FreshDirect Employee Forces Way Into Customer's Apartment For Tip

I think there is a direct link between the social status of tipping and a well regulated minimum wage. Here in the UK with a standard minimum wage of £5.05 (~$9.30) getting paid tips of £2 each time soon adds up.

Imagine a deliveryman on $9/hour that makes 4 deliveries an hour and gets a $5 each time. Working 9-5 he would earn $232/day. For a 48 week year working mon-fri, that's $55,680. That's extremely respectable for a delivery man!! Tipping isn't necessary!

Oh, and by the way, of course I am appalled at this mugging and will be on higher alert. I do wish that it had been reported to the police. I just can't believe the negativity this poor girl's story drew - I guess it's the same for any blog, some people just want to spew their insanity. I just thought it was completely retarded that one take was, "Look at all the lazy people who have groceries delivered!" Pathetic and disturbingly off-point.

I guess it's just the typical grade-school jealousy reaction, but why is getting groceries delivered so hard to fathom or so egregious? It has saved my nutrional life. I moved from Texas several years ago, happy to leave the car culture behind, but certainly braced for the increased self-sufficiency that would require. I am of the ilk who does not like people picking things out for me or handling my dirty laundry, so when there is a Direct service - thus the name "Fresh Direct" - that allows me to place my order directly from them to be delivered to me, and they exist only, primarily or originally for that purpose, that is the epitome of self-sufficiency. I have a busy life, and let's face it, it's those little daily needs - like food - that bog down time spent better, even necessarily, on more creative and productive endeavors. Resigning oneself to only being able to buy bits of groceries here and there, a meal at a time, because there are physical limitations to what you can carry for several blocks and up several flights of stairs, and often ending up just getting take-out because you don't have proper groceries for a complete meal, also seems to be a form of laziness, or lack of resourcefulness. Not that I think everyone can afford the "luxury" of grocery delivery, but through Fresh Direct it really only amounts to an added $5 delivery fee, plus optional tip, partially offset by some cheaper prices. Hardly elitist, and blissfully practical.

After inquiring directly to FreshDirect regarding the incident (as the idea of this man not getting let go, if it's true, is alarming). FD quickly responded back to assure me that after completing an internal investigation the delivery man involved was terminated as of October 19. I just want to pass this info on for the record.

I love FreshDirect and 99% of the delivery men have been extremely pleasant and friendly. Most don't even appear to expect a tip. This attitude of non-expectation always makes it a pleasure to give them one. I was extremely alarmed to hear about this woman's experience, but worse, I was surprised according to her report, on how Fresh Direct handled it (not FIRING him). Today I wrote FD directly to find out if this claim was valid and how it was resolved. I'm awaiting their response.

I love FreshDirect and 99% of the delivery men have been extremely pleasant and friendly. Most don't even appear to expect a tip. This attitude of non-expectation always makes it a pleasure to give them one. I was extremely alarmed to hear about this woman's experience, but worse, I was surprised according to her report, on how Fresh Direct handled it (not FIRING him). Today I wrote FD directly to find out if this claim was valid and how it was resolved. I'm awaiting their response.

Jo, you're a much better man than I'll ever be. :)

"Jo is conspicuously silent all of a sudden. Must be...."

Good 'un.

OK, I was totally fucking wrong earlier. Seriously, no sarcasm, this really did happen to Tessa. I'm an idiot for saying otherwise.

As for pricing, yeah some things are spot on, other things are a tad overpriced. The quality is worth it though.

What is it anyway with tipping? Why is it that everyone and their brother these days has their hand or a cup open for a tip?

My theory? Businesses are feeling the squeeze, and can't afford to pay their employees a decent salary and push it onto their customers. Yet another sign of the coming economic crash: inflation is squeezing us all, but what's the limit going to be?

Rich and Lazy?

No.

Compare the price of Cheerios at Fresh Direct, and then you local grocery stores.

It is cheaper for me to buy groceries from Fresh Direct than the Grocery store.

Since when does shopping around for the lowest prices equate to rich and lazy?

Moron.

It just slays me that getting groceries delivered means that I am rich and lazy. Slaaaaaays me. I get groceries delivered for this reason:

The stores near me suck! Have you ever tried to buy an edible fruit or vegetable at Key Food? Don't bother trying.

