Ocado Christmas slots

[Darkchocolateandcoffee]

So I get some sort of priority Christmas booking on Ocado and it started today. When I woke at 3am I thought brilliant, I'll get a Christmas Eve slot.

But no. The nearest Christmas I can get at 3am on the day that priority booking opens is Tuesday 21 December.

Is there another super super VIP Ocado list that was allowed to book their slots before me?

Or did everyone else set their alarms for one minute past midnight and hoover up the early slots?

@irregularegular

I have an Ocado reserved slot every week and have done for years and years.

OP is referring to Christmas slots. They're different

Long term ocado shopper and smart pass holder but no email here. However I just checked the app and the little star was showing for Christmas slots so I have just booked for evening of 22nd, not much choice that day and nothing on 23rd. There were a couple on Christmas Eve, but I'm never brave enough to leave it that late!

No email yet, been a customer almost 15 years. I normally expect my email around 2nd week in October.

However, given the current shitshow with fuel delivery etc, improbably going to change how I “do” Christmas.

Over the coming weeks, I’m going to order a couple of chickens - which will go in the freezer. I’ll add a couple of non-perishables (pax’s, gravy granules etc). Maybe add some frozen sprouts, frozen parsnips, Yorkshire’s etc. Basically, stuff that would create a roast without the fanfare of dumping a roasted turkey on the table to carve in front of everyone!

If you can shop this way, week by week, plus try to ensure that your delivery slot already has a driver in the area, then you don’t really “need” a Christmas delivery slot. Just pick up a few extra treats each week if you’re in your local supermarket etc.

The frozen options are not what I’d normally want or go for each year. But there’s nothing wrong with going down that route - especially if a) it means you know you have a lot of the basics for the meal and b) it cuts down on the fuel needed to deliver your shop (plus the disappointment of “missing items”)

Definitely think we all need to be more creative this year.

I'm in SE London and there are slots available now even for Christmas Eve.
Insomniacs rule!
I have a Waitrose slot so I'm not booking just looking.

Got a slot but nothing available after 22 December, would have preferred 23 December but hey-ho. Lots of out of stock items even at this stage ie chocolate Yule log, small ham joint with orange...I'm less confident than ever about getting what I've ordered too.

Got one on Christmas Eve. Friday is my usual shopping day so I might just use it as my usual weekly shop and buy my Christmas food in a shop.

Got the email, but no slots. Nothing at all. Thanks ocado.

Thanks for posting this OP.
DH is in theory in charge of our ocado orders so all emails go to him. He’ll probably think about booking a Christmas delivery in about mid December…
I’ve logged on and booked

Mine opened on Wednesday, every slot available and had a code for free delivery. Maybe because I planned to cancel smart pass recently? I do spend a lot every week

Two stupid questions. Firstly, do I understand right that if I book now using the free delivery voucher, then have to cancel the order (we may be at home or at grandparents and don't know yet, it depends on various health matters), they will charge me £9.99 for not having a delivery?

And if I put something in the basket now that is currently on special offer (such a champagne), and it stops being on offer over the next THREE MONTHS for goodness sake, do they honour the offer price? Have been a customer for 13 years and still don't fully understand how this works with orders placed a way in advance...

@legosunqueen

Got a slot but nothing available after 22 December, would have preferred 23 December but hey-ho. Lots of out of stock items even at this stage ie chocolate Yule log, small ham joint with orange...I'm less confident than ever about getting what I've ordered too.

I wouldn't worry about the out of stock info for now. Other people will be booking in a hurry by creating an instant order or re-booking last year's Christmas order and over the next few weeks they will be editing to what they actually want. Also, Ocado will be getting more stock information from suppliers. I seem to recall that last year a lot of people were very panicky about what their orders but they were mostly OK in the end.

This year could be worse given the HGV driver shortage, though. I've already decided we could scale our Christmas dinner back a bit if we can't get the usual things. Having a change might be fun for once.

@legosunqueen

I just got the e mail telling me that I can book my Christmas slot tomorrow - anyone know what time the slots open up?

Well I went on at 3am the day my slots opened up and most were gone, so I'm guessing midnight?

I didn't know about this star reviewer thing - does this mean if I review lots of stuff Ocado will be nicer to me?

@Darkchocolateandcoffee is it normal for you to be up at 3am? Surely you didn't get up specially then to book a supermarket delivery??

[quote RumblyMumbly]@Darkchocolateandcoffee is it normal for you to be up at 3am? Surely you didn't get up specially then to book a supermarket delivery??[/quote]
I'd just had an op so was awake off and on all night with nurses checking on me!

Fair enough, sleeping in hospitals isn't easy, hope you have a good recovery.

My Christmas Ocado slots opened on Wednesday (with free delivery), I had a look at 8am and there were slots on all days. I wanted the 22nd but there were only evening slots which don't work for me, so I booked morning of the 21st. I'm sure more 22nd slots will open up but I can't be bothered to keep looking. I've had a Smartpass for donkeys years.

This year they have offered me star reviewer stuff several times but I accept less than half of it, so I doubt I get preferential treatment because of it.

thanks @RumblyMumbly ! Looking forward to getting home.

@JumpJockey

Two stupid questions. Firstly, do I understand right that if I book now using the free delivery voucher, then have to cancel the order (we may be at home or at grandparents and don't know yet, it depends on various health matters), they will charge me £9.99 for not having a delivery?

And if I put something in the basket now that is currently on special offer (such a champagne), and it stops being on offer over the next THREE MONTHS for goodness sake, do they honour the offer price? Have been a customer for 13 years and still don't fully understand how this works with orders placed a way in advance...

That's how I read it too, if you cancel your slot within 14 days of delivery they will charge you £9.99. 🤷‍♀️

Booked my slot for the Tuesday, there were none left for any later in the week. Currently I have 4 bottles of Baileys, mince pies and a tin of Quality Street in my basket, so it’s going to be a very merry Christmas

What time do slots open please? Will set my alarm.

I booked this morning at 7 - could only get the 22nd

No email yet

I didn’t see my email but was randomly editing a shop this morning for tomorrow and saw that I was able to. Loads still available in SE London. I got night of 23rd all the morning slots were gone but I was fussed what time I got it.

Glad I then saw my email as I was ranting at DH that the last email said delivery would be free and they were charging me. But coupon was in email.