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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think Tesco are becoming hellish to shop with?

79 replies

LiveIngSun · 12/12/2022 16:05

I tried to go back to in store shopping after constant late deliveries and a rude driver (‘can’t find your fucking house’, it’s on an A road and we’ll marked…), but they removed so many checkouts. There’s a big self serve block, but they are crap. Always weighting wrong, poorly configured compared to elsewhere and not enough staff. Really slow to use. The few manned tills have queues to the middle aisle. Staff are demoralised, the store is functioning badly and understaffed. It takes forever.

Gave delivery a last shot and it’s even worse. First week the guy was late, then stood by the van flicking through the phone after dumping it all on the doorstep. Called out politely to him about the receipt/ substitutes and got blanked. Next week they are three hours late after 11pm, no updates for this. Said hello to the driver and got a dead eye glare back. This week didn’t arrive at all. Fair enough it snowed, but the slot was before it fell. The app didn’t update, no calls. They didn’t let anyone know they weren’t coming, and I saw other vans pass so it was possible they’d come. Roads were okish.

Today I queried the lack of info and was told that stores no longer give drivers phones or use the app updates. Said I may as well cancel the delivery pass if they are going to always be late and never let me know if and when they’ll arrive. They just cancelled the pass mid billing period and replied no further.

Do they not want customers? Is it just my local store? It’s borderline bizarre levels of shit service. I’m obviously a creature of habit to try this far, but I have re-ordered elsewhere.

OP posts:
SlashBeef · 12/12/2022 16:07

I personally find Tesco okay but our Sainsburys is appalling. Without fail they only ever have 3 tills open, always with queues backing up the aisles. Then the self serve has a big queue too. This is even on busy weekend days!

Guess it's just dependent on where you live. Tesco is mostly great here.

Whee · 12/12/2022 16:07

That sounds like a rubbish store tbh. I shop at a couple of different Tesco stores and occasionally order online from them and haven't had any big issues.

Emmacb82 · 12/12/2022 16:09

That’s a real shame. I think with anything like this though there will be varying degrees of success - doesn’t mean that’s right though. I’ve had weekly deliveries since covid and can happily state that I’ve never had a missed delivery. I find morning deliveries stand a much better chance of receiving all items. All the drivers have been friendly and chatty and we’ve had a couple of excellent ones who have been really friendly with the kids as they like to help unpack. One even gifted my 6 year old with a free Tesco delivery van toy as he had been to us a few times. Can’t really fault them to be honest.

AriettyHomily · 12/12/2022 16:09

Ours actual store is good, never had a problem with the self service tills. Delivery is shit, it's impossible to get a slot most of the time and I hate their website.

If I'm getting delivery I use sainsburys.

Redglitter · 12/12/2022 16:10

My Tesco online shopping is great. Rarely any substitutes and the drivers are lovely. I dont think you can really say they're rubbish based on your experience of one store. Its all dependant on the staff not the store name

SleepingStandingUp · 12/12/2022 16:11

E never have issues with delivery, occasionally call to see if they can come early. Also use another store recently for several hundreds worth of shopping and didn't have a single substitution.
Shop is like you mention with few tills live and all self service but staff are great, and in always the person who's things won't scan or who walks out and sets the alarms off with something on my buggy

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 12/12/2022 16:11

Our Tesco is really nice. Bright. Clean. Nice staff.

Our ASDA is filthy and has a hideous vibe. And Sainsbury’s is really dark. Like, really really dark. I want to like it, but I cannot.

SavoirFlair · 12/12/2022 16:12

You are an Ocado or Waitrose customer expecting the same standard of smiling service, great substitutions process, and digital experience, from an inferior mass market seller.

You have the power.

Purplechicken207 · 12/12/2022 16:13

I don't have an issue. Subs and short dates come through on email now (and some drivers ask but generally they assume you've looked at the email that morning). I've never had a late/non arrival, and even a week or 2 ago I had a driver call to see if they could swing by early as they were in the next street (could well have been their personal mobile, who knows). In store fine too but I don't mind self serve, and unless visiting on the weekend after early morning, queues are fine. This is one of their v big superstores though

IncessantNameChanger · 12/12/2022 16:13

I think it depends on the store. Our nearest one used to be do crap for delivery. Just never turned up. But they have improved. Click and collect was always good.

If any store only has self scanning then I just take me sweet time as I hate self scanning. If it stops one billion times then they come and override it one billion times. If the queue backs up, I do not care. I do not want to scan my shopping unless it's under 10 items. They even have self scanning in primark now. For the love of God why?

The key despite being a mum of 4, is never being in a rush to shop. I can't get stressed shopping. Life's to short.

Try another store. Leave then to there crappy ways. Or do click and collect. That's normally ok

RoseBucket · 12/12/2022 16:13

Tesco drivers to us are always friendly and helpful. Although they have almost an hour drive to us with not many stops so possibly a bit more chilled with less stops and no parking issues.

