Texts from Ocado - Slots available

[Baaaahhhhh]

I keep on getting texts from Ocado, I am a longstanding regular customer, but not in need, advising that there are slots available tomorrow, please book. I am in Surrey, so not for a lack of customers, but I wonder why? Has everyone stopped using them because they were awful. I stopped because their website was unusable, and their stock levels shit.

I have been using Waitrose, and getting weekly slots as well.

[TheGreatWave]

Ocado tell me that I am not good enough for them and to go away.

I will do the same back to them when they email to ask for if I want to renew my delivery pass.

[kingkuta]

I think at the beginning of lockdown it was just a shitstorm for all supermarkets. I've been lucky with ocado and had deliveries throughout, first through my reserved slot and then via the customer loyalty invite. Stock levels were pretty much back to normal after the first week, have had very little missing or substituted in £200+ shops. Offers/ Flash sales are now back again as well

[MinesaBottle]

I had a text from them telling me I’m one of their most valued customers - this was last week and was the first time I’ve even been able to get on the site. I won’t be using them after this is over but right now they and Tesco are the only supermarkets I’m registered with. I was able to place an order for a friend who is shielding though so relieved about that.

Overall though they’ve been shit. Who knows what’s going on behind the scenes there.

[SaltySeaBird]

Long time customer but not a priority... will no longer be a customer when this is over!

[Lua]

I understand is a difficult time for all supermarkets, but Ocado seems to be doing particularly badly. A neighbour has a slot and offered to get things for me, but I cannot even look at their site because at the moment they "do not have slots for me".... That seems a bit unreasonable and counter productive.

[Lumene]

Have been with Ocado for over a decade but now can’t get on the site at all. They have prioritised their highest spending customers I think - £200+

[kittlesticks]

I have been able to get a delivery every 14 days with them which I'm using for ease at the moment, but when this is all over I will be shopping around a lot more. Main issue I have is that they don't have stock of the things we regularly eat. I was previously a big fan of their editing system, but if you go on the next day to edit because you have realised you need xyz, they don't have stock, so it seems they only have stock at the point you initially order. Obviously would be ok if I was really organised but we have two kids under 3 and I always forget something.

[FlamingoAndJohn]

I get messages when there are slots I can book and they are available for ‘priority’ customers before going on general release.

I don’t spend £200, usually about £50 a week but I have had a smart pass for about £10 years.

[Tanith]

Same here FlamingoandJohn
I've had no problems with them, and they've been a lifeline for my elderly relations in London, who are shielding.

[MrAlyhakinsMassiveYacht]

I haven't used them in years but they texted me as a valued customer and have offered me a weekly delivery

Tesco, who I have used for years to feed my family of 6 and spent a fortune with my delivery pass, haven't had even a click and collect slot within 15 miles for weeks.

[MrsWooster]

In fairness to them, we are regulars but not high spenders, and they’ve been in touch giving a weekly slot AFTER having filled the vulnerable slots. Deliveries are pretty much ok, with only a couple of subs. They struggled at first but I’m not seeing why they’re getting quite such a lot of criticism...

[Chickpeees]

They have been great for me, apologised after the initial cock up and now I get a weekly slot which I am very grateful for.

[CodenameVillanelle]

They've been fine for me - after the initial lunacy of 4 hour waits to get onto the website they are now emailing me fortnightly when I can get on the site to book a slot. No cheap pasta to be had but most other things have been in stock.
I'm not a big spender by any means - used to use them once a month for about £80 but I had a deal on a smart price so get preference due to that

[Whyisitsodifficult]

Has anyone else found their offers have changed and not for the better. I buy apple and orange juice which generally has some sort of 2 for £5 sort of deal on it. Lately it’s buy 2 of the same item to get the deal, why the hell would I want 2 lots of orange and 2 lots of apple juice! I’ve noticed it on lots of other items, most unhelpful especially since my shopping costs have massively increased.

[howells]

I got one of these texts. I used to use them frequently but cancelled my delivery pass (with some difficulty 🙄) last year. Tried to book a delivery a few weeks ago but no joy (no joy with any of the other supermarkets either). Then the text from Ocado last week. Got on straight away and booked. Delivery yesterday. Lots of substitutions and products unavailable, so I had to go shopping today anyway. But at least today’s list was a lot shorter than it would have been. Was invited to book again but couldn’t get another slot till the beginning of May.

I felt slightly undeserving but I don’t think the slot would have gone to a vulnerable person anyway, since they were offering slots to specific customers by text. And DH and I are both still wfh full time so time poor.

I don’t plan to go back to them after this though. I can’t be doing with all the substitutions and short use by dates.

[justanotherneighinparadise]

They have been less than useless in regard to prioritising my shielded MIL. Thank god for Sainsburys.

[Nurse1980]

I’ve been a customer for years (no delivery pass though and maybe only shopped once a month). I’ve had a shielding letter so emailed them asking for a slot. Got a reply to say they are going to their most regular customers! Will never shop with them again.

[Chickpeees]

Do you not think it’s fair enough that the slots are going to people who have supported them every week for years though?
The government are doing a weekly supply box for the shielded group and there are lots of support services in my area for them too.

Are there not a lot of people who need them who are not in the shielded group?

[InterviewTerminated]

I used Ocado regularly (every 10 to 14 days, but no delivery pass) and I have had nothing from them.

[Didkdt]

I have used Ocado frequently in the past. I'm shielded and I've told them that
I can't get a slot because at the moment I'm currently not on the priority list
So that's nice
I've never used Tesco before and have had one slot with another next week
Answers on a postcard who won't see me for dust going forwards when all the people with slots who don't normally use Ocado will once again not use Ocado and those of us that did won't

[Notcontent]

I am a long standing customer and initially I was unable to get any slots but now I can and other neighbours have been able to as well.

I didn’t think Waitrose was doing delivery for anyone other that those in the vulnerable category?

[NotGenerationAlpha]

I have a delivery twice a week before lockdown and have been a customer with them for nearly 10 years. I have a delivery every week. And after the initial problem with logging into the site, now I have no problems at all. There are less stock but it is pretty good compared to what I hear people can’t get. I get tinned tomatoes, bread, pasta, toilet rolls, everything available every week so far.

I was a bit upset initially when they cancelled by reserved slot but I’m now ok since I didn’t have to actually go to a physical supermarket yet.

[bluebell34567]

ocado will stop th merge with waitrose in september and start with M&S. i think this will affect their customer rate.

[bluebell34567]

but i am not sure about waitrose. i noticed some products which are available in stores arent available online.

[Inkpaperstars]

How do elderly people get priority deliveries with ocado? Do they have to be existing account or smart pass holders, and/or on shielding list?