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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

People 'reserving' delivery slots

895 replies

turquoise50 · 20/07/2020 14:29

I've recently discovered that apparently lots of people are 'reserving' supermarket delivery slots by just putting a bottle or two of booze which they don't really want into their trolley to take it over £40, and leaving it there for weeks! Then when they're ready to order their actual shopping they edit it and take it out.

Thus just strikes me as dishonest and really very selfish when everyone knows that delivery slots are still in very high demand. I tried to book on Saturday and the earliest slot I could get was Monday 27th. Last week there was a two-week wait and I had to order from my second-choice supermarket instead, where the wait was only a week.

I presume people are doing it the minute their order is delivered, to hold their regular spot for next time. Whereas I tend to be more reactive in my shopping habits, besides keeping a rolling list in my notes.

I feel a bit shocked, but at the same time realise that if I (pre-lockdown) would, say, order on a Thursday for delivery on a Sunday, because that happens to be my preferred day, it's effectively the same thing. But there wasn't a shortage of slots then, going to the shops was no big deal, and I was ordering stuff I actually wanted.

YANBU - it's selfish and sneaky and people shouldn't hog slots; in fact the shops should crack down on it by making it so that slots can only be held for up to a week, and/or make the trolley limit a minimum number of items, not a minimum amount of money. (I know some shops did this for a while but not sure if still continuing.)

YABU - it's really no different from ordering your full shop a few days in advance and editing it several times before delivery as you run out of different things.

(As a side question - when these people forget to update their order and 'accidentally' get a delivery of nothing but a £40 bottle of whisky that they don't even like, should I feel a certain amount of schadenfreude, or be even more annoyed by the totally wasted delivery slot? Or a bit of both? Grin)

OP posts:
Dartsplayer · 21/07/2020 18:44

@Cupcakegirl13

I do this too , it’s called being organised ! I’m a Tesco delivery saver plan customer and book my weekly slot four weeks in advance . I pay for this service and use it to its full Potential. Nothing sneaky or dishonest about it!!
^ This. I have a Morrisons delivery pass and have been doing this for years
emrg · 21/07/2020 18:49

How is it disgusting behaviour FelicisNox? This is exactly what the monthly delivery passes are - you get the same slot each week regardless. Vulnerable people are offered first choice of slots every single week.

Think you’re a bit rude to make a comment saying people who do this are disgusting. There’s nothing sneaky about it at all, MOST people do do this.

Are you a little angry you’ve never done it yourself? Seems that way.

GreenPop · 21/07/2020 18:53

I’ve always done this! I can’t stand going to the supermarket plus I physically struggle to do so anyway. I book up as soon as they come out and have a delivery every 10 days or so (& have a pass).

Tildycatpuss · 21/07/2020 18:54

I do it you have to reserve a certain amount to keep your slot. But I usually amend a couple of times before the cut off point. I don’t see the issue with that.

Mothership4two · 21/07/2020 18:56

1. Did you all do this from the start? When shopping first went online? Or was it a case of, a few people started doing it and so then everyone had to or else there'd be no slots?

I don't put in expensive items, I put in our regular items which take it over the amount and add items 3-4 days before. If I didn't do this I would not get a slot. I shop online much more regularly than before because I want to avoid large supermarkets.

2. When everyone was saying 'Aargh there aren't any slots' during lockdown, did you mean there weren't ANY slots (which was what I meant) or did you mean 'I can't book my usual slot 3-4 weeks in advance like normal'?

There were NO slots for most supermarkets

3. What happens when you've got a slot booked weeks in advance but then something comes up? Do you cancel/reschedule? Or do you religiously schedule around the supermarket delivery?

I look in the diary so this doesn't happen. If anything did come up, I would fit it around my shop.

DyingDeclaration · 21/07/2020 18:56

I felt like this about five years ago when I found out this was how people got Christmas delivery slots. We always book a week ahead now, I think most people do.

Tessabelle1 · 21/07/2020 18:57

I have a delivery saver plan that limits me to 3 days a week, therefore I reserve my spot as soon as I can. Why is it any different to me ordering and paying for my shopping in full to be delivered on that date? I can only afford to pay for one lot of shopping per week so I don't have the luxury of paying weeks in advance, this system allows me to pay for my shopping each week.

Crankley · 21/07/2020 18:58

It's selfish and they are CF, I don't care what their reasoning is. Particularly during COVID when there are more vulnerable people who need those slots.

It's disgusting behaviour.

Too funny. You're just jealous because you haven't thought of doing it yourself. Grin

heartsonacake · 21/07/2020 18:59

@Tildycatpuss

I do it you have to reserve a certain amount to keep your slot. But I usually amend a couple of times before the cut off point. I don’t see the issue with that.
You don’t have to reserve a certain amount to keep the slot. A bag of crisps would do it.

Supermarkets have a minimum order spend, say £40, but if you checkout with less than that they’d just add a charge on, but if you’re just going to amend it later with what you actually need then that doesn’t matter.

simiisme · 21/07/2020 19:02

'Everyone who shops online does this'
I don't, but thanks for the tip.

