The COVID-19 pandemic is drastically changing our habits, forcing us to stay at home. Under these conditions, online trading and delivery of goods has acquired a new, almost strategic importance – but can it also be safe?
According to media reports, the number of orders from delivery services has increased dramatically. Since January, the demand for delivery on the Avito online platform has increased by 35%. Last week, Delivery Club reported that over one March weekend in Moscow and St. Petersburg, the number of orders increased by 22%, and the average check by 15%. More and more people prefer to order groceries and things online.
How to protect yourself during the receipt of the goods, if you ordered a courier or if you need to pick up the parcel at a pick-up point near your home? Here are some simple but important tips.
“Nothing personal”. Courier contactless delivery
One of the most effective ways to prevent the virus is to reduce contacts. But how do you order dinner or buy a new board game without having to meet the delivery guy? This is exactly the method used in Wuhan during the outbreak, when many people were afraid to go shopping. The courier left the order at the door of the apartment, moved to the “safe” three meters and called the client by phone to confirm the order.
Instead of visiting stores and restaurants, people have switched to online shopping with home delivery. Companies reacted to the new reality and rushed to remove the single point of contact in this process. Contactless delivery has become an important preventive measure against coronavirus within the framework of remote consumption. The lack of direct contact of people, the transfer of banknotes and even card payments on the spot – this is how online trading and delivery turned out to be the most prepared for the situation.
— Alexey Kurakin, Managing Director of the Avito Goods and Services vertical.
In our country, Yandex.Food, Delivery Club, Ozon, Wildberries and other online platforms have already mastered this service.
If the store of your choice provides contactless delivery, then this information will most likely be on the website. Check it out and make a purchase.
If you made an order in an online store that does not provide such a service, call the call center and arrange directly with the courier when he will call you for delivery details.
If you buy a product on an online classifieds site such as Avito, you can discuss the “no-contact” conditions in advance with the seller of the product (if you meet him in person) or the delivery person by phone or in a messenger.
Sellers are now especially interested in maintaining the health of their customers, couriers and the positive image of the company, which cares about the safety of all. In China, for example, many restaurants included special cards with the order, which indicated the temperature of the people involved in cooking and delivery.
Non-Communication Rules
If you still need to check the goods in the presence of the courier or pay for the order, then this can be done safely.
Refrain from shaking hands and wear disposable gloves. If they are not in the house, put on simple gloves. After accepting an order, do not take off your gloves.
Throw away the packaging or box as soon as you open the package. And if it is possible to wash the purchased product with soap or disinfectant (for example, food or plastic products), do it. Experts from Roskachestvo, for example, recommend washing even the packaging of goods with soap, soaking vegetables and fruits, and treating the table and work surfaces in the kitchen.
Do not forget to process the phone or card after payment. Very often we forget that germs can remain on gadgets or objects that a potentially sick person has touched.
Now take off your gloves, be sure to wash your hands or treat your hands with antiseptic gel. Gloves – in the wash.
It often happens that picking up the goods at the point of issue is much more convenient than waiting for the courier all day, and often much cheaper. How can you take care of your health in this case?
Safe reception of goods at the point of issue
Give preference to posts. Now this type of distribution of goods is gaining popularity. Through the parcel terminal installed in the supermarket closest to you, you can pick up your order at a convenient time for you without contacting the transport service employees. Put on gloves to enter the code to open the box.
Delivery to the point of issue or to the branch of “Post to our country”
Delivery of the order to the point of issue is convenient because they are located near the house and it is enough to walk a couple of meters to receive your package. For example, if you made a purchase on Avito and chose the Avito Delivery service, more than 35 pickup points throughout our country are available to you. Transport companies are taking all necessary measures to prevent coronavirus. For example, in Mail to Our Country, bosses send daily reports on the health of employees, monitor the presence of masks and the frequency of cleaning. Therefore, the risks of getting sick by visiting the department are reduced. But still, you should not forget about additional precautions.
If your goods are delivered to a post office or a pick-up point, then follow the same measures as when receiving goods from the courier: gloves, disinfection or disposal of packaging and the “clean hands” operation.