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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that tesco delivery is far superior to ocado.

84 replies

wannaBe · 24/01/2010 11:29

This morning I had a thought - have heard so much good about ocado that i thought for once I would give it a shot and see if it's as fabulous as people claim...

So I registered and started adding items to my trolley - it was like supermarket porn - lots of lovely things that I can't get at tesco, lovely fresh fish/surloin steak/lovely fresh pepper sauce... I was in shopping heaven.

And then I went to book a delivery slott...

And discovered... that it's virtually impossible to get one within the next week...

Tesco on the other hand have slots available every day this week, pretty much at any time of the day..

So I'm afraid to say that ocado have lost my business before they even had it as the availability of delivery slots means they are simply not convenient, and I don't think I should have to shop at least a week in advance to get a slot to suit me.

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 24/01/2010 12:10

Oh yes, Ocado were running late once and phoned to say they'd be there 10 minutes after my slot ended. I couldn't wait in as I had to leave on the school run and they said that was Ok and that they'd wait for me. How this didn't make them late for all the next slots, I'm not sure - are they only loaded for one slot of deliveries?

SoupDragon · 24/01/2010 12:11

Oooooh! And they have an iPhone app which means I can order stuff whilst waiting for the DSs to come out of school. I keep a running shopping basket, adding things when I run out or notice I need them and the finish the order ion "dead time".

MmeBlueberry · 24/01/2010 13:24

I haven't really used the iPhone app but have downloaded it. I like that you can bypass the logging on process. Right now, it's telling me that my first available slot is tomorrow between 9 and 10am.

MmeBlueberry · 24/01/2010 13:29

So, Soupy, can you just add things to you basket as you think of them on the iPhone? I don't think you can do this online (you have to have a specific order in mind).

If you can, I think this will be really useful, as you can just add things as you think of them (it only takes seconds), and then book a next day delivery when you get to £40.

Who'd have thought that grocery shopping could be this exciting?

PfftTheMagicDragon · 24/01/2010 13:33

Myabe it depends where you live. I always order 2 days before delivery and never have a problem getting a slot. The saturdays fill up quicker but I can still get one.

hobbgoblin · 24/01/2010 13:35

i booked the 6.30 til 7.30 morning slot with ocado this week but dd woke for a feed after i'd got up at 6 so i went back to feed her in bed. i come down at 6.40 to find all my shopping in the hall...was like father xmas had been!

my doorbell isn't working so i hadn't heard shopping arrive and the door must have been unlocked - whoops! - so ocado man (i know it was a man due to the feint footprint of a v. large boot on the step!) just popped it inside, bless. love you ocado man xxx

Morloth · 24/01/2010 13:38

I tend to use online for heavy stuff so usually plan a bit ahead for that.

Prefer Ocado over Tesco anyday. I used Tesco once and it was crap, stuff was off, the driver was rude and didn't come in the allotted time (or call to let me know), wouldn't carry bags into the house etc.

Ocado drivers are worth the extra money IMO.

pooka · 24/01/2010 13:39

YABU!

I can always, always (barring Christmas) book an ocado delivery within 3 days or so.

Even if I couldn't I would still think their service way better than Tesco.

No substitutions. No idiotic substitutions (i.e. ordered size 1 nappies from Tesco, delivery man arrived with night-timed pull-ups as a substitution. Ordered a child's toothbrush. Tesco delivered an adult sensodyne one. Ordered a whole chicken for delivery on a Friday night at 9pm. Arrived after 9pm with a chicken due to go out of date that night).

Polite delivery guys. Turn up when they say they will. Love Ocado.

squashimodo · 24/01/2010 13:43

yabu, ocado are great, you even get a free copy of the Times, no quibble refunds on any damaged goods,love love love ocado.

PrivetDancer · 24/01/2010 13:49

You don't get the Times anymore - just as we have had a woodburner installed and could do with the paper!

mmeBlueberry, yes you just have a constant basket on your phone, it's ve handy for when you just think if things.
It's also synced with the website, so if you log on there you see the same basket.

PuppyMonkey · 24/01/2010 13:51

Yes yabvu. I booked Ocado on Friday, got a slot on Saturday absolutely no probs.

All the stuff delivered has a really long sell by date, unlike when I got Tesco just the one time. I say just the one time because on that occasion they subsituted the bottle of white wine I ordered for a loaf of white bread. I kid you not. The driver and customer services thought it hilarious, and I laughed too at the time, but have never gone back and never will. Ha ha ha to you too.

