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 have a slot, I am third trimester pregnant and vulnerable.

I'm also heavily pregnant and despite being an Ocado customer for 9 years, because I don't have a SmartPass I'm unable to book a slot. As a result DH is having to go to the shops fairly regularly for essentials (we don't have a car) and I'm terrified he's going to catch it, give it to me and that I'll have to give birth while infected with coronavirus. I don't believe I class as vulnerable on the government's website. It's so stressful

@OhClover I'm not referring to people who have a genuine need for the service. There are many people still using online delivery just because they can, no real need other than they just don't want to go to the supermarket during this time. Well guess what, none of us really do - but they need to understand that there are people who have no choice but to use delivery service, so those slots should be available to them and not used up by people who are perfectly capable of shopping for themselves. So yes, I still think they're selfish and I'd rather be sanctimonious than someone who prevents an elderly/ill person who has to isolate from getting their shopping.

I don't believe I class as vulnerable on the government's website. It's so stressful

I don't think you do just because you are pregnant?

I have had a weekly ocado delivery for more than 10 years. I will continue with this arrangement. And yes I have a car and we are all healthy. If I was giving up my slot to someone that I knew needed it, perhaps organised by Ocado, then I would be very happy to do so. But to give it up to someone who has not been using the service but suddenly thinks it's a good idea and wants to have my slot? er... no thanks.

I think your aunt is thoughtless and you’re perhaps too conscientious - I don’t think you ought to feel guilty about getting deliveries.

My DH is vulnerable, I haven’t been to a shop since 17 March. Got a veg box delivery organised for last week. DH has somehow managed to get a delivery slot from Asda this Friday - I don’t feel guilty, I’m minimising my shopping as much as I possibly can, so I don’t see why we shouldn’t have a slot.

How are people getting Ocado slots? I have a Smart Pass and they won't let me book anything. Last delivery from them was about 3 weeks ago now with no hope for anything in the future.

We registered DH with the Gov vulnerable list and that said we would be contacted and offered an online shopping slot. Nothing yet, and can't see it happening anytime soon either. Fortunately we're ok for food at the moment but will run out at some point in the next couple of weeks.

I have a Sainsbury's slot later this week. I haven't tried to book any more afterwards as although my DH is slightly higher risk I feel that others need slots more than us. It just didn't feel right.

I won't be cancelling this week's slot though as I'm not confident that it would go to someone who really needs it.

@TheMotherofAllDilemmas those of us who are vulnerable have been unable to get new slots OR register as vulnerable with the supermarkets for weeks already!

I depend on online deliveries for everything as I'm housebound

It's been an absolute debacle how they've handled things and it's put a ton of extra pressure not only on the most vulnerable customers but their frontline & call centre staff too.

The lack of organisation and contingency planning and the lack of speed of instituting suitable rules for the situation have been astonishing and frankly terrifying.

Yes it's selfish if you're able to go in person to shop, you're not elderly or otherwise vulnerable or have other special circumstances you should go in person or at the very least click & collect, though even click and collect slots are incredibly rare too.

Cba to queue is no way a good enough reason not to shop in person.

I'm usually a sainsburys regular getting at least one delivery a week sometimes more, they SHOULD know I'm vulnerable from various conversations I've had with them over the years plus I did manage to get through early on and asked for my account to show I was vulnerable yet this clearly hasn't happened as when I log in I get "we haven't been able to identify you as one it our most vulnerable customers" repeatedly.

Since that call over 2 weeks ago despite calling many multiple times per day I've been unable to get through, I've tried twitter and facebook where they're just doing copy & paste replies - which at this point I'm not convinced aren't automated - all with no success whatsoever.

I've very luckily managed to get deliveries with other supermarkets for this week and next but despite repeatedly checking for slots after that I'm really starting to worry about how on Earth I'm going to get supplies after that if they don't address the issues properly.

And then when you do get a delivery there's a load of stuff unavailable.

It's not just food, it's toiletries, food storage and cleaning supplies too.

So frankly online customers being ALSO limited to 80 items is pissing me off! I've seen nothing saying in person shoppers are also having such limitations put on their shopping? I imagine there'd be uproar if they did to be honest

Of course, if everyone can get a home delivery, then nobody need to go to shop, then the infection rate will drop. As previous PP said, one deliver driver can save around 30 people's trip. And the drivers only leave the box outside and don't need to meet anyone. There is no risk for the driver either. For the people who are packing the stuff, surely the shop can think ways to keep their working distance, and also it's far easier to manage risk with people you know.

I don't understand why supermarket not recruit more staff to make this available.

Morrison's foodbox are really a good idea to save the staff time to pack up a box, I don't know why they don't make more available and other shops don't follow.

