I have left Ocado

[Vanuatu]

I have been a regular customer for around 7 years, since delivery began in my area.
I was unable to get deliveries for about 3 months during the first lockdown. No problem as other people needed them more.
Really wasn't keen on the switch to M&S because I loved the Waitrose range and expensive ready meals aren't my thing.
We were told that an equivalent would be available for most products.

That is certainly not the case and lots of other brand products have disappeared.
It is also far more expensive and very few offers. One item I buy regularly used to be 2 for £7 now they are £4.40 each.
I really miss Waitrose essentials
Anyone else jumped ship?

@FangsForTheMemory

I'll be honest, I'm not sure why you need to announce it.

exactly. if you are going to use AIBU for a thread that clearly doesn't belong here at least make it interesting... grocery shopping... zzzzz

I signed up to Ocado early 2020, very excited that they had reached the dizzy heights of us. Had a trial free delivery pass, a few deliveries and then covid happened and I was sent packing. So I use them no more. Plus the van comes from about 60/70 miles away so not good.

Use Sainsbury's, then Morrisons will occasionally send me a month free pass so have a shop from them.

I prefer Ocado but also use Waitrose because I often can't get an Ocado slot or it's an expensive one.

Both are good in our area but where we live is very awkward so it really helps that Ocado bring things in bags which you can return to them. I also think Ocado have a better range and their food has a long life which is impressive for M&S as the food on their shelves is terrible for expiry dates IME.

Waitrose often send me things which have a use by date the next day.

Tesco for me! It's at least 20/30 cheaper. I was a pass holder for years it was the £10 delivery slot at Christmas final nail in the coffin.

This isn’t an airport, you don’t need to announce your departure

Always wanted an excuse to say that

I must admit I was a bit gutted when they went from Waitrose to M & S..... we mainly have Waitrose deliveries now with the occasional one from Ocado. Waitrose slots go horribly quickly even for collects, so you have to be on the ball booking them...... whereas we had a dedicated slot with Ocado, which I do miss.

But the everyday stuff from M & S was too short dated for me, we don't eat ready meals and their tinned/cupboard stuff is double the price of Waitrose. We had a delivery a couple of weeks ago and the M & S coleslaw/salad stuff all went out of date the next day

I’m wavering like you OP, for all the same reasons but I do like the late night free Ocado slots. Waitrose don’t have as much child/baby/gift/homeware stuff and I was annoyed when they brought in delivery charges.

I’m down to an Ocado once a month or so, with the odd Iceland delivery in between and then a butcher/veg box. But thanks for the tip for Morrisons as the Ocado app is very good.

I’m still using Ocado although like you I preferred it when they stocked Waitrose products. I now do a very occasional shop with Waitrose online just to stock up on the bits Ocado don’t sell. I wouldn’t switch entirely though as Waitrose are far worse for missing products and substitutions in my experience.

Also, why are people on here so rude? If you find a thread boring you can just move on to something you do find interesting. That's the beauty of a forum like this.

i havent stopped entirely but i have cut back. Hardly any choice anymore and they dont have the full m&s range. I buy veg and fruit from Oddbox and do Hello Fresh 3 days a week.
It is such a shame as they were excellent when they were Waitrose

@Vanuatu

Why is it reasonable to comment on a thread when you have nothing to say?

Same way as it's reasonable to clutter up AIBU with unrelated rubbish I guess...

AIBU to have left Ocado? seems a perfectly reasonable thread. OP has explained why and is wanting other people's opinions. I don't see what they've done wrong unless people are just reading the title and going straight to comment which seems a likely explanation.

@FangsForTheMemory

I'll be honest, I'm not sure why you need to announce it.

I'm not sure why you've posted that^.

We're still with Ocado. I find them very reliable and have excellent customer service.

Yes, I left this time last year. Couldn't find much I liked in the M&S stuff. We use Waitrose and Gousto now.

I’m going to do the same. I miss the Waitrose stuff. Even if you want M&S stuff they don’t make it easy to find certain products. It is expensive and the fruit and veg aren’t great.

I have just done the same. Have been Ocado customer for about 17 years. Just really missing the Waitrose produce. That said the Waitrose slots are harder to arrange than Ocado.

Sainsbury's is more expensive than Fortnums!

I miss Waitrose at Ocado and can't warm to M&S. That said Ocado never let me down and it's still rare that there are substitutions. So I'll stick with them for now.

Dropped Ocado for Morrisons- much better meat

I cook form scratch- the processed M&S assemble type food doesn't interest me

They stopped loads of non Waitrose lines as M&S had similar- it isnt similar it is inferior and calorie laden.

I like Ocado because their use by dates tend to be generous and their stock levels are often up to date. We used to use Sainsbury’s and almost every week, our fresh produce would go off in two days, which is fine when it’s one or two items but not your meats for the entire week. We also often had items out of stock with Sainsbury’s.

What are Waitrose like with use by dates? Our nearest supermarket is a Waitrose which is just 5 minutes walk away, so feels a bit silly to use a delivery service but might consider it if it’s decent!

@belimoo

Also, why are people on here so rude? If you find a thread boring you can just move on to something you do find interesting. That's the beauty of a forum like this.

Because they are dicks and can't help themselves, would be my guess

@ShirleyPhallus

How would you be unreasonable to stop shopping at Ocado if they no longer meet your needs

I can't imagine being so invested in MN that you actually mind which topic a thread is posted in!

Sorry, the above message was meant for @toastofthetown

I obviously don't spend as much time on here as others!

There must be quite a few people doing the same as their customer service centre both tried to call and then emailed me to discuss their new delivery charges.

They can no doubt guess that I'm less than impressed that my monthly charge is going from £1.99 to £8.99, on top of the doubling of my bill following the switch to M&S (and everything going up by ~25p each after the New Year).

I've been with them for over ten years, but it's just taking the piss now. The only reason I hadn't moved already was due to us shielding.

@belimoo

Also, why are people on here so rude? If you find a thread boring you can just move on to something you do find interesting. That's the beauty of a forum like this.

I know, they think it makes them look sassy and sharp. Move along if it’s of no interest. Or try to find some real life friends.

I ditched Ocado after 15 years op, not much in stock and bad customer service.

I have no idea if you are being unreasonable or not. They don’t deliver to my area so I’m unsure why it has a cult following but it certainly seems to have one.