Supermarket shopping online - Is it too late to try?

[cinnabunbun]

We don't usually do our supermarket shopping online and I'm a bit baffled by the process. Can someone kind please explain how the slot booking works?

My family are currently in isolation and friends have been very kind with shopping for us so we are fine for the moment but I'm trying to make a plan for the future weeks and months.

Is there a trick to being able to log on somewhere and make an order for the future?

Don't bother with Ocado. They seem overwhelmed.
Best bet is to register accounts will all of the supermarkets and then be persistent.
I've managed to get a slot with Tesco this way.
Most supermarkets now only available from mid April .
My parents got an Iceland slot yesterday and it's for end if week. They had some fresh stuff as well as frozen.

Sorry, just realised you're asking about future bookings.
At minute you can't book beyond about two weeks with most sites.

You usually can only book a few weeks in advance.
I’d create an account and then keep checking back to see if there are slots.

Usually you just set up an account, pick a delivery slot and fill your basket. Under normal circumstances the basket can be changed until the night before delivery but I think some supermarkets have made the cut off longer before delivery now.

I use Tesco regularly (we have a delivery saver plan) but I am unable to get a slot booked at all now. The furthest away date that has been released is April 18th but even first thing this morning all slots had gone.

I work in a patient facing role in the NHS and am desperately trying to go out as little as possible in order to stay well but it looks as if I will need to venture into a supermarket a this rate.

Most are now closed (Waitrose, ocado, sainsburys) while they prioritise vulnerable. Morrisons has a horrendous queue.

I use Sainsbury's and the way it works is this:
Create an account, log in, annoyingly it takes you to your 'account' page where you can't book a slot
I do a search for 'milk' then on the right hand side it says 'book delivery slot' - clicking this takes you to a page that shows you the upcoming three weeks worth of delivery slots - or if there aren't any, you just see dashes
You then book your slot (if there's one available) and then you have two hours to complete your shop before you lose that slot and have to book another one.

Sainsbury's in my area has been fully booked up since the virus crisis started, but when I logged on this morning, there were slots all day tomorrow, so maybe they're releasing some each morning for the following day or something.

You could also try googling 'grocery / vegetable / butcher' near me and see if any of your local small businesses are delivering.

Good luck.

My sainsburys is not letting non vulnerable customers book. Only click and collect.

Thanks for the tips.
Ocado - just takes me to a screen saying they have no delivery slots. I can't seem to register for an account or anything
Sainsbury's and Tesco won't let me register
Morrisons says I'm 54,000 in the queue and to note that there are no delivery slots available - does that mean that when I get to the front of the queue I wouldn't be able to shop for the future anyway? I've never had an account there.
Iceland - let me register an account but only had four days listed for delivery (31st March-3rd April), all of which were fully booked. Does this mean that you just check in daily to try to grab a slot but can't book something longer term? We have enough food for this week but its more the future that I'm trying to sort out.

I kind of knew that I had missed the boat but I was hoping to get in the system somehow to be able to sort something out for the future. Hmmm

If you create an account you can put things in your basket without a delivery slot (usually). To get a delivery slot you're really looking at logging on between midnight and about 4am at the minute - any later and you'll struggle to get a slot. Once you've booked your slot you have about 3 hours (usually) to do your shopping and "check out". If you've already got a basket sorted it'll transfer over and anything out of stock (spoiler alert - everything).

Oops, posted too soon.

Once you book your slot it might take everything out of stock out your basket.

I got a slot this morning for two weeks with Asda, try as early as you can after midnight to get a slot

I think they are all prioritising existing customers and people who they have identified as vulnerable at the moment, and not accepting orders from new customers.

Your best bet at the moment is probably trying to find a local smaller business that delivers. Two greengrocers in my area are offering home delivery of essentials (for example a box of fruit, veg, milk, eggs and bread). The local Co-op is also on Deliveroo, just a small range of items but everyday basics are on there.

I managed to get an Asda slot at 2:30 this morning when my son woke up, it's 2 weeks away so I don't know exactly what I'll need then. I put a couple of expensive things in the basket to take it over the limit then checked out. You don't get charged until it's picked so you can do your actual shopping nearer the time.