How on earth do you get a delivery slot?

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

I cannot get a single supermarket delivery slot from any supermarket anywhere. I'm in the vulnerable group and have been told not to go to shops.

I'm having to rely on friends to drop off food to supplement what we have. They are amazing lovely people, but I really can't expect them to do my shopping for me for the next 12 or so weeks.

I can't fathom how others are getting food delivered.

I’ve got one booked for a couple of weeks away. I had to keep checking every day and looked through a couple of the stores near me.
You might as well book for whenever you can even if it is weeks and do what you can in the meantime.

My inlaws have had a letter from the government about shopping. Are you shielded or just have health concerns. Try the Morrison's box some people have been lucky to get one.

Relatives in similar positions are having groceries delivered by different groups, carers and a Church group. Could you google what organisations there are in your area?
You could also look up independent shops or groceries doing delivery in your area?
There have been lots of mentions of Morrison’s boxes by post on here, they deliver anywhere apparently.
Good luck- it is a stressful time.

May not be much help but.... about 02:00 - 03:00 seems to be the best time to look...

I'm having this problem for my mum who is in her 80s and has COPD.

I check every day but cannot get a slot for her with any of the supermarkets.

I live 100 miles away. She has neighbours who can pick up a few bits, but she really could do with a proper shop.

I got one the Monday that Boris started hinting at a lockdown, it'll come tomorrow.
The next day I went into the same online shop and every single slot was full so I just got in ahead of time.
I would look for online support groups.
Where are you located?

I've found filling the basket and then kind of sitting around clicking the various dates until something pops up seems to work. Tenuous when I'm trying to sort out three kids, but I've managed to get a delivery a week this way. I think the supermarkets are adding delivery slots as they get them. Tesco and Ocado have been good for this. Sainsbury's have been terrible.

It's a good question and seems to be regional (like supermarket stock).

I have a slot next week that I had booked about a month ago so I've held onto it and getting extra stuff for family and offered for neighbours, but I accept I'm unlikely to get another slot anytime soon which is fine.

My mum, not on any vulnerable database, went onto Morrisons and managed to get a delivery slot for 3 days later from her nearest store and majority of stuff turned up - even loo rolls and pasta!

It's really hit and miss and seems part luck, part location!

My dad is shielded and Sainsbury's contacted him offering a slot per week. My daughter's in laws are also shielded and they have contacted Sainsbury's to see if they can get deliveries although they weren't already on their customer database and they can, its being arranged. If you have a letter then try, I think my daughter said something about having to link through the Gov website.

I have just logged on and got one for Sainsburys for Monday.

I’ve booked one in Waitrose for after Easter, it was booked a week ago, it was pure miracle!!! since then I’ve seen nothing at Sainsbury’s or Waitrose or Tesco. In our area some local shops started delivery so it’s worth asking people on Facebook. We also had a note through the door from students at our street saying that they could help with shopping if needed. I’ve even cried tbh, we’re ok so far but don’t have relatives in U.K. or friends so it means a lot to me.

Might not be possible but I was wide awake at 3am this morning and managed to get one with Morrison’s. There were 5 or so slots.
The benefits of having insomnia I suppose!

My local village shops, bakeries and pubs are doing home food delivery. Can't get a slot with any of the major supermarkets though.

Seems complete pot luck. Some supermarkets are having systems but they are very hit and miss.

It must be a regional thing.
I can ask for online support groups, I've also got friends who can help, I just really really want to be able to choose my own shopping even if half of it doesn't turn up. I realise I sound like a right whingy spoiled brat saying that.

Have you tried local farm shops etc doing delivery. A few butchers and greengrocers around us will deliver.

I can get some veggies in a veggie box delivered at the end of next week, which is brilliant.
I was partly mystified as to how people were managing to get slots.

Try Iceland. They released some slots yesterday and I set up an account for my parents and ticked the ‘vulnerable and elderly’ box. Got a delivery today for them and one for my aunt- both midlands.

It may not be ideal but if you drive can you get a click and collect from Asda? They seem to have available slots,although they are about 9/10 days away in my local. I’ve never done a click & collect but from what I’ve read you go to the click & collect part in the car park in your time slot, show your order number (although with the 2m distancing I’d imagine you’d have to give it in) and then someone places the shopping in the boot of your car.

I’m in the vulnerable group and due to no slots available I’m having to do this. I can’t see anymore risk of me going in my car and pressing the button for my boot to be opened, and my shopping placed in it, than getting a delivery.

It really is pot luck when they release any last night I couldn’t sleep and was on my phone at 445am and they had some slots for Tesco for the next couple of days, when I haven’t seen any slots for a couple of weeks when I check during the day

I've just looked at the Waitrose site not really expecting any hope of new slots opening and found several so am expecting a delivery on Sunday.
I think they got my age from MyWaitrose card so for once my loyalty has paid off. Judging by the favourites suggested, my shopping habits are well known!

DH has been struggling to sleep and has been getting slots in the night when he's awake (they seem to be released at midnight / in the early hours). Try Sainsburys - we have a delivery pass but they won't deliver to us as they are only delivering to vulnerable people

Thank you everyone :) Ive not been able to get onto Sainsburys vulnerable list. Haven't found any click and collect but I've not tried Asda for that and I've not tried in the middle of the night, so that's some leads to try.

I had luck with Asda when it was down due to high traffic all day. Woke up at 2am on Wednesday and managed to get a slot for today though it was an evening one. Make sure you book a slot before filling up your basket.

Also managed to get most of the stuff on my list. Eight items were unavailable, but that's better luck than some. By 4:30am though the website started stuttering again due to people using it. I just managed to check out before it crashed.

And Wednesday evening I decided to refresh the supermarket pages I'd had up on tuesday when I started trying to do a shop (all slots fills in all shops on Tues except Asda which didn't work at all) and multiple slots came up for the very next day.

I think they occasionally manage to hire more staff and add more slots when able. Either that or there was a mass cancelling of orders.

So keep refreshing the webpages every now and again. Don't be too picky about which shop you use. Set an alarm for an ungodly hour if you get no luck during the day (especially if one of the sites is down due to high traffic as it means there's likely to be slots free once it comes back up).

And remember to book the slot as soon as you see it, and only focus on filling your basket after this. Good luck. Think of it like a game.

And if you see a slot that's too far out book it anyway and do a shop with stuff that will keep in the freezer. Then proceed to the next level of the game which is trying to get a sooner slot as well.

I know the government is saying not to stockpile, and don't go crazy with it, but just make sure you have a couple of weeks worth of food in the house to give you some breathing room in case it takes time to successfully set up your next order.

Thank you, Ill try that. Viewing it as gaming, is a good idea for my mental health. I can do that!