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Ocado smart pass trials, tribulations and tiers

946 replies

Milky77 · 12/04/2020 09:37

Background

On March 23, Ocado divided anytime and midweek smartpass members into random groups for access then realised that didn't work so divided us again into most loyal, loyal and near to miscellaneous tiers with having different levels of frequency for order delivery and indeed how many slots you can book in advance.

Certainly the most loyal and probably generally high average spend compared to local populations are the only ones being treated well. They are allowed to still book every seven days, can book 2-3 weeks in advance and are encouraged to book several slots over this time.

The rest of us are being treated with varying levels or service, disappointingly some have not had a single email since March 23 and still don't have access.

Those anytime pass members on the extremely vulnerable list by NHS England should be able to book every 7 days though aren't given the ability to book 2-3 weeks in advance. A few are apparently being called for fortnightly orders.

Ocado has been too greedy. They blame poor service on helping the extremely vulnerable but actually they let too many new and infrequent shoppers place orders putting too much stress on the system.

Complaints on social media are typically met with cut and paste replies. Both the call centre and chat comms have been shut down.

Those with weekly Reserved slots have had their places cancelled. The technology failed, or maybe actually wasn't fit for purpose anyhow

Here was our first thread
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/3862959-Ocado-Anytime-Smart-Pass-holders-have-you-received-priority-access-yet

Let's hope we don't go to a third

Top tip is to try other companies including Morrisons who also deliver from warehouses.

Good luck to all

OP posts:
Thread gallery
20
slartibarti · 16/04/2020 13:06

Thanks mango. It never occured to me to try a larger pack size!
Have just cancelled the 2 x 6 and it let me order 2 packs of 15 eggs . Perhaps it varies depending on where you live.

Milky77 · 16/04/2020 13:38

@massivejugs couldn't agree more. Morrisoms have shone. Really impressed with their ethics.

OP posts:
Stepintimebert · 16/04/2020 13:54

I had an email from Ocado saying that as a valued customer I can now have 3 slots per 21 days. Should have done it earlier. I have now cancelled my smart pass as I have now found Morrisons and Iceland deliveries. both are a lot cheaper than Ocado, even paying a £3 delivery fee. Been with Ocado for 15 years, spending £7-8000 with them a year. you even get flash sales with Morrisons. Bye bye Ocado. They will probably have loads of slots as people leave. It felt really good cancelling that pass!

Madcats · 16/04/2020 14:04

Didn't Morrisons pay Ocado to use their IT and logistics management?
I don't think their service has really taken off round here.

(Whispers that Morrison's wonky avocados are usually much better than Ocado's).

ChristmasCarcass · 16/04/2020 14:27

Nope, not a typo, £17.99. There was somebody on the last thread paying the same. I was on £9.99 until January, but that was a special offer.

Deliveries around here are £6.99 midweek, £9.99 weekend, so given I had a weekly delivery that was still just about worth it. SE London.

If nothing else, this thread has demonstrated that I am being completely ripped off. I’ll be switching to Waitrose/Sainsbury’s as soon as this is over, and won’t be using Ocado again. Nothing to do with the frequency of deliveries, just not going to be taken for a mug.

PerditaProvokesEnmity · 16/04/2020 14:42

Nope, not a typo, £17.99.

I remember someone on the previous thread mentioned £18.00, but I persuaded myself they were referring to two separate accounts (as I think the poster was shopping for more than one household).

I really don't understand how they can have been charging you so much. Particularly in London.

When I first signed up for a SmartPass I think it was free for a short while, then £3.99. They increased it for a while to £6.99, but it's now £5.99 - and I'm aware others are paying less.

In your position I would wait for the crisis to abate and then send a strongly worded email demanding a partial refund backdated to the beginning of time. Surely it was a mistake???

TheGreatWave · 16/04/2020 14:43

Christmas It is absolutely dreadful the price difference in the passes. I pay £60 a year for my Sainsbury's anytime pass and I can get slots for holiday even when I stay in the back of beyond.

slartibarti · 16/04/2020 14:44

I'll be changing to Morrisons when this is over. Feel Ocado are taking advantage and we're being massively ripped off price wise, I'm having to spend a lot more on same amount of food.
Products that are still available when I do the final edit are substituted when I get the delivery, always more expensive items. eg ordered a fresh chicken for £7.50 and a £14.99 one was substituted. Couldn't refuse it as no guarantee I could get one anywhere else.