And these guys don't go from store to store shopping for me like you seem to think.

Look - I forgot to have tip money once, ok? Once! I have ordered FD about twice a month for the last 2 years and have tipped every time. So, what did I do this time - I made sure I wrote an email to FD saying how great the drivers were. I figured it was the least I could do since I didn't have cash on me.

But, hey, I'm rich and lazy. So, what do I know?

if you're rich and lazy enough to pay someone else to do your grocery shopping for you, and you don't even have the decency to tip, you are a huge asshole

if you're rich and lazy enough to pay someone else to do your grocery shopping for you, and you don't even have the decency to tip, you are a huge asshole

Jo is conspicuously silent all of a sudden. He/she/it must be out on a delivery.

I think Jo must work for Fresh Direct, it's weird how gratuitously hostile he/she/it is about something it knows nothing about. To call someone a loser? I mean, just because others haven't necessarily (yet) had a negative experience? If you haven't personally had a specific experience, does that mean it doesn't happen? Can't happen? Won't happen? I haven't been mugged before, so people who say they get mugged are lying? If nothing else, Jo suffers from a lack of logic.

I don't understand, Anna's comment disappeared? She had more than one, and one was deleted?

Gawker picked it up yesterday-- it's near the bottom of the front page.

It disappeared (as you can see, when I try to edit/hit the stop button I get a triple post hehe). Something along the lines of people like you think rape victims were asking for it".

Tessa is getting lots of offers from newsprint bloodhounds. Hmmm, think this will be independtly verified and show up in the Daily News/Post tomorrow? Or will she decide "it's not worth the hassle and I so do not want the bad pub".

Somebody posted on her blog "Gawker picked up this story". Except they didn't. But if you repeat it enough times, it might be true.

Jo, can you point the rest of us to Anna's "low-brow rape comment," or is it written only where you can see it?

Reasons for not calling the cops:

1) filing a false police report is a crime

Oh now she's getting some response from FD, e.g., looks like calling the cops is moot. Nice backpedal Tessa.

Anna, as for your low brow rape comment, are we now comparing an alledged $10 push in with the devastation of being sexually violated and/or beaten?

OK, that's not precisely what you did, but if you think my skepticism is akin to people who don't ever believe rape victims, aren't you trivializing rape? Like that was the best metaphor you could come up with?

Talk to Tessa, she can probaly help you come up with something witty next time.

Reasons for not calling the cops:

1) filing a false police report is a crime

Oh now she's getting some response from FD, e.g., looks like calling the cops is moot. Nice backpedal Tessa.

Anna, as for your low brow rape comment, are we now comparing an alledged $10 push in with the devastation of being sexually violated and/or beaten. I know, I know, that's not what you did, but it's just wrong to trivialize rape.

Like that was the best metaphor you could come up with?

Reasons for not calling the cops:

1) filing a false police report is a crime

Hey Jo and other doubters,

Tessa is a friend of mine and this really happened to her. Please read her posts and the comments sections as well for a more complete understanding/rationale for her hesitation before calling the cops.

I don't know about you but I think a lot of people are hesitant before calling the cops about anything.

Regarding FD's apparently "wrong" reaction leading you to cry "liar", it there's one thing we are seeing from people posting on FD, their customer service is very splotchy and not at all consistent.

Please reconsider your opinion on the veracity of Tessa's report. It's too bad that you're so quick to deny someone that something shitty happened to them.

I've never been lazy enough to not go down to the grocery store myself.

I've probably order from Fresh Direct about 50 times and not once have I had a bad experience with the delivery people. I live in a classic E. Village 6-story walk-up (yes, I have the "Penthouse") and they always bring the delivery to my door with no complaints, for that I usually tip them $7-$8 depending on the size of the order and they are always very thankful for the tip.

Complete B.S. story.

1st off, I've had 30-40 FD devliveries in the last year, and I would say I have exactly one bad experience. Actually if it had been anyone else, I probably wouldn't have noticed - he was abrupt, and he handled the boxes roughly. What made it stand out is their delivery guys are so cordial and well behaved. Most look ready to turn away and always say thanks when I pull $5 out of my pocket (I have tip ready when they come).

