Ocado tips, hacks, Toblerone and Christmas

[GaryUnicorn]

Carrying on from the old thread....

Still no email about the Christmas slots.

They keep subbing baby wipes for a brand that my daughter has an adverse reaction to. 4 times in the past 2 months. I've rejected them every time, and they still keep sending them!

So as well as loads of subs I have crap dates, including a Halloween item (crisps) that go out of date in Tuesday which is ridiculous, and damaged items.

I'm so fed up of Ocado but too scared to swap to Tesco or Sainsbury's as the slots are hard to get and they pick from store so things go out of stock. Although Ocado seem to have nothing in stock regardless. I've had so many damaged items I'm starting to worry they think I'm making it up. Last week a full bottle of olive oil leaked over the entire bag. I get bags of fruit mixed with raw chicken and single carriers with 4 2L bottles of Pepsi in them. Complaints are met with patronising automatic replies so it's utterly pointless.
Like others, I'm back to limited slots, only this time, they're not polite enough to let me know. Can't get a slot in November, let alone a Christmas one. So frustrating. As for their app- it's been switched off for 7 months now unless you are one of the chosen ones. It all seems ridiculous.
Has anyone else found that they are unable to edit their orders? I've got 3 weeks booked but pressing edit does nothing. Feels like we've gone back to March.

A question if I may!

Can order my M&S turkey from Ocado and have it delivered rather than going in store for it (which feels like the safer bet as it's what I usually do!).

If I order it early, say for delivery on 20th, will it go off before Christmas Day?! I seem to recall M&S Christmas turkeys are always good until Christmas Day?!

Well. This is a turn up. Anyone else had this?

@goldpendant You can order anything that's available on ocado.com for delivery (if you're lucky enough to get a delivery slot near Xmas!) but you won't be able to order anything directly from M&S and have it delivered by Ocado.

@Fuss yes I have and I'm furious that the latest slot on offer to me is the 21st. That's no good for fresh produce. I'm really upset as I've had a smart pass for years. Ocado need to sort themselves out as they've really gone down the pan. On top of everything else, the M&S food I'd like to order on my delivery is OOS more often than not. Rubbish and no I won't be renewing my SmartPass next year. Disappointed doesn't cover it. I hope the Daily Mail sees this!

I haven’t bothered with a Christmas delivery for the last couple of years as I object to paying £9.99 when I’m a smart pass holder. This year I have due to the uncertainty caused by the virus. I’m sure there are many like me who don’t usually book the slots but just want a little certainty around their Christmas shopping this year (though I have booked a Christmas Eve morning slot so I can walk to the shops if needed - covering all bases!)

@goldpendant

A question if I may!

Can order my M&S turkey from Ocado and have it delivered rather than going in store for it (which feels like the safer bet as it's what I usually do!).

If I order it early, say for delivery on 20th, will it go off before Christmas Day?! I seem to recall M&S Christmas turkeys are always good until Christmas Day?!

The M&S joint I wanted is out of stock plus I’m not convinced that fresh meat would still be good when the closest delivery to Christmas is 20th December.

@goldpendant
I’ve had a quick look at the M&S fresh turkeys, whole birds & crowns, and they all say the same in their Product Information, that they will be available for delivery between 19th to 24th December and Use By date of 26th December.
But first, of course, you will have to have a Christmas Delivery Slot! 🎄 🎄 🎄

Fab thanks @AdaColeman just spotted it! I have a slot!

I booked my slot for the 22nd Dec an hour ago. Hardly any Christmas stuff in stock. Filled the trolley with things to add up to the £90 but I’m disappointed. How do I know I’m getting a Christmas dinner? Nothing to put in the basket.

Wanted a Christmas Colin too. Looks like I might have to venture into M&S food. It was hell last year and that was pre-covid.

Christmas stock now bears no relation to Christmas stock in December

Hmm Anytime Smart Pass holder and have neither a Christmas slot nor a refund email.

I can only order two weeks in advance. Not really impressed as my pass is a higher price one. Might try Waitrose next week.

I just looked on Waitrose for Christmas slots here - NOTHING

I’ve got an anytime pass 9.99 a month. I can only book every 7 days and only 2 weeks in advance.

