Ocado tips, tricks subs, M&S shortbread giveaways and defectors..

[Garyunicorn]

Carrying on from the old Ocado thread. www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/a4045676-Ocado-tips-hacks-Toblerone-and-Christmas?msgid=102560793#102560793

I have been contributing, just changed my name to prevent being outed over something!

My Xmas order is coming tonight. Only missing item is flaked almonds. I’m very pleased

Ocado turned up and two things offered as subs for expensive random items we don’t now need, so was easy to reject those! Otherwise everything was there! Impressed and relieved

And the subs cut a large amount of the order cost - won’t explain exactly what we’d ordered but similar price to a huge cut of beef and massive whole salmon.

After that dp suggested I didn’t try to give anything back as most stuff can still be used and frozen where we can’t use it.

Maybe better the devil you know...

I’ve moaned a lot about Ocado over the last few months and decided to use Waitrose for my Christmas shop instead. I have 20 substitutions (and will reject half of them) and 8 missing items including milk (we use a huge amount - 6 big bottles a week).

No reason appart from the fact that they wouldn’t even notice the day. I’m trying to make an effort and they should offer me some money towards it as they will definitely eat it. So I will be running around like a blue arsed fly. What is Iceland’s Xmas food like btw?

I'm another one who cancelled their Christmas order. Luckily I managed to get a Waitrose delivery a couple of weeks ago. I would normally get most of my Christmas stuff from Ocado, but just don't trust them anymore.
I must admit I'm feeling a bit apprehensive about the post Christmas period. I remember last year there wasn't much in stock in the week or two after Christmas

I have just discovered on my "coupons" loads of turkeys etc are half price now and most of them in stock!!

That sounds like haphazard planning on their part bruffin - no one should be selling cut price turkeys days before Christmas.

Anyway, I have everything I'll require from them until early January. Fingers crossed our esteemed government doesn't make running a grocery delivery firm even more difficult next year ...

@PoulePouletteEternellement

That sounds like haphazard planning on their part bruffin - no one should be selling cut price turkeys days before Christmas.

Anyway, I have everything I'll require from them until early January. Fingers crossed our esteemed government doesn't make running a grocery delivery firm even more difficult next year ...

Sadly there have been some early flock slaughters due to the defra regulations in light of the avian influenza outbreak. If the turkeys are being sold as fresh, they'll have a shorter shelf life and might not make it to Christmas. For those suppliers, any money is better than none for their turkeys.

Ah yes, with everything that's going on I'd forgotten avian flu. That makes sense.

Pandemics are clearly like buses.

My order’s coming this morning.

It’s missing my two sticky toffee trifles and my cheese puff pastry with Camembert which were my only reasons for placing the order. There are also two further substitutions that I don’t want.

I wish I’d cancelled it when I had the chance.

The only Christmas item that’s coming now for my £10 delivery charge is a tub of flavoured cream. I’m only getting £40 worth of what I ordered and £50 worth has been cancelled or substituted/rejected.

That’s dreadful @Egghead68.
In past years Ocado have been amazing according to Christmas delivery threads.

Oh no @Egghead68 sorry to hear that. It’s very frustrating the whole internet shopping thing when it doesn’t justify the delivery charge

Egghead68 that is hopeless. You'd think they would have an algorithm to get a human to phone to see what they could do for you (or at least send a "we've messed up" voucher).

On the other hand, I think I might experiment with a sticky toffee trifle (I clearly don't browse enough in M&S). If I put loads of dates and crystallised ginger in... that'll be healthy(ish).

Thanks everyone - first world problems!

I like the idea of improvising a sticky toffee trifle.

Hope you all have better luck!

@Egghead68 exactly the scenario I am dreading tomorrow. Placed my Christmas order when first slots came out in October. Except for all the Christmas items which were out of stock for weeks and weeks. Urged by Ocado to complete my order as early as possible, I keep trying but things just were not in stock. Chocolate Acorns - ANYONE got these???
I wrote to them about the turkey crown situation and got an uncharacteristically facetious answer from Customer Services which really didn't acknowledge the situation at all.
Ocado are obviously struggling to run the basics of their business. The ordering/ delivery/ stock control is NOT under control- and has anyone tried managing their Favourites? Or trying to change the ridiculous items which are automatically put in their Reserved order? Neither the website nor the app are fit for purpose.
I quite like the change to M&S but i will be seriously looking at alternatives in the new year as Ocado are really wasting my time and giving me a poor shopping experience.
Dreading the email overnight which tells me what's not coming. Shopping shouldn't be like this.

first world problems!

No. Not a 'first world problem'. Other parts of the world also value Christmas food treats. And celebratory cuisine in general has been a significant driver of trade and social interaction all across the world forever.

But yes, that does sound like a singularly disappointing delivery.

Has anybody noticed a change with Ocado flash sales? I was lucky to get 33% off for the last few months and for the first time I am seeing 60%+ off for obviously the goods they predict they wont be able to shift. Mainly meat.

Sorry to hear about your order Egghead68

Worried about mine on Wednesday, especially as there's zero chance I'm going into shops in person... Not that it really matters what I eat, and wouldn't starve anyway but after such an awful year, nice food is just about the only good thing I have to look forward to!

Have just got bread from a local bakery on Deliveroo though and it's genuinely the largest loaf of bread I've ever seen

Just had my Waitrose order confirmation for this afternoons order. I'm missing nothing at all and the only sub is a small pack of biscuits.

I think I made the right choice to switch.

Fingers crossed for your orders @besidethefire and @viccat.

We got a bonus M&S passionfruit swiss roll in our shopping. By any chance if anyone is missing a passionfruit swiss roll - message me and see if we're local to each other and we can arrange a doorstep pick-up!

I called Ocado when I saw it but because it had crossed the threshold, they can't come back for it apparently, covid rules. I feel a bit bad that someone may be missing their Christmas dessert...

But not too bad. You've got 24 hours to get in touch and then it's all mine

It’s missing my two sticky toffee trifles and my cheese puff pastry with Camembert which were my only reasons for placing the order.

Oh, that's crap, I'm sorry to hear that.