Sainsburys - update.

[SerendipityJane]

No email received, despite being carer to a vulnerable person. (Although Twitter reveals that some non-vulnerable people have got an email to their puzzlement).

Engaged for past 6 hours. (Yes, engaged. No queue).

Ignored on Facebook

Ignored on Twitter - where it transpires a lot of people are having issues with this. I'm lucky enough to be able to use the telephone, but as some people have noted, the "phone only" option excludes some people with disabilities.

Looks like a store visit is called for ... after I was told on Saturday that my charge clearly "doesn't need any proof" as they are in a wheelchair.

Rant over, blood pressure lowered. Stay safe all.

I'm only the messenger !

That was what the last recorded message I had said at the start.

It then told me to fuck off.

Thanks for letting us know @SerendipityJane - you've saved me another attempt at phoning them now I've logged off from work!

Off to GOV.UK then!

That GOV.UK vulnerable group only includes those deemed vulnerable to the virus and doesn't consider people housebound by other conditions which would make them need to shop online.

That GOV.UK vulnerable group only includes those deemed vulnerable to the virus and doesn't consider people housebound by other conditions which would make them need to shop online.

To be fair, I think it's intended to get a list of people that might require emergency deliveries from the authorities, rather than just access to online shopping. The recorded message that sent me there said to register there and "the government" and "Sainsburys" will "work together" on providing a service. People can only deduce from that what they can.

Ok I am eligible to register but I wasn't going to as I don't want a food parcel, which is what I thought it was about.

That GOV.UK vulnerable group only includes those deemed vulnerable to the virus and doesn't consider people housebound by other conditions which would make them need to shop online.

Yes that’s a much smaller group than Sainsbury’s were promising to register as needing priority slots.

For clarity the gov.uk link is ONLY to register the most extremely vulnerable group (transplant recipients, cancer patients, immunosuppressed people and so on).

Sainsbury’s had undertaken to grant priority delivery slots to ALL elderly, disabled and medically vulnerable customers.

So have Sainsbury’s now changed their policy?

Or have some wires got crossed?

I know op, my ire is most definitely not aimed at you but at the supermarket CEO’s and upper management who are apparently seriously fucking thick and uncaring!!

I honestly think the supermarkets are only concerned with the APPEARANCE of helping their most vulnerable customers rather than actually doing so.

You get a letter if you are in that group.

It will be because the government cant meet the needs of that group alone, they have to involve the supermarkets.
I am in it so glad i might finally be able to get a slot at sainsburys.

Sainsbury's putting out messages saying there acting to help vulnerable people is misleading at best. What they've done is dangerous as all it's done is deny those customers they claim to help access to food. Being unable to get through for help is awful.

Ooh sorry. ISWYM. The policy change is on the website;

www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/delivery-prioritisation

How disappointing for the disabled but not hyper-vulnerable.

Sainsburys phone message has now changed. They are prioritising vulnerable people but you have to register on GOV.UK and then it’s being co-ordinated with them.

So this is the shielded group who should not go outside.

@ArriettyJones

That was my understanding too - that Sainsburys were helping vulnerable customers as identified by the PM on Monday 16 March - those over 70, pregnant women and adults eligible for the flu jab on the NHS.

If they're now only helping the extremely vulnerable then that's a change of policy.

I am unsure as to whether or not I will get a letter. Asthma UK have advised that the letters should be received by Sunday, and to call your GP the following week if you think you should have recieved one but haven't. So I don't want to register on GOV.UK until I know.

That seems a bit silly as those who have recieved a letter and are in the shielded group are eligible for support, as in people to deliver their food and prescriptions. I know choice is nice and having a delivery slot is good, but it's those in the middle that aren't super super vulnerable but really struggle without one that will suffer. I don't really get why they make these policies, do they even think them through?

I'm getting blocking message again. I was just experimenting rather than trying to book another slot!
No idea whether I was the lucky recipient of a system blip or whether I am on a list now.

Exactly @CaffiSaliMali

They shouldn’t have announced something they couldn’t deliver.

I suspect it was a decision made by sainsburys. And then the overnment realised there are more in the shielded group than they anticipated - I have read 1.5 million, so realised they needed help of supermarkets to deliver, hence change of policy again.
Asthma UK say who is in this group for asthma.

They shouldn’t have announced something they couldn’t deliver.

sadly that isn't how modern marketing is taught. The aim is to hit hard, hit first, and get the message you want people to remember into the public consciousness before anyone has a chance to counter it. (Note this is standard UK.GOV practice too). So now 80% of the UK public are going to think how lovely and cuddly Sainsburys are, and no amount of whinging from those that know better is going to dislodge that particular turd from the u-bend of the public mind.

remember the maxim that a lie is halfway round the world while the truth is still putting its boots on ?

Registering with gov.uk doesn't work if you're in Wales just to save anyone the trouble of trying. I sent CEO [email protected] a shirty message about policy failures and how six hours a day trying to phone an unanswered number isn't really helpful to vulnerable people. It may not have been nice or necessary but made me feel a bit better. That's why they (CEO) make the big money. (I would never be rude to the people in the shops who are doing a lot and risking a lot.)

sadly that isn't how modern marketing is taught. The aim is to hit hard, hit first, and get the message you want people to remember into the public consciousness before anyone has a chance to counter it.

Well it hasn’t worked on me

I’m now massively disappointed with Sainsbury’s (who are “my” supermarket) but very impressed with Morrison’s efficient and fast innovation.

So there we go.

@Menaimum tweet them instead, they’re still replying to tweets

I've posted on Facebook and tweeted and got no reply.

Meanwhile there are a VERY few on fb & twitter (which the sainsburys team are making a big deal of course) who've been able to get delivery slots and seems to be...

...predominantly new customers

So much for loyalty!

Over an hour on hold to Morrisons but no joy. BUT I did appreciate getting through to a person and he was apologetic, honest and polite. Says they're recruiting staff but doesn't know when they'll be ready to start working.

I’ve been able to book a delivery today for Friday and I’m a delivery pass customer. There were slots for tomorrow and Friday, so I assumed all the vulnerable people had been sorted. Nothing else was visible, I think Sainsbury’s have suspended them and are putting them live a couple of days at a time.