To think this charge is unfair?

[OhSoggyBiscuit]

Just did a Tesco online shop (yes, at 3 in the morning!!) and noticed that after delivery charge (not unfair, it would cost me £3 to get there by bus so I guess I pay the extra £1 for convenience) and £4 for having a basket under £40 (Unfair as I can't afford £40 in groceries right now) it cost me an extra £8 on top of my shop.

AIBU to think the under £40 bag charge is kind of unfair to people on low incomes?

[shouldaknownbetter]

Ocado have a minimum spend, and there's a particular product i want (actually need, for medical reasons relating to my diet) that I can only get from there so I just make the basket up with something expensive like an electric toothbrush and send it back free . Works for me!

[RestingBitchFaced]

Try Asda their minimum is £25

[darkcloudlooming]

To be honest the only option you have is either spending that extra on £8 for essentials you will need for the week after like cupboard stuff or cleaning/ bath products and stock up on things that you could save money on the week after. Or just go to the shops yourself and save the money in delivery fees and other fees. I suppose Tesco do have to draw a line like others have said

[TheFairyCaravan]

I used to do a Tesco shop for DS2 at uni. I didn't have to pay the delivery because I've got a delivery saver but if it came to less than £40 I'd make up the difference with something that would keep like a bag of pasta, or some cereal. If it was slightly less than the £40 I'd chuck a treat in for him.

I figured that I had to spend the extra anyway so I might as well spend it on him than Tesco.

[starzig]

They need a cut off as people might start ordering delivery for 2 pints of lager and a packet of crisps. Which would be so not worth the staff and petrol. £40 happens to be that cut off.

[JonSnowsWife]

NoUsernameforme Iceland is only a free home delivery for £25 if you go in store ans do your shop.

Online the minimum spend is £35.

[CheshireChat]

You have to be rich to be poor.

I understand why Tesco do it, but it's still crap. Must also be crap if you live alone as you just don't need so much stuff.

[Corcory]

If I get a delivery from Tescos I always go for the £1 slot so you could save that way. But I would never order too little, I'd just wait till I needed enough or ask a neighbour if they wanted anything delivering and add it to yours.

[melj1213]

But it's not costing you £8 on top of your shop because you're low income, it's charging you £8 on top of your shopping for the inconvenience and because you haven't met the minimum terms.

It's a balancing act of priority and the store has to draw the line somewhere. If you're 'cash rich' but 'time poor' then the £8 charge outweighs the inconvenience of doing it yourself. If you're 'cash poor' but 'time rich' then the £8 charge isn't worth it and you'd be better saving the money by going to the store yourself.

It's just like "Free Delivery over £40" ... if you're spending £43 then you're getting the perk of free delivery but if you're spending £39 and delivery is £4 then you're still spending £43 but you're getting £4 less products for the sake of a £1 "saving".

[AnchorDownDeepBreath]

If Iceland can offer delivery for £25, so could Tesco, they don't pay their workers any more or offer better contracts/staff benefits*

Doesn’t matter, really. They have different overheads anyway - but the fact is that Tesco don’t want shoppers who spend less than £40: so put them off with a surcharge. Iceland are happy to only charge people below £25.

They have different markets; and different aims.

[Changerofname987654321]

The gov is very clear that frozen fruit and veg are as health if not health than fresh fruit and veg.

[Birdsgottafly]

"Do a shop ever 2 weeks rather than every week to hit the £40."

Well you can if you are eating frozen food etc, but if you want to eat fresh veg/fruit, like the Government want us to, you can't.

If Iceland can offer delivery for £25, so could Tesco, they don't pay their workers any more or offer better contracts/staff benefits.

[5rivers7hills]

AIBU to think the under £40 bag charge is kind of unfair to people on low incomes?

Life is unfair.

Do a shop ever 2 weeks rather than every week to hit the £40.

[EB123]

Asda is £25 if you click and collect. Iceland I think is the only one with a the lower minimum for delivery.

I think a lower minimum delivery would help many people out, the elderly for example.

[MadForlt]

I have a way around it in my local Tesco. They sell local products online (in my case it's fish), for a certain price per kilo (varies from £10 to £17). But they send you a pack which ranges from £3odd to £6. My most recent order the kilo price was £16.80, the pack was £3.80. So my shopping was significantly less than the £40 minimum.

Might there be something like that you could try?

[Danceswithwarthogs]

Has someone already mentioned Iceland?

[SingingMySong]

Tesco used to have a £25 min spend, which was great. You basically get them to pick and pack it for free so I think a £40 min charge is understandable. I stock it up with stuff like cat food, dishwasher tablets and loo roll if needed to hit £40.

I can only suggest you space out your shops a bit more.

[user1499786242]

Asda is £25 minimum I think?

[BabsGanoush]

Tesco do a flexi-slot's of 4 hours and deliver when they have a time free. They text before delivery with a narrower time slot of an hour. This cost me a £1 last week.

I know your funds are limited but could you not bulk buy loo rolls or washing powder to complete the £40 basket?

If you are going to use them regularly look at their cheaper delivery options, bulk buy and buy EVERYTHING from there which you may pick up during the week elsewhere, like your milk and bread top ups.

And no, Tesco are here to help low income families. Neither are the other supermarkets, even Iceland have conditions.

[Witsender]

Most shops (clothes etc etc) have a free delivery over a certain point don't they, same deal.

[scaryclown]

It is very important for companies to use every opportunity to charge the poorest the most.

There is nothing more offensive in this modern world than someone who resists buying things they don't need, and the aggression you will unleash against you for trying to pay less will be overwhelming. Just buy too much and stop devious trying to deprive poor Tescos..

[Nousernameforme]

can you get an iceland delivery? anything over £25 is free and you get a lot from there for that. It does fresh and food cupboard stuff as well. You might have to compromise over some of that but needs must when things are tight

[tshirtsuntan]

I use Morrison, the £40 limit applies but if you choose a slightly anti social delivery time (early morning/late evening) a few days ahead delivery is free.

[PodgeBod]

See what other supermarkets deliver to you, they all have their own minimum. I'm fairly sure Iceland have a lower spend and free delivery. There's not the huge range they have in Tesco but they have all of the basics.

[Lagerthaisfabulous]

The Op CAN go shopping for cheaper thoygh. She has a choice.

There is no right to do an online shop.