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Original poster

Booking multiple delivery slots is pretty selfish?

207 replies

Yorvictor130 · 22/03/2020 23:05

I think it’s actually on par with the panic buyers.

I see so many MNetters saying they have reserved a slot every week for online food delivery, is this not just as selfish as panic buying hundreds of toilet rolls? Why do you get to hog all the delivery slots. It seems to be something that people let slide on here.

Nobody can get a delivery slot for the foreseeable now and there’s people with multiple ones all to themselves. Is there not something wrong with that?

OP posts:
Namechanger0800 · 25/03/2020 08:58

They've got to start making online delivery for the people on self isolation & vulnerable only

Having a delivery a week when u r in the social distancing category is utterly selfish

Peanut55 · 25/03/2020 09:03

Well it's not when you have had it and paid for it for years and are the only hope of those who can't get a slot getting any shopping, is them adding to my shop.

chocolateisavegetable · 25/03/2020 09:05

I do have slots booked up, but am supporting PILs who are self-isolating, my DD who doesn't live with us and has disabilities, friends who are self-isolating, have offered neighbours to let me know anything they need so I can add stuff for them, and have donated a large quantity of stuff to a local charity who are supporting the vulnerable.

So no, I don't consider myself selfish.

TheReelSlimShady · 25/03/2020 09:11

I have a slot next week that's been booked several weeks ago before everything kicked off. I'm not giving it up, but have offered neighbours / family to add things to it if they want to. I fully expect not to be able to get any for the few weeks following until things start to settle down and new employees get started at the supermarkets.

I don't need it specifically for myself, but it will be useful to others, so I'm keeping it.

user1471523870 · 25/03/2020 09:16

I don't think one slot a week is selfish to be honest.
This is what I have always done and the slots I have are those I booked several weeks ago. I have offered to share the slots with my neighbors (6 houses near mine), several times now, but they ALL preferred individual trips to the supermarket. Honestly, this is what I find selfish...

Taddda · 25/03/2020 09:17

So I'm on my own with two baby Dd's- I've always relied on home delivery (I have abdominal adhesions following EMCS, but not totally incapacitated, but going to the supermarket with my girls always leaves me sore and swollen).

I didn't stockpile.

Now I cant get to the supermarket. Or get a home delivery. So if you are booking multiple and repeat shops online, that is no better than stockpiling and panic buying, infact it's worse now we are locked down...

But good for all you 'I'm alright jacks'....I need follow on milk Angry

ferrier · 25/03/2020 09:21

I've been doing online shopping for groceries for maybe 10 years now. The government is recommending using delivery services rather than going to the shops. I'm following government advice. If that changes I will (reluctantly) change.
It may also look like I'm bulk buying - I'm not but I'm having to buy twice as much as my family has doubled in size.

Taddda · 25/03/2020 09:35

I've also been shopping online for 3 plus years, that doesn't give me a priority over others - currently 'needing' an online shop (the same as the majority) should put everyone on an even setting.

Helpwithaversion · 25/03/2020 09:42

@taddda
You can order direct from cow and gate and aptamil now they may have follow on milk

Peanut55 · 25/03/2020 09:53

It's not about being a priority. I pay monthly to have a delivery pass and have done for ages. I have always had a recurring slot. I am not giving that up as I have said I am supporting 3 households with it.

@taddda I am sorry to hear you are having problems after your EMCS. Can your family or partner not go shopping for you? For what it's worth, I haven't managed to get my formula on my online shop this week s it's out of stock.

The supermarkets are trying their hardest, this time 3 months ago people weren't bothered about online shopping, now it's in huge demand. There are only so many vans, drivers and stock available. Do people honestly think that the supermarkets aren't trying to facilitate more ? It's not going to happen overnight. They need to recruit drivers, buy vans.

Taddda · 25/03/2020 10:03

@Helpwithaversion thank you very much! I'll get on that now-
@Peanut55 I happen to agree with you in regards to the availability and drivers etc. But like you said, the government are advising everyone to shop online right now, they should have been fully aware how impossible it would be to meet that demand when they announced and pushed for extra delivery drivers to help.

