editor
City in shock as man delivers item on time
Dubai brought to standstill as item arrives on time, in usable condition, at right address
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Trained actors recreate what the delivery scene might have looked like
The shocked buyer, who lives in the Dubai Marina area but did not wish to be named for fear of reprisals, told The Pan-Arabia Enquirer: “Obviously I was pleased, I mean I’ve always wanted a faux Ottoman living room chest with authentic drapes and built-in massage facility and chiller, but for it to actually arrive at my home, on the day, and even around the time I was told it would, is ridiculous. I really didn’t know what to say.”
But the buyer indicated that the unprecedented move by the deliverer would actually cost him money in the long run. “I’ve already booked two weeks off work and put several thousand dirhams of credit on my cell phone in anticipation of the heavy workload involved with taking delivery of my purchase,” he said. “I’m at a loss for what to do now. I may go to Abu Dhabi for a few days, or perhaps see if I can pick up a flight to Lebanon. And ring my friends and family. A lot, obviously, at really expensive times of day.”
Delivery drivers in the emirate, meanwhile, have reacted angrily to the news. Union spokesman, Mindeepa Johnson, railed: “The thoughtless acts of this individual could have set a precedent that will reverberate for our members for years to come. The fact that a delivery driver should know the location of a building in the city is clearly bad enough, but to actually arrive there, at an agreed time, with the correct items in fully working order is a step too far.”
Johnson said that his initial thought was to ballot the union membership for strike action. “But the chances of any of them getting to our offices at a pre-arranged time are non-existant. Personally I don’t know where our offices are. I think they might be near the Burjaman, wherever that is, and there’s no way I’m taking a taxi – they don’t have a clue.”
White collar workers have also been angered by the event. A spokesman for the Arabian Association of Customer Service Drones commented: “This is very worrying territory. A vital part of our work as customer service operatives is building vital relationships with our valued customers. How are we supposed to achieve this if they’re not required to ring us at least 14 times to successfully complete what at face value is the simplest and most rudimentary of transactions?”
The driver at the centre of the storm, who has since gone into hiding, is believed to be new to Dubai and most likely comes from Germany, Scandinavia or one of those ‘oh look at us, we’re so efficient and everything works’ sort of places.
ebb
April 12, 2012 at 6:20 am
As for the perpetrator of this heinous offense, I have inside information that he is working at an Ikea – location undisclosed. My sources inform me that he was last seen in a cafe serving the very popular marinated hammour with rice and vegetables.
shoulabob
April 14, 2012 at 6:06 pm
This is a deeply worrying trend – can you imagine what would happen if this rubbed off onto home delivered food ? This could send the fast food industry into a quandry and customers may have to re-consider placing orders two weeks earlier than actually required ! If Dubai Taxis followed suit we could be in for a real mess…… Hang on – who is that ringing my door bell now ?????
Mandy Hyslop
March 12, 2013 at 6:42 am
At least Doha still has its priorities straight…last week I received a package mailed to me by my mother in May last year. If lucky, I ought to receive my 2012 Christmas gift by Hallowe’en!
Testi Pendents
March 14, 2013 at 10:37 am
I love being surprised at the meals brought to my door every day! Sometimes they come from as far afield as Sharjah.
i'mkindabusy
March 14, 2013 at 3:50 pm
If this sort of thing is going to happen from now on I am going to have to find another way to pass the time that does not involve hanging on to the phone for hours trying to find out when my delivery is coming, this is unfair, what do they think people are going to do all day instead?
Couriercompanyvendeta
March 15, 2013 at 7:09 am
This is bad for Dubai’s long term growth, we employ an office full of people to chase up courier companies and give drivers directions; and the training department will have to downsize as there will be no requirement for half of their work. Putting jobs at risk, not a positive development.
Cullum Inch
April 14, 2014 at 12:33 pm
I think this story it is the fake. Unions in Dubai, mus ta heel!