Taking grocery slots you don't need

[CaterpillarInTheGarden]

Was on a Skype group chat with inlaws and DH's aunt was saying she has booked tesco delivery slots. She is in her early 50s, and her and her 18 year old daughter are not in a vulnerable group. They have no underlying health conditions. I asked if she was shopping for elderly neighbours or vulnerable people or parents with young children who can't get to the shops. She said no of course not . Giving a short laugh as if I was asking a ridiculous question. So I questioned why is she taking delivery slots when she can easily go to the shops because she is not elderly, vulnerable, does not have young children and has a car. I said it was shelfish as people who need them are struggling to get them. She just made a huffing sound, said I was being ridiculous and that she doesn't want to wait in the supermarket queues. Everyone else in chat went silent and didn't say anything. I feel guilty enough using delivery slots and am thinking I should stop using them when we don't have a car, have a young toddler and I would need to walk 35 minutes to the supermarket and have asthma and would need to make a few trips a week to get bulky items like nappies. If I had a car I would definitely not be using supermarket delivery. She also spent alot of time complaining she has had to cancel her holiday. Didn't ask how anyone else was and showed zero concern for how it might be effecting others in the country.

I’ve got a weekly delivery slot which I feel slightly guilty about. I could probably go to the supermarket but my partner has underlying health conditions and I also get groceries for an elderly lady in her 80s who can’t go shopping herself.

Have a think about how the food gets from warehouse to store to delivery van.

It doesn’t go up by 1 extra employee for every 1 new order though so it still works out as fewer people out and about.

I’ve always relied on home delivery (can’t drive) but I’m currently trying to sort orders for 3 elderly relatives as well and it’s taking so much time and stress. Once we’re not self-isolating any more I can at least get out to the shops for my own household’s but it’s a fair walk to the nearest open supermarket while achy and breathless so I won’t be able to get much in one go. Can stuff a wheely suitcase full I suppose.

Was hoping that click and collect slots would be more available as the supermarkets recruit more people, then at least those with cars can go for those, but they seem to be just as rare from what people have said.

But one delivery driver delivers to multiple households, rather than multiple people visiting the supermarket.

Again, that one delivery driver is not the only person involved.

My comment was in response to someone who said we should ALL be getting food delivered. If that were the case the demand for staffing the entire delivery chain would rocket.

We've been booking slots. DH has asthma and high blood pressure. I also add items for his parents who live down the road and are in their 70s. Not sure if we are classed as vulnerable but I'm taking as few chances as I can get away with, I try to not book slots more regularly than once every 10 days so as to not take more slots than I need.

It doesn’t go up by 1 extra employee for every 1 new order though so it still works out as fewer people out and about.

I'm not sure I said it did?

I said The higher demand is for home delivery, the higher number of staff required.

I wouldn't be so quick to judge. This whole new world has been thrust upon us only a few short weeks ago. We are all trying to navigate it as best we can.

She sounds selfish... her response to who added to it

This virus has shown up some as being wonderful and others as selfish individuals/hoarders/ me me me etc

I am fit and able and have no guilt at getting a delivery slot.

I'm a nurse working full time through this and I am avoiding shops as much as I can and trying to ensure DH who is now wfh does the same.

If or when covid 19 comes on to our ward, it will almost certainly be unwittingly with a staff member or a new admission. I don't want to be that staff member because we have extremely vulnerable patients. I also need to try and stay well to keep working.

If I can't get a delivery slot next week my already sky high stress levels will be even higher. I have enough to deal with and refuse to feel guilty for not giving up my delivery slot when the reality is, some other fit and able person is likely to get it.

Yes she's selfish. And those people defending it, with their healthy families and cars in their drive way are selfish too. You're preventing people who NEED this service and have no other option of getting groceries from using it. Yes I'll judge you for it and your total lack of any social responsibility.

@CammieKennaway im sorry you're going through this...

I think this situation brought out whats inside of people... I hope its making ppl reflect on how they feel towards- and view- themselves

I booked the slot 3 weeks ago as I knew around that time I'd be running low .. I don't need it but I will use it as I'm very reluctant to give it up now as I can't be certain if i did give it up it would go to someone more deserving. Plus when I do go and collect it ( click and.collect ) it will be exactly day 14 of contracting this virus , funny how that's worked out
I'm not going to try and book another soon as I'm perfectly fit and healthy and will queue up instead

I have a reoccurring delivery slot as have always had one, I do feel slightly guilty and if I could guarantee it going to a shielded person I would give it to them in a heartbeat however I fall into a at risk category, both me and dp still working full time, dp days and me in a supermarket but I have swapped to nights due to my low immune system meaning I am not really in contact with people and certainly no customers at the minute, whilst dp is at work I have 2 dc at home and I don’t drive so the delivery is very much welcomed right now especially as looking after 2 kids after a night shift is not the easiest job in the world

This!

DH and DS both have asthma. DH has been had NHS letter telling him to stay indoors. We can't get any slots for delivery or c&c anywhere. I'm risking going out to get shopping at the moment. But if I get cv and pass it onto DH & DS then it will be very serious. Very worried.

People who are not vulnerable are also getting it and dying... So if she got a slot, why begrudge her?

Sorry wanted to reply to @LegoBloodyHurts but it didn’t work!

We have a recurring delivery slot once a week. I don't feel guilty about it. We are staying in, not even going out to 'exercise', buying the minimum for what we need for the week and DH is a key worker and I'm doing childcare all day. If I released it, there's no guarantee that someone who actually needs it would get it anyway, and I'd rather we had it than someone else who doesn't need it 🤷‍♀️

I think we will see a lot more slots coming available in the next week or so anyway. I already notice slots at our ASDA when I get up with DD at 6ish when I didn't a week ago.

Also I do love the moral high ground when you're also getting online deliveries It's easy to say 'if I had a car I wouldn't' but I'm not entirely convinced that would end up being the case. But that's easy to claim when it isn't being challenged so you won't have to put your money where your mouth is

"Again, that one delivery driver is not the only person involved."

The rest of the chain of wholesaler and staff have to be there anyway for shoppers who come to the store. If you sell the same amount of food but delivered it all then as people said you'd be having one driver out instead of 30+ people coming to the shop.

So we should ALL be getting food delivered OR since it's not quite practical right now (you need the special vans too) the rest should be using click and collect as that means no shoppers wandering around inside the shop touching things.

Expanding Click and Collect enormously is easier as anyone can be employed to fill a crate with a list and if you allowed no shoppers at all inside the store hygiene would be easier to maintain and so would item limits.

She may not have disclosed other reasons for why she needs home delivery , she has only told you what she feels comfortable telling you and may have very personal and private reasons .
Judging someone isn’t on , too many people trying to play the virtue card at the moment - look at me and look how well I’m thinking of others and following the rules. Whereas still making judgements without the full facts

I'm constantly hunting for delivery slots. Lone parent with one challenging child.
I really don't want to risk going into a shop and getting ill because it will put the other dc at risk if I'm floored.

iliketrains

I judge you for your sanctimonious attitude. I have a slot, I am third trimester pregnant and vulnerable. I have added orders for my immunocompromised sibling and elderly parents. My husband is a doctor and because he is so busy going to work trying to get as many of his cancer patients treated while he still can (his hospital is changing operationally shortly due to covid and treatment is being delayed), he is at the hospital 14-15 hours a day and can’t get there, and if he could he would present a big infection risk to others using the supermarket, and a massive risk to his patients if he caught it there as cancer patients have a poor prognosis if they catch it.

So yes we own a car. I disagree we are showing no social responsibility.

I agree, it's very selfish. Elderly and vulnerable people should be given priority, end of.

The rest of the chain of wholesaler and staff have to be there anyway for shoppers who come to the store. If you sell the same amount of food but delivered it all then as people said you'd be having one driver out instead of 30+ people coming to the shop.

One driver. Several pickers, more admin staff...

It's not just more drivers that would be needed.

Expanding Click and Collect enormously is easier as anyone can be employed to fill a crate with a list and if you allowed no shoppers at all inside the store hygiene would be easier to maintain and so would item limits.

This kind of shows what I am trying to say. More employees. There will always be a demand for more staff if no one is allowed inside the store.

The delivery slot warriors are a bit teedious to be honest. Yes, there will be some people who are in a house full of young and healthy people who have access to a car and could easily shop who have them. There are others who fall into the vulnerable category (shielded here eligible for food boxes and the local council gives them access to volunteers if they want specific, so actually here, location specific, don't need delivery slots as much as the vulnerable) for a plethora of reasons, who benefit massively from a delivery but are being made to feel guilty and ashamed. Perhaps people don't want to disclose their reasonings to others.