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.

Although I'm not saying the elderly or vulnerable shouldn't be prioritised.

@CuppaZa but the op herself uses online delivery even though she isn't extremely vulnerable. To save her having to walk 30 minutes to the supermarket.

My mum is housebound, I live 3hrs drive from her, I normally buy her shopping online. She was taken into hospital and has been in there for the past week and a half. She comes out tomorrow and all slots are unavailable up to 20th April. I can get meals on wheels for 6 days and that is all as she is not classed as vulnerable, Wiltshire Farm Foods are not taking any new customers. So yes people are extremely selfish taking up all the slots if they are able to drive to a supermarket.

What's with all the people who ARE vulnerable writing posts of a "I don't feel guilty" nature?

Because you then get posts like:

So yes people are extremely selfish taking up all the slots if they are able to drive to a supermarket

Someone in their 50s is actually at higher risk, especially now the information from China is trickling out (albeit slowly). How old are you op?

Why do people need weekly.
Can you order every other week? That might help a bit more? I’ve swapped from EOW to monthly with Ocado. And whilst I buy more I’m only taking 1 slot a month instead of 2 or 3

What's with all the people who ARE vulnerable writing posts of a "I don't feel guilty" nature?

Because you then get posts like

So yes people are extremely selfish taking up all the slots if they are able to drive to a supermarket

Right but as they are classes as vulnerable and have been likely advised to stay in for 12 weeks, they can't actually just drive to the supermarket regardless of a car/physical ability to drive.

I have managed to get a slot with Ocado as I have had a delivery subscription and shop regularly with them. We are also doing shopping for PIL who are isolating due to age and health conditions. I did not participate in the crazy stockpiling pre lockdown and I haven't been able to get a big weekly shop for weeks. Our big local supermarket has queues every day taking hours so DH and I are making several trips a week to local shops or smaller supermarkets for us and PILs hunting around as one shop does not always have essentials like bread or eggs. I am not at all happy about this as it increases our risk. I am sorry if that makes me greedy but if we get sick PIL and DCs have no other family in this country to look after them.

People who are not vulnerable, not in the high risk or are not self isolating and can drive to a supermarket and queue up to get their shopping.

I've had a delivery pass for years, I'm with sainsburys and they are prioritising the elderly and vulnerable, after those groups they then give priority to pass holders. We have a car and could go to the shops but if we can book a slot then why shouldn't we? Its our privilege for having bought a pass, if sainsburys need to bump us for someone elderly or vulnerable then thats fine. Until then I'll use the service I pay for with no guilt.

In answer to another post I need to have a big shop weekly because I make everything from scratch and fresh veg only lasts so long and can't be stocked up on.

YABU and you were rude to your aunt

Some people may agree with you and some may not but it’s not for you to impose your views on others

You should apologise to her

Why do people need weekly
Because fresh food doesn’t last. Milk, bread, vegetables and fruit only last about a week or less. And now supermarkets have capped the number of items so you can’t get enough to last a few weeks anyway.

Oh Clover, if you had read what I had written, my mother is housebound and relies on a supermarket delivery. That is why I said that if people are not vulnerable, self isolating, in high risk category then people with a car should go to a supermarket.

@Peppafrig - I’m aware, as I read her post.

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.

Have you tried Waitrose @Portulaca? They seem much more organised on the issue of prioritising vulnerable shoppers. If you go on their website it takes you to a page on what they’re doing and how they’re expecting a list of vulnerable customers from the government in the next few days. At least that was the situation last time I looked.

Because fresh food doesn’t last. Milk, bread, vegetables and fruit only last about a week or less.

I find all of those things last two weeks - they’ll be past their best before date but are perfectly usable. I had some red peppers for lunch today that expired two weeks ago and they were fine - still crunchy and full of flavour. Likewise potatoes, carrots, various other veg, milk and bread.

hollyivy

I did read what you had written and the post I replied to said nothing about driving if not high risk, vulnerable etc - just that if you can drive you should. I can drive.

You have clarified since my post but lots of people are very judgy as to who needs them enough.

I can't get a slot as they are prioritising the elderly and vulnerable, but how do they know who those people are?

I’m worried about future deliveries my mum has one this Thursday and again on the 16th April.
She’s housebound with Parkinson’s, copd, diabetes, barely walks but isn’t vulnerable enough for the government list, I’ve requested she is added but don’t hold my breath, she lives alone, im in a different city and don’t drive, she has paid for a delivery pass at Tesco for years and there’s no priority for her loyalty or illnesses. I can only hope with the extra staff being taken on things will change for the regular delivery customers

The government hasn't passed the details of the extremely vulnerable people on to the supermarkets. I've been on the list for over a week but none of the supermarkets recognise me as extremely vulnerable.

I have a delivery pass and a regular slot with my usual supermarket. This has been cancelled to give priority to the elderly and extremely vulnerable but they can't give me it back until the government say so.

I didn't stockpile as I thought I'd be ok with having the regular slot. I've had a food parcel delivered this week which is designed to feed just me but I'm trying to get it to go round me and my children with stuff we already had. I can't go to the supermarket myself due to being on immunosuppressive meds.

Why do people need weekly
Because we are both now working from home with two teenagers also at home all day, so food does not last very long in this house and I do not want to be popping out to the local shops every day.

@wondering7777 Yes I have tried Waitrose, and all the other supermarkets. DH has been told that we will be offered a slot with a supermarket (no idea when though). Waitrose has said they're not offering any more delivery or c&c slots at our local store (presumably overbooked), Sainsburys won't let him register at all, Asda are full but did let him register, Morrisons don't seem to do deliveries here. I did do a quick dash to our local Co-op yesterday but it was difficult - small shop, trying their best but impossible to impose full social distancing. We will just have to keep trying for a slot somewhere, a hope for the best. Getting v stressed by it all. When this is all over I'm cancelling my Ocado not-so-Smart Pass - they've let us down badly.

Why do people need weekly

Well since Tesco’s are now putting 80 items only limit yes most people are now going to need weekly shopping. We are a family of 5 and I’m struggling to keep it below 80 items! And another reason is I am on income support still (I’m a carer for my disabled daughter) and I only get paid weekly, there is no way I can afford to do a 2 weekly shop for 5 people.

OP, no people should not be taking delivery slots if they can get to the shops, are able bodied and not shielding. It’s entirely selfish to do so. The supermarket online systems are at breaking point and the people on the extremely vulnerable/shielding list cannot get deliveries.
Yes I’m cross as a I’m shielding my transplant child and am a weekly long term Ocado customer.