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Original poster

Please talk to me about online grocery shopping

91 replies

Feedingthebirds1 · 28/10/2021 18:41

I've always resisted it. We buy mostly fresh food and I like to choose my own meat, fish, veg and fruit, I look for the milk, cheese, eggs etc with the longest use by date, all the usual stuff.

Due to family circumstances it would make my life a lot easier if I did it online and had it delivered for a few weeks. I'd probably use Morrisons as they have some brands we particularly like that other supermarkets don't.

Please can I have your experiences of any of the supermarket delivery services, not just Morrisons?

OP posts:
FindingMeno · 28/10/2021 18:53

It's good.
OK there's hiccups sometimes but overall it doesn't put me off the convenience.
I have found Ocado to be very good.

MajorCarolDanvers · 28/10/2021 18:56

I've shopped online at Tesco's since the start of the pandemic.

I never have any problems with freshness. Except for bananas for some reason.

You can reject anything if you don't like the look of it and it's refunded within hours.

I find it helps with meal planning and I'm not tempted into buying things I don't want.

Gardenlass · 28/10/2021 18:57

Another vote for Ocado. They turn up on time, delivery drivers always pleasant and polite. If there are substitutions, (and it's not very often) they ask if you want to accept them.
The produce is always fresh.

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Invasionofthegutsnatchers · 28/10/2021 18:59

Tesco is brilliant. Hardly any substitutions 9r short dated items. 1 hour delivery slot. 10 mins to place my order, from my sofa and 10 mins to out away. Saves so much time!

nzeire · 28/10/2021 19:01

I’ve done it a few times and wish I was organised to do it more often! It’s bloody BRILLIANT! Always in time, the freshest ingredients, packed well.

Woeismethischristmas · 28/10/2021 19:02

I buy at Tesco, rarely any substitutions but tends to be an upgrade if there are. Once you’ve got it set up it’s easy just to go through your last order and repeat.

candlewhickgreen · 28/10/2021 19:04

I shop at Morrisons and it's worth getting a delivery voucher which starts at £35. You can get free delivery from Tues to Thursday or one for any day delivery.

Many Morrisons' own brand stuff is just as good as the well known brands. Their milk chocolate is 60p for example and is better than other known brands.

froomeonthebroom · 28/10/2021 19:06

I click and collect at Morrisons now as I found there was more choice (my delivery would come from a smaller store). If there are subs I don't want I pop in and choose something else!

chesirecat99 · 28/10/2021 19:12

Another vote for Ocado.

They aren't as good as they used to be but they are still better than the rest.

Substitutions and missing items are rare because they come from a warehouse rather than a shop so there's no risk of things selling out. Fresh items are listed with a minimum shelf life so you know you won't get 5 items that all need eating the day of delivery. If there is an issue, there is an easy system to get a refund online if any items are damaged or poor quality, such as bruised or unripe fruit, discoloured meat, inappropriate substitutions, dented cans etc

AledsiPad · 28/10/2021 19:13

We shop online with Sainsburys and found them fantastic through the pandemic. Very few substitutes and if there are any, but they are a higher price than the product we order, we get a voucher to use on the next shop to make up the difference. The drivers are courteous and we find we spend less than we would if we used, for example, Aldi, as we buy only what we need. The produce is always well dated and fresh.

I'll never go back to shopping in store except for the odd bit here and there!

Powerpotpie · 28/10/2021 19:14

It’s brilliant! Like you I resisted as I liked to pick my own fruit and veg but I can honestly Say that I have never had any that wasn’t as fresh or as good as I would pick myself.

I alternate between Tesco and Ocado.

33goingon64 · 28/10/2021 19:14

Have done for almost 10 years (Ocado) and wouldn't go back. The rare times I go to a supermarket now are exciting treats! The convenience outweighs every other factor. Plus I spend less.

Iamanicepersonreally · 28/10/2021 19:17

If you've got Amazon prime, you get free delivery on Morrisons groceries if you spend at least £40.

heldinadream · 28/10/2021 19:20

I'd never done supermarket shopping online pre-pandemic OP. Started March 2020 I guess it was and I bloody love it. It's so worth the odd bit of limp brocolli not to have to trail round the supermarket. And I get less distracted by seeing things on shelves that I hadn't thought of, I follow up a few website suggestions but I don't end up with a lot of impulse purchases the way I used to. I really like it. Give it a fair try - you might find you like it better! Smile

idontlikealdi · 28/10/2021 19:22

I've been shopping online for ten years, started with Tesco but their quality was getting a bit shite, in general nothing to do with online shopping. Use Sainsbury's now and have never had an issue.

