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Original poster

Online grocery shopping substitutions

142 replies

TheObserverOne · 17/08/2016 20:08

So I've just had my weekly shop delivered. I don't usually order online, but I'm working long shifts this week so did it for ease and there were a couple of substitutions.
A lasagne ready meal was substituted for Shepherds pie (I can just about live with that), but my women's disposable razors were replaced with MENS SHAVING FOAM Hmm
It's made me wonder; what's the most outrageous substitution you've received from your Russian roulette of groceries??

OP posts:
CaptainHammer · 18/08/2016 18:41

Had 3 yellow peppers instead of 3 oranges last week. Any other subs have been sensible or the exact same thing but under a different description.

We've had a few extras in with our shopping though. A tub of frozen toffee custard and TWELVE bulbs of garlic.

IthoughtATMwasacashpoint · 18/08/2016 18:53

Lovely Ocado.

Ordered - 4 pink grapefruit
Substitution - 4 tins Greenall's premixed Gin and pink grapefruit

It's absolutely gorgeous and not destined to last long, not recommended for breakfast Grin

ParkingPatrol · 18/08/2016 18:53

I ordered a whole chicken once, along side other ingredients for a roast dinner. It was substituted with a bbq chicken pizza.

I used to use Asda and had no end of problems, bad subs, late delivery, cancelled Christmas order on the 23rd of Dec heavily pregnant with no car..thanks Asda! Since moving to tesco and Ocado I've not had a problem.

Vickyyyy · 18/08/2016 19:13

Heh. I once got a 900g bag of oven chips that were on special for 2 quid substituted for a 400g bag for the same price.

The most ridiculous substitution I ever got was ordering a box of size 5 nappies. Again, they were on special I believe they were 12 quid. somewhere near to 80 nappies in it. I was sent a 50 or so pack, for the same price, of size 2s. Really...wtf. Obviously I refused that substitution but its slightly ridiculous to even send the wrong bloody size Grin

Sugarlightly · 18/08/2016 22:30

DPs mum ordered orange top 4 pint milk, wasn't substituted anything. Was told that when they had picked it, they were out of milk. Shopping picked at 6, delivery at 8. I popped out to Sainsburys at 830 and there was the milk she ordered.

Phones up to complain, and the person on the end of the phone said "they had a milk delivery in the morning" DPs mum turns around and says "I work there! We don't get a milk delivery in the morning!"

Brentlicious · 18/08/2016 22:44

Fruit flies.
Take small bottle peppermint extract (£1.50 Ocado). Take a twist of absorbent paper - kitchen roll/loo paper - and create a plug/wick to stick in the neck of the bottle. You'll have to keep an eye on the level of the extract to make sure the paper is still touching. Put near fruit bowl - if you have a major infestation, probably best to do several. Has always worked for me.
HTH.

kurlique · 18/08/2016 22:52

Bunch of fresh mint was subbed with minty fresh toothpaste! Nice one Tescos Grin

wishiwasntme · 18/08/2016 23:02

Wanted bananas but received yellow peppers instead. At least they were the same colour.

stopfightingandtidyupthismess · 18/08/2016 23:07

I was the lucky shopper that ordered a pregnancy test with my delivery and ended up having them substituted with a pack of condoms! Was bizarre but very funny!

heavenlypink · 18/08/2016 23:09

With my last order I had no substitutions and everything in stock too very shocked Shock

serendippity · 19/08/2016 11:08

Thanks brentlicious will try!

Rogue1234 · 20/08/2016 08:54

I once walked back out to the front door while unpacking the shopping to hear DP standing on the front doorstep saying very loudly to the driver: "Do they not know the difference between a merlot and a chardonnay?!" Blush
The poor driver mumbled that he didn't know the difference either! We sent it back but since then we don't put wine on the online shop - we have to go and get it from the shop in person Grin

MiscellaneousAssortment · 20/08/2016 09:53

I've just had rubbish substitutions, rather than funny ones.

Makes alot of sense that there's a computer/ technology thing going on, whether it's not showing the original item, or only showing a certain amount of letters.

So much more than human error!

I do hope that the occasional bonkers substitution slips through, even though the technology is developing.

Just to make us smile Grin

Oh and thank you for the fruit fly advice! I had loads sneak into the kitchen in a pack of cherries, and although the cherries are gone, the flies are not. Shudder.

Going to buy peppermint essence now...

Fortitudine · 20/08/2016 10:16

Chocolate sprinkles instead of gelatine leaves. Not quite sure what inspired that!

KayTee87 · 20/08/2016 10:20

I had breast pads replaced with nappy cream once Confused

Havingkittens04 · 21/08/2016 09:23

King sized bed sheets when I'd ordered Double. There are no king sized beds in our house Confused

Ordered a veggie meal and got a meat equivalent, on several occasions Hmm

Cluesue · 21/08/2016 09:36

Ahh was still miffed by my sins from last night and up popped this thread.
Nothing outrageous just annoying last night.
Ordered 2 packs of 24 quavers subbed with 2packs of 18 but same price.
Ordered a laser pointer for new cat,dubbed with a mouse.
Kitten food in heavy rubber with jelly (kitten won't eat jelly).

The worst sun I've ever had though was when I ordered a novelty birthday cake because I was rushed for time and they sent me a smart price Swiss roll !!

Cluesue · 21/08/2016 09:38

Fucking autocorrect!!!

LikeTheShoes · 21/08/2016 09:59

When online delivery was relatively new my neighbour ordered her whole Christmas shop to be delivered on Christmas eve: all their stuff for Christmas day, and a party they were hosting for boxing day. It arrived after the shops shut on Christmas eve and all their meat was replaced with bags of frozen sausages. She was devastated, they had sausages instead of a roast turkey and sausages instead of ham.

Lazyafternoon · 21/08/2016 12:44

The worst is when they don't substitute... especially wine. I mean OK so that particular sauvignon blanc may not be available, but NO SODDING WINE as a substitute?! Really I don't care that much as long as it glugs and it makes the end of the day seem more bearable it'll do. They MUST have some wine! Poor driver heard a bit of a rant that day

OhGodWhatTheHellNow · 21/08/2016 13:12

Our JS deliveries all come from one medium sized store in Rhyl, for the whole of North Wales as far as I can see, so loads of subs. It can be a voyage of discovery sometimes though nothing spectacular to report I'm afraid.

No chance of popping in for a replacement so have to make do - got a lemon cheesecake for four instead of a single lemon dessert last week, stuffed myself silly Grin

At least they have stopped charging the higher price now, as subs always seemed to be conveniently priced upwards

BananaChew · 21/08/2016 13:23

I once got toothpaste....as a sub for bacon.

RortyCrankle · 21/08/2016 13:52

I generally have no problems with subs from Tesco and especially enjoy the ones where they replace a 75c bottle of alcohol with a 1litre bottle Smile

Happyhippy45 · 21/08/2016 21:12

Not an awful substitution by any means. Leg of lamb instead of a whole shoulder of lamb. Had a very nice chat though to the Indian delivery driver who completely understood why I'd want shoulder for making my curry. Gave me a few good suggestions for good Indian restaurants to eat at too.

Lpreece85 · 22/08/2016 00:51

I had a plastic drinks pitcher for my daughter's first birthday party substituted with a pack of washing pegs! I can't see how it came to that, I thought someone must have just been having a laugh