Why are we always 5 steps behind!?

viccat · 25/03/2020 10:07

For what it's worth, I booked my weekly Ocado slots in advance back in the beginning of March. At the time my friends were laughing at me for suggesting a non essential event with 30+ people in a small pub was probably not going to be a good idea this coming weekend. Hmm Remember when Boris was laughing about how he had shaken lots of people's hands that day? That's the week I booked my slots as to me it was becoming obvious already back then I should prepare... there were plenty of delivery slots to book at that time.

My final pre-booked slot is next week and I haven't been able to find any available slots after that at all so have already made alternative plans for the week after.

Helpwithaversion · 25/03/2020 10:12

Hope it helps and you can get some @Taddda x

MinkowskisButterfly · 25/03/2020 10:17

I have a delivery slot booked on recurring basis. I am an asthmatic (poorly controlled at that at the minute), I also have two autistic children. I would send my husband shopping but you know busy being a keyworker, making sure he does his bit. So should I cancel my weekly slot and go into the supermarket with my children who are likely to lick and touch everything because they dont understand?!

Maybe I'm being entitled, I don't know but I'm keeping my slot and staying out of icu. I only buy enough for about a week at a time.

YoursTunbridgeWells · 25/03/2020 10:17

@Viccat I don' think Ocado have released slots after 5/6th April yet.

I am really worried as I have 2 Friday deliveries but booked (two weeks ago) a mid week for my elderly dad next week. It now says you can only book once every 7 days. Will they stick by the exitsing slots - it hasn't made me choose yet? Or will they randomly bin one without telling me.

If they bin one without telling highest risk person will have to go shopping as no alternative and no time to make provision for alternative.

chocolatesaltyballs22 · 25/03/2020 10:20

I've booked one a week for years and pay into a delivery saver. I don't see why I should change my behaviour now. My husband is in the vulnerable category and has to shield for 12 weeks so the less I have to go out, the better.

catspyjamas123 · 25/03/2020 10:24

It’s government advice to shop online. One shop a week with one week’s worth of shopping is not excessive. The trouble is there are not enough slots. Let’s hope some re-deployment goes on soon.

Bouncingbomb · 25/03/2020 22:30

My Ocado order came today. I buy a monthly delivery pass and booked my slot 3 weeks ago but I bumped it up and spent 3 times what I usually do which should last me a month - will be frozen veg after ten days - so I won’t need to order for a while.

A few substitutions (normally I have none) but they are ok substitutes given the circumstances.

I am on the 12 week shielding list so won’t be leaving the house - I live alone with a 13 year old so we are isolating together.

MiddlesexGirl · 26/03/2020 07:39

It's going to be fun trying to do a once a week shop which includes 70 pints of milk.

ceeveebee · 27/03/2020 20:22

I don’t think they’ll let you order as much milk as that in one go, I think I was capped to 3 x 4 pints
I’ve now got a local milkman instead though!

Joyfulnhs324 · 27/03/2020 23:30

Well I'm here with a vulnerable child and can't get a delivery slot anywhere at all despite trying for the last 3 days. So those who book them in advance who are able to go shopping themselves are impacting the vulnerable that need them.

Notcontent · 27/03/2020 23:47

I have been aN Ocado customer for well over a decade and now can’t get a slot either.

Holdingmybreath · 27/03/2020 23:58

My 82 yr old mum only shops online as she can't walk far.She books 3 weekly slots.She did her order this week and Waitrose cancelled her slot.
She can't get another one.She phoned them they gave her a help line number,who gave her another help line number who couldn't help.After a few hours of trying she called me.I have been trying numbers too but it has not been a great experience.
I have resorted to emails for a paper trail but in a few days my mum runs out of food just because she did not stock pile,organised her next slot and has been let down by a supermarket who say they they prioritise the elderly and those on the vunerable list,my mum is both.
I may be back in a few days seeing if there is anyone in her area to help.

Peanut55 · 28/03/2020 05:39

@Joyfulnhs324 has your child received a letter from GP? If so, you can request help with shopping.

wondering7777 · 28/03/2020 05:46

I have been aN Ocado customer for well over a decade and now can’t get a slot either.

Same here (well nine years). I never bought a delivery pass because they seemed pointless - I was always able to book a slot whenever I wanted with (usually free) delivery within a day or two.

I’m heavily pregnant and DH and I are now having to risk going to the shops regularly to buy food and potentially exposing ourselves to the virus.

I won’t be using Ocado again because I feel so let down by them - and will be switching to another supermarket when this is over. Not that they will give a damn of course!