Much prefer it to having to trawl round the supermarket at the weekend. And we save money by not adding random crap to the trolley.

Hairyfriend · 28/10/2021 19:23

I have previously had asda and sainsburys deliveries. Less substitutions with sainsburys. Asda did have an option you could use after delivery though- so if something was broken, out of date, missing or just a ridiculous substitution, you could get your money back.

One thing to note though is the delivery time of day. Having read threads on here from packers, it seems that most stock arrives early morning, but may not be on the shelves till about 8-10am (depending on the store).

Therefore, if you ordered say a 9am delivery, they would be picking whatever stock was left over from the night before.

Booking ahead of time saves money on the delivery charge, plus choosing mid week. I always found the prices were much higher on a friday/sat/sun.

Would click and collect be an option instead of a delivery? Aldi offer that, but not delivery.

Kim82 · 28/10/2021 19:25

Another vote for Tesco. We started using them during the pandemic and they’ve been brilliant. We don’t often get any substitutions but when we do they’re sensible and often better than what we originally ordered, they advise you of any short dates so you can send them back if you want to and I’ve had no issues with the freshness of the food.

We shopped at Aldi before and don’t think we’d ever revert back there now, the quality at Tesco is miles better and the convenience of my shopping being delivered to my doorstep every Saturday morning makes my life so much easier.

RB68 · 28/10/2021 19:29

Sains here. Pretty good experience, although get a bit fed up of regular out of stocks which are clearly instock in the same store when you go in the same day which is frustrating but its usually a couple of regular things e.g satsumas in particular. The replacements generally depend on your shopper rather than being consistent. fresh stuff only occasionally have short dates on soft fruit like stawberries which honestly reflects store experience. Supermarket meats are a bit hit and miss anyway so once a month I will do a butcher run for things like stewing beef, chicken breasts and roasting joints. Mince, meatballs, chicken generally OK from SM

holidaynearlyover · 28/10/2021 19:31

Funnily enough I thought I'd look forward to going back into store. During the pandemic I did click and collect as it fitted into my day, I'm a teacher so had no time for going to shops and click and collect gave me a bit more flexibility than delivery (was free as well for a time at Tesco), I think it was difficult to get a delivery slot too at that time.

Once online shopping deliveries became more available I did Waitrose as that used to be free delivery and I bought a pass at morrisons so I'd do 2 shops a week as I find that it was hard to get fresh food without a top up shop.

I'm currently doing Ocado as i just prefer online now to going to the shop. I will nip to aldi and lidl if I'm passing as there are things I like from there but I'll definitely continue an online shop weekly or fortnightly

mineofuselessinformation · 28/10/2021 19:32

Ask around local people.
I used to use Tesco, but found it impossible to get a delivery slot, so switched to sainsburys. I bought a delivery pass and can get deliveries free as long as I order £40+. With the delivery pass you get to see an extra week's slots too.

MiloAndEddie · 28/10/2021 19:36

Morrison’s here. No issues tbh. Very very few substitutions. Turn up on time or phone if they are early (usually half hour) to see if it’s convenient for them to come now. We have a evening slot every Thursday and have done for about 5 years

Sparkletastic · 28/10/2021 19:37

After years with Ocado they went to shit so I switched to Waitrose who are brilliant

Eviebeans · 28/10/2021 19:39

I mainly use tesco, have done for about six years but have also used asda and sainsburys and ocado. Tesco for regular stuff others if I haven't been able to get a slot when needed or for specific things. I find it saves me money to shop online.

Original poster
Feedingthebirds1 · 28/10/2021 19:53

Thank you, this sounds positive. It seems like experiences can vary within one supermarket, I suppose it depends who's doing the picking and maybe there'll be an occasional blip, but overall it doesn't sound as though my fears were real.

OP posts:
holidaynearlyover · 28/10/2021 19:55

@Feedingthebirds1

Thank you, this sounds positive. It seems like experiences can vary within one supermarket, I suppose it depends who's doing the picking and maybe there'll be an occasional blip, but overall it doesn't sound as though my fears were real.
Although I once ordered 24 pack of rolls from morrisons and they substituted with 4 🙄