People 'reserving' delivery slots

[turquoise50]

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? )

This is the most ridiculous thread I have ever read on here and there is a lot of competition.

It is in no way selfish or dishonest to book your order 2-3 weeks in advance. Just because you cannot be organised enough to do it doesn't make other people selfish. And it doesn't matter whether everyone does it or 1% of people do it, if you can book 3 weeks in advance and you know you will need a shop why would you not. I have never heard such judgemental bs in my life.

And as far the deliveries should only be for over 70's and vulnerable people I think you would find the service would not be used to capacity if we all took this approach.

@Atthebottomofthegarden

It’s not exactly selfish, but it’s a daft system. It feels a bit like reserving sun lounger with your towel...

It's nothing like that, you are using the slot at the designated time, not holding it and never using it!

@Atthebottomofthegarden

It’s not exactly selfish, but it’s a daft system. It feels a bit like reserving sun lounger with your towel...

It's nothing like that, you are using the slot at the designated time, not holding it and never using it!

I've been doing this for a decade.

And only once did the driver tum up with just a single bottle of Moet.

@Cantfindafreeusername
I have, there’s still nothing available.

I thought everyone did this sometimes? I've done it mostly around Christmas and Easter times when it's difficult to get delivery slots. I used to prepay for tesco delivery and if I wanted to keep the slot I'd chuck in say 2 bottles of vodka or something to make the minimum until I had time to edit the basket to what I needed. People are still having the slots and need them so I don't see what your issue is?

I do this regularly. There is no shortage of slots where I live.

As stated by everyone I do this and also usually have 2/3 slots booked at once (not during lockdown)

I'm intrigued though OP because I imagine you're like my old flat mate who every morning would declare she was ready for work but then have to find her shoes / keys / bag etc and didn't understand why she was always late because she was 'ready' at the correct time

Oh man I feel I need to confess. Not only do I prefer book a slot but I also made the cardinal sin of forgetting to update it. I felt like a right tool when he delivered one chicken, one punnet of tomatoes and one punnet of mushrooms! Most expensive chicken I ever bought!

OP. Welcome to the club. Don't tell everyone though. It's our secret to regular shopping deliveries!!

how can it be unfair to book a slot when absolutely anybody can do it if they want to? It's not taking some sort of unfair advantage if the opportunity to do it is open to everyone. I've suffered from the other side of this too op when I've logged on wanting a delivery the next day and there's no slots left. Annoying because I shop for my 89 year old mother as well as me, but tough luck. I could have logged on earlier if I'd thought on. It's not as though the money is taken in advance which would be unfair as some wouldn't be able to pay in advance.

@Justkeeepsmiling

How did I not know this was a thing?! How does it work? Does the supermarket not take payment till the day of delivery? I feel like I've been missing out all this time.

With online grocery shopping they charge you on the day of delivery because they can't guarantee what's in stock. You can also edit your order up to the day before because it's hard to predict what you'll need until closer to delivery day.

I usually get an order on Friday or Saturday. sometime over the weekend, I look to get my next delivery slot reserved. I fill it with favorites, stuff like milk and bread and produce. I learned the hard way.

when I first started using delivery, I used it like you do, logging in when groceries were already running low, depending on being able to get a delivery next day, or if I was organized, two days from now.

I was dismayed to discover when I was ready to order for Christmas week, about a week ahead, I couldn't get a slot. We all three had to tramp up to the big store with backpacks and shopping bags, twice, to get the normal groceries for the next 4 days, and then the groceries for the actual holiday weekend. and then we had to do it again for New Years Weekend.

The next year, I reserved a holiday order as soon as they opened by filling it with nonsense. Thinking I would finalize it later, I didn't make a decision between which fancy roasts and hams and sides of salmon, I clicked 3 or 4. Ditto for chocolate and biscuit selections, Panettone and cakes. And Wine. then I forgot about it. and our plans changed. and I didn't notice the email notification, or thought it was just an ad. the delivery arrived mid afternoon the day before we intended to leave for my inlaws down south! It was an expensive mistake, but at least most of it had a long shelf life, could go with us as gifts or fit in the freezer!

