Why did I bother getting up at 5am for a Tesco order

[Hazbeen]

Is it just me or is everything sold out/out of stock?

I secured my order for this Thursday. Just trying to order a few bits. Tin of roses, nice crisps, carrot for Rudolph, mince pies for Santa, nice gin. No doubt the few bits I’ve ordered will get silly subs.

barely anything is in stock. Very disappointed.

This is the problem with Christmas orders. Half the stuff is out of stock so you still have to go to the shops.

I went into Tesco yesterday to do my shop and it was fully stocked. I got everything I needed on my list in the East Midlands

I don’t understand why I can’t get a tin of roses?! It’s surely a Christmas basic 🤔do they not pick the stock from the local store? I see staff pulling off the shelves in my local store.

Maybe at the time they did it the shelves hadn't been restocked

I assume whilst it will not help this Christmas, things like gin and Roses you will get a lot earlier next year.

They were all sold out in most shops as it's the end of term so lots of treats for pupils and staff, plus lots of businesses close down for the holiday so they have secret Santa and snacks

@LlynTegid trouble with getting earlier is that me and my family will eat them that week 🤣

I don't understand how the supermarkets haven't mastered this yet!

Unless it is fresh food and you are really specific over fizzy drinks you need to order your Christmas items like chocolate, alcohol and savoury snacks a week before.

I learnt the hard way last year when I had to go around to other supermarkets to get stuff.

I added a few bits to my shop this morning and only two things were oos. Get on there early morning before the shelves have been raided

You need a Christmas cupboard/storage space.

It appears all my siblings have one thanks to my mum.

Where I work, if you as good as finalise your Xmas order if you have an Xmas week delivery (21st onwards where we are). Ambient items get reserved to one side and don't make it to the shop floor to make sure you get what you order.

But. We are a very small supermarket so I'm guessing this doesn't work for the bigger places like Asda/tesco

I was wondering the same. Why do people get up at 5am to book Christmas delivery slots, are they different to normal slots? I booked a Tesco slot for this Thursday yesterday, how is my slot different than a Christmas slot? Will I be able to order mince pies etc or are they reserved for the ones who book early?

Unless you are disabled or can't go for some reason, I don't get why people do these orders. You always end up going to the shop anyway. Just go to the shop. There are piles of those chocolate tins in the shops. I have just returned from Sainsburys where there was every type of chocolate or biscuit tin you could ever want.

You'd think they'd do exactly that - set X amount of stock aside or even have a separate warehouse for online orders

Queuing is shit

But you don't need to queue, scan and pack is the way to go, I did full shop yesterday in Tescos, shelves were full and there was no queue to checkout.

The tins of Roses are out on the shop floor in August in our store, before kids go back to school, now one week to go and hysteria because none left, who wants to buy tins of sweets after Xmas when most get inundated with them? The store don't want to end up with loads left, that's why, same with Easter Eggs, one week after Xmas Easter Eggs are out on shelves, fast forward four and half months customers are amazed none left on Good Friday, happens every single year.

Ah they don't have that option in our local supermarket @Ilikewinter

You get the non-perishables over time during November/early December shops. Fresh for the last shop. Also don't leave it to the last minute for the delivery as certain things will sell out. Then anything missing you can nip to the supermarket for a few days before.

@girlmom21 how bad are the queues in your local supermarkets?

I love an online grocery shop but the single one of the year that I would never do is the Christmas one for precisely this reason. I'd rather make my own substitutions on the spot for fresh stuff and/or see if I could try another place if needed.

For stuff with a longer shelf life, I've definitely learned to start early as well. I've struggled getting tins of Roses, chocolate oranges, gift tags etc before, and I've been late with advent calendars and ended up with crap ones. It's annoying when you have your heart set on a particular thing and they've all gone.

This is why I start adding nice crisps, biscuits etc every week in November. Nothing essential will be in next week's click and collect.

Your online shop will go by what is currently on the shelves (not out back) in your selected store. So doing/editing a shop at almost closing time on a Sunday (the last Sunday before Christmas) the shelves will of course be empty. Try again a bit later when the shelves have been restocked after closing.

I get a Christmas online shop but always plan to do a quick basket shop in M&S or Waitrose for any last minute things. Things like Roses are best bought when they go on offer, usually about October

Why is everyone still trying to shop for Christmas food? I think you're doing it wrong, there are always rafts of people complaining about their deliveries being short, and then having to hunt for various items, as well as join the queues to pay - well frankly I can't be bothered!

Other than turkey & sliced ham (on order at local butchers) and fresh local artisan bread & milk & double cream from village shop (both on order to collect Friday), I bought all my veg 2 days ago at the local farm shop. It's fresh, and good quality and will last for weeks out in the shed.
I may pop to M&S or Waitrose around 3 or 4pm on Christmas Eve and trawl for bargains for the freezer - last year I got a large gammon for 1/10 price plus some party food down from £5 to 50p, but other than that you'll not catch me in a supermarket this side of New Year!