Shame on Me

[Geila]

Last week I was so embarrassed. My dogs started barking around 9:30 pm and I look out the window and it's dark out and there is a man with a flashlight at my front gate. I go out to see what is going on and it's a UPS driver out making deliveries. He's come up from a neighboring city to help our regular guy who is inundated. He doesn't know the area and it's dark so he can barely see house numbers. He is out on foot with his flashlight going up and down the block trying to find delivery addresses. I felt horrible. I had been ordering books to keep myself entertained. Without any thought whatsoever at how all these increased deliveries would affect the people who's job it is to bring us everything we buy so easily online. And they were all being shipped piecemeal so one order would be broken up into like seven deliveries. :|(

Anyone else find themselves uncomfortably realizing how much we spoil ourselves without any thought to how it affects others? Or have any moments of personal shame during this situation?

[beckyliz]

I usually pack my lunch (still working), but today I decided to treat myself by going through a drive-through. I do feel guilty that these folks are being paid so little for taking such great risks. I did complement the young man at the window about how quickly they were processing the long line.

[iris lilies]

Invest in
amazon! Your stock won’t go down!

[ApatheticNoMore]

Actually I've stuck to principles as much as I could stand so not hugely. I have not ordered books since early March (well the thing was not so huge and on the mind then). I don't even have an ereader or smart phone at this point as an alternative, not that there is anything wrong with those of course, I just don't have them.

I've mostly stuck to ordering necessities, ordered a desk some nice Ikea people delivered very early on mid March, did order a little chocolate, so what I have a weakness, but basically it's necessities.

I've tried to spread my online business around and not make Amazon even more of a monopoly, so I've ordered a few things from Amazon in this crisis, so has nearly everyone in the country at this point, but I look for alternatives, and even then it's all basics, not even books. I do worry that my little willing to share and make sure I consider others and solidarity forever self will be overtaken by hoarding and greed of others sometimes, so I order stuff when I have to. But pleasure shopping for things just for the fun of it, nah not happening.

Shame maybe here and there but not much, did feel a little shame about the government check after I got Trumps letter, felt like blood money this Trump money, while 2000 people a day die from Trump's handling of this crisis. But then it's not his money anyway!!!

[pinkytoe]

I think about the amazon workers and drivers quite a bit. Recently switched to Target for generic items during this time. We have created a monster with amazon IMO.

[Tradd]

It's not just Amazon. I ordered some toiletries and OTC meds from Walmart. They have been shipped out in multiple packages over a week from different warehouses.

[catherine]

I shipped my brother a birthday present--a "basket" of stuff that was related: a NY sports team trivia game (because he's huge Yankee fan), along with Cracker Jacks and the more healthy Skinny Pop (all to make up for no baseball this year). Well, they shipped the Skinny Pop first. I wonder what he thought when he got a bag of Skinny Pop popcorn for his birthday, lol. When he sent me the text of him eating it I had to explain that the rest of the gift was on its way. Kind of killed the whole idea.

[Gardnr]

I usually pack my lunch (still working), but today I decided to treat myself by going through a drive-through. I do feel guilty that these folks are being paid so little for taking such great risks. I did complement the young man at the window about how quickly they were processing the long line.

I really wanted a burger for lunch-I had skipped breakfast. I tipped $5. You'd think it was Benjamin. I can't imagine how challenging this is for minimum wage workers.

[JaneV2.0]

I've ordered less since all my COVID necessities came in, but I think those delivering packages, groceries, and pizza are the lucky ones. Think of the poor meat-processing workers who will be forced to go to work and take part in a grisly lottery to see which of them die, thanks to decisions made by people who will never get their hands dirty.

[ApatheticNoMore]

The delivery drivers is probably not a high risk job, not that I know all the details but it doesn't seem so, the Amazon warehouse workers though are another story, it's pretty high risk, people have died.

[frugal-one]

I've ordered less since all my COVID necessities came in, but I think those delivering packages, groceries, and pizza are the lucky ones. Think of the poor meat-processing workers who will be forced to go to work and take part in a grisly lottery to see which of them die, thanks to decisions made by people who will never get their hands dirty.

And, according to Pence are tested for COVID19 DAILY.

[JaneV2.0]

And, according to Pence are tested for COVID19 DAILY.

Somehow I doubt that, considering the whining Trump did about being tested once. Maybe someone points a thermometer at them.

[happystuff]

I haven't shopped Amazon in years - no prime. I usually do ebay and my only recent order was made yesterday for wheat berries. Lowest price I could find, free shipping and should arrive the 4th.

[SteveinMN]

Originally Posted by frugal-one http://www.simplelivingforum.net/images/buttons/viewpost-right.png (http://www.simplelivingforum.net/showthread.php?p=351360#post351360)
And, according to Pence are tested for COVID19 DAILY.


Somehow I doubt that, considering the whining Trump did about being tested once. Maybe someone points a thermometer at them.
I suspect the "test" is something on the order of, "How are you today, sir?" How quickly can they turn around results for a reliable coronavirus test? Within a couple of hours?

More on topic, our ancient Cuisinart coffeemaker has taken to issuing its "I'm done!" beep sequence not just when it's done brewing but every four minutes afterward, as well. Annoying (very much so when one of us is still sleeping). Switching off the 'maker to silence the beeps also switches off the warming plate, so the coffee gets cold fairly quickly. We just don't drink it that quickly. I'm giving it the ol' reset by leaving it unplugged today; maybe that will magically fix it. But it's likely that after well more than a decade (maybe 15 years?), good old DCC-1000 is shuffling off this mortal (heating) coil.

So today I shopped (on-line) for the next coffeemaker. Found the one I want. But at retail the model we'd want is sold only at Williams-Sonoma and Bed Bath and Beyond in our area. Retail locations for both of those are closed, of course, and their Web sites indicate the model is out of stock, with no idea when new stock will come in. On the manufacturer's Web site, however, there's a Buy Now button -- which leads directly to Amazon, their sales and delivery partner. It appears that, sometimes, you just cannot avoid Amazon. :(

[ToomuchStuff]

The delivery drivers is probably not a high risk job, not that I know all the details but it doesn't seem so, the Amazon warehouse workers though are another story, it's pretty high risk, people have died.

So the virus doesn't live outside the body? It can't live and be reactivated by moisture the way other viruses can?

I posted in another thread, both USPS and Fed EX have been busier then they are at Christmas.

[Brady]

I think that in a lot ways ordering things online (as long as you can do it efficiently) is the best way to get the things you need. It's a lot less risky for all involved than going to the grocery store. Of course that means the drivers are being overwhelmed, so it's kind of a dilemma that way. If this were some other situation I'd recommend cash tipping your drivers but even that now is probably against guidelines. It's a tough one.

[JaneV2.0]

It seems a lot of delivery services are advertising for workers. Those poor meat-packing plant employees should consider the less dangerous alternative.