2nd, I complained about that one driver, and FD was all over. Credited me for the fruit I thought may/may not have been bruised. Sent me a follow up e-mail.

If she called FD, they would know who the driver was and would have taken action. If she didn't call the cops she's a loon.

Anyone who has had FD devlivery and knows anything at all about customer service notices the difference in their drivers. They are well trained. This may have just been one bad apple, but more likely, it's a lonely loser with too much time on her hands and a vivid imagination.

How much is the average tip, anyway? There's no way I'm tipping $20 on a $100 order. I usually give $1 per box (usually about $6 total) and they seem happy with that.

One time I ordered sushi from my friend Ali's UWS apartment. The bill for the two of us was maybe $30? I gave the guy a $3 tip. I figured that was plenty, since he was coming from a block away and I'm from Brooklyn, so what the hell do I know? In Brooklyn, we only tip $1 or $2 per delivery of any kind.

Anyway, dude starts laughing, like CRACKING up, and I think maybe my fly is open or something. He starts screaming at me that I have to tip 20% just like I would in the restaurant. Then he tells me he's going to blacklist the apartment building.

I said something to the effect of "um, ok" and slammed the door, first grabbing back my $3.

Maybe it was him?

Bleh. I stopped using Fresh Direct. I used to live in Bed-Stuy, and it frustrated the hell out of me that they deliver to Harlem - even Long Island - but not to close by Bed-Stuy. Then when I moved to Greenpoint I used them a lot, all excited. We had all good experiences with the pleasant friendly deliverymen, but were delivered obviously rotting food (onions with mold, mushy habanero peppers, black nearly-liquid lettuce) on several occasions. I made a couple phone calls about it, and even a long e-mail. I recieved credit for the rotting food, but the hassle of reporting what was rotting in each delivery overcame the convenience of the service itself, especially after my e-mail never recieved a response to this day.

I'd rather take my groceries home on the L train from the union square whole foods than play Guess What's Inedible every week.

Finally! First they revolutionize the process of buying food, and now they bring street crime right to your door!

Thank you Fresh Direct!

Hey, I live in Red Hook, and I would happily accept the break-in robberies as the cost of doing business if only FD would deliver to my block!

Oddly, they advertise here on the bus shelters, but don't deliver...

FreshDirect broke into my house too. The first person I called was my lawyer!! Then a couple days later the cops, and immediately following the media. Then I posted it on my blog. Hey, no one killed any kids, or interns. I gotta go.

This is flat out bullshit.

Jen, your cred has dropped to zero.

Some dude forced his way into a womans apt. and demanded her cash; and she didn't call the police. she called FD to "complain". Right.

Fresh Direct knows exactly who made the delivery; and if this had happened, and they were informed about it, THEY would have called the cops. This "story" has stinkypoo all over it.

jen, come on, really is this the question you're asking:

"But this incident brings up another question about opening your door to essential strangers - attack dogs or cats, anyone?"

seriously jen, the question you SHOULD be asking is - will it be a 9mm Glock or 12 gauge Mossberg?

I've been using Fresh Direct for 3 years and I'd say 90% of my delivery guys have been fabulous - even on the random occasion that I haven't had any tip money handy. The other 10% haven't been criminal - just rude. This makes me nervous though, as I often let my young daughter receive grocery deliveries. I won't be doing THAT anymore.

The only time my wife was alone to get the FD delivery it was a woman who brought the stuff up!

I have had nothing but positive experiences ordering from FreshDirect. Their delivery guys have always been professional and courteous. In fact, I ordered last week in the horrible rain storm and the delivery was on time and I had no cash on me to tip. Even without a tip, the driver called 5 minutes later realizing he had given me the wrong bag of frozen food and came back to make the switch. Now, I have the ice cream I ordered and my neighbor has her frozen raspberries.

Even without a tip - the guy was awesome. Sounds like a bad apple in the bunch w/ that girl (and why didn't she call the cops!!?!!), but don't judge all the drivers. They are great.

this guy needs a good tombs beating

I guess Allan Houston found a new job quick!

Um, why didn't she call the cops? If not, I would now. And I am sure that Fresh Direct can cross reference their computer files and narrow the list of suspects down to one of the two people in the truck.