No more Sainsbury's deliveries

[swishthecat]

They will now only deliver to you if they have identified you as elderly, vulnerable or disabled. I assume other supermarkets will do the same.

I'm glad they have done this, but at the same time worried that the supermarkets will be busier germ factories than ever!

Can't get through on the phone to let them know I am in the vulnerable group. Have been trying for an hour now.

I think that vulnerable customers just have priority and they have to make the bookings today for this week. I presume that after that everyone else can book. They are going on information that they already have. No idea what this is but maybe they have got names from the pharmacy for example. They surely would also have the date of birth for people with a nectar card.

@OkMaybeNot Why would you need more than 2 of things to have food for 2 weeks? You may not have what you would prefer, but easy to have enough food.

@Makinganewthinghappen

Same. It's difficult as a LP of two small children with no car. I can only carry so much and the kids will have to come into the supermarket with me. Eldest is coughing but what can I do? We need to eat.

So how come I'm being offered a slot but over 70's without any underlying conditions (also "wider vulnerable") don't appear to be? I think over 70s will be eligible.

How do they know you are pregnant? Do you have to show them an exemption certificate or MATB1?

Can't get through on the phone to let them know I am in the vulnerable group. Have been trying for an hour now.

There are no slots anyway so probably no point in trying the moment. Try again in a few hours.

Pharmacy would make sense. I don't use their pharmacy. Yes the phone lines are probably ringing off the hook.

alloutoffucks the problem is we do have a stash of staples that could get us through 2 weeks, but when you are now having to buy for 2 other households and there is bugger all in the shops we are having to eat into that stash. I have tried to be sensible so as to leave food for others. Other people have obviously not been so considerate.

I just wish they could come up with systems that seem to work in other countries, so there would not be this need for panic buying.

I presume if you’re pregnant then you can email them a photocopy of your maternity records alongside ID like birth certificate/driving licence. Not sure how you would prove medical conditions unless you have an appointment letter or prescription sheet to hand

There are volunteers in a lot of places offering help.

I've used Sainsbury's for yers, but haven't been able to book a slot. After last week's email a I was hoping to get one this week. I'm self isolating with a 3 and 4 yr old. Thankfully I was already registered with milk and more, and Morrison's and should have a Morrison's delivery Wednesday. I'm also a key worker, back at work next week.

I'd have preferred Sainsbury to ration deliveries. 1 per household, per fortnight even.

@ineedaholidaynow Yes it has been a bloody mess in this country. But I have safeguarded our 2 weeks of supplies.

This is from the generic Sainsbury's email I received yesterday:

Many of you have also asked me about priority online delivery slots for elderly, disabled and vulnerable customers.
We have been able to identify a number of customers as elderly and vulnerable based on the information they have given us previously. These details would include date of birth and if you have ever used our vulnerable customer helpline. For all of these customers, we will email you today (Sunday) with information on when slots will become available.
If you do not receive an email and you consider yourself to be vulnerable, please visit our Groceries Online website on Monday for information on how to contact us. We are also working as quickly as possible on an option for people to register themselves as disabled and vulnerable on their online shopping accounts.

I'm usually all over GDPR issues like a rash, but they explicitly state it's from particular information people have already given them.

I'm pretty sure there hasn't (yet) been any cross-matching with ESA or DLA/PIP data held by the DWP, or with blue badge data held by the council, as I have all three of those (and my PIP is the mobility component), and I haven't received a Sainsbury's email inviting me to use slots as a vulnerable person.

I've long relied on supermarket deliveries for almost 100% of my groceries and some months don't get out of the house/garden at all. Fortunately some neighbours have already offered to help if necessary, so we'll see how this holds up...

On their website it says they are working with government. I think they are identifying the elderly, disabled and vulnerable through the NHS. I don’t believe they have access to medical records just who falls into the category.

I received an email yesterday saying I’d been identified as at risk. I am not but someone in my household is. I haven’t been able to speak to Sainsbury’s to clarify this but I will be using my priority.

@alloutoffucks - currently the supermarkets (at least Sainsbury's and Waitrose from what I gather) are basing "vulnerability" on whether people have told them before and whether they've mentioned disability on previous orders. Which we never did as it didn't seem relevant. Asthma doesn't affect your ability to receive gorceries. It's now impossible to get through to talk to anyone to say that we are vulnerable.

So I guess we aren't shielding then.

Loads of threads saying that 6-7 percent of people shopped online at supermarkets. Even if they double or triple capacity - 70-80 per cent of people will still need to shop in store. Giving the slots to vulnerable people isn’t what’s making the shops busier or germ factories. Cutting delivery slots would do that - but supermarkets are trying to assign them more rationally.

In the meantime we’ve got NHS staff being exposed to massive viral loads with no PPE.

By the way I am not passing judgement on whether being pregnant marks you as vulnerable, it should do as we don't know. It just seems at odds that a supermarket does, but the NHS is still happy for them being in the direct line of fire. Can probably tell which one is more unreasonable (and they don't sell food...).

How are you self isolating if you are a key worker and presumably working?
I am being told by medics not to go out at all. That is self isolating.
I am being told by Sainsburys I am not eligible.

currently the supermarkets (at least Sainsbury's and Waitrose from what I gather) are basing "vulnerability" on whether people have told them before and whether they've mentioned disability on previous orders.

I've never mentioned vulnerability or disability on previous orders so that isn't the only way they have identified people. As I said, I think they may be getting names from their pharmacy too.

@olphiehaunt That is interesting thanks.

Straycatstrut it’s a pain isn’t it . Dh and I can’t drive (medical) but we normally use trains etc no problem - to get to work and get out. We rely on online delivery for food etc as we are a family of 7 and so it looks liek we are all going on the train and I’m loading the kids up like tiny camels .

The train timetable is already cut in half so I’m praying they don’t reduce it more or cancel it. If they do I’m going to have to walk the kids and my shopping a few miles which spins fine until your carrying shopping for 7 people for even a few days .

I see why they have done it. I don’t disagree but I am a little scared for the future.

I am busting myself with baking and cooking with basic ingredients (do the age easier to carry)

Yesterday I made 20 bread rolls, 2 pies, 200 biscuits and 2 loaves of bread.

Dh was looking at me liek this

I apologise for the many typos no excuse just terrible at phone typing

That's clever, not. What about all those self isolating?

My friends dc have awful coughs so she's isolating the family per government advice. She's got a full shop coming so not like she can make minimum do and ask someone else to put themselves at risk.. We are all a good drive away so what's she to do if they cancel? This will just encourage people to hoard and panic buy, and those who are meant to isolate as a family who have no support will go out.

What they should do is click and collect instead of stores opening. You can restrict and ration using the online booking and ensure all those needing have deliveries, everyone else picks up so the poor staff can socially distance and be safer.

@Makinganewthinghappen

The taxi trade has been hit very badly by this. Could you organise a regular taxi?