Woolworths Delivered Order to Wrong Address (Neighbour Denies Receiving)

Need your advice my friends.

Approx. 5.30pm today I received a text message saying my order has been successfully delivered, but I couldn't find it outside.

Immediately ring Woolworths and after 20-30 minutes with assistance of Google Street View, Woolworths confirmed order was delivered to the opposite street (This is not a surprise to me, and this happened multiple times in the past by different couriers including Auspost).

In the past I always let it go, but this time circumstance is different. We are in the unplanned COVID isolation and we run out of foods. Woolworths time slots are not too many for my area and lead time is usually 2-3 days. I can't wait even for 1 more day because my fridge is empty. I explained the situation to the operator and the operator contacted the delivery driver and asked the driver to go back to the wrong address, collect the grocery and send them to me.

In about 1.5 hours (approx 7pm), I didn't hear anything. Then I followed up with Woolworths customer service. I was told:

  1. The driver came to the wrong address but grocery bags were no longer there. People inside the house told the driver they didn't receive anything (although the driver has Proof of Delivery picture).

  2. The driver apologies for the incorrect delivery.

  3. Woolworths can place an order for next Monday delivery.

I am not allowed to go out due to isolation. Otherwise I will go and have a friendly conversation with the neighbour.

I think the incorrect delivery issue will continue in the near future. OzBargain friends do you have any suggestions how we can ask the neighbour to be honest next time?

I am really struggled because I run out of food. I will order Dominos tomorrow (one of the few delivery options for my area).

Related Stores

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Comments

  • +1

    What area do you live in?

    • +1

      I live in a new estate within the metropolitan Melbourne.

      • +32

        This is where the problem lies. In my experience new estates are poorly designed with shite signage. Often it's hard to tell what street your in or where a street starts and ends with unnecessary dog leg bends in roads etc.

        If the mapping is not current on Google/GPS etc it's very easy to get lost.

        Did you pay for delivery or have you taken advantage of the free 30 days on new accounts and orders over $50?

        • +14

          Hi MS Paint, yes the street signs are horrible in the new estate. Believe me or not, I contacted the city council to fix 2 incorrect street signs already earlier this year.

          Builders/tradies dumping rubbish to empty block is another problem.

          In regards to the delivery, I have been on Delivery Unlimited for long time since they introduce it. I remember long time ago I created 2 more accounts to utilise the new customer coupon offer :) Cheers mate.

        • The driver probably used Google Maps and not the other navigation app they are provided.

      • +2

        Sorry. Would have helped if Sydney based.

        anyone in Melbourne want to lend a hand ? Come on community!!

        • +7

          Thank you so much for your courtesy. We are Okay. As Jimmy mentioned, we can order Menulog/Uber Eats. It shall be no issue for the next couple of days. Thanks again.

          I am interested to learn the tactics to communicate with the neighbour so that they can return the deliveries not belong to them.

          • +27

            @gstfree: I would just write a letter like "hi, I think Woolworths accidentally delivered groceries to you which were meant for our house - the sent me a picture of it at your doorstep. I'm so sorry that happened. I'd love to get them back, you can leave it at my door or just leave it out the front and i'll pick them up tomorrow night"

            You give them an opportunity to return them without having to face you and feel the shame. And you don't imply that they stole them or took them, you just give them an opportunity to do the right thing without embarrassment. If they don't return it after that, then nothing else you do will get them.

            • +2

              @aoeueoa: Thank you. I will send them a courtesy note using your wording when I get out of isolation next Tuesday.
              In the past they "accepted" a few deliveries that belong to me.

              • +17

                @gstfree: Geez what kind of neighbour is this???

                • +3

                  @kyle: One that are scum bags and take advantage of everything thrown at them

                  Surprisingly these are the norm these days.

                  I don't mean to be negative but plenty of people will just deny and take the goods for free

                  They can just lie was left outside photo but some random person took that not them. Who gives a sht that kind of attitude

              • +7

                @gstfree: Send them a Glitter Bomb

            • +21

              @aoeueoa: I would also add to that "due to the poor design of the estate, I'm sure I will receive some of your deliveries in future also. I will be a good neighbour and promptly give you your packages, regards …."

              Or something to that effect.

              • @TEER3X: Probably nothing valuable so they won't care mate

          • +2

            @gstfree:

            I am interested to learn the tactics to communicate with the neighbour so that they can return the deliveries not belong to them.

            Go and cough on their doorknob. lol 🤣

            • +5

              @bobbified: fake "package" full of spring loaded excrement. seeing as they're such honest neighbours, they surely wouldn't take it in their house and open it, seeing as it doesn't have their name on it (use fake name).

          • @gstfree: Security cam maybe?

      • +3

        This is the problem.

        To avoid this happening in the future, put a note on your delivery and ensure the house number on your house is clearly visible at night time.