PuppyMonkey · 24/01/2010 13:53

You don't get a copy of The Tims any more, they stopped that this week.

TeaOneSugar · 24/01/2010 14:32

I love Oacdo, pay the £8.99 a month, never struggle to get slots, usually have 8am - 9am on Saturday, fantastic.

SoupDragon · 24/01/2010 18:20

"can you just add things to you basket as you think of them on the iPhone?"

Yes, that's exactly what I do. You can do it online but it's not as convenient since I always have my phone with my but I never carry the PC about

Umami · 24/01/2010 18:24

I have always been able to get an Ocado slot for the following evening.

Umami · 24/01/2010 18:26

Ooops, posted too soon! I usually select late evening slots because I am a cheapskate nightowl, and half the time they phone up at around 6pm and ask if they can come early as they're in the area, which is fine by me!

BelleDameSansMerci · 24/01/2010 18:37

Me too - never, ever had a problem getting an Ocado delivery slot. Often had problems with Sainsbury's (although I don't use them any more). I don't like Tesco much so have no experience of their deliveries.

I totally adore Ocado!

stressheaderic · 24/01/2010 18:43

Sorry, Tesco gets my vote. Never, ever had a problem with them, and all our delivery drivers have always been on time, friendly and helpful.

Had a couple of sensible substitutes from time to time, but no obligation to accept. Dates on food never a problem.

During the really heavy snowfall, I expected not to see my Tesco delivery - but sure enough, it arrived on time, delivered by a chap who was about 70, said he'd been working since 7am (this was at teatime), saw my big bump and wouldn't let me lift a thing, he was so chirpy and all "oh we can't let the weather get in the way now, can we". I gave him a tin of biscuits to munch on in the van as he was just so lovely.

Not sure which Tesco the food comes from (there are 6 within a 3 mile radius, truly) but am very happy with it.

glastocat · 24/01/2010 18:53

Ocado/Waitrose is pretty much the only thing I miss from living in London. Tesco is nowhere near as good.

RomillyJane · 24/01/2010 18:59

love Ocado, I have used every week for 2.5 years and they have been late TWICE. and phones to say so, and are always polite, and the stuff is always fresh and great quality.

would never change.

so I think YABVU!

pigletmania · 24/01/2010 18:59

Waitrose is too expensive for me, I go to a supermarket comaprison sight and my two weekly shop would be about 40-50 pounds more so I go to Sainsburys instead.

MollieO · 24/01/2010 19:09

Ocado is cheaper than Waitrose because a lot of their stuff is price-matched with Tesco. I once did a comparision and was very surprised at the difference.

I used to use Tesco but got fed up with the just in date food - eg fresh filled pasta with an expiry date of the next day. I once got my entire fresh goods order free as everything expired the next day. I have also had problems with Tesco finding my house - in the middle of a village and very easy to find. They call and say they will deliver the next day instead. One time I put my foot down and the manager of the local store came with my delivery - it was very apparent that the delivery driver couldn't be bothered and the manager commented how easy it was to find my house!

Ocado are mostly always on time and helpful (have only had one nightmare driver that was so abusive I reported him and banned him from ever delivering to me again).

Ocado also got through in the snow when Tesco didn't bother.

BlackLetterDay · 24/01/2010 19:57

We use Tesco and never have any problems, always on time, a decent amount of time wrt use by dates, hardly any substitutions. Used asda once that was shocking. We have a waitrose 5 minutes away although have never used ocado, tbh from the way people talked on here I was expecting something marvellous. I was underwhelmed to say the least, soooo overpriced for some things it's not even funny. Good for cake and cordial as far as my tastes go, although some good reductions in the meat aisle to be had.

snowybun · 24/01/2010 20:59

Ocado don't deliver here so have the choice of Asda and Tesco. Always get slots for next day with Tesco yes sometimes the dates are not long and have returned or phoned for refund if next day(usually go for 9-11pm slot) always got refunds no problem.
I have had Tesco orders delivered before alloted time have always phoned to check if I am available for early delivery.
In the 5 years I have used online shopping I have only had 2 times of not being able to deliver first time was last March when it snowed heavily(that was tesco) second time was a punctured tyre and had delivery next day(Asda).
I would give Ocado a go if they delivered to the area.

McDreamy · 24/01/2010 21:01

Would never use Tesco delivery again after 2 bad experiences. Occado are the best IMO closely followed by Sainsburys.