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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be annoyed that Ocado no longer stock Waitrose

131 replies

bluewanda · 31/08/2020 07:54

I just logged in to do my online Ocado shop and found that they no longer have Waitrose products in stock. I knew this was coming but didn’t realise it was so soon! I love my Essential Waitrose stuff and don’t think M&S is a good swap personally.

I did log into Waitrose but they’re fully booked until Saturday, whereas Ocado can deliver tomorrow.

AIBU to think it’s a bit pants that Ocado no longer stock Waitrose and that Waitrose, knowing their contract was coming to an end, should have gotten their act together on the deliveries to coincide with this?

Anyway, as of today supermarket shopping got a whole lot less convenient!

OP posts:
EveryDayIsADuvetDay · 31/08/2020 09:59

I was aware of it, including the date and I've not used ocado in years.
Have a different brand for a week or go to a branch of Waitrose.

sallyshirt · 31/08/2020 10:05

Ocado used to be really good, I stopped using them a couple of years ago but I used them for several years before that.
I didn't have any issue with them, and they did used to have interesting new products you couldn't get in my local shops (rural).

I now occasionally buy from Waitrose online, I stock up on a few different products that I love, so my delivery isn't a typical weekly shop.
I find I can't do a full shop with them as they will always have things out of stock when they arrive at your door - so if I'm planning friends over and I've ordered cream for example as I'm planning to make a cream pudding, then inevitably they will arrive with no cream and I'll have to drive to the shops anyway.

Since lockdown I've changed my shopping habits and now just shop on the way home from work, I'm sure it's cheaper that way.

LEELULUMPKIN · 31/08/2020 10:09

I don't even shop at Waitrose or use Ocado but I did know that M&S were taking over from the 1st of Sept, having read about it online.

I would have thought if you were a regular user you would have checked when this was happening.

YABU

IlovecatsyesIdo · 31/08/2020 10:13

You don’t have time to open and read Ocado emails telling you about the date they stop stocking Waitrose products ....... Okay. But you do have time to start a thread about it and post lot’s of replies. Interesting, maybe your priorities are a little bit skewed. Just a thought!

Starbuggy · 31/08/2020 10:15

YABU

I never understand why people get all up in arms that they didn’t know something when they refused to read communications which would’ve told them!

And if you cared so much but didn’t have 30 seconds to skim an email, you could’ve googled the changeover date.

Clymene · 31/08/2020 10:19

@bluewanda

I'm loving the anger and indignation this thread has generated - it's hilarious! Grin
What, people laughing at you for being incensed? Yes, you're right, it's hilarious
PawPawNoodle · 31/08/2020 10:24

I don't see what the big issue is since you're just shopping for essential Waitrose.

AChickenCalledDaal · 31/08/2020 10:29

@Gunpowder Grin

Solina · 31/08/2020 10:37

I have been saying to DP for months who on earth is going to be upset about the swap to M&S as Ocado kept going about it in a very "I promise it will be fine" kind of way. Well it turns out a lot of people then!

IMO M&S is same quality if not even nicer than Waitrose on some things and they seem to have similar price points so I couldn't care less which one they are stocking.

Housewife2010 · 31/08/2020 10:52

At first I was disappointed that Ocado was changing. Our M&S is fifteen minutes away whereas our nearest Waitrose is about a 45 minute journey. However, I've noticed in the last few months that we actually order a lot of Ocado branded goods and not too many Waitrose things except for their Essential Waitrose brand of flour, loo roll, shower spray etc which isn't too much of a loss. M&S have greatly expanded their range to fill in any gaps. I've made a few Ocado/M&S orders now to arrive from tomorrow onwards and I've noticed that in some cases the M&S item is cheaper than the Waitrose equivalent. It will also be handy to be able to order M&S bakery items (and the odd multi pack of knickers!)

DianaT1969 · 31/08/2020 10:53

I don't shop with Ocado, Waitrose or M&S and I knew about it.

Oly4 · 31/08/2020 10:59

I don’t read the emails either but knew when the switchover was. YABU.
I can’t wait for my M&S/Ocado shop, I love M&S and Waitrose and will just get bits from Waitrose in store now and again.
Really.. it’s no big deal. You’re lucky you can afford it

Baaaahhhhh · 31/08/2020 11:00

Anyone else noticed how awful the M&S food looks? Going through this morning deleting the Waitrose items, and with the food side by side, the M&S alernatives all look brown/grey and completely "dead" looking!