Babdoc · 12/12/2022 16:17

I used to drive to shop at Tesco pre Covid, as it was the only supermarket within 10 miles.
However, after suffering long Covid fatigue and discovering that Sainsbugs would do home delivery from 15 miles away, I switched.
Sainsbugs has been a revelation for the past 18 months - far superior meat, bread, fruit and veg, and hardly ever substitute anything. Delivery drivers always on time, polite and friendly.
Recently I visited Tesco to stock up a single product that Sainsbugs doesn’t sell.
What a depressing experience! Only four checkouts (of over 20) open, staff surly and miserable, fresh produce looking wilted, and v few customers present. The whole place felt tired and run down. I couldn’t get out quickly enough and will not be going back.

LiveIngSun · 12/12/2022 16:18

Tbf reading comments it made me think about being at my mum’s in Kent.

Really really lovely drivers, do ring, come early etc.

I think the customer service woman today at head office has made me think it’s all gone down hill. She assured me twice they don’t call or use app updates and backed it up. And cancelled the pass mid payment cycle.

OP posts:
StrawberryWater · 12/12/2022 16:19

There are three Tescos in my town. One huge one, one medium sized and another Tesco Local.

The only nice one is the next town over.

My local ones are awful to shop in. Dirty, crowded and difficult to navigate car parks. Staff are hot and miss.

LiveIngSun · 12/12/2022 16:20

I don’t think it’s a market tier issue either. I regularly use Aldi, they have lovely staff. Clearly work them hard, but they are always pleasant and normal. Say hi, scan fast but are nice to vulnerable shoppers who need more help. I’ve never had a negative interaction with staff at Aldi, busy and manic but managed well. Go to Lidl less, but when I have the staff are perfectly normal and things work.

OP posts:
Claudia84 · 12/12/2022 16:21

I still remember the advert that said if there was more than one person in front of you at the till then they would open another one. As a former Tesco employee all the shelf stackers would groan when they heard a ' staff call one' which meant they all had to stop what they were doing and get to the check outs. But it's just what we did.

Customer service isn't their number one any more at all.

aintnothinbutagstring · 12/12/2022 16:21

That's why I use Ocado - 3 inches of snow this morning, they turned up on time with the driver having a driver's mate to help. You'll be lucky if any other supermarket turns up in 1cm of snow.

LiveIngSun · 12/12/2022 16:23

Claudia84 · 12/12/2022 16:21

I still remember the advert that said if there was more than one person in front of you at the till then they would open another one. As a former Tesco employee all the shelf stackers would groan when they heard a ' staff call one' which meant they all had to stop what they were doing and get to the check outs. But it's just what we did.

Customer service isn't their number one any more at all.

I worked there at university, I remember the one in front rule and the overhead signs being used to monitor queue length. ‘All multi-skillers to checkouts’ all Saturday.

It’s not the same place

OP posts:
DuchessOfSausage · 12/12/2022 16:23

The Tesco near me is very busy at certain times of the day, so I try not to go then. I don't like the self-service tills so go to a human-operated checkout.

Iwantmyoldnameback · 12/12/2022 16:23

Never come across a rude member of staff in any supermarket (and I use them all) and no issues with Tesco delivery drivers. I must be lucky.

andymary · 12/12/2022 16:25

If shopping online, try Morrisons.
They do not come from your local store, they come from the main depot closest to you, so everything food wise is picked fresher straight from the distribution warehouse, not from the shop floor in your local store.

Other than that, instore in Tesco or Sainsburys, simply use the Scan & Go machine to scan and pack everything as you go straight into your carry bags in the trolley - easy!

zingally · 12/12/2022 16:25

Probably just your store. I do a mix of in-store and online and have never had any issues.

LiveIngSun · 12/12/2022 16:26

andymary · 12/12/2022 16:25

If shopping online, try Morrisons.
They do not come from your local store, they come from the main depot closest to you, so everything food wise is picked fresher straight from the distribution warehouse, not from the shop floor in your local store.

Other than that, instore in Tesco or Sainsburys, simply use the Scan & Go machine to scan and pack everything as you go straight into your carry bags in the trolley - easy!

I just have. I’m impressed so far. Next day slot and sent £25 of vouchers for the next two weeks so cheaper..

OP posts:
antelopevalley · 12/12/2022 16:28

SavoirFlair · 12/12/2022 16:12

You are an Ocado or Waitrose customer expecting the same standard of smiling service, great substitutions process, and digital experience, from an inferior mass market seller.

You have the power.

Not true. The best delivery service is Iceland. Better even than Ocado. If they can do it well, so can others. I got sent one thing wrongly, phoned up expecting them to just apologise and deduct the money. Instead they apologised and sent a staff member around to my house to deliver the correct item.

Beanbagtrap · 12/12/2022 16:28

I find that the choice online is SO restrictive compared to what I can pick up at the actual shop. It's very frustrating as we have a range of dietary requirements and need specialist items that they have in stock just not online