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Original poster

Please do not take supermarket delivery slots unless NEEDED

215 replies

Chester1980 · 07/04/2020 18:59

This is a plea to anyone who is not vulnerable - please do not take delivery slots from supermarkets. My elderly father lives hundreds of miles away and I cannot get him a slot because they’re all unavailable. This is despite him having an NHS shielding letter. We can’t even get through to any customer services for help.

If you can get to a supermarket and you’re not vulnerable, please think of others who cannot get out and release your delivery slot.

OP posts:
Bimbleboo · 07/04/2020 19:36

Have to agree with other posters. It’s possibly selfish of me but if I could get delivery slots rather than be forced to risk going out to the supermarket... I would. I can’t get slots so it’s irrelevant but Absolutely everyone is vulnerable and the virus has shown it can very quickly end the lives of young healthy people too. With that knowledge floating around, people aren’t going to refuse any minimising of the risk of leaving their children parentless.
I have absolutely no family, and I am all my baby has in the world. It would be hard for me , and many others to refuse any chance of avoiding going out and exposing themselves to a virus that we are constantly being shown statistics and headlines about its seemingly random and unpredictable effect on people. It was different when they were telling us we would get a mild cold. Now it feels like rolling a dice. Which is why people don’t feel selfish taking slots for their own families I guess.

Hopefully some of the suggested community efforts are useful. And I’m sorry you are struggling.

Original poster
Chester1980 · 07/04/2020 19:36

Thank you all for your tips. I even logged on at midnight in the hope more would become available. I also have his log in details, so it’s the account that should be listed as extremely vulnerable. I checked all supermarkets and phoned customer services. I emailed Waitrose and got an email back saying they can’t give slots through email.

I will email Iceland as recommended by @ree348. Thanks for the tip.

He is on the extremely vulnerable list and has an account with Tesco. Still no delivery slots were coming up.

He does get a milk delivery @emmathedilemma. I will see if they also do fruit and veg too. It’d be awesome if they did!

OP posts:
EveryFlightBeginsWithAFall · 07/04/2020 19:36

Oh and I'm the same as notallthewine, but i have to children with asd and don't drive so im not taking them to the shop. I have changed from fortnightly delivery to every 5 weeks though. And orderd farm shop boxes but there's a 3 week back log in those as well

Wingedharpy · 07/04/2020 19:37

His local Facebook page will be invaluable.
People are tripping over themselves to help if you just shout out to folk local to him.
Or, www.covidmutualaid.org will lead you to groups local to him.

There's a lesson to be learned here OP.
If what you are doing is not working, try something else.
Good luck.

Hall84 · 07/04/2020 19:38

@Chester1980 it isn't the same but I managed to get a delivery of frozen meals to some vulnerable relatives. They'll be delivered next week but could have been this week if that had suited them. I know it doesn't make up for a supermarket shop but at least we know they have a good meal a day and there might be a local milkman that can deliver milk/bread/eggs etc

Bubblewings · 07/04/2020 19:38

Sorry to jump on this thread but relevant...I have seen lots of threads like this one and feel increasingly guilty - I have a delivery slot in 3 weeks.
So - as a single parent, what happens if i take my son with me? is it allowed? Frowned upon? Get judgemental looks?

ChipotleBlessing · 07/04/2020 19:39

There’s probably no need to email Iceland. If he has one nearby they release new next day delivery slots at lunchtime every day. They’re only for the vulnerable, so it’s fairly easy to get a slot.

EveryFlightBeginsWithAFall · 07/04/2020 19:39

Our local butcher are doing delivery and prioritising the elderly so that might be something to look at

AlmostAJillSandwich · 07/04/2020 19:39

Just logged in to tesco and theres slots at multiple times for the next 3 days available?

Greendin · 07/04/2020 19:39

Have you tried Iceland, they put up slots daily, during the daytime in batches. There's not as much choice as the bigger supermarkets but it does seem to be cheaper on many goods.

There's a phone number on the Sainsbury's website that people who have received a letter can call to register.

mummeeee · 07/04/2020 19:41

My dd is on the shielding list. I registered on the gov site and filled it in to say food supplies were required. About a week later I got an email from ASDA saying you will get priority on slots. I logged in and got one for 2 weeks' time but was able to make it weekly recurring.

