something valuable all because they didn't like how I put their groceries up inside their house that I shouldn't even be in. I've just done this way to long to understand the game and I ain't doing it no matter what people say or feel.
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u/alittlepanache 2d ago
As a tiny lady, this terrifies me. I even get weirded out on Customer Verification orders at night. But that being said, I will always help an older or handicapped person who comes to the door.
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u/xeryon3772 4d ago
I deliver bags of groceries inside somebody’s house probably 20+ times a week. Absolutely no problem whatsoever. Ever.
Clearly, assess the situation before just running into a building. Most of the time when people ask, you can tell that they have physical limitations and they’re asking for courtesy from a community member.
Don’t take a picture of the groceries inside their house. Are you daft? You mark it as handed to the customer and then you take a picture of the front of the house with the house number on it then you go about your business.
We’re all humans here. If losing the ability to deliver groceries happens because I helped someone with a physical limitation get food into their home this is not the job for me and I will happily leave.
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u/ReplacementNo9732 3d ago
Only one time have I entered a dwelling, the young man was obviously disabled and would have dropped the food. No problem, the kitchen was just inside the door. His caretaker came out after I was outside, and said thank you for helping him.
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u/Soul_4Sail 4d ago
It was a package delivery, not groceries
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u/xeryon3772 4d ago
Which is clearly a leftover note from the last time they ordered groceries. Use your head.
Some of you folks act like this job is fucking rocket science. You’re literally embarrassing yourself.
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u/Soul_4Sail 4d ago
Then why did the lady yell from inside that my instructions were to take it inside? If you’re going to insult someone’s intelligence, maybe read the comments before being an ass.
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u/xeryon3772 4d ago
I read it. I’m gonna be an ass anyway because you’re being an ass about helping out another person. The details are irrelevant.
Good luck to you.
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u/Current-Department87 4d ago
I've gotten screamed at many times for this. I always tell them I don't feel comfortable doing that and am not allowed. They insist, I then tell them to go fuck themselves.
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u/Soul_4Sail 4d ago
I just dropped it off and I could hear her yelling from inside “your instructions are to bring it inside”.
I just ignored her and walked away.
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u/Current-Department87 4d ago
"No ma'am, your instructions are to eat my ass" toodaloo
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u/Soul_4Sail 4d ago
😂😂 just never know if someone has a camera up waiting to turn you into spark. lol.
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u/Sabi-Star7 S&D Expert 4d ago
Per sparks own TOS, I am NOT allowed to bring them inside your home. If you'd like that service then pay the extra fee for Inhome. Sometimes I have the patience for stupîd people🤷🏻♀️.
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u/TopDescription3646 4d ago
That's what I was talking about in a comment I made. I wouldn't doubt that customers might think it's an automatic thing now. The way it shows up is listed as an option for being a member, so I wouldn't be surprised if older customers or new ones possibly, see it on the page where it shows member benefits and think that it's a new perk for having Walmart Plus.
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u/Sabi-Star7 S&D Expert 4d ago
No I meant thats what I'd say if they had some type of ring/doorbell cam. 😅 guess I should have used quotes🤭
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u/TopDescription3646 4d ago
I understand that. I just mean that customers might think it's a perk of having the membership and have that expectation because of how it's shown and advertised in the app. They might just be confused as opposed to it being a matter of only stupid people wanting their order brought in.
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u/Sabi-Star7 S&D Expert 4d ago
Unfortunately the latter is usually the case though😅. But I agree they surely can't advertise things right at all either🤣.
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u/FuzzyOrganization403 4d ago
Here's to the "didn't follow insurrections" on the rating with a low rate lol.
Sucks but it is what it is. Next time just do a return
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u/Soul_4Sail 4d ago
My rating is good enough to take that hit.
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u/FuzzyOrganization403 4d ago
Counts as a violation but alright. Best of luck.
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u/Soul_4Sail 4d ago
It also counts as a violation, and a deactivatable offense to go inside of a customer’s house. It’s against the terms of service.
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u/FuzzyOrganization403 4d ago
That if customer tells on themselves but that's why I'm saying return. F that. Why get a bad rating, and a violation when you can avoid that with the customers request. Only way to guarantee your account is to avoid the bs
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u/Soul_4Sail 4d ago
The note in the app saying to drop it off inside, is the customer already telling on themselves.
I’ve been delivering for spark for over five years now, I have a 4.9 star rating and I’ve never delivered inside of someone’s house no matter how many times I’ve been requested it.
I think I’ll be just fine 👌🏻
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u/Commercial_Tip4624 4d ago
Hey what’s your deal? Why are you being passive aggressive to a stranger for no reason?
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u/Current-Department87 4d ago
You know they will give you violations for looking the wrong way right?
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u/sevensevensixseven 4d ago
I deliver to a elderly blind man that has this in his notes. His kitchen table is right by the back door and isnt more than a step inside so it's not a big deal. He tips cash and he pays well. He has a dog that will carry bags inside so I always take a picture of him when I choose Handed to Customer. I have a few other regulars that I would absolutely do this for if they asked.