I am booking slots if I can for 3 reasons.

1. DH and I are both key workers (education and prison service) - not NHS so can't take advantage of the protected shopping times.
2. My in-laws are self-isolating due to being in the high risk vulnerable category due to age and pre-existing medical conditions. If they can't get what they need in their deliveries or are unable to book a delivery, I can swap my delivery to their address or make sure we add on what they need.
3. IF we do succumb to this awful virus, we have not been able to replenish our tinned/easy cook foods etc due to the shelves still being empty of them when we do get to go shopping. So I am still trying to get my cupboards and freezer back up to their normal standard, which is no where near the panic buying state I've seen in others. If we know we have a delivery coming we can make sure the freezer and fridge have easy cook meals in for everyone.

I've given my delivery slot to my parents and I'm doing click and collect so I don't have to go in the shop (I'm asthmatic but not badly) and still working so not able to go at all hours but I can leave the deliveries for those without a car or who aren't able to leave the house at all. I thought this was a fair compromise

Oh ffs, she probably gets a weekly slot every week why should she have to stop for people who’ve probably never shopped online in their life.

Supermarkets aren't charities they are private companies. It's down to the government to insure people on the shielded list get food. Of course they will want to keep their loyal customers who without them using online delivery's for all these years the service wouldn't be available for people to use today. As it wouldn't exist. Trouble is so many people not shielded require delivery's . The blind the physically disabled all who are are no extra risk to covid but who can't get out to supermarkets.

I’m not classed as vulnerable according to the government criteria. But I had pneumonia that left me with permanent lung damage and an immune system disorder that affects my spleen and reduces the effectiveness of my immune system. If I get corona it will probably kill me. So I book delivery slots if possible and I give zero fucks if I’m not technically classed as vulnerable. I’m not going to die just because I don’t fit the very specific government criteria for being vulnerable.

I have got a slot as I have type 1 diabetes and haven’t been in a shop since this started! My husband can pop to our local spar for top up bits but I don’t feel safe going to the local supermarket as i nearly died last year from the flu and don’t think I would survive If I got it! So I am going to book slots when I need one!

Technically we don't need a slot but where we are they don't seem to be in short supply. I booked one this morning for this coming Friday and due to this thread I just checked Friday again and there are still a whole day of slots available. You can get your shopping any time of morning, afternoon or evening you fancy. As there are clearly plenty to go round I think it makes perfect sense to use them whether vulnerable or not.

Plus the OP isn't in the vulnerable group so judging someone for using a delivery slot when she uses one herself. But she thinks she is justified as she has her reasons. Not having a car is a choice and so is having children . They don't make you vulnerable like having an illness. Yes it would be inconvenient to have to walk to the shops but it is for thousands of others too.

What's with all the people who ARE vulnerable writing posts of a "I don't feel guilty" nature? Nobody has suggested you should. If you feel you are more likely to suffer seriously, even die, and are lucky enough to have a slot, who would argue?

Those of you who are not likely to be seriously affected but can't be arsed queuing can't reasonably say you're not selfish. Like I said earlier, do it if you please, but recognise it's selfish. There are likely to be people who will die as a result of visiting shops for want of slots.

You probably owe her an apology op.

If you feel you are more likely to suffer seriously, even die, and are lucky enough to have a slot, who would argue?
People who’d say “but you’re not technically vulnerable according to the government criteria”. Which is basically what Sainsburys has said to the whole country.

I said it was shelfish as people who need them are struggling to get them.

No wonder everyone in the group chat clammed up.

(Lighthearted)

@petiolaris

I still think the people to whom I referred have no reason to get offended by what the OP said given that she specified those people using online shopping without being at particular risk. She didn't say people who aren't shielded etc shouldn't be using it.

FWIW I think a lot of vulnerable people are harmed by the "extremely vulnerable" list. Evidence suggests the people who die are mostly those who have underlying health conditions, such as diabetes, respiratory problems, hypertension etc, (particularly those with several conditions) and people who are over 70 (especially over 80), but these people are merely "vulnerable" and are entitled to no help. The shielding list has become the default yard stick, and too many people are now receiving the message that ONLY those on the list are particularly at risk. Of course, I don't begrudge those on the list the help they need. Just wish there was more help for others.

FWIW, I agree with you OP. You’ll find a lot of people on here will jump down your throat for merely suggesting that the extremely vulnerable should be priority for delivery slots. Because, you know, ‘they’re loyal customers and hate going to supermarkets’

I'm getting a little irritated with many of my (older but certainly not elderly) neighbours having supermarket deliveries 2 or 3 times or more a week. The delivery vans come down our road several times a day. And we can't get a slot for delivery or click and collect.