Waitrose Christmas slots rolling out from today

[gillybean2]

Got a mail shot last week saying I could book for Christmas from today because I spend too much with them, and have just managed to book my slot for Monday 23rd.
Not sure when they’re rolling out to everyone so keep a look out for the Christmas option when you go to book a slot if you’re wanting one.

Thanks! Slot booked for 23rd as well

Thank you, didn't get an email but have got a slot after seeing your post.

Got mine at 00:02 before sleeping last night.

I’m waiting for it, haven’t received a text or email and website says all slots open on 2nd October. I have added a few bits to my normal orders.

Got mail today reminding me so booked for the 23rd.

Nothing here yet - watching, thanks!

Thank you for reminding me. I’ve booked for the 22nd.

Booked as soon as I got the email. Not going to think about it now until mid-November, as whatever is actually available by December will bear no resemblance to what's there now.

It would be nice to actually get something gluten free this time, though - getting rather fed up with ordering things that aren't available in store (because nobody Coeliac ever wants to buy stuff for Christmas in person, apparently), only to see them kicked off the delivery list 24 hours after they've gone on sale. But they're not even on there yet.

Still not available here, I’m in SW. I don’t know if they are realising slots by areas this 🤷‍♀️

Still nothing here (Midlands). I'm a weekly customer and have been given priority in previous years. Last year I don't think they emailed me, though - I just saw the Christmas delivery slots quietly sitting there alongside the standard ones in mid-Sept

Not available yet for me either in the SW.

I didn’t get an email, which is strange, as I’m opted in to receive all emails from them. I did get a card through the post with a QR code on that took me straight to the Christmas slots. There was a web link too - waitrose.com/christmasslots or similar (sorry, have thrown it away now or would have posted exact address) which took me straight there. Every slot was available at around 5pm on the 25th, hope there are still slots available for anyone on here who wants one,

I never get an invite, I just look at random times to see if they are there, then book any available, I usually manage to swap it for a good cancelled time a couple of weeks before Christmas.

In the SE here . Saw this thread and checked and have booked for the 23rd.

Thank you soo much for this thread. I have such a lot going on in my personal life that I think I genuinely would have forgotten about it. Thank you 🧡

Thank you for the reminder!

I’ve tried that link Saucery but still no Christmas slots available <sulks>

This is peeing me off, as I know I booked a slot on 25th September last year. I'm a MyWaitrose card holder and order every week. I really need a slot on 24th December, too as I'm away till 23rd. Might email them or as my lovely driver tomorrow.

Same here. Still no invitation email, nor Christmas slots when I log in. As a weekly delivery customer and Waitrose card carrier for years, (and completely relying on the deliveries as a carer 24/7 for a severely disabled child), we usually get early access.

I rang Customer Services after seeing this thread. A rather unsympathetic, disinterested-sounding chap said they were releasing them in waves and to keep checking online. Waitrose, I am not 'delighted'.*

*Waitrose says in the automated preamble on the phone that they like to 'delight their customers'...

Sorry! I just tried it and it is the right link, but it must be like a pp said and they are releasing them in waves. Annoying, I know, it happened to me last year despite being a regular Weekly Shop and delivery customer. Seems a bit haphazard

@WarmWaterSwimmer I share your pain and am I'm a very similar situation. I'm very angry with them for doing this (and not seemingly interested) I'm guessing it's something to do with managing numbers and / or capacity, but the 'slots will be available to all customers from 2 Oct' banner every time I check 20 times a day feels like it's mocking me. Since last years slots were open on 25th September, it's rubbish service. I also note that they were the only supermarket not to publish their delivery slot dates to the press this year. We know why, now.

Sorry to hear that - still nothing here @RainbowZebraWarrior . I feel a bit angry with them too, angry and let down. I understand and support Waitrose releasing them in waves, rather than all at once, so that it doesn't swamp the system or result in long online queues, but it's how they release the waves that is causing the problem. If they really cared about their loyal customers it would be:
1st wave - Loyal weekly customers in each store area who are the infirm elderly/severely disabled/full-time unpaid family carers of the aforementioned and completely rely on the delivery
2nd wave - Loyal weekly or fortnightly customers in each store area
3rd wave - Everyone else

We seemed to have been in the first wave around the 25th September last year and before, but this year we seem to have been left to fend for ourselves and to join the general scrum - when we may or more likely may not get a slot. What are we meant to do then? It is adding to an already quite stressful life.

I suspect someone at Waitrose Head Office has forgotten their sense of duty and responsibility for their more vulnerable customers, have instead just got pounds in their eyes and are prioritising their biggest Christmas spenders. If that's the case then they also need to remember that weekly customers like us spend with them 52 weeks of the year and that is a reliable annual income of thousands of pounds from each customer too.

I don't want a slot just because it's Christmas, I need our regular weekly slot, thank you very much.

Still not available here either.

Still nothing here for us either. I've been in touch with Waitrose once by phone and once via their contact form but they haven't been willing to help. It looks like we are being left right till the end with the final open to all release on the 2nd. It's rubbish of them really.

I'm bloody livid about this, now.

I asked the Waitrose delivery driver on Saturday and he played the "don't ask me, I just drive the van" card. Apparently I was the third person to ask him that day. Some of whom had relatives in other parts of the country who have been booked up since 25th. I was tempted to say to him that officially he was an actual Partner, but I'd have felt like a total bitch. It's just that nobody seems to be taking responsibility.

I've selected a couple of things from the Christmas food to order and it's sitting there just waiting for the slot to open up. I usually wouldn't mind what day or time, but this year it has to be Christmas Eve which is making it more stressful.