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Original poster

To think Ocado are on their way out?

322 replies

AlternativePerspective · 28/08/2020 11:59

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.

OP posts:
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TheFallenMadonna · 28/08/2020 12:14

We found it great during lockdown. I added my parents' addresses and they got deliveries frequently enough to manage (two separate addresses), and then when they upped the frequency you could have, I restarted deliveries to us too. We are completely back to normal, with deliveries as often as we like, very few missing items or substitutions and plenty of slot availability. I just did my first order with M&S stuff and it looks OK. Fingers crossed it works out.

MarshaBradyo · 28/08/2020 12:15

M&S must be relieved they did this deal pre pandemic

Ocado must be doing better than ever?

LightTheFlameThrower · 28/08/2020 12:15

They’ve been fab for us through lockdown. May never enter a real shop again especially now I can get M&S from them

MarshaBradyo · 28/08/2020 12:15

I have the app back too, didn’t realise was selective

greensnail · 28/08/2020 12:16

I've been back on the app for weeks now. Have had deliveries from them all through lockdown, only issue I had was back in march when I was isolating, I had to wait a while for my delivery and ran out of a few things. Looking forward to getting my m&s stuff from them from next week.

Bluntness100 · 28/08/2020 12:16

Very much doubt it, I use them exclusively and so do all my neighbours.

I guess you’re so disgruntled you’re Desperately wishing demise on them? Just shop elsewhere, you don’t need to go all out guns blazing like this. It’s a bit odd.

zigaziga · 28/08/2020 12:18

I’m confused .... I am currently using the app and have done for a good few weeks now.

hamstersarse · 28/08/2020 12:21

None of the supermarkets make any money out of online shopping. It costs them to pick the stock and deliver the stock and their margins are obliterated. So there is a problem long-term with online shopping for the supermarkets.

Ocado have the technology to make the numbers stack up. Have you seen their 'grey warehouses' technology? It is insane.

Ocado are very much just at the beginning of this revolution. What you see from them now is not what they actually are capable of doing. This is just playtime for them.

ThomasHardyPerennial · 28/08/2020 12:22

M&S paid £750m for half the business, that's a huge investment. They're not going anywhere.

TheFaerieQueene · 28/08/2020 12:24

The app works for me.

I think they are riding high. They have a new partnership with M&S, they are increasing their own brand. More people are trying to online delivery.

hamstersarse · 28/08/2020 12:24

This one is better

Twatalert · 28/08/2020 12:25

I don't think they will go under, but personally I had my first Morrison's delivery last week and am very satisfied with the price and quality of their own brand food. I will stick with M and maybe mix with Asda or so.

The change to M&S is a major shake up of my life, as I am not familiar with most of their products and cba to work my way through all sorts of M&S stuff to see whether I like it. I'll just head to Waitrose if I need anything. I have the time now that I wfh.

I found Ocado own brand products to be poor quality, like potatoes, most fruit and veg... I have wasted a lot of food over the years. Also, I am still majorly pissed off that obviously as a long-term customer my spending wasn't high enough for them to put me on the priority list during lockdown.

viccat · 28/08/2020 12:27

I've had the app back for several weeks now. And tbh while I prefer the convenience of the app (mainly for adding bits to my basket when I think of them), using the website wasn't so bad either. I had deliveries every 10 days and then every 7 days throughout lockdown but I've been a Smart Pass customer for several years and always had weekly orders. I completely understand why they prioritised loyal customers even though it was annoying for those who were more occasional shoppers and then suddenly really needed the service during lockdown.

I highly doubt they are going anywhere. They are by far the most reliable online supermarket and having M&S on board is amazing.

Megan2018 · 28/08/2020 12:27

The app is back for me.

I’m not keen on the swap to M&S though as prefer Waitrose so we’ll probably stop using it. But will keep the anytime pass until pandemic is over as I’m worried about a second wave and we had weekly deliveries throughout last time.

Newdaynewname1 · 28/08/2020 12:29

ocado is the only reliable one of the lot, so we are staying!
Tescos and sainsburys you are lucky if you get half your order, and that will be full of unsuitable substitutes
Morrisons will show up - or not
Asda- might show up at your door, or just leave stuff in front of another random door. you won’t get your money back either.
Waitrose doesn’t deliver at all

MayFayre · 28/08/2020 12:29

I think they’ll be one of the few companies to thrive in the coming year or so (and they will save M&S from going under).

I’ve had the app for weeks now.

linelgreen · 28/08/2020 12:30

Love Ocado. I have had regular deliveries throughout very few substitutions once we got past the first couple of weeks of the crisis. You only have to look at share price to see they are doing something right I bought at 10.90 a share and sold at just over £20 thanks Ocado.

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 28/08/2020 12:31

App working for me and has been for at least a month. I generally like them and we did well with them in lockdown. I find their food often has short dates which is surprising if more people are using them.

Twatalert · 28/08/2020 12:31

@viccat

I've had the app back for several weeks now. And tbh while I prefer the convenience of the app (mainly for adding bits to my basket when I think of them), using the website wasn't so bad either. I had deliveries every 10 days and then every 7 days throughout lockdown but I've been a Smart Pass customer for several years and always had weekly orders. I completely understand why they prioritised loyal customers even though it was annoying for those who were more occasional shoppers and then suddenly really needed the service during lockdown.

I highly doubt they are going anywhere. They are by far the most reliable online supermarket and having M&S on board is amazing.

That is not true. Ocado cannot possibly know who is an occasional customer or who gets all their stuff from Ocado.

I ordered from Ocado every 2 weeks for years, but I live on my own so don't spend the world. I did consider myself a loyal customer, but I canceled my smart pass a couple of years ago as the price was getting ridiculous and I could not justify it for myself.

I strongly suspect Ocado prioritised high spending smart pass customers, gave them a slot every week, and the rest had to battle for slots waiting and refreshing the website for hours. I can't forgive them to have treated me like that.

Branches1 · 28/08/2020 12:33

I thought the app was up and running for everybody? It works for me

Twatalert · 28/08/2020 12:34

Oh and the number of missing items with Ocado has always been ridiculous.

Newdaynewname1 · 28/08/2020 12:35

I strongly suspect Ocado prioritised high spending smart pass customers, gave them a slot every week, and the rest had to battle for slots waiting and refreshing the website for hours. I can't forgive them to have treated me like that.
of course they did. what else would they do? They prioritised people heavily depending on them, as measured by spend and regularity (which is the data they have).
We order weekly, close to minimal spend, and had slots every 10 days during lockdown, which is fine.

LBOCS2 · 28/08/2020 12:38

We got Ocado deliveries throughout lockdown - like others, we've been smartpass customers for years and do the bulk of our shopping there for a family of 5 so our spend is quite high. We were able to get deliveries every ten days to start with and now we're back to every couple of days I think.

The thing is, during lockdown ALL the supermarket deliveries had to prioritise as none of them could service the demand they were facing. All of them (rightly) went with high priority customers first and then beyond that it was up to them; many other companies also prioritised existing customers over new ones so I'm not sure why Ocado is particularly being vilified for it?

I still don't have the app working which is a bit irritating - but you can't have everything 😁

toodlepipsqueaks · 28/08/2020 12:38

Interesting to see what effect Waitrose delisting from Ocado will have. That's meant to kick in on 1 September I think?