We ate really, really well in January and February. Now I reserve for holidays as soon as I can, but with the normal stuff from my favorites list or a previous order.

Also, judging from the limited selection of delivery slots I can see when I log in, I am pretty sure more vulnerable people have had a shot at them before me. There is usual little to choose from for the first 2 or 3 days. very early or very late, or nothing at all. then it's a little scattered for the next 2 or 3 days, then almost normal a week out, but I can't see any further ahead and I used to see about a month ahead. So of course I login the day my order arrived, or no later than the next day. waiting until I actually need food is leaving it a bit late to be certain of not running out. I am keeping more items on hand, in case demand for delivery rises again and once again I am taking whatever slots I can get and filling in from the overpriced corner shop. I don't have hoards, but whereas I used to try to have, for example, an open bag of muesli in the kitchen and one waiting in the dining room cupboard to be opened, now I have two waiting. I keep more meat in the freezer than just enough for the week. I have long life milk on the shelf so we don't HAVE to go out for fresh milk if we run out. We usually do, now, but for a while, we weren't.

It's disgusting behaviour.

Bitter or what 😂

[quote Merryweather80]@Cantfindafreeusername
I have, there’s still nothing available.[/quote]
In which case they have all been taken by other vulnerable people and no-one else has done anything ‘wrong’!

There seems to be a pattern.

Those that suddenly remember they need food and wonder why they can't get a suitable slot they want. Stamp their feet and say it's because of selfish people who book up. It's distinguishing blah blah blah.

And the rest that go hmmm I know I need food every week. I will book ahead knowing that my delivery will then arrive at the time of my choosing every week.

🤔

distinguishing bloody autocorrect. Should have said disgusting.

It's the way it has to be - especially now with Tesco.

I was desperate during the early weeks of lockdown. No delivery slots at all. I don't drive. Supermarkets tell me not to shop unless emergency, then don't come in with the children. I had to go shopping every day, and carry it all home, no bus, no taxi. I could have cried some days... I emailed Tesco, I'd been an online customer every week for eight years. Not interested.

Now, the delivery slots are blocked - you have to order in advance and then see if you can change it afterwards. I put 7 bananas in basket, checkout and add it it or change slot when I can. I hate to think how I'd do shopping otherwise.

Tesco have made it this way. I have to follow the only way I know how to actually get some shopping

This is how you get your slot that’s not the problem. The problem is those that don’t want it and cancel to late for the slot to go to someone else or you ring up and say you don’t want your “whiskey” but you know people have been desperate to get a slot. You’d be surprised at how many people do this!

I'm cheap. I reserve with a bottle of coke, costs £8 with the delivery charge etc but my neighbour and I are both isolating and add to it during the week.

I wasn’t aware that this is a widespread practice.... I understand why people do it, but I also think that if everyone is editing their basket the night before this means that supermarkets can’t really be sure that there is enough stock and hence you might be putting something in the basket that will not be available for delivery that day...

@BookishKitten

I wasn’t aware that this is a widespread practice.... I understand why people do it, but I also think that if everyone is editing their basket the night before this means that supermarkets can’t really be sure that there is enough stock and hence you might be putting something in the basket that will not be available for delivery that day...

The tescos that deliver to me do it in shop so the supply is totally dependant on what is on the shelves. Once the cut off time has passed then it is down to what the packer finds on the shelves in store. This is why you get substitutes.

I reserve my slots as many weeks away as I can. I'm a long-term Ocado delivery pass member. Ocado have rewarded me for my loyalty by giving me weekly slots during the pandemic.. I do think it's ridiculous when people hold their slots with items they don't want. Ocado can generate your usual list so I order that, then tweak it closer to the time.

Different shops obviously do it differently: you can't check out Sainsbury's without £25 worth, and lose your slot if not checked out in a couple of hours.

I've seen others says they reserved a slot with e.g a bunch of grapes - obviously the slot is wasted if they don't change that.

Everyone does this? It’s not dishonest it’s organised.