Ocado...

[BlackBean2023]

My AIBU is actually every other supermarket treating their online shopping customers like crap.

I have tried Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Iceland but had the same problems with late deliveries, missing items, short use by dates... for the last few months I've given up and have been shopping in store instead which is a bit of a faf - I work FT, kids have things on weekends which require taxi'ing etc.

I got a offer code for Ocado at the beginning of the summer and used it for £20 off and free delivery for 3 months. Excellent service so I thought I'd make the most of the free delivery offer and have been using them consistently for weekly deliveries for 4 weeks now - the delivery service is always bang on time, the use by dates are decent (and clearing listed on the online receipt which make meal planning super easy) and fruit/veg has all been good quality.

Yes, it costs more (although not massively for me as I can avoid unnecessary purchases online more so than in store) but clearly it is possible to provide consistently excellent service so really the other super markets with their record profits are just taking the piss now aren't they!?

So you find that the store that charges a premium price also offers better service? That's shocking. Who knew that could happen?

Fwiw I usually use Tesco for home deliveries, and find it's disappointingly good. I like getting substitutions from them as they don't charge extra for more/ better quality items - but it rarely happens.

Yes. I've been using Ocado for over 10 years now. They were superb during Covid. They have a great range and say they price match. I've had vouchers when they tell me they've price matched and come out more expensive but to be fair I've never checked.

Substitutions are always sensible. Damaged / rotten items still happen but so much easier to get it sorted. I did a Sainsburys shop recently thinking it would be broadly comparable. They delivered items close to use by date and rotten fruit. Trying to get a refund for the latter was impossible. Never again.

Agreed, won’t use anyone else.

I don’t find them particularly more expensive, overall. We have a midweek delivery pass which is great value

I used them again today, haven't for a while as they can be expensive. But actually looking at my shop today and the quality of the fruit and veg, it will past longer than anything I get from Asda or Tesco.

I usually use morrison.. morrisons and ocado Come from the same warehouse, a driver once told me. That's why they have the same bags.

But the fruit and veg are actually fridge cold when they arrive and look fresher. Whereas when I order from morrisons, Asda or Tesco they aren't cold at all. So wander how long they have been sat around before picking.

Yes, I think Ocado are great. Usually plenty of slots, few substitutions or missing items and, on the odd occasion when there has been some kind of major mishap, a generous voucher as compensation.

Ocado is reliable, I've found. We did a price comparison with Waitrose once and Ocado came out slightly cheaper

Ocado are online only and don't have to worry about stock levels from in store purchases because they can gauge exactly what's going out. If the other supermarkets ran their delivery service out of distribution they could run it just as well.

And Ocado compares your shopping to Tesco and if it cost more they refund you the difference. Definitely worthwhile as the quality is so much higher.

It’s not a premium price if you’re careful what you buy, compare prices and are flexible about delivery times

I've been using Ocado for over 20 years and think they provide a brilliant service. I don't find them dearer than other supermarkets and think they are quite competitive. I could count on the fingers of one hand the number of times my delivery has been late over the years, and the very small number of substitutions we get are always very sensible. I also really like that my groceries are delivered in carrier bags, and the lovely drivers always bring everything indoors for me. The quality of fruit, vegetables, and meat is always as good as I would choose for myself, with good use by dates, and on the rare occasion something has been squashed or has leaked, I've always had refunds without question. I've tried other delivery and click and collect services and the experiences I had with Tesco and sainsburys were awful. I've found waitrose be to ok but availability of stock is not as accurate as ocado.

I don't think that's been the case for quite a while now (using the same warehouse).

I use them, not all the time but fairly regularly. The delivery drivers are lovely, and on the app it shows what time they are going to arrive and it's often bang on to the minute.

I always empty everything into a box on the doorstep and give back my plastic bags back straightaway and they don't mind as I'm often the last on the run.