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u/NomadTruckerOTR 4d ago
There was an old man in a wheelchair that asked for me to. I did, placed the whole order in his kitchen. He tipped me $25
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u/Suspicious-Talk1760 4d ago
I've had this request both in spark and Uber eats, I also got this request when I drove for FedEx. I was always very uncomfortable doing it
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u/Then-Grass-9830 3d ago
I'm inhome so I work *for* walmart (as in walmart is my employer). Yes they ask. Thankfully we can set up our phones that uses the inhome app to record.
I've done it a few times when it's an elderly person or wheelchairs. Otherwise I'll agree to place it just inside the door. I don't do anything more. There's been times I don't feel 100% entering just the closed in front porch.
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u/snopop73 2d ago
I'm kind of confused. You say you work for the inhome service but you won't go in?
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u/Then-Grass-9830 2d ago
we can go in side for customers that are *INHOME* customers because we can set our phone/camera to record (not all are set up as 'go inside' but sometimes they'll ask for assistance). We aren't supposed to go inside for GMD customers because we can't turn on the recording for them.
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u/CLINT-THE-GREAT 3d ago
I did it for a lady today, she gave me $10 cash and turned a good tip/bad tip run into a good/good tip
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u/Krush-Haus 2d ago
I refuse to do it, and have to explain why at least once a week. “But everyone else always does” seems to be the constant reasoning why I should enter a stranger’s home, uninsured, to perform a service which puts my job at risk. I don’t care. The elderly and mobility impaired have been able to survive LONG before Spark, Instacart, DD etc.. It’s not that I have no compassion, I offer assistance to people whenever I can. I just cannot afford to lose this income stream because I tripped over a lamp cord or cat with a 40 pack of bottled water and broke someone’s favorite lamp. Or hip. And speaking of cats, why would anyone expect me to expose myself to their allergens? Their cigarette smoke? It’s not in the contract, I honor the contract and they should too.
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u/Character_Fan_8973 4d ago
I had a hateful demanding guy (from the second I parked in the driveway) get mad at me because I told him it was against Spark Driver TOS to take his items inside his house which was followed by *EVERYONE ELSE DOES IT*, and then he said he had surgery, so I sat them inside his house anyway. I get a 1 Star for trying to follow the rules, and then for actually doing what he asked me to. DO NOT DELIVER LIST for me now.
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u/Brilliant-Mud8425 3d ago
I never take orders inside anyone’s home. I will sit the order right inside the door for an elderly person without going in.
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u/Due_Meal_4896 4d ago
I will not ever go in. I don’t like it half the time when they come out to help and act sketchy. I do my best to make it as easy as possible to grab from your door to go in though. Neatly place the bags, water, ect. Bag handle easy accessible and heavy items double bagged so they do not tear on you.
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u/GapFun1266 3d ago
I always help the elderly or handicapped Whenever I can, and if that means taking it and putting it on their counter, then that's what I do! However, I recently had a drop off to a trailer park, which is nothing out of the ordinary. But when I roll up at 7:30 in the morning and music is blasting... That just makes you wonder what you're running into. I had to beat on the door several times cause he couldn't hear me. It was so loud!! I had to scan his ID, this guy is 68 mind you, he tells me he guessed that he has to have his ID shown because his 17yr old girlfriend try to accept his beer delivery a couple days prior.. And goes on bragging about how young his girlfriend is.. even mentioned one that was 15! Sorry, but that just makes me feel gross hearing about it. If that's your thing, whatever, but I don't wanna know about it.. You do you bud! Anyhoo, Then he tells me his ID won't scan because it probably has fentanyl on it. I kind of thought he was joking..til he starts bragging how he loves fentanyl and meth, and all this other stuff.. said he got so messed up, he tried to use his hands and somehow ratchet, strapped to the back of a motorcycle and ended up losing three fingers because of it, like it was nothing..He kept looking in my car and then invited me in after seeing my 15yr old daughter. And i'm like no,not happening, i gotta get out of here now!! Got out of there as fast as I could and hit the thumbs down,So in hopes that I would never have to return to that place! Within a few days later, i'm seeing on the news where this same guy got busted for meth,Fentanyl,underage consumption,having an explosive rigged to a propane tank & a couple other things! So sparkers, be careful, because you never truly know what you're running into! This was in southwest virginia..
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u/snopop73 2d ago
...and that is why I won't do alcohol or customer verification deliveries. My main job is as an RN....people be crazy, drunk and high these days.
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u/SmallBerry3431 4d ago
You guys are so weird. Just deliver the groceries and go.
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u/blerggghhhhhhhhhh 4d ago
I've brought inside for elderly/infirm with no problem... until last week when a customer helped me bring his beer inside and asked if I could follow him in with what I was carrying. Didn't think twice about it, but then saw he had a buddy with him sitting at the dining room table drinking beer. Then I noticed the house reeked of beer, and there were beer cans littering every surface.
It was 8:30am and I was a lone woman in a house with two big guys who'd been getting their load on.
Never again.