        Most new estates, the houses don't have any numbers at all and the location isn't on google maps, only on apple maps if you're lucky.

        Unfortunately there is not way nor any point in blamming the neighbours.

        To move on from this, would just follow up by ensuring the delivery driver is able to locate your house easily.

        That is all you can do. The council won't do shit for you unforunately.

  • +1

    Do you not have mates or family that can knock on your neighbours door on your behalf?

    • Sorry we don't have any relative here. No mate near by. (Within 10 KMs). When I come out of isolation next Tuesday do you think I should speak to the neighbour myself?

      • +12

        Don't waste your time because

        People inside the house told the driver they didn't receive anything

        Why are they going to confess to you?

      • -7

        Nah, OP needs to go to the neighbours house while OP has COVID and needs to make sure he/she “accidentally” coughs all over the neighbour’s face. Then OP can tell the neighbour “oh hey I forgot I’ve got COVID. Sorry mate. Good thing you’ve got enough food, though yeah? Cuz I don’t. Have fun in isolation, biatch!”

        • +2

          What makes you think a thief would isolate?

          • +1

            @mapax: What makes anyone think someone didn't steal it from the neighbours?

        • +1

          :) Haha OP rarely confront anyone :)

    • Doesn't sound like it was physically handed to the occupants of the wrong address, just placed outside. Having it taken from the porch is of course extremely unlikely but not possible to follow up unless the delivery driver can say it was handed over and identify the individual.

      I still think this is on Woolies, there's even an admission of guilt. I don't see how this is OPs problem unless the address was not reasonably filled out correctly.

  • +5

    Write a note and put it into your neighbour’s mailbox? Write down your contact number to speak to you?

    • +1

      Thank you. Very good idea. This is what I will do first thing after I get out of isolation.

      • It will probably get thrown or disregarded…. Depending how bad your neighbour is

  • +1

    Happens all the time, you'll just get a refund

    • +9

      you'll just get a refund

      I don’t think that is as important or priority, as OP is out of food…

      • +1

        That's true, but they won't do anything besides just make another delivery order

        • +2

          Woolworths online customer service placed another order for me to be delivered on Monday. Thank you.

          • +1

            @gstfree: Maybe the best solution is to just die from hunger, then get a refund back and an apology card…

      • Thank you. We are in unplanned COVID isolation. We ordered the delivery on Wednesday and lead time was 3 days for my area.

    • +5

      Thank you Jimmy. I will order Dominos delivery until next Monday. All is my fault.

        • +9

          Hi Jimmy, Genuinely thank you for your reminder about Uber Eats and Menulog. We moved in a new estate not long ago and when we moved in neither UberEats nor Menulog deliver to my area. I just checked again after your reminder and there some delivery options. Very good. Thank you!

        • +1

          I love the fact that you got the tone horribly wrong, went on a rant about it and then when it was pointed out to you that you screwed this up, you just let it sit here, no apology, no acknowledgement. Well played lol

            • +1

              @JimmyF: you had a good point
              didn't need to bring drama into it

      • I'd write to Woolworths and request they reimburse you for the food deliveries you've had to pay for due to them delivering to the wrong address. Might not happen, but I'd be surprised if they didn't say least offer say a $20 or $50 Woolies gift card, on top of either a full refund of the delivery or redelivering.

        • +1

          He will definitely get a refund. There is proof that the order was delivered to the wrong house.

  • +14

    Ah that's really terrible- I'm sorry to hear it @gstfree. I'm actually in unplanned covid isolation as well, so I feel your pain.

    The Victorian covid support system has been fantastic so far - I got a call from one of their nurses to check on my symptoms and one of their questions was specifically if we were having trouble getting groceries and food to our house.

    If you're genuinely stuck, please call them, and they'll organise a basic food pack for you asap - 1800 675 398

    • +2

      Thanks mate for your understanding :) VIC COVID support line is really fantastic. I also received call from them on Wednesday to check my son's symptoms and offered assistance.

      I did contact 1800 675 398 option 5 (food support) today but they were closed.

      I will order some pizza deliveries for tomorrow and Monday.

  • +9

    Hi,

    As I understand it your order is entered but is now selected for a Monday delivery slot.

    Have you thought about getting someone from Airtasker to collect it as a Click n Collect/Direct to Boot order on your behalf from Woolworths or alternatively canceling the order and having someone get the items on your list from one of the other Supermarkets open tomorrow (Sunday).

    Going forward, with Woolworths (or whoever) add in as much extra detail to your order so that any assigned driver can't possibly deliver to an address other than your address.

    My instructions to Woolworths are to
    "Deliver to Front Door, access via Brick Pathway on Eastern side of Property and ring doorbell"

    • +2

      Thank you for your advice. I will include more detailed notes for all delivery orders going forwards.

