To wonder if some Ocado/Waitrose are actually trying to prioritize the vulnerable

[Didkdt]

Tesco seem to be regularly releasing slots they make no promises about prioritizing the vulnerable
Iceland the same
Sainsburys if you are a regular customer over 70 or you call them and explain you are shielding they make you a priority for slots
Waitrose and Ocado keep saying no slots we are prioritizing the elderly and vulnerable we just don't know who they are yet. We'll email you when we have the information from the government database.
I've ordered from Waitrose and Ocado for years on and off not every week but regularly and especially when I'm ill.
But I can't get a slot.
I can't get a slot with Sainsburys who I salute for supporting their regular customers because I've not used their home delivery before
Tesco are the same.
I NEED a supermarket slot but having a shielding letter and being on the database means nothing to the 2 companies I've shopped with for years
They won't even take customers calls on the matter

[Zacromagnons]

I’m registered vulnerable as are my parents and neither of us can access a slot on Waitrose.

[Didkdt]

Would it kill Ocado and Sainsburys to have a helpline or email account to send proof of shielding or age to get priority even on a cancelled slot. I'll take anytime it's not like we're going out.

[Frusratedshopper]

OP, I agree with your post and am not convinced that Waitrose and Ocado are actually prioritising those on the shielded list. I have emailed Ocado and received 2 generic replies telling me to register on government website as extremely vulnerable. This is despite me outlining in original email that I am registered and in shielded group. I don't even think anyone is reading the email content and auto replies are being sent.

I received communication from another supermarket who I don't have an account with stating that if I wish to shop with them I can have a priority slot as I am on the list. This response has made me even more cynical about Ocado's and Waitrose's claims re priority delivery slots.

I am now reconsidering who I shop with in the future as it seems that both Waitrose and Ocado do not care about longstanding customers especially those who are vulnerable!

[Lumene]

Waitrose don’t even deliver to the address of the vulnerable person in our family we tried to get a slot for!

[m0therofdragons]

Sadly not their staff. Pretty appalling on that front so I'll vote with my feet.

[hoxtonbabe]

I assume we are all is different parts of the uk and I too have 0 joy with getting a slot with Waitrose, Ocado and Asda. Morrison’s ( whom I dislike anyway) have told me I’m priority but no slots whatsoever but like you have all said Tesco and Sainsbury’s have been very good since getting my details sent to them

[eddiemairswife]

I'm vulnerable (age only) and was eventually offered Waitrose slots last week. My delivery came today, no substitutions.

[planningaheadtoday]

My neighbour is a long standing Waitrose customer. His wife is shielding has had the letter and registered with government. He told us today that Waitrose had contacted him and given him a regular weekly repeating home delivery slot.

I was wondering who on the close had managed to get a Waitrose delivery. I can't even get online to check.

I think the system is working well for existing customers.

Others I know who are shielding and also have the letter, but no previous connection to Waitrose or Sainsbury's cannot get a slot at all.

[Frusratedshopper]

I have just read a tweet from someone whose father (aged 90) was told by Ocado that as his last order was more than 90 days ago, they are treating him as a new customer and will not help him despite the fact he is on the extremely clinically government shielded list.

It is a pity they are not making this policy public instead of spouting out the same rhetoric that they are prioritising their most loyal and vulnerable customers.

[Frusratedshopper]

*extremely clinically vulnerable

[DippyAvocado]

I am not sure about the shielding group I'm afraid but my DD is 75 and recently signed up to Waitrose. They emailed him to say he would be given priority slots and he has been able to get a delivery for within the next couple of days whenever he's tried. Maybe it varies by area? He wasn't able to sign up with any of the other supermarkets as they weren't taking new customers.

[DippyAvocado]

My DF, that should say.

[greensnail]

I have a guaranteed slot every 7 days from ocado. I'm not in a vulnerable group but am being prioritised as a loyal customer or something. I'm not using my slots as I'd prefer for someone else to use then who needs them but when I've looked just now there are slots available for me to book tomorrow. It's a shame if there's slots available but those that need them are not able to access them.

[ClientQ]

Shielding, prioritised with Sainsbury's and still no slots. Nothing with Ocado or Waitrose or Asda
Tesco I manage to get by staying up to try at midnight

[Justgivemewine]

Thankfully we have access to ocado slots every week (just access, not guaranteed if people are quicker than us to book up) as we are loyal customers.

Its a relief as we have 3 vulnerable people in the house and so far haven’t been able to work out how to register as vulnerable with them.

[TheGreatWave]

I am a delivery pass holder with Sainsburys, they seem to be releasing slots (for pass holders at least) during the day, no particular time but it is worth checking throughout the day to see if any have been opened.

OP have you tried contacting Sainsburys? I think they are accepting new customers on the shielding list.