If he has milk and more deliveries then their website is running well now - they've reduced choice but you can get fruit and veg. I added extra milk for Friday as they're not delivering Easter Monday.

Hope you are able to sort something.

ChristmasCarcass · 07/04/2020 19:42

Jill it depends on where you are in the country - none around here right now.

Original poster
Chester1980 · 07/04/2020 19:43

@AlmostAJillSandwich where are you based? I guess it will be different at different branches depending on resources

OP posts:
Igottastartthinkingbee · 07/04/2020 19:44

Chester not sure if anyone else has said this but the Morrison’s food box is a different site to the normal Morrison’s website. Just google Morrisons Food Box and click the link. You shouldn’t have to queue. Someone local to me got one for an elderly relative and said that they do sell out so you may need to try first thing tomorrow (or late tonight) to get one. But the contents loon great and the delivery is next day service.

Other than that I’d suggest getting on his local Facebook community group to ask for assistance. We have lots of volunteers helping vulnerable people locally so maybe his area will too.

Lenny1980 · 07/04/2020 19:45

Please do check out the local Facebook group. Both mine and the one for my parents area have lots of info on other companies doing deliveries (local butchers, farm shops, wholesalers, etc). They also have details of how to contact local volunteers who can help with picking up and delivering groceries if you’re really stuck.

WhyNotMe40 · 07/04/2020 19:46

Plenty of Sainsbury's slots available here as well for the next 3 days

Marieo · 07/04/2020 19:46

If you are in England definitely register for the food box, delivered to the door (safely) and has quite a variety. It also means it will be easier to get a volunteer to help if needed ie with prescriptions; here it is DBS checked council workers doing this for the shielded. It's probably those who are vulnerable who need them more as there is no 'state' support in place.

JustVisiting9 · 07/04/2020 19:47

I am not classed as vulnerable. I am a reasonably healthy person in my late 30s. So you would accuse me of using supermarket delivery slots that I do not need.

However, I also have a cough, live on my own, and my nearest relative is over 100 miles away. I didn't stockpile because we were told not to.

If I didn't have a supermarket delivery, the only options would be to rely on the local church who are helping people (but, the church members are mainly pensioners themselves), or to go to the supermarket and potentially spread virus around.

So am I entitled to use the delivery slot? I would add that when I booked it, there were plenty of slots available.

GameSetMatch · 07/04/2020 19:48

Booths supermarket are delivering a range of food boxes, really great prices too.

Gingerkittykat · 07/04/2020 19:48

I'm sick of other people telling everyone what to do.

Please do tell us who is allowed one of the supermarket slots? The ordinary family? Someone like me who is vulnerable but not shielding? The single mum with no car?

I just want to be careful I'm not breaking someone else's imaginary rules.

queenqueenqueen · 07/04/2020 19:49

Sorry if been said already but have you searched FB for a local group?

Stet · 07/04/2020 19:50

Get on the local FB group for his area - there will be one - and find out who is delivering food locally and who is volunteering etc. There's loads going on round here, so much food available from small local businesses who are delivering and people helping. I'd imagine it's the same in most areas if you just take the time to go and look it out.

SisterAgatha · 07/04/2020 19:50

My mum is vulnerable in the true sense of the word, various autoimmune issues, a rare blood disorder and over 70. She gets the free Morrison’s boxes but has declined because sainsburys and Tesco are falling over themselves to give her a slot. All she did was email them with her letter.

We are all logging on at midnight, that’s the very least people are doing. I have a semi vulnerable husband too, if I get a slot, I am taking one I’m afraid. There are avenues for your father.

Isanidiot · 07/04/2020 19:51

Is he on the list with the supermarkets he's registered with as vulnerable? Just wondering if that actually helps?

Have to say registered as shielded by NHS, HMRC & GOV.UK -get no help because not acknowledged at all because I’m not in England.

Anyone in Scotland, Northern Ireland or Wales have any tips? From what I can gather (from friends in 2 countries) only English residents are getting priority help - can anyone not in England help/navigate around the English system?

Igottastartthinkingbee · 07/04/2020 19:51

Ginger have a bit of compassion. OP is obviously worried and is too far away to help. I know lots of other people also require slots but cut OP some slack. Be kind and all that.