Fuss - yes I had that email too. Note the last paragraph too which basically says go ahead and cancel your smart pass if you want, because we're not planning on doing things any differently!

I wrote to customer services about the fact that I can't book deliveries more than once a week with nothing available to me at all after 27 October and their response was to advise me to 'book as far in advance as possible' (WTAF - this is exactly what I can't do!). They signed off with an invitation to me to cancel the smart pass that I've had for about 9 years. It's clear they don't give a shit, actually, and are happy to lose customers rather than invest money and effort into making improvements.

Their current customer service makes me wonder if the business is actually going down the pan, ie they are failing financially to the extent where they're unable to invest in meeting customers' expectations and are effectively downsizing their operations deliberately.

Has anyone read the comments on their Facebook page? Literally hundreds of complaints about their deliveries generally and the lack of Christmas slots. Their stock response to all of these is 'keep trying'.

@BaileysforBreakfast

Has anyone read the comments on their Facebook page? Literally hundreds of complaints about their deliveries generally and the lack of Christmas slots. Their stock response to all of these is 'keep trying'.

They are so far out of touch it's untrue isn't it?

My Waitrose delivery is coming this afternoon and I can book one for next week at the same time, which is my usual Ocado reserved slot. I'll give it a couple of deliveries to be sure it's ok then I shall cancel my Smart Pass and not look back I think.

If it were just Christmas slots I could bring myself to understand, but its a combination for me of surly drivers, damaged items, smart pass price tripling, no Christmas slot, prices in Ocado more expensive than M&S etc

On the plus side, no Christmas slot means they can't add to the ridiculous amount of damage they did to my front garden last year, for which I had to fight for a refund of my delivery and was passed around between them and their insurers for months before I finally told them to forget it (it was June by then) I'd sort it myself.

The reviews for them on Trustpilot is shocking. Their customer service used to be wonderful; I once had a jar of jam break in a bag, and some went on my carpet. They refunded the whole bag, and gave me a £20 voucher and a bottle of wine to say sorry. Over the last 3-4 months I have had problems with every delivery. Missing items, ridiculous subs (1 portion reduced calorie lasagne for a family lasagne!) Even had something delivered out of date.
Contacting them was not a positive expense. Generic, insincere replies. Their inconsistent service to customers is appalling. The random charges for smart passes to different customers is ill thought out. Some people pay £1.99 for an anytime pass; I pay £9.99. And despite this, I can barely ever book a slot.
I haven’t booked a slot for Christmas (and have not received an email like a poster above). Apart from the fact the minimum basket and delivery charge showing complete contempt for customers, I would simply not trust them to deliver a good service. I have zero faith in them as a company, and it seems I’m not alone. Such a shame.

I remember reading that their profit comes from the technology, not the actual groceries, so I suspect that the massive uptick in customers isn't really an advantage to them, there is no financial benefit to trying to take on additional customers, in fact might cost them more than it profits them so yes, suspect they are happy to shed customers.

That's my instinct anyway.

I seem to have been lucky wit Ocado but am missing Waitrose so I signed up to the app. Not one single delivery slot is available?!!! Not for next week, not for Christmas. How do people get Waitrose slots? Is there a pass system you need to join??

Waitrose slots seem to be very dependent on area. I've just looked at mine. Closest slot I can get is Sunday and plenty left for next week. Could only get 20th for Xmas though so have booked an Ocado slot for 23rd. Hate the Waitrose app though. I'm hoping it will get better once I build favourites but it's not user friendly at all.

Two subs again in today's order - different size milk and different type of loo roll, so not a disaster but just annoying it's a weekly thing. I have very little confidence that items I buy will actually turn up - tricky if you're planning a meal and a key part of it is missing! Last week I was sent salted caramel green tea instead of the black tea I ordered, too.

The driver also seemed to have no concept of social distancing today and was stood at my doorstep waiting to hand me the bags. I actually said social distancing is still a thing at my house, thank you, and stood back myself to let him leave everything at the doorstep...

I find delivery drivers don’t distance too. But I say, I need to be 2m from you, that seems to make them shift.

I have to say the chap we had on Monday was the best delivery man we’ve ever had from ocado. He was really friendly and chatty (distanced). Told me all about the inner workings of the automated packing system. He also asked how I was finding the new M&S change. I said well most stuff I need is OOS. He agreed.