Please talk to me about online grocery shopping

[Feedingthebirds1]

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?

I'm mostly housebound and so reliant on online deliveries I've used them all at some point. Especially when lockdown made things go a bit insane last year! At which point I was still totally housebound!

Morrisons - not a fan. I'm veggie and they don't have a great veggie range, the fresh fruit and veg from ANY Morrisons I've tried over the years (talking 20+ years in 4 different counties and 2 uk countries) hasn't lasted 5 mins! Whether bought in store or online I found this to be the case.

Sainsburys - was with them for several years until lockdown hit. At which point they became headless chickens! Closed their app, site and phone lines down and weren't using their email (they actually told customers not to bother emailing), it was not only impossible to book new orders they also cancelled existing orders inc 2 of my own without giving any notice of doing so! Total shit show! When they (gradually!) opened back up they were still all over the place! Deliveries hours late or cancelled last min. Also their responses to customers like myself (disabled) and otherwise vulnerable (elderly, frail, disabled children in the household, cev etc) they were woefully slow in providing much needed support/prioritisation.

Asda - generally not too bad I've found, occasional grumpy driver, tend to have maybe half a dozen subs most deliveries but sensible ones I am not a regular customer as they don't tend to stock certain products I prefer but I absolutely could switch to them if I have to

Tesco - who I'm currently with. Switched away from them to Sainsburys around 9/10 years ago cos at that time the subs were many and bonkers! Went back to them at start of lockdown when Sainsburys lost their shit! Not perfect (who is) but yea pretty good. Good range of products, few subs/missing items usually less than 6 a week sometimes even none! And subs make sense! They had a bit of a nightmare last weekend when apparently some numpty tried to hack them. IMO the nightmare isn't the incident itself - it happens - but their terrible communication with customers who were blowing up their phones and sm with legitimate concerns they could have easily provided reassurance on, FAR earlier and far clearer than they did.

But nobody's perfect.

That's my tuppence worth

Oh and the fruit and veg is super fresh and often lasts in good quality way past the best before same is true of their milk which I find very useful

Morrisons here, did Waitrose for a bit but back to Morrisons as much better, more choice, prefer their meat & own lines, better value. Subs are rare, great customer service, the guys & gals who deliver are great, very happy.

Re subs from Tesco - when you place your order you don't have just subs or no subs as options you can decide per item and attach notes to these

So eg I like low "diet" sodas (take the taste of one of my meds away) so I'll order some "diet" soda eg sugar free orange but in the notes I'll put "other diet flavour or brand ok"

Or eg shower gel I have a preferred brand (allergies) but I'm ok with the different variations within that brand so I note that

Very handy and I hope makes the pickers job a little easier (maybe not!) but certainly would reduce the likelihood of returns which I know with perishable goods they have to write off so represent an immediate loss.

We used to have Morrisons but found the number of substitutions and short shelf lives annoying. We now use Ocardo. More expensive but better

I’m a fairly recent convert to Online shopping and use Ocado. I used to shop always at Waitrose and do miss things form there, however I like the fact Ocado items come from a warehouse so I don’t have to worry about substitutions, the drivers are always lovely and on time and the odd time something has been squashed or broken, you can easily ask for a refund on the app.

What's the best way to get a first time user voucher for Morrison's? Are any available? I've never used their delivery service before and I don't have any loyalty card things.

I’ve been getting a weekly Ocado delivery for the best part of 15 years now.
Only occasional subs or missing items. I’ve only had a couple of orders cancelled. I’ve had a few Waitrose orders in the past too but I found the variety at Ocado was better.

I’ve tried them all as I have no brand loyalty. I was regularly shopping with Waitrose pre pandemic but then, in March and April 2020 the only slots available were from Asda. I have to say that it comes from the local store, which is particularly well run (their management of the petrol crisis was outstanding). I am so happy with the food and service that I won’t go back to Waitrose. The worst one I tried was Sainsbury’s - expensive, lots of substitutes and came from the large store about an hour and a half away. Madness when we have much closer stores. I assume that’s changed now but they were awful. I am not keen on tesco either due to customer service issues I’ve had there.

We don’t have Ocado here so I can’t compare that one.

Do it OP…it’s made my laugh so much easier. I’ve tried most of them and now stick with waitrose but morrisons were good too. Occasionally there have been irritating things happen like a split carton of cream but few and far between. It’s freed up my weekends massively for good quality family time rather than all miserably traipsing around a supermarket.

I've shopped online with Tesco for years and I bloody love it. It's quick, easy, and frees up my time. What's not to like??

Do Tesco's still have an item limit?, I'm thinking of switching back to them.

I get our veg from the local green grocers (he delivers a box each week - fresher than the supermarket, far less plastic and it is no more expensive)
Milk, eggs, bread from the local milkman.
We are veggie but neighbours get meat delivered from the local butchers.
Everything else via a supermarket delivery.

Its barely more expensive overall (about £2 a week more to the milkman) and it means that if one option goes pop then the others bail us out - far better than getting everything all from one place.

I prefer Tesco, and their monthly delivery pass (£6.99 for unlimited deliveries) is good value. Any substitutions you won’t pay more, even if the sub is more expensive; whereas Morrison’s they’ll charge you the difference. Both are about the same on quality. I do a mix of things like HelloFresh, then my supermarket delivery is mostly basics or store cupboard stuff. It’s not quite the same as choosing your own fruit and veg (carrots especially for some random reason!) but it makes life a lot easier.