FlyingFlamingo · 16/04/2020 14:48

Thanks for the Morrison’s tips - I’ve never used them before but just got a slot for 6th May without even trying, their website is very easy to navigate without 3 pages of ‘are you SURE you don’t want these weird and random items?’ before I was allowed to checkout and they are much cheaper than Ocado! I like the sound of their ethics too Smile

FredAstaireAteMyHamSandwich · 16/04/2020 15:26

£17.99 WTF?

hope40 · 16/04/2020 15:45

So I finally got a text from Ocado after waiting weeks to hear which priority group I'm in and when I can book a delivery slot.

I get all excited because the text tells me there are now delivery slots available for me to book, and to go online to secure one as soon as possible!

I go straight to the website but it won't load. I get a message come up telling me oops there seems to be a problem with our website at the moment, we'll fix it as soon as possible!

I'm assuming their website may have crashed because they sent the same text out to loads of people at the same time and it was overloaded or something?

Did anyone else just have this?!

EveLevine · 16/04/2020 15:53

Wow! Can’t believe people are paying £17.99 per month, ours is 1.99 for anytime!

No idea what’s going on with Ocado, was originally in the 7 day group, then got moved to 14 day group.

On Sunday I booked a slot for 24th, and entire calendar went grey.

Yesterday, I set up DMs address, intending to cancel my 24th order and rebook it for her instead, and today when I log on, I can suddenly order weekly again!

So, after being told I’m allowed one order every 14 days, I’ve suddenly been allowed to book 2 deliveries, only seven days apart, but to different addresses - first time in weeks it has allowed me to book more than one order at a time!

FlyingFlamingo · 16/04/2020 15:54

I did, I don’t currently need a slot though as I managed to get one this morning for the 30th and one for Morrison’s the week after

knittingaddict · 16/04/2020 16:18

I can't get on to the site either. My cut off your editing my order is tonight, so it's as well that I've already done it.

chefcarl · 16/04/2020 17:03

crikey....£17.99.

byvirtue · 16/04/2020 17:09

I’ve been “upgraded” from 14 days between deliveries to 10 days. So I’ve now got two slots booked in. Wondering if people are giving up on Ocado and it’s freeing up extra slots. I’m 45 minutes from a decent size supermarket and I can’t face travelling that time and then having to queue outside with a toddler so I’m grateful for any scraps Ocado throw my way Confused

hope40 · 16/04/2020 17:15

Madcats- thanks for the link, lo and behold it got me onto the Ocado website and I was able to log in for the first time! I had a 10 min wait in the queue and the progress line was blue, not sure if that means anything but others have mentioned it.

I was given a choice of slots for Saturday, Sunday, Monday but I just grabbed one for Saturday pm and didn't look at any further ahead. I'm in west Kent and have had an anytime smart pass for around 3 years (7.99 a month). Finally some success - thanks to Madcat's link though and not Ocado!

HavenDilemma · 16/04/2020 17:25

@Xiang

No, I last got a delivery from them just before they shut the website!

I'm extremely vulnerable, not just an existing customer!
Also, that sounds like an excuse to justify them siding with their more profitable customers.

A major newspaper is interested in printing a story about it! They agree it's shocking.

HavenDilemma · 16/04/2020 17:27

@Milky77 As I said in my op I last ordered from them just before they closed the website right at the beginning of the Covid stuff. Yes I do have a smart pass

Can't even get onto Morrisons to check for slots! Absolutely chock-a block apparently.

Cannot get a slot with anyone. Having to rely on the food boxes

LoudBatPerson · 16/04/2020 17:36

Won't be helpful to everyone, they are not doing my area yet, but Brakes are now offering a hone delivery service. Might help people who are struggling to get supermarket slots. www.brakesfoodshop.co.uk

wondering7777 · 16/04/2020 17:39

I've never bought a Smart Pass as there didn't seem any point - in normal times I've always been able get slots one or two days after placing an order, and nearly always get free delivery by choosing what others would think was an inconvenient slot (like Saturday night). I guess most people are out enjoying themselves on a Saturday but I'm usually at home watching telly with nothing better to do! Grin

I've had an email from Ocado this morning saying that I'm entitled to one slot every seven days now, which sounds promising. No idea if it'll actually work in reality, but we will see when I place my next order...

BeeBella · 16/04/2020 17:52

Sorry PP but I used to work at Ocado and the maximum pass is £10.99 for an Anytime pass. I just checked on the website and it's still showing the same. Either it's a mistake or a glitch but it doesn't seem to be actually possible.

BeeBella · 16/04/2020 17:53

If you're certain that's what you pay, email them and demand all of your payments back since their Anytime Pass full price is only £10.99.

Actionhasmagic · 16/04/2020 18:34

Sorry if this has already been said but can I add purple to the list of coloured lines?

Milky77 · 16/04/2020 18:39

Purple is the top tier

OP posts: