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Original poster

Online grocery shopping

37 replies

SpinningFloppa · 01/12/2022 09:33

How reliable is online shopping in your area? This is the second morning I’ve had an order just not show up, it had my children’s packed lunches in so now I’m stuck and had to the shop, it seems to be happening so frequently,
orders hours late or just not showing up at all, and it’s the same with all the supermarkets near me

OP posts:
Original poster
SpinningFloppa · 01/12/2022 09:35

Also they claimed to send an email saying it will be 2 hours late but they didn’t, I had to cancel as no good to me now; is it this bad everywhere?

OP posts:
FlyingHighwithSNkids · 01/12/2022 09:38

Don't have that issue here, just a high number of subs or unavailable items. Frustrating as I only order the night before delivery so items are showing as in stick at 10pm yet unavailable when the order is picked early the following morning

SheWoreYellow · 01/12/2022 09:38

We’ve never had an order not arrive, and the latest we’ve ever had is about 15 minutes, but they’ve called to warn us. That’s among three supermarkets in two different cities.

You sound really unlucky!

Original poster
SpinningFloppa · 01/12/2022 09:40

Wow really? It happens to me even at other times (not just the morning) this is just the second morning in a row now from a different supermarket!

OP posts:
Aixellency · 01/12/2022 09:42

How annoying!

So far I’ve had no problems this year - veg box man arrives at an ungodly hour of the morning, without fail. Ocado seem to have sorted themselves out and are better than ever. <Crosses fingers>

But you are cutting things rather fine! Is it not possible to order for at least 24 hrs before you need specific things - so it’s less of a disaster if they don’t arrive?

Original poster
SpinningFloppa · 01/12/2022 09:44

Aixellency · 01/12/2022 09:42

How annoying!

So far I’ve had no problems this year - veg box man arrives at an ungodly hour of the morning, without fail. Ocado seem to have sorted themselves out and are better than ever. <Crosses fingers>

But you are cutting things rather fine! Is it not possible to order for at least 24 hrs before you need specific things - so it’s less of a disaster if they don’t arrive?

It’s all I could get otherwise I would have I expect it to turn up though 😣

OP posts:
heldinadream · 01/12/2022 09:50

I've been online supermarket shopping since the start of the pandemic, almost all of my shops (roughly fortnightly). Four or five different locations because I house-sit. I use Sainsbos, Waitrose, Tescos and Ocado, possibly Asda once I'm not sure.

Never had any problems apart from once and hardly ever any subs, or only one or two non-essentials so not a problem. Only once they couldn't find us but managed to find us the next day. Communicated throughout so it wasn't a major hassle.

At this point it's all so easy I literally hate going to the supermarket because it's so much more of a hassle to no discernable advantage.
Maybe I've been lucky?

rainbowandglitter · 01/12/2022 10:17

I've had online shop deliveries for years and not once had one that didn't turn up. I had 2 subs yesterday but not had any subs or missing items for a while.

Babdoc · 01/12/2022 10:22

Sainsbugs has been exemplary in my area (Perthshire). Always on time, very rarely sub anything, and if they do it’s an item of higher quality for no extra cost. The delivery drivers are always friendly and have a nice chat. I had no trouble booking my Christmas delivery slot either.
They did miss one delivery a year ago - due to severe blizzards, when not even the buses were running, and the police advised everyone not to drive, so understandable!

CryCeratops · 01/12/2022 10:24

We’ve only had an online shop not turn up once - and we were told that was because the delivery driver had been involved in a road accident while driving the van with our order in it.
So exceptional circumstances there.

Twizbe · 01/12/2022 10:25

I don't like online supermarket shopping.

I always seem to get subs and it's usually not what I need.

That and the meat is always close to the expiry date.

I prefer to just do it myself

Aixellency · 01/12/2022 10:34

I prefer to just do it myself

I can see the point of going to the supermarket for entertainment / education (toddlers / small children, very occasionally!) or for therapeutic reasons (immobile people who rarely get out) - but otherwise - where it’s just for things in packets and common or garden fruit and veg - I cannot see the joy in doing the weekly or daily shop. (And haven’t for more than a decade!)

A market is a different matter, of course.

MrsMitford3 · 01/12/2022 10:36

I find Ocado to be very very reliable.

Waitrose online on the other hand-not good. After my last order with them I said never again!

@SpinningFloppa who are you ordering with?

Original poster
SpinningFloppa · 01/12/2022 10:37

The ones I’ve had issues with are Sainsbury’s (today) tescos (last week) and Asda and icelands have all been bad near me, icelands only brought £14 worth of an £80 shop, was a nightmare getting a refund and Asda just didn’t show up but quick to refund. None of them are good where I live but it does seem like I’m just very unlucky!

OP posts:
TottersBlankly · 01/12/2022 10:43

Is Ocado accessible for you?

Their relative expense does depend on what one chooses to buy. And they are currently reliable.

RewildingAmbridge · 01/12/2022 10:45

The only issue I have had once or twice is them arriving quite early and me not being home yet, but they just come back later during the actual slot time

MenaiMna · 01/12/2022 10:49

I live 35 miles from my Sainsburys and had a delivery pass for weekly delivery about 8 years now. Only occasionally have issues with subs. Sometimes they want to come early but always cheerfully take a no if not convenient for me. What annoys me is not being allowed more than one xmas delivery over two weeks so I can't have my weekly shop on the 17th if I want the 22nd and they're not booking between Xmas & new year.
I've written a complaint email and not heard back of course PITA.

Baconand · 01/12/2022 10:49

We rarely have issues, sometimes the dates have been iffy lately and cucumbers and red onions seem to be always off. But deliveries are always on time/early.

Actually the early winds me up, I couldn’t get the driver last week to understand why I wouldn’t answer the door but I was chairing a committee online. Delivery booked 12-1 as I knew I’d be free them. Turning up at 11.20 is and expecting me to be available not ok. But it’s still better than shopping in person.

I’m rural East Mids. We use a mix of Tesco, Ocado and Waitrose. I prefer Ocado and Waitrose but can’t afford to do it all with them these days but Tesco are perfectly ok.

Original poster
SpinningFloppa · 01/12/2022 10:50

MenaiMna · 01/12/2022 10:49

I live 35 miles from my Sainsburys and had a delivery pass for weekly delivery about 8 years now. Only occasionally have issues with subs. Sometimes they want to come early but always cheerfully take a no if not convenient for me. What annoys me is not being allowed more than one xmas delivery over two weeks so I can't have my weekly shop on the 17th if I want the 22nd and they're not booking between Xmas & new year.
I've written a complaint email and not heard back of course PITA.

Oh I didn’t know that! Tescos allows as many as you like. That does seem like a silly rule!

OP posts:
Original poster
SpinningFloppa · 01/12/2022 10:51

Baconand · 01/12/2022 10:49

We rarely have issues, sometimes the dates have been iffy lately and cucumbers and red onions seem to be always off. But deliveries are always on time/early.

Actually the early winds me up, I couldn’t get the driver last week to understand why I wouldn’t answer the door but I was chairing a committee online. Delivery booked 12-1 as I knew I’d be free them. Turning up at 11.20 is and expecting me to be available not ok. But it’s still better than shopping in person.

I’m rural East Mids. We use a mix of Tesco, Ocado and Waitrose. I prefer Ocado and Waitrose but can’t afford to do it all with them these days but Tesco are perfectly ok.

We’ve had the early ones as well I had one that came 2 hours early as he was in the area and didn’t want to drive away and come back later. Luckily I was in.

OP posts:
upfucked · 01/12/2022 10:51

I think I’ve had two cancellations in 10 years both due to snow.

RoseMadderAsHell · 01/12/2022 11:23

Ocado still seems very reliable but loads of my regular stuff out of stock this week.

Original poster
SpinningFloppa · 01/12/2022 11:37

Ocado is the only one I haven’t tried, I will look at them as I’m not even finding the others cheap anymore

OP posts:
MsChatterbox · 01/12/2022 11:38

I've used tesco for 5 years now and never once had a late or cancelled order!

WhenDovesFly · 01/12/2022 11:53

My estranged DH has just started using online shopping as he's seriously ill and can't drive and has serious mobility problems. He's using Asda. First week was great and the delivery driver helped him a lot.

This week he'd booked a slot for 1:30-2:30pm, as he had a dentist visit and wouldn't be home earlier. Driver turned up at 1:05pm and called him. Husband said he wouldn't be home for approx 10-15 mins and driver refused to wait. He wouldn't come back and re-deliver either. Called Asda and they said he'd have to re-order (which would take at least 2 days as no slots left) and he wouldn't get his original money refunded for 5 days, so he was left with no food and no money. What's the point of booking a bloody slot if they turn up early and refuse to come back?