      Yes, the replacement order will be delivered on Monday.

    • +3

      I always get confused when people use east/south/east/north

      • +27

        That's because there is only 1 East not 2

        • +4

          Aarrgghh that bloody auto correct

        • +1

          Lol….this made my day!

  • +9

    Is your address correct on Google maps? We used to have delivery drivers always get lost but after reporting the wrong address on google maps now people never get lost.

    Pretty sure Woolworths use google maps. Once the driver spent 30 minutes trying to find our house but since I updated Google maps now there’s never any problem.

    • +2

      Spot on. I believe Google map is the root cause. The street is shown correctly on the Google map but when entering my address it only leads to the closest intersection.
      Can you please shed some lights how to contact Google to fix this?

      • +17

        The first time I reported it, google maps didn’t do anything. Then a year later I reported it and google maps updated it within a week.

        Search for your address, then select Suggest an Edit, and then select Wrong address. Then you move the pin to the exact location where your house is.

        In your account it will say if the change is pending or denied, so if they deny it just report it again.

        In the meantime it might be worth putting a note in the Woolworths order that the Google maps address is wrong.

        https://support.google.com/maps/answer/10010575

        • +5

          Thank you so much. This is a $10,000 advice. I have "Suggested an edit". Finger crossed Google can update soon:) Thanks again.

          • +3

            @gstfree: Hahaha let’s just hope Google fix it soon.

          • +4

            @gstfree: One method this gets updated is by other Google Maps Local Guides. The option is to " check the facts".

            It's a little game where Maps users can confirm/deny change requests. It's usually business hours, contact details but also street address corrections.

            Should you have access to two Google accounts/devices, you can get lucky and approve your own changes.

            Google may ask for multiple people to confirm, but high level users can approve changes at once.

          • +2

            @gstfree: @Savas is a good guy.
            I'm sure he'd give you a discount on the $10000 advice.

            • +1

              @gimli: Hahaha. First time i've been tagged in a comment too.. good to see the feature works.

          • +2

            @gstfree: While you are correcting Google Maps, check the address for your neighbour (from the opposite street, where your groceries were incorrectly delivered to) and edit or add if necessary. That way incorrect deliveries should definitely not go there.

      • +3

        A year or two ago when on one of the delivery apps, the driver would always deliver to the house in front rather than back. Checked the map in the app which was Google Maps and it got the house numbers swapped but the real Google Maps was correct. So reported it in the delivery app and now the drivers rarely get it wrong. Also put in extra instructions of back house

    • +2

      They actually have their own navigation, but most drivers don't bother with it.

      • +1

        That's pretty interesting. Why don't they bother with it? Is it less accurate than google maps?

        • +3

          User experience I guess. With Google Maps or other apps, you're able to load up multiple address in one run.

  • +4

    How much did you spend on the grocery shop that was stolen?

    I wouldn't contact your thieving neighbours, OP - they accepted your groceries and lied about it. That's really all you need to know about the calibre of people who live there.

    • +2

      The grocery is about $150 after 10% Woolworths Mobile discount.

      Woolworths incorrectly delivered my order to the opposite street, after 30 minutes the delivery driver came back but the neighbour refused to accept they received anything. I am really really disappointed to see dishonesty. Is this considered as "stolen goods"?

      • +8

        Well, they took items that belonged to you as you paid for them. Then they lied to the delivery driver when he followed up with them after you advised that you never received the groceries - that was their opportunity to return $150 worth of groceries.

        Disgusting & dishonest behaviour.

        • +7

          I agree. My 6 year old grade 1 kid told me it's robbery :) and not right thing to do.

        • Woolies gave them free groceries. Under no obligation to give it back.

          Just so you know, this isn't true.

    • Most of my neighbours are young families with kids.

  • +5

    There is also the possibility though slim that someone passing saw the delivery being made and grabbed them before the landowner came home. So be careful with accusations it would be handy if someone had CCTV nearby.

    • +1

      Exactly what I was thinking. If the delivery is left outside, then anyone can grab it, unless OP has a proof the neighbor took it.

    • +1

      Yes. And there's always the possibility that a spacecraft from Alpha Centauri came down, and the occupants, who had tired of probing farmers, saw the small window of opportunity and helped themselves to the unattended groceries.

      • +1

        A year ago star track dropped a parcel off at my place I saw him do it from the backard of my place I was walking up to get it and a teenager ran in and grabbed it if it wasn't for the neighbour who blocked her path she would have been gone she handed it over and took off.

        When I spoke to the police they said most items are knocked off right after being delivered. Not just spur of the moment but even delivery vehicles being followed or observed scum waiting for opportunities to rip people off. Have a look on youtube how many parcels are knocked off from front steps caught on CCTV. Youtubers have even gone to the trouble off fake parcels with gps, clitter bombs and stench devices with real time video of the culprit opening the parcel. Yes some of this videos will be fake but it certainly happens.