Yeah we only use Ocado now for online delivery. As a family with allergies/restricted diets it's so annoying to get multiple substitutions that we often can't use (so have to go shopping to replace)
Ocado rarely substitute anything which is fab! Also find the dates really good too

It's marginally more expensive but not massively so - and actually probably more cost effective as I waste far less food now because it doesn't go off the next day!

One of my fears in life is Ocado not operating anymore or being sold off to someone who runs it down to the usual lowest common denominator shit fest that is most major UK corp.

I use Sainsbury’s and rarely have any issues.
ocado are constantly sending me 20% off vouchers to try and lure me back, I start to build a basket and even with 20% off it’s more expensive than Sainsbury’s.

I think their stock availability isn’t always great, really frustrating trying to buy a bundle when one item is completely out of stock. However, it’s rare I get something not turn up.

I find their expiry dates are often too soon, I gave up trying to get a week’s worth of fresh stuff in. They used to do a receipt (first paper and then emailed) with all the expiry dates on that was so useful. Shame they’ve stopped it.

I was using Sainsbury's but the sell by dates were awful and the general state of the shopping was poor. Like someone had thrown it from a great height.
Ocado have always been good. Although you can't rely on them at Christmas you'll end up in the supermarket because tonnes will be missing.

I've used Ocado for a few years and found that they carry lines others don't, their customer service has been excellent, alongside their delivery drivers always being of a high standard. Prices can be a little higher for some items, certainly not all, but they often have offers, trail new ranges (I'm a convert to the new Ineos liquid detergent), plus carry items I've struggled to get else where (some French / Italian brands). I like the M&S range and they price match with Tescos, so happy to stay with Ocado and believe me I don't throw money away, but find a good, reliable delivery service, purchasing my basics, actually saves me money (not tempted by wandering down an aisle). Plus when you pay for the delivery up front, it makes it very cost effective. I have a late delivery, so pay £3.99 for a month's delivery, which is far less than me going to the supermarket to pick up the basics.I still purchase fruit and veg locally though, as like to check the items before buying.

I switched to Sainsbury’s from Tesco around 10 years ago and they are consistently good. Never late, unusual to get a substitution and the produce is good. Not sure why you’ve encountered problems with all the different shops though.

I'm also a very happy customer for over 10 years with their customer service, driver service and quality. I have a mid-week pass which is fairly reasonable and probably cheaper than my petrol to the nearest town.But I am not sure they still offer that. I didnt think they were good over COVID/lockdown - their communications to customers were so patchy and different. I didnt get that. Perhaps due to different warehouses but they could have been a lot clearer.

They are very reasonable about refunds if a product is damaged (often due to their overpacking). The Tesco comparison is fairly new but I like the idea - saves me a job! They've been lovely with my elderly mum as well who is now housebound - so apologies if you cant get through to Customer Services - it's my mum with her daily chat!!

I recently refused a substitution from Tesco because I’d ordered a bulk box that gave me 30 of the thing for £20, and the smaller boxes they’d replaced it with gave me 24 for the same price! Not sure how they thought that worked out…

No real brand loyalty at all in this house, I just use whichever supermarket has a cheap delivery slot in the next couple of days. However, Ocado/M&S delivery cost is often cheapest for me, and none of my groceries are any more expensive. Plus the driver is often running a bit early and always calls in advance to make sure that’s ok.

As a pp pointed out, Ocado comes from a warehouse so can control stock levels better. I find like for like prices are much of a muchness, however they don't do a value range so if you buy any of that elsewhere you won't find an equivalent.

They don't do 6pt milk bottles though, which is a small irritation.

I use the very late 99p slot, but 9 times out of 10 they are earlier (suits me fine)

I don't use it that often, but is ok when I do. I use Sainsbury's, and occasionally Morrisons if they send me a voucher/ offer free delivery.

I got one of those receipts this morning so definitely still do them!

Go to orders and receipts on the app, click on your most recent order and it will tell you when your food goes out of date.