Anyone else really finding online shopping a struggle

[wetasstenalady]

I'm housebound due to covid so can't get to the shops and am trying to order presents etc online- so many even just ordinary shops (think wilkos) tend to have so much stuff out of stock and as for trying to get stuff delivered this year by Christmas now 😞
Is it just me finding this?

No. I use amazon a lot, but I've also just ordered something from a local retailer and she sent me a personal email and shipped the item right away.
I think some places found it hard to gauge what the demand might be due to various restrictions and didn't want to over order and have not got enough stock in.

Online is low on stock, but wow I was taken aback by the lack of stock in store.

It's not just you OP, there's a lot of stuff OOS in the main shops. Take a look at the bargain thread No. 26 in the Christmas section they're a lovely bunch and if you tell them what you're looking for they will help. Full of Christmas cheer and goodwill over there. Good luck with it OP.

I placed an order with the White Company on Thursday and they stated that they were no longer guaranteeing delivery by Christmas.

Great.

I agree that everything seems to be 'temporarily out of stock' or 'on back order'

The problem is that they put it in tiny, greyed out writing so you can barely see it.

Where I work, we ship orders immediately for next day delivery. I always feel let down when I place an order and dont receive a 'shipped' notice until a week later. It always makes me think theyve just ordered it from China.

I hate shopping online at the best of times. It leaves me uninspired and I find the whole package process very anxiety inducing!

I’ve ordered a lot through Amazon, no problems.
I’ve ordered a number of presents from Etsy and Folksy...they all arrived by the first week of December, but Royal Mail are struggling to cope now, so if I need to order anything else, I’d be checking the courier they use.
Popular items being out of stock before Christmas has been an issue for decades.

If u check the news. It is due to lack of staff for Royal Mail and too much to deliver. Also. The ports are mostly full abs everything is being sent to other countries. So there will be lots of places with empty shelves unfortunately.

OP have you considered just not doing presents for this one year and save yourself a whole heap of stress?

My DM asked me what we'd like for Christmas and my response was, you staying safe and having a nice restful time at home is the best present ou can give us. She was even going to ask my DSis to do internet shopping and I said please just don't worry this year!

An awful lot is stuck in ports or simply not being shipped to the uk now for fear of it being stuck in transit. We have a perfect storm of a few factors.

More people are shopping online - putting pressure on deliveries and warehouse staff who are having to undertake covid safe practices. These are often companies who had placed people in furlough. They may well have laid people off earlier in the year.

We have container loads of PPE clogging up Felixstowe.

We have companies shipping in as much as they can pre 1st January because they don't know what the tariffs or arrangements will be. This is also clogging the system.

We don't seem to be able to send containers back fast enough, creating a one way jam.

We have hauliers now refusing to deliver to the UK because the system is collapsing and it's cheaper and easier for them to keep their deliveries in the EU. Without trade deals in place, no one knows what to expect in three weeks time and so we are high risk business wise.

Wilko is terrible for online stock at the moment, I tried to do an online order the other day and hardly anything was available. In the end I did go to our local store which I hate as it has as its hard to get around with a pushchair but the stock levels were very good so maybe they are struggling with their online service.

I think Argos has been brilliant lately and used them so much with lockdown and they seem to have lots of delivery slots so they might be worth a look (unless its cleaning and household items you need).

I've found orders with Hermes and Royal Mail to be slow/unreliable and, although, it's not a popular choice with some, I now stick to Amazon as they are so reliable.

Its no better or worse than any other year in my opinion.

I do my Christmas shopping online every year. At the risk of sounding like a smug arsehole, you do need to do it in November if you do it online. It's common by this time in December for Christmas delivery not to be guaranteed. This is why Amazon start their Post Christmas sales the week before Christmas.

This year is probably worse. More people are shopping online. More shops who aren't prepared for online shopping are having to do it, and doing a poor job. Don't forget factories have been closed/working on lower capacity due to Covid, so there are shortages because there isn't always the supply for the demand.

@middleager

I've found orders with Hermes and Royal Mail to be slow/unreliable and, although, it's not a popular choice with some, I now stick to Amazon as they are so reliable.

Most of my stuff from Amazon comes via Royal Mail or Hermes.

Stock levels have been ropey through this year anyway due to disruption in manufacture and distribution, even before additional disruption from lockdowns, Christmas and Brexit looming.

Online shopping is fine if you know what you want, from where and know it in good time. I miss real shops for browsing and getting inspiration.

Not had any issues, mainly used Amazon with odd bits from other places. Nothing on Amazon I wanted was out of stock and we have Prime so good delivery times.

It’s only twelve days away now though so I would imagine stock is getting low and delivery times slower though.

@Woohoowoowoo

Its no better or worse than any other year in my opinion.

I do my Christmas shopping online every year. At the risk of sounding like a smug arsehole, you do need to do it in November if you do it online. It's common by this time in December for Christmas delivery not to be guaranteed. This is why Amazon start their Post Christmas sales the week before Christmas.

This year is probably worse. More people are shopping online. More shops who aren't prepared for online shopping are having to do it, and doing a poor job. Don't forget factories have been closed/working on lower capacity due to Covid, so there are shortages because there isn't always the supply for the demand.

I'm doing it now as I'm stuck in with covid. This weekend I was meant to be going to the shops physically. Good news though if the actual shops seem to have good levels of stock although the thought of trudging round shops after covid isn't filling me with joy

I've used Amazon a lot more than I'd like.

@beakyboo10

Wilko is terrible for online stock at the moment, I tried to do an online order the other day and hardly anything was available. In the end I did go to our local store which I hate as it has as its hard to get around with a pushchair but the stock levels were very good so maybe they are struggling with their online service.

I think Argos has been brilliant lately and used them so much with lockdown and they seem to have lots of delivery slots so they might be worth a look (unless its cleaning and household items you need).

I work for Argos and our fast track deliveries for our store have gone quieter since the stores have opened, strangely people would rather go out and queue it seems. We have huge queues outside the store going thru the shopping centre when you could pay £3.95 and have it delivered within 4 hours. Fast Track delivery is a lifeline for a lot of people looking for something quickly.

I always shop online.

This year l cannot get wrapping paper or chocolate tree decorations in any supermarket.