  • +3

    If driver can provide a photo of the goods being delivered to our neighbour, then I wonder if they could be charged with theft for not surrendering your groceries? That is, they are claiming goods they know they do not own.

    Think of a situation where you go to and ATM and find you have $100.000 unexplained funds in your account. If you know the funds are not yours, and yet you still withdraw and spend the case then the Police will charge you and make you return the money.

    • +4

      In this case they'd have a photo of the goods on the porch, not of the neighbour receiving them. While there is literally no doubt the neighbour took the items, without evidence the neighbour can claim somebody else must have been watching the delivery and took them before they had any chance to see them.

      • Same could be said for the scenario of cash being taken from an account via an ATM

        • A lot of ATMs seem to have cameras built in though, so I'd say they are taking happy snaps when people make withdrawals.

      • Please stop using the word "literally" incorrectly.

    • +1

      Police will only take action where there's a minimum of effort, corporations or government involved.

    • -1

      It's not theft, Woolies gave them free groceries right on their doorstep. They would be fully within rights to dump that in the garbage like junk mail.

      It's also not receiving stolen goods or taking goods under false pretences nor fraud.

      Very clearly this falls under finders Keepers.

      • Afaik woollies or coles won't take groceries back anyway

      • +2

        I don't know if you are being 'internet troll' sarcastic, or you are serious.

        Stealing by finding - Victoria

        It seems to me in this case all three criteria are met:

        1. The property belonged to someone else (ie, the neighbour did not order it, and the bags may have even had name/address on them.)
        2. By not returning/attempting to find the owner the neighbour permanently deprived the OP of the said property.
        3. The neighbour acted dishonestly in accepting the property, and then lying about doing so.

        Further, even if the neighbour did not take the bags into their house, if they were subsequently stolen (in the very narrow time window) by a third party, then a crime of theft still occurred.

        BTW, there is no such thing as 'finders keepers'. That's for kindergarten.

        (Of course, if you were 'just trolling'… congrats. Well played, sir. A nice credit to your commentary credibility.)

  • +1

    Maybe also get a backlit solar sign with your number ( and street?) put in a visible place. Also, make sure you put a description in of your house listing anything unusual.

    • +2

      Very good suggestion! I will put more descriptive notes going forwards

      • +1

        Yeah this suggestion is the best idea.

        Custom engraved plaques or vinyl lettering aren't very expensive and you can include the street name on it.

  • -8

    How could you possibly run out of food? Uber eats etc all deliver from convenience stores where you could get actual meals or ingredients to prepare meals.

    Or use air tasker and someone will do your grocery shopping for you.

    /sigh

    • +3

      So your solution to having a week's shopping stolen is to pay out for top-priced groceries delivered by desperate unemployed working for a bunch of working condition destroying rent-seeking parasites?

      Furrfu!

  • +3

    We live in a long established suburb (80 years) with clear street signs. A home medical service we use occasionally always go to the house next door which is in another street and has a different number. The GPS used by the company direct them to that address. As far as the medical staff are concerned this is the right address "because the GPS told me so." Computers are taking over. Humans can't think anymore!

    • +2

      Check your address on Apple Maps, Google Maps, etc., and see if these are giving accurate directions. If not, submit a map correction through the app.

      While I've not had any trouble with my house, I've submitted corrections when Apple Maps or Google Maps have led me astray and they are pleasantly efficient in dealing with map issues and confirming they've looked into it and rectified it.

      • +1

        Thank you David. I believe there is Google map issue. I "Suggest edit" Google map last night. Thank you for pointing this out.

  • +2

    I've had one occasion where they missed $60 of goods out of a $80 order. When I rung up they checked with the driver who checked his truck and they weren't there. He probably delivered to the wrong address. I complained a bit since the goods were staples, e.g. meat, milk etc. They ended up redoing my order and delivered it by taxi the next night. I'm also been in the situation where they delivered the wrong order to me. They refused to take it back so we donated it to the local shelter.

    • You were lucky. I had the same thing happen and they told me to order it again after they refunded the money. As it was click and collect I would have to drive 15 min each way to correct their error.

  • If they stole your stuff, call the police.

    • I am in isolation and I only heard one side of story from Woolworths, I still can't believe this happened.

    • Good luck with that. Police won't care.

    • the items were not in the OP possesion yet, so it'd still be Woolworths property. Besides, there is no evidence that they touch the groceries, what if they say there is someone came and pick items up??

  • +3

    I believe if the supermarkets deliver an order to the wrong address, they won’t take it back for health and safety reasons. I guess if your order was still sitting outside the door untouched that would be OK, but once it’s received and handled they won’t retrieve it. Still pretty poor form for your neighbours to lie about it, if they did, maybe driver made that bit up.

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