Entire online food delivery cancelled.

[Vagessence]

For fuck sake. My whole ocado shop for today has been cancelled. Generally speaking it's tricky for us to get to the shops but by some rare stroke of luck my partner had to bring the car home this weekend (usually kept at his parents many miles away). Thankfully we'll be able to drive to the shops but what about those who can't? People in self isolation or those who have to rely on online shops for other reasons? Slots aren't available until next week, midweek at the earliest!

I've been telling myself to stay calm, only buy what we need, don't add to the problem of shops being out of stock. But now I'm panicking it's really hard to stick to that. I'm now not sure if I'll be able to hold back from panic buying now. We have barely any food in the house and usually we only get enough to last us a week but I think I'll have to stock up on two weeks worth now. We might end up not even being able to get anything today due to shelves being bare.

I had an Ocado delivery last evening with only one substitution. When I booked for future deliveries yesterday morning, the website was working and there were slots just over one week in advance.
I guess the slot availability varies by location.

I don’t think it’s fair to say everyone else should go to the shops. I don’t drive and have a baby in a pram. If I do go to the shops I would have to go daily as I cannot carry enough to last me a week and had 4 kids. I have to get the bus. Not everyone drives 🙄 can’t afford cab money either

In Australia supermarket online deliveries have stopped.

And then people slate panic buyers. This is why people have been panic buying in case they can’t get anything when the time comes.

Im actually thinking about just going to tescos rather than doing my usual online delivery from them. I can see what theyve got in store and substitute meals there and then, rather than having to go out and look for stuff that didnt arrive ? Its a shame as Im on delivery saver. But it would allow someone else who has to use delivery (isolator) to have my slot instead?

Maybe it would be a charitable nice thing to do, if you can go to the store not use delivery? Only use it if you NEED it? (no transport, isolation etc).

just a thought?

I almost got a heart attack last night- I had to add something to the order, edited it, and when I tried to ckechout again Ocado told me there were NO MORE SLOTS! But my slot should not have disappeared surely, it only took me 3 minutes to change the order! I checked out a couple of times and finally it went through but I already saw myself running to local shops at 7 am to be able to get the basics for the week.

Here In France going to the shop is the highlight of our day.

Yesterday couldn’t get onto Ocado for love or money.

Early this morning managed and booked a slot for 25th March, so ten days time. Normally you would be able to book within 48 hours, apart from maybe Friday evening or the weekend.

It will be lack of drivers not lack of stock
Frustrating but not cause for everybody to panic

But PumpkinP if people hadn’t panic bought we wouldn’t have this situation. We don’t actually have a shortage of groceries (technically) we have a social issue of people panicking and trying to do what they can to have some control back in an uncertain scenario.

I don’t know what the answer is but there needs to be a way to calm everything down in supermarket land.

Was on hold for 40 mins to speak to a guy from Ocado, the poor man sounded very stressed bless him. There's definitely nothing that can be done and no chance of a delivery until next week. It's very worrying for those who aren't able to get out.

@selfisolate yes I think we'll be keeping the car here for the foreseeable so we can drive to the shops and leave the delivery slots for those who need it. Thankfully we're able to afford the extra money for parking. I'm not looking forward to the supermarket with my two young kids but needs must.

I'm very grateful to be in a privileged position of having a car and a bit of a cushion in terms of savings. I really feel for those who are struggling.

@MummyPop00 appalling attitude. This really is bringing out the worst in people.

Dont bother with online ordering at this time. Get out there to the shops. If you are old ask a neighbour to help- I'm sure they will agree. I've young children and dont drive. I've spent the last 5 days sourcing what I need. It's tough. We have to find ways of being as proactive as we can.

Oh if you live in a multicultural area, I found 70% alcohol and dettol soap in abundance in the Afro hair shops.

In Australia supermarket online deliveries have stopped

Wouldn't surprise me if that happens here. Supermarkets could be told to focus on keeping the shops stocked as a priority. If too many drivers are ill they won't be able to fulfil the orders anyway.

We seem so reliant on convenience these days, but things are going to be less 'easy' over the coming weeks.

So if people can't drive and won't use the public transport you'll have to shop daily or get someone to help you out. What other choice is there if you can't shop online?

My tesco delivery came today, no toilet roll and one substitution (pasta) but everything else was there. My driver warned me to book slots for the next few weeks as "regulars" were missing out due to new online shoppers. I've just had a look online and couldnt get my usual slot for next week (got one a day later so no biggie) and the week after was already starting to fill.

My asda delivery for tomorrow was cancelled too. Not sure how I'm going to get to the shops with 2 small DC and I had a hysterectomy 2 weeks ago.

I think John Lewis today have seconded 500 employees to work for one of the supermarket delivery companies as there are so many on line orders coming in. Sounds like a good plan.

Think companies should prioritise long term customers who pay yearly upfront (like us). Been with Asda paying this way for the last 3 years.

Ocado are now prioritising existing customers according to their website and are not processing new customer bookings.

I have a delivery coming later this week - really hoping I get it now!

@jobseeker that's good, many of us aren't in Amazon Kitchen areas though so I guess it wouldn't work for us.

I totally understand why longterm customers are pissed off, I would be too! However, please remember that there are many people who are now self isolating and have no choice but to order online. I am sure some of you are in a position to go to the shops, even if its an inconvenience.

Lovely to see nice posters adding in groceries for neighbours though, you are lovely lovely people.

supermarket delivery was never geared up for this demand. Add on ill drvers that cant work I can see itll go to pot in the future? I think Ill be going into the supermarkets from now on. They cant magic up drivers and vans. Shame it worked so well (till now). used it on and off for years. If a lockdown does happen, a tesco shop will be a bit of an event lol!

I’m not sure what you thought they’d do for you, op?

Maybe the next email to shoppers from sainbury`s etc should be to be considerate and only use online if you cannot get to a store (for whatever reason)?

including long time customers (like me). Ive got 3 weeks of slots booked. I feel really guilty for doing that. Im just contributing to the chaos!

@selfisolate I went to three local supermarkets yesterday and none had the stuff I need. Ocado still did... So yeah, it would be all cool if we could all go and pick what we needed from the shelves. Unfortunately, not possible with some idiots clearing all the shelves.