I will try one week, if it doesn't go to plan, I will stick exclusively to Waitrose from now on. Very lucky locally as we have four branches within 10 miles, and lots and lots of slots available too.

BuggerOffAndGoodDayToYou · 31/08/2020 11:02

@bluewanda

How did you miss the daily count down notice board on the Ocado website, or miss the many emails about the changeover?

I can’t believe people (other than retirees) actually have time to open and read marketing emails from Ocado Grin And there’s not been any countdown on the mobile version of the desktop site.

I open and read them (not a retiree) and that way I don’t miss out on vouchers, sales, special offers etc.
BallOfString · 31/08/2020 11:04

YABU, I prefer Waitrose stuff to M&S, but I think I've had enough time to get used to the idea that Ocado were switching. I've noticed some new Ocado own brand products that are almost identical to Waitrose, even the packaging is pretty much the same. I suspect they've looked at which Waitrose products were most popular and have developed decent substitutes for a lot of them.

nosswith · 31/08/2020 11:05

Whilst it is valid to discuss/debate this, I will acknowledge this as a very middle class issue.

sycamorecottage · 31/08/2020 11:11

Simple solution - go to the shop and buy the stuff yourself.

OverTheRainbow88 · 31/08/2020 11:26

I’m excited about Ocado and M&S

Did you now hear the super awks radio advert from Waitrose about parting ways with Ocado? I thought it made Waitrose sound super petty and was a bit ‘below them’

Housewife2010 · 31/08/2020 11:38

@sycamorecottage

Simple solution - go to the shop and buy the stuff yourself.
Not everyone has a Waitrose near them. Ocado was a great opportunity for people without a nearby Waitrose to buy their food. Yes, I know there is Waitrose Deliver but that started a few years after Ocado.
ChandosBucks · 31/08/2020 14:08

We don't have online delivery in the Channel Islands - it's been fascinating reading threads like these in the last few months!

We have both Waitrose (ironically probably one of the cheaper alternatives out of our limited selection of supermarkets, including the Channel Islands Co-operative Society - although in non-lockdown times they still do 'double divi' with stamps... ask your parents/grandparents!) and M&S, but they don't do online shopping or deliveries, you have to go to the shop. Ocado is just something we've heard about!

Also, until last year, along with no online shopping option, even big shops didn't open on Sundays - and yet somehow everyone still managed to do all their shopping every week!

Not that it matters to this thread, but I don't think I'd do online shopping even if we did have it here - how do you choose the best, freshest fruit and veg, for example? So much of shopping is done with the eye. And looking through use by dates to get the best dates for the product? And how do you cope with substitutions that someone else makes for you? If you do it yourself, and they don't have something in stock, you can do the 'mental maths' there and then to plan a different meal, or change it a bit. It's a bit late to do that when it arrives at your door!

I think I'd find it hard to let go of the autonomy that comes with doing my own shopping - but we don't have the choice, so it's a moot point anyway! Grin

StillCoughingandLaughing · 31/08/2020 14:51

how do you choose the best, freshest fruit and veg, for example? So much of shopping is done with the eye. And looking through use by dates to get the best dates for the product? And how do you cope with substitutions that someone else makes for you?.

This does put me off shopping online. I’d never done it before lockdown, but have tried a couple of times recently. It’s mostly fine, but I did notice that the dates on things like yoghurt and Muller Rice were all quite short. I’d have double-checked if choosing myself.

You can set to reject substitutions. In four orders so far I’ve only had three unavailable items.

AnathemaPulsifer · 31/08/2020 14:59

You can no longer add to orders on their website which means you have to put in a complete order at the time you book the delivery slot. They have been doing their picking and packing via some automated system now rather than by hand meaning substitutions and missing items are commonplace where they used to be almost unheard of.

You can add to orders until the day before delivery, and as far as I know Ocado has always been packed by an automated system. Ideal during Covid, and I get far fewer substitutions via Ocado than Asda or Tesco.

ploppieblopp · 31/08/2020 15:03

I'm happy & booked my first shop, prefer M&S

jessstan2 · 31/08/2020 15:19

I had an ocado delivery yesterday and there was some Waitrose stuff.

Housewife2010 · 31/08/2020 15:25

@jessstan2

I had an ocado delivery yesterday and there was some Waitrose stuff.
That's because their contract with M&S doesn't start until tomorrow.