I do it occasionally eg if self cst

I do it occasionally if self catering on holiday or when I couldn’t drive due to injury and I am never impressed. Use Sainsbury’s as that’s where I normally shop but:

• I can’t easily sort my order by category to check what I’ve ordered (you can but their categories aren’t very logical).
• annoying substitutes - which then may mean I can’t make the meal I planned
• frequently arrive earlier than booked slot when I’m out
• If I’m in physical shop and was thinking of buying x but they are short dated or don’t look great then I will buy y instead but no such option with home delivery.

So I would never choose to do it regularly but if circumstances mean positives outweigh negatives then I do. Sounds like at least worth you trying it in current circumstances.

Just a heads up - don't be put off if you find the online shopping process teeth grindingly slow the first few times. Having to search for every single item and learn how it all works can take a while. A weekly shop took me over an hour the first few times so no quicker than going in to the store.

Now I have most things saved as favourites and can zoom through the shopping list in 10 mins. I love it!

I use Waitrose and no complaints on service, freshness, subs etc. The only downside is that I tend to just stick to the same things from the favourites list now whereas if you go into the shop you see new items/get ideas. Definitely save money with no impulse buys though!

Just a heads up - don't be put off if you find the online shopping process teeth grindingly slow the first few times. Having to search for every single item and learn how it all works can take a while. A weekly shop took me over an hour the first few times so no quicker than going in to the store.

Great advice.

I also use Waitrose and find them brilliant. They don’t charge extra for subs and always refund promptly on anything you’re not happy with without quibble. The other thing l like about Waitrose is that you can add a note for your shopper onto every single item should you wish. So you can specify ‘large onion please’ or ‘if not available please sub with x’ etc.

Morrisons deliver from a wherehouse not stores so you can't get everything you would in store, eg doughnuts.

I've used and still use all of them, I've even had Sainsbury's and Iceland deliver at the same time.

Iceland do free delivery if you spend £40+ they do next day and sometimes same day delivery. They don't allow you to have more than one delivery pending which, for me, was a godsend at the start of the pandemic. THey also email you with what they are delivering so you know what substitutions you have ahead of time. They also have 'offers' on their webpage that can include free things so I've been able to try new brands for free.

For all of them anything you don't want you just hand back to the driver.

Ocado (although I have not used them for a while) - delivered in bags according to where you store things, cupboard -blue, fridge green etc.

Tesco, deliveries can be expensive if you are doing next day, but are usually pretty good, if they substitute it usually goes 'up' eg you order their own brand cava and it is out of stock you will get the market brand.

They have messed up a couple of times, I ordered a red wine that was out of stock and they delivered white. Then there was the great brie delivery of 2012, I ordered 2 pieces of brie, my carer took the delivery and only after the driver had left did I discover the 2kg of brie.

But there was also the time a couple of years ago we had bad snow so my carer couldn't get to me, the driver took everything intot he kitchen for me and asked if I needed help putting things away (pre covid).

Sainsbury's I can usually get a £1 delivery because I'm home all day so I get a 4 hour slot then on the day they tell me the hour they will deliver in.

When they substitute an item they charge you for the substitution but they also issue a voucher to be used next time.

ASDA - I have not shopped there since I was told to fuck off and got no apology but they deliver to my neighbours every Saturday and they seem pleased (neighbours).

I use Sainsbury's, just because we're used to it (would like to try Morrisons but there is one product they don't stock that we need every week and it's just not worth it!)

Anyway, I can't imagine ever doing a "big shop" in a live supermarket ever again! We meal-plan, we alternate each week who takes care of the meal plan and the shop. Once you've done a few shops, it takes literally 10 mins to go through your favourites. You can change your mind at the last minute, and keep an eye on budget before checking out. In the "peak" of COVID some of the substitutions were ridiculous, but it's much better now.

I’ve had to do the weekly shop in store a few times over the last year or so and oh my god it takes SO LONG. I could literally do my online shop in the time I spent at the checkout alone. And do it on the sofa with a cup of tea, or in bed, or on the bus, or anywhere!

Once you get used to the convenience of online it’s hard to go back!

@LastToBePicked

I’ve had to do the weekly shop in store a few times over the last year or so and oh my god it takes SO LONG. I could literally do my online shop in the time I spent at the checkout alone. And do it on the sofa with a cup of tea, or in bed, or on the bus, or anywhere!

Once you get used to the convenience of online it’s hard to go back!

This is exactly why I hate a big in store shop, I've already amended my weekend order this morning sat in bed with a cuppa 🤣

I use Tesco. I book a slot in the Thursday and use a previous order to fill my basket and then I add and delete items as required. I’ve got an Alexa so anything we need during the week gets added to that then I’ll add it to the basket.
If I’m looking for new recipe ideas I can choose a meal and select the ingredients I need as well.
Before paying it’ll suggest favourite items that you frequently buy that you’ve missed.
I get my shopping the following Friday morning. I always need to book a week out but I do it systematically now and it takes say 10-15 minutes.

I hate the carbon emissions of grocery delivery. Lower if we travel to supermarket ourselves (always on bike). Substitution management is a headache but probably gets easier if you shop regularly & easily know what subs you'd like.