Wtf is going on with Sainsburys?

[PyjamaDramaLlama]

Small DC and I are supposed to be self-isolating for another whole week.

No delivery slots available, ever apparently, and we’ve almost no food left because we didn’t panic buy (just the usual stuff plus a few extra bits, but not much extra as we’ve limited storage anyway).

The DC are going to be very hungry indeed by next weekend. Thanks a bunch, Sainsbury’s

I should’ve panic bought, shouldn’t I?

I never even got an email

I am a delivery pass holder. I got an email from Sainsbury's last Sunday saying that I had been prioritised.
I am early 40's with no underlying health issues, but DP (early 40's) who lives with me does have the annual NHS jab so we assumed it was something to do with that. Then the government shielded list came out, which DP's condition isn't on. After that every time I tried to book a slot I was told that I wasn't priority yet I had no email to say that I am no longer priority.
On Thursday they started releasing slots to delivery pass holders in my area so I do have a delivery coming today.
I find checking at about 6am good.

*flu jab

Lots of smaller shops near here are doing deliveries of food to vulnerable people. We're running a list on our local FB mutual aid group. Find a local group for you and do a good google.
We're all working together to make sure nobody goes hungry.

I got a Morrisons slot at 12am on Friday. They only had 17 April available when I logged on.

My in laws got a slot with them for 16 April when they logged on at 6am the same day.

They must be releasing slots in batches.

I’m a delivery pass holder, have been unable to book a slot for 3 weeks, I live rurally 30 miles from nearest big Sainsbury’s (or indeed any big supermarket). Had an email from them last wednesday to tell me there were limited delivery slots available, so booked one for today. Just had an email to tell me that toilet rolls, pasta, bread flour and yeast are unavailable, and they are still saying no shortages?

If you can cook can you not get a recipe box delivered like Hello Fresh etc? My partner has ordered one for himself and was able to add a loaf of bread to it. I know it’s just dinners but better than nothing

Sainsbury’s is doing SOME of the elderly - my parents have been trying the line elderly people are supposed to call, without success, all week...

Please find your local volunteer group through google or facebook. Also, there are loads of smaller businesses who are delivering food at the moment. I got a 'surprise' box delivered from a local farm with all the essentials in.

Whereabouts are you?

It’s probably worth you knowing also that Sainsbury’s online delivery service is a bit of a shitshow at present, even if you get a slot.

I had a delivery yesterday (7am) and not only was half of it unavailable, there was a huge list of totally unsuitable substitutions that I was forced to accept because the drivers are no longer able to take them away. For example, conditioner instead of shampoo. The broccoli I received was yellow and the carrots were dripping with rotten ends.

I had also ordered some things for an elderly couple that I am supporting, and these had been substituted for things I wasn’t sure they wanted.

The driver told me to phone Sainsbury’s for a refund, however I spent 1.45 hours on the phone in the morning and didn’t get through. I spent a further hour in the afternoon and finally got to speak to somebody who agreed to issue a refund, however I’ve had to accept this in vouchers, as similar happened last week and the ‘refund department’ left me permanently on hold.

Honestly, if you can get somebody to pick up your shopping, I’d consider it a better idea than online with Sainsbury’s at present.

Thanks, everyone.

Trying to get a grip and think straight. (Was up until gone 5 hoping a slot would appear, and have another thing going on that’s weighing on me.)

I’d have settled for a random box from Morrison’s but even they have no slots.

Can’t believe Sainsbury’s can really have three solid weeks of elderly and vulnerable.

As another poster said, would you be prepared to give us the first 4 digits of your postcode, or the town.
One of us may be able to help you.

Agree.

We are supposed to be self isolating as one of my children has started to exhibit symptoms (dry cough) but for the past week I have not been able to get a slot with any supermarkets. I pay for an annual delivery pass with Sainsburys but they are only delivering to the vulnerable, everything else is click and collect but all booked out. I am trying all the time, at random times, and to be honest the stress of buying food is horrendous.

We have no support network and that’s not a lie. Either DH or myself will have to go out after the weekend, it’s either that or starve.

We’ve been impressed with Sainsbury. My son sat on the phone all day a couple of days ago and got my mum an online account, she then got a delivery slot for today. It has arrived with everything on list bar one item, a couple of very good substitutions. She is thrilled and so are we. The additional worry of getting shopping to her now solved.

Hang in there, hopefully everything will settle soon. Our local branch is very well stocked.

@PyjamaDramaLlama

I had a delivery a couple of weeks ago, and the delivery driver told me that Sainsbury's were seeing demand going up had shut down all their future slots. They are now starting to release them, starting with the vulnerable group which was Monday (23rd). In my area they started releasing to delivery pass holders on Thursday (26th) and I've now got a delivery this morning. In fact the van's just turned up!

My advice keep checking- early morning. (There are only so many vulnerable people, they will start releasing more slots.)

motherrunner, have you checked if any local groups will pick up your shopping ?

Do you have a delivery pass? On wed we got an email saying some slots had been released for deliver pass holders and I was able to get a slot for the next day. It was perfect timing as we would have had to go out to Tesco that day anyway. I think they are allocating slots to the elderly or disabled and then as the week was coming to an end they released the remaining slots to delivery pass holders. Hoping they do it again next week and I can get lucky with a slot!

I have a delivery pass but in my area they have no opened up a click and collect service so vulnerable people have the delivery, everyone else click and collect but they are all booked out.

Trying to find local groups but again no luck.

I bought some masks so will have to go out and hope I hit a quiet time.

@Judashascomeintosomemoney and @Gran22
Thank you so much for the information. Husband has had a heart transplant, so will definitely be in the high risk category. Friend, who has also had a transplant just got her letter today, so hopefully husband’s is on its way. If not I will register him.
I might phone supermarket and ask them if they can let son put through 2 shops, if he has letter (when I get it), so as not to take up a delivery slot.

Do you have a Poundshop or Cornershop? Mine in NE London are both fully stocked & comparable prices for milk, bread & basics like tins.

There appears to be a disproportionate amount of very vulnerable people, as no one else can book a delivery slot?

OntheMoors, no they are not releasing their slots weeks ahead. When it says not available that is because they have closed them and are releasing them a few days at a time once the vulnerable customers on their list have been catered for.

Iceland is reserving ALL slots for the vulnerable, though their definition includes anyone over the state pension age - which I would be, if not for the WASPI scandal.

Sainsbury’s emailed us last night to advise slots were available and we had our shopping delivered at 07:00 this morning. I believe they’re prioritising slots for the vulnerable first and then releasing them to everyone else.

Some food wholesalers desperate to offload stock they would normally send to restaurants are ne doing home deliveries. Apparently a lot of Smithfield Market firms are doing this. Not limited to meat. Have a search online.