I no longer believe the slots are actually booked. I think sainsburys have closed them off. Why? Because even at midnight (when the new calendar date of slots are normally released by them, I've been with them for years and realised this ages ago) there are still no slots on the newly added date.
The app isn't allowing anyone who isn't already recognised as a vulnerable customer to even see the booking dates. Same on the website with the only instructions being
"Have we got it wrong?" And directing customers to call the completely jammed regular number.
This is unacceptable.
Their claims that they're prioritising vulnerable customers appear to be little more than virtue signalling/a bad attempt at generating good publicity seeing as we're all having so much difficulty contacting them to let them know we are vulnerable.
Aside from possible age info when signing up (which I don't remember being asked, certainly wasn't asked for proof) they have no way of knowing which customers are vulnerable.
It's been very badly handled in my opinion but then I think the govt and all the supermarkets have really been very slow to react to how people have been behaving.
Online deliveries should have been restricted to those who can't shop
in person and the rationing of certain products (if not all) should have happened weeks ago.
Much of what's happened was if not predictable, obvious as soon as it started happening.
The excessive buying of loo roll eg was happening for well over a week before any restrictions were even talked about getting put in place.
Totally shocked that the govt didn't have a comprehensive and clear plan of action in the event of a pandemic which is not an unheard of event, rare but not unheard of.
Good governments have good contingency plans. As an ex civil servant myself I am very sceptical that there wasn't one, I think this govt ignored what previous governments (of all colours) had said/planned for such events and thought they knew better and have massively fucked up!
Rationing could have been implemented via NI numbers as identifiers/pass codes, this number could also have been used to quickly identify a large number of the most vulnerable in society as it's the number attached to state pensions and benefits.
Total shit show all round!!