To think Ocado are on their way out?

[AlternativePerspective]

They treated many of their customers shockingly during the pandemic. Broke the app and haven’t brought it back, and I have been told there is no timeframe as to when it will be brought back, they roll out a boiler template that it’s gradually going to be rolled out to a small selection of customers to ensure it works.

This is the only online only supermarket, and they’re the one who have failed the most spectacularly.

M&S are supposed to be online with them from Monday but with no app for many people shopping with them won’t be an easy thing to do so they won’t bother. Added to which M&S are looking to cut their costs anyway.

I speculated to my DP the other day that I will be surprised if Ocado are still around in a year’s time.

It’s a shame. They used to be a flagship online shop, now they’re the worst online supermarket.

I've been using the app again for a few weeks but found the mobile website worked near identically. I was surprised how few Waitrose products I actually buy, and the few things I like I can go to waitrose for. I also go to Sainsburys and Aldi. I had good service through lockdown, there were a couple of weeks of cancellations and no stock, but really not too bad considering.

I REALLY miss the app. I usually do my main order using the website and then the app via the Alexa skill to add things. On two separate occasions today members of my family have told me things that needed to be added the order. In the olden days I would have just said “Alexa ask Ocado to add peanut butter to my trolley” Alexa then says “how about Skippy blah blah blah” (based on my previous orders) and I say “yes please” and it’s done. Today I had to log in, find the peanut butter and then do the seemingly endless clicking through to check the order out again. TWICE and you can bet fI’ll have to do it some more before the delivery date....

I use Ocado every week. I got a delivery every week throughout lockdown - I wasn't a fast pass customer. I use my phone to do my order each week and it's as straightforward as the app was. I genuinely don't experience the issues with them that others seem to.

I read an article that said Waitrose basically tried to bully Ocado into better terms for Waitrose at the last minute of contract negotiations and obviously worse terms for Ocado as W felt Ocado needed them more than Waitrose needed them. And if that's the case and true I'll be happy to see Ocado survive and thrive because I bloody hate bullies! I know business is business but still.

Their share price and profits have rocketed since lockdown so no, I sincerely doubt they're on the way out...

I used to use Ocado via the website and it was fine, no problem. I only don't use them now as I no longer need the specialist bits I used to buy from there. I don't see any supermarket going under at the minute, there's huge demand for every delivery service.

I’ve just put in my first order for Ocado with M&S and I can’t wait. Nearest M&S is about 10 miles away. No I don’t think Ocado are on their way out. I think Waitrose is more likely to suffer.

@MiniCooperLover

I read an article that said Waitrose basically tried to bully Ocado into better terms for Waitrose at the last minute of contract negotiations and obviously worse terms for Ocado as W felt Ocado needed them more than Waitrose needed them. And if that's the case and true I'll be happy to see Ocado survive and thrive because I bloody hate bullies! I know business is business but still.

I wouldn't read too much into that. Waitrose have developed a massive expansion plan for delivery services which means they no longer need Ocado. Waitrose is one of the more ethical stores so I doubt it was to do with bullying. More to do with no needing Ocado as a delivery vehicle.

Love OCADO. Treated wonderfully during Lockdown. They prioritised existing long term customers. No way I'd leave them - that deserves some loyalty.

As a regular user it was tough at the beginning but they were no worse or better than any other supermarket.

Ok the app is still not working, but doing it online is no hardship is it? You can still use your phone or tablet

Looking forward to the M and S food, which is on a par with Waitrose, although Ocado own brand is good for lots of stuff

Sorry haven't rtft but they have a waiting list of over 1 m people wanting to be customers.

Lmao at the idea they are set to perish!

They have a waiting list?

I have been a regular customer for about a decade I think. Had regular slot pre-Covid.

First three weeks of lockdown I had the holy grail of weekly deliveries. Then nothing. My regular slot cancelled and despite having spent a fortune over the years I wasn’t a priority customer and I still don’t understand why. I started doing a big weekly shop at Waitrose and swore I’d never go back.

I’ve gone back. Even though I didn’t get a Toblerone.

They are the best for online and having seen all the M&S products which all seem to be 10p cheaper than the Waitrose equivalent I’m looking forward to next weeks shop!

Pah! Turns out the app still isn't available to everyone after all. I updated it earlier and it let me log in, but now I get the error message saying it's only for selected people. Arrrrggghhh. I did ALL my shopping on the app - why can't I be in the special group?!

Thank have tried to scan read all the comments, before posting because of repeating anyone. Ocado have treated me well, so I'm already onside, but M&S kids knickers and socks, and school shirts. Game changer!

Full disclosure.. We got three Toblerones.

@mugelbbub

Full disclosure.. We got three Toblerones.

So did we!

I can’t shop with them again. I loved them and had one or two big deliveries a week and Was a customer for 14 years. I also used their affiliate companies for pet and household products too. I have a big family so would definitely be a large spend customer. I can’t forget how badly I was treated during lockdown. They didn’t respond to my messages and I constantly got a generic message telling me that I was not a priority. We are finished now and I can’t go back. I don’t think they will lose their business in a year, but I do think they will step up their PR in the effort to win customers Back.

@BuggerOffAndGoodDayToYou easier to book an order, then just add the things you think of over the week to the trolley, then before the delivery date add it all to the order in one go. Saves the clicking through

I have the app back but no bloody toblerones. They never ever give me free stuff. I guess they know they don't have to. A toblerone would be gratefully received though!

I've had a slot with them all through lockdown (we're longstanding but not particularly high spending customers, £80 a week), and they've done well to provide everything I've ordered with hardly any subs or missing items, whereas people I know that have used Tesco or Sainsbury's, because theyre picking local stores, have had half to three quarters of their shop missing! I did buy a fair amount of Waitrose products but also Ocado or other brands. Ocado do far more independent brands than any other supermarket I find. M+S have created exact like for like products on all my favourite Waitrose items, price matched too, so it will make no difference to me. I find Ocado very reliable and an interesting place to shop (love Natoora stuff which is only available in London otherwise).

I hope they are not on their way out. I have an order booked for delivery on Sunday. I've had a couple in the last two or three weeks.

During the height of lockdown I didn't realise Ocado was worse than any other online delivery shop. We all had to be resourceful during that time. I use all the others but Ocado more than most and like them well enough. Whatever problems they had they appear to be back to normal now

Ocado prioritised long-standing/Smartpass customers during lockdown. We were able to book a slot all the way through and have access to the app. I think they've been great. I've had a look at the new M&S range and it looks good and a lot of it even cheaper than Ocado own brand stuff.

I felt bad that my DPs who were shielding couldn't get a slot at all during lockdown as they were only occasional customers before then, but we just added essentials on to our shop for them. Having our shopping delivered freed us up to do a weekly shop for other elderly relatives and friends too.

Yes I got 3 Toblerones too

Waitrose are about to begin a trial partnership with Deliveroo, which if successful might open the way for a link with Amazon, who are major shareholders in Deliveroo.
So it’s exciting times for online grocery shopping!

I never did receive my promised Toblerone!