To think pre-ordered Xmas collections won't be substituted

[SouthWestmom]

Genuinely interested - I always knew the delivery services from supermarkets were just slots near Xmas and picked on the day so no guarantee of the products being delivered.

This year though I did two Christmas collect (different stores) ore -order things and both times was made aware on collection of substitutes.

Genuinely thought it was a way to guarantee the stuff you wanted

My turkey was missing from the m&s Christmas food order order. I was highly unamused, given it was ordered 6 weeks ago and they must have known it was missing before I arrived in store to collect it today I also thought orders like that were guaranteed.

In a former life I used to be a dotcom picker. At Christmas time, particularly for festive stuff, stores get allocated a certain amount of stock. Once it's gone, that's it. They can't reorder, as its on allocation only, hence they sometimes sell out of crackers, Yule logs etc way before Christmas.

For substitutions, if an item is out of stock, the computer suggests an alternative, which the picker can choose. In the supermarket I worked it, the sub was meant to go up a grade, so if someone ordered Prosecco and there was none in stock, the computer may suggest Champagne, as happened to a friend one year! The picker can override a suggestion but it needs to be checked by a manager and from memory, too many non-computer substitutions are measured and staff could get 'spoken' to about it.

Waitrose last year delivered my Xmas shop 23rd Dec without the sprouts and gravy. No substitutes.
This year I’m just going to brave the supermarket

I made the mistake of being super organized one year and booked the supermarket slot for Xmas eve am (I had to secure the slot in October). It turned out that half the store was empty (no sprouts, stuffing etc). We had so many substitutions. It was frustrating to be penalised for being so organized in the first place. Lesson learned.

@Beach11

That was exactly the same as us! Waitrose xmas eve last year. I'm not even a fan of sprouts, but you have to have them!

I remember a few years ago a friend having a turkey crown substituted for a chicken 😂

To be fair, the turkey crown is a more likely order at Christmas than a chicken so they probably thought your friend wouldn't mind getting the turkey instead of the chicken!

Last year I did an Asda click and collect Xmas order, well in advance. Picked up a good few days before too.
The only item they didn't give (no subs at all) was the bloody turkey. Asda couldn't have given less of a shit - basically the turkey was the point of the order. Won't ever use them again.

@Raspberrytruffle It's sunday. Are you inscotland? If not, your supermarket won't be 24 hours tonight

@TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross I think you've got that back to front! They were given a chicken instead of a turkey crown!

@BeyondMyWits Eugh.... All the fresh stuff will be brown round the edges by Xmas day!

We get the veg from local farm, harvested Xmas eve morning along with the eggs :)

I've got an Ocado delivery coming Christmas Eve morning, same as every year, never really get subs and if I do they're sensible, so larger quantity or same thing but a different brand. I've also got an order to collect from the butchers and cheese shop so if necessary I can pop into M&S. I have health issues which mean I want to avoid lugging lots of shopping bags in and out of the car so it works for me.

4 out of 42 items substituted from Ocado today, order placed in October. Mostly swaps to different brands, but I rejected the Camembert (for baking, Xmas day starter) being substituted for a slice of brie....

shesalittlemadam You can understand not everyone lives near a farm presumably.

My aunt had her turkey missing from her M&S food to order collection today. Her actual turkey, unavailable, having been ordered weeks (months?) ago.

We've given up with online ordering from M&S or anywhere after too many rubbish experiences from a variety of places over the years. We are having the kids looked after and DP and I will brave the shops for a couple of hours.

Ocado and Morrisons don't deliver here sadly or I would give them a go.

I've got Sainsburys tomorrow and Tesco on Tuesday....the Tesco has a back up set of potatoes/sprouts/Turkey breast roast in it incase the crown doesn't arrive tomorrow...tempted to add some turkey unicorns to the basket as a back up

Both orders have a shit ton of wine...I need to be sure....

My veg was bought today, it’ll be fine on Wednesday. Sprouts and carrots go on forever if they’re in a cool, dark place.

Tesco totally stuffed up my order today. Only 5 items out of 50 got delivered.

We had Ocado yesterday with no subs but fruit and veg already came as I topped up the veg box and the turkey is being delivered by the butcher on Tues, bakery we pick up at the shop on Tues too.
I need to grab more fruit, potatoes and fish tomorrow but I will do a targeted attack and I'm not massively fussy - the fruit can come from Sainsbury's local if necessary.

All the fresh stuff will be brown round the edges by Xmas day!

It really won't. 🙄

@Tobebythesea 5 out of 50? What on earth!

Ocado didn't have any frozen Yorkshire puddings for my delivery yesterday so I had to go to Waitrose this morning (I've tried making them but they are always utterly shit! I am a failure). That was the only missing item/substitute.

I got my order from Sainsburys today and there was no turkey or pigs in blankets! They're aware that people are going to be ordering Christmas food so why don't they get plenty in - I don't get it!

My Tesco online shop arrived this evening only 5 minutes late, no substitutes and everything in date until at least Boxing Day (and that’s only the raspberries and blueberries, cream, milk etc is good til 31st at least).

I’m lucky I had no subs at all.
It really doesn’t help when people put a couple of bottles in the basket then checkout To save their delivery slot and update the Entire order the night before.
How can the systems predict stock needed when people are doing that!!??
I done my shop and checked out and not a single sub. Every single item in the correct quantity

I have a delivery coming tomorrow early morning from Asda -booked weeks ago -and allegedly there are no loose carrots, ice or limes anywhere in the warehouse-although ironically the local store appeared overrun with them when I popped in for milk earlier today 🤷🏼‍♀️