LloydColeandtheCoconuts · 21/07/2020 19:11

We've always done this.
Don't hate the playa Wink

Thisgroupneverceasestoamazeme · 21/07/2020 19:12

@FromDespairToHere ‘amazon prime now’ is a lifesaver...It’s not available everywhere though. Recommended it to my brother and parents and wasn’t available where they live

eeeyoresmiles · 21/07/2020 19:14

My supermarket is currently offering slots for the week starting 10th August. I know I'll want to buy food that week as I do every week. I know Thursday will be the best day for me.

Why exactly am I not supposed to therefore book a slot on that day now? Am I not supposed to because I already have other orders for intervening weeks? Are we all supposed to wait and go to the website late the week before, because some people don't yet know for sure they'll need shopping so aren't ready to book yet?

I do know I'll need shopping then,
the slot is available, why can I not book it? Everyone else is also free to book it today if they want (but they clearly aren't because there's loads of availability).

Lucky2Be · 21/07/2020 19:26

I also have a weekly delivery slot, which I pay for so what’s wrong with that? Yes I “re order” my items and then edit the day before to add or take away items I don’t want.

The only loser in this game is you.

karenjkayjay · 21/07/2020 19:38

I’m sorry but I’ve always done this

WhatifIfeellikeacat · 21/07/2020 19:40

My supermarket is currently offering slots for the week starting 10th August. I know I'll want to buy food that week as I do every week. I know Thursday will be the best day for me.

Why exactly am I not supposed to therefore book a slot on that day now? Am I not supposed to because I already have other orders for intervening weeks? Are we all supposed to wait and go to the website late the week before, because some people don't yet know for sure they'll need shopping so aren't ready to book yet?

I do know I'll need shopping then,
the slot is available, why can I not book it? Everyone else is also free to book it today if they want (but they clearly aren't because there's loads of availability).

Agree.

Anotherlovelybitofsquirrel · 21/07/2020 19:46

*I do this too , it’s called being organised ! I’m a Tesco delivery saver plan customer and book my weekly slot four weeks in advance . I pay for this service and use it to its full
*Potential. Nothing sneaky or dishonest about it!!

Ditto.

YABVU and to be honest, ridiculous! Grin

FinallyHere · 21/07/2020 19:57

for the last two weeks I haven't been able to get a slot in the timeframe I needed

This is what I find puzzlin about this thread. However you had shopped before, would you really, day after day for a fortnight, check availability of slots for the next couple of days, be disappointed and not think to look further ahead.

I keep coming back to this thread because I really am puzzled by it. It's really not 'gaming the system' it's the only sensible response to not finding any slots immediately available.

Lots of things need to be booked in advance: holidays, haircuts. Loads of things.

Funny OP has come back from abroad. Don't like to generalise but I have met lots of Brits abroad who told me how things worked in their home country, which turned out to be entirely fictitious when I actually arrived here.

Merryweather80 · 21/07/2020 20:02

This is exactly why I still can’t get a slot. I’m very rural but there’s three supermarkets that deliver here. There hasn’t been a slot for months. I’m in the shielded group with three young children. The food box is a carb fest, zero protein and for one adult. I think it’s very selfish to hog the delivery slots. I’ve had no help for food shopping etc and still haven’t been outside yet.
I used to get my shopping delivered and will again one day I hope.

Jigsawpuzzles · 21/07/2020 20:06

@Merryweather80

This is exactly why I still can’t get a slot. I’m very rural but there’s three supermarkets that deliver here. There hasn’t been a slot for months. I’m in the shielded group with three young children. The food box is a carb fest, zero protein and for one adult. I think it’s very selfish to hog the delivery slots. I’ve had no help for food shopping etc and still haven’t been outside yet. I used to get my shopping delivered and will again one day I hope.
It’s not “exactly” why you can’t get a slot, people haven’t suddenly started doing this. Stated many times by multiple posters. We haven’t all started needing food? Your blaming normal consumers for problems with supply and demand... I can get a slot with Tesco tomorrow and all the way until mid August.
BilboBercow · 21/07/2020 20:07

I've never thought of this but it's not a problem where I am, I put through a shop earlier today and easily got a delivery slot for £2 tomorrow night

Jigsawpuzzles · 21/07/2020 20:08

I will also add that when there were less slots I stayed up late to book one 3 weeks away, I’m not going to then sit and out my whole shop in the basket not knowing what I need. Your blaming our planning and organisation for your inconvenience

mum2our4 · 21/07/2020 20:08

There are also many households not classed as vulnerable but still would find shopping extremely difficult/if not impossible and so securing a slot was vital. I have always booked like this and pay for a regular delivery pass

Beverley71 · 21/07/2020 20:09

I do this. But it doesn’t need to be £40. I normally reserve a slot with a banana. I often have about 3 shops reserved mostly for Friday’s (3 weeks in a row, not all on the same day of course) and then alter them the night before.

H007 · 21/07/2020 20:16

At the moment it’s selfish. If you are not over 70 or in a vulnerable group you should be taking your bottom to the supermarket and getting your own shopping so that home delivery and click and collect is freely available to those that need it.

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