Tesco delivery - what happens?

One thing to add is Tesco no longer give paper receipts for your online order. So make sure you ask the driver if there is anything missing. (sometimes a couple of items are out of stock, you are not charged but obviously it can be disappointing)
My drivers help unload the shopping and brings it into the kitchen as we are disabled. You can write a note on your account to ask them to please help unload it. I don't think you need to be physically disabled or anything. They are usually really nice and friendly.
I'm sure they would be delighted with a small tip if you can afford it, but it's not the norm.

Iceland deliver in bags. They get taken to the community shop / foodbank.

Oh, I see.
I'd re-use the bags, and I'd be willing to pay, but, well. If they don't do it they don't do it.
It must take ages for some people to transfer all their food over, it'd make me anxious I was taking too long and delaying the driver.

Good luck with your first delivery OP. I use another supermarket for my groceries and they pretty much follow the process described by the previous posters. I have the strong supermarket "bags for life" ready at the front door and decant from the crates into my own bags. It's great to not have to do the bulk of my groceries shopping in store and do useful for bulky and/or heavy items - especially when the weather's horrible.

I don't know if the Tesco app allows this but, with the supermarket I use, I just copy my shopping trolley ("shop from this order") from the current date to the next delivery date so it captures all the things I buy regularly and just remove the ad hoc stuff so I've set up my new shopping delivery. 🌹

I take washing baskets to my door and transfer the shopping into them from the crates to the baskets. I prefer this way as I can unload it in my kitchen without the pressure of someone waiting x

I have a plastic crate on wheels so I empty in to that and then wheel it to the kitchen.

https://www.mandp.co.uk/products/foldable-luggage-trolley-691695

When the driver arrives, they will stack crates of shopping outside your front door. They will ring your doorbell or knock. Normally they say hello and mention something about the weather

Or in my case stroke the cat who is a complete tart with delivery drivers.

Most of the drivers are male, but not all. So don't be surprised.

I use Sainsbury's and they send an email when they are packing so you know if anything has been substituted. Tesco probably do the same.

In the morning (if it is a morning delivery) or afternoon (if it is an afternoon delivery) you get a receipt emailed to you which will have anything out out stock or any substitutions on it.

Drivers (in my experience) will always deliver within the one hour slot. Occasionally, get a phone call asking if they can deliver early. If I am in I say yes, if I am out I just say, sorry I’m out and they come at the correct time.

Delivery person arrives and rings doorbell. The delivery person asks if if you are ok with your substitutions. You say yes or no or I’m ok with X but not Y. Person puts crates down at door. As my kitchen is next to front door I pick up crate place it in the kitchen and tip the consents onto the floor so I can empty as quick as possible (except glass jars and eggs!). Dump crates back outside my front door. Person says goodbye and that’s it!

That seem hit and miss as we've had a few times recently where we've realised a date is shorter than that but wasnt flagged, after the driver has left. If it's something expensive, eg meat or fish I always phone Tesco to complain and they always refund it over the phone. I have found them good like that, no quibbles if you are not happy, always apologetic on the phone etc, so worth remembering of you are not happy with anything. Definitely worth a call.

Interesting to read responses as obviously people do it bit differently. We open the garage door because it's the shortest route to the kitchen in our house, and they leave the crates at the garage door and we carry them through and unload them onto the counter. They are usually getting more crates while we are doing the first few. It wouldnt occur to me to take bags to door but I guess it makes sense if crates too heavy for you.

However, before COVID they always used to carry the crates through garage to kitchen for me, and I wasn't sure if they started doing that again post COVID, as we are in the habit of taking at the door still, so good to know from people on here they would if we asked them.

I use my 2 plastic washing baskets and bung the shopping in there at the door.

Think everyone's said it all - one thing I do to avoid contacting after is have a look at dates as I unpack onto the counter. I just do the fresh/fridge stuff as everything else tends to be ok.

If anything is that days date tell the delivery driver, they normally let you keep it and refund it which is quite nice!

1. An hour or so before your delivery slot, check your email as they will email you with any substitutions or short dated items. If you don't want these, look out for them in your shopping and you can hand them back for a refund.

