Waitrose online delivery

[KnackeredOldWoman01]

I had my online Waitrose food order delivered yesterday and as I was in a rush, I didn't look at the dates on any of the food as I placed it in the fridge

I've gone to pick something out for dinner this evening and have noticed that my whole chicken, two packets of mince & 3 quiches all run out of date tomorrow. I also ordered two pies that run out in two days time.

I telephoned the store where my food comes from and was told that it is acceptable for them to deliver products with only two days remaining before it's past its use by date. When the guy told me this, I didn't think it sounded correct, so I rang the customer service number. The lady I spoke to didn't think this sounded right either and contacted the store who said they would call me.

I have just had a call from the store and have been told that I was given the best dates they had and that online customers get the best dates as the pickers are choosing the food before the store opens to the walk in customers. Whilst very polite ( except the first guy, who couldn't be arsed to talk to me) all the people I spoke to at Waitrose have missed the point I was trying to make, which is that I'm now inconvenienced. I meal plan for the week, hence I do a weekly shop. I shop online to make my life easier, this is just a headache for me now. My DC has ASD so entering a supermarket is incredibly stressful. Waitrose don't even tell you in advance that they are sending you short dates in order for you to have the opportunity not to accept the products at the time of delivery.

It just feels like I'm getting sent the food with crap dates because obviously people who shop in store can make a decision and pick a product with a longer shelf life. It's so irritating and poor form. AIBU?

I wouldn't expect to buy meat and use it three or four days after delivery without having frozen it.

I meal plan, so I understand your annoyance that yours has been screwed up... but I think you're making a mountain of a molehill. They refunded you, I don't see what else they could do. I don't even think they needed to refund you.

Also, it's not hard to switch to Ocado. We us both and the first order with Ocado wasn't hard - actually I find the website easier to use than Waitrose's.

i've got one more tip - get deliveries thursday pm/evening if you can - that's usually when supermarkets have max stock, so you get fewest substitutions on those days and typically the best life.

But it's fresh produce.....it won't just stay fresh for longer because it would be more convenient that way.

Those use-by dates seemed entirely reasonable considering you can freeze stuff too. It's not like they sent you things that were out of date - they went above and beyond by giving you a refund on items you could still use. There is nothing to complain about.

The Tesco delivery guy always advises me of short life dates at the door. It's one of the reasons I stick with them.