1. When the driver arrives, they will stack crates of shopping outside your front door. They will ring your doorbell or knock. Normally they say hello and mention something about the weather

1. You then have two choices: a) carry one crate at a time to your kitchen and unpack the items on to the work surface so you can put them away when the driver has gone, and hand each empty crate back to the driver, or b) put some carrier bags by your door and you can unload the crates in to the bags and carry them to your kitchen later.

1. When you've finished unloading the crates, and you've handed back anything you don't want from your substitutions, you are all done. Thank the driver and say goodbye. Put away your shopping at your leisure

I love online ordering OP, so hope you do too. I get sensory overload in the supermarket and hate it.

I love doing my online supermarket orders! I bet you catch the bug now OP.

May I just say I wish Woolworths here in Australia would take on the UK system of NO BAGS- just unload the crates at the door using your own tub or bags. So sensible.

Woolworths bags everything in paper bags but they do it by section. I don't normally order fresh stuff online but if I happen to throw in some strawberries, that lonely little punnet will turn up in a bag by itself.

Or a bottle of dishwashing liquid in its own bag. You get the idea. I've complained by the still do it, drives me NUTS.

If you need small talk ask them what the traffic is like. They're normally really happy to tell you about their journey so far.

I take some large bags into the front porch and transfer the shopping from the crates into the bags. It doesn' take long. I carry it through and put it away after the delivery person leaves. I never thought to tip either. Occasionally they are a bit early. I allow 30 mins either side of the delivery slot.

@CranfordScones that's a great idea. I'm sure any driver would gladly explain to OP what to do

OP, sainsbury's drivers have (very occasionally) phoned to say they will be in the area early and would it be convenient to deliver earlier than you had ordered eg if I've placed an order to be delivered between 3pm and 4pm and they're asking if they can deliver at 2.30pm instead. Tesco might do this too

If that suits you, you say "yes that's fine I'll be here if you come early"

If it doesn't suit you, then you say "sorry but I can't get home until 3pm" and they will say that's ok. And it really is ok

But you do need to be at home for the scheduled delivery. If they arrive between 3pm and 4pm and you're not there, then they probably won't come back later on

Well done for placing your first order

Check you email before order arrives, it will list any changes. If you don't want a substituted item, you can hand it back to the driver, 9/10 they say you can keep it and give you a refund. Same goes for items with a short use by date. If any items are damaged you can also tell them and get a refund, or if you prefer there's a number to call on the email receipt and they will refund straight away. You can call about issues you don't immediately notice too, such as missed short use by or missing items. I once called about a missing item about 3 weeks later and still got a refund!

I don’t think you can any more. You used to be able to, and then you could if you paid extra, but I think it’s been phased out. Probably for the best as you used to get LOADS of bags.

Oh, jeez. That sounds like a faff. I'd have to request mine to be put into bags.

Been having Tesco's delivery for 9 months and it's fantastic.
They stack the crates outside my kitchen door.
I unload the shopping onto my kitchen sides.
They will bring the crates in but it's a no shoes house so this works best for me.
They are so lovely, friendly and kind.
I don't tip but I did give the Christmas delivery man a fiver.

Mine bring mine into the kitchen for me and help me put the food on sides. Or hold the shopping up so I don't have to bend over. I sometimes get the same delivery slot every 2 weeks so get the same guy. He's always very pleasant

Thanks, I just had my 49th delivery today and so far I've not had that one. I'll keep an eye out for it in future!

They only inform you of short date if it's less than the value on the product.

Tesco does this - it's in the e-mail receipt you get a few hours before delivery.

Tesco does as part of the new emailed receipt thing - it used to be hit and miss when the drivers had to do it. Though their definition of short date may not match yours... on the website/app fresh goods have a minimum lifespan ( e.g 3 days for meat, 14 days for oat milk) so if it will be less than that value they'll flag it up. Still no help if you want steak for 6 days time, you're on the lottery of who picked your basket.

My son is delivering for Ocado. Just to say if he gets a tip it makes his day - they are allowed to accept them!