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!

Just joining in here - I’m rapidly going off ocado after 9 years of weekly shops. Don’t like the M&S stuff, lack of choice, the growth in substitutions and items out of stock.

Kallo breadsticks have gone too. They had Parmesan ones which were really yummy.

But I’ve shopped online with all the others apart from Waitrose when ordering catering for events and never been massively impressed. And whilst I got two or maybe even three toblerones in the summer, I’ve not got any shortbread.

I’m about to cancel Ocado. The only thing that has kept me going is that I had a Christmas shop booked. Tried to finish it this week but so much was out of stock! I’ve cancelled it and booked a click and collect with Morrison’s on the 22nd which is later than the 20th that I’d booked with Ocado. I’ve been with them 10 years but it has gone really unreliable and expensive.

I shop for MIL too and every week she has cartons of long life milk (Christ knows why she drinks that, but its for another thread)
It's £1.10p a carton on Ocado, so imagine my surprise when I spotted the same brand in our local BM Bargains for 60p.

I knew I was paying a bit more for convenience but bloody hell.

They seem to have more Christmas stock in now

I'm in the middle of an ongoing debate with the customer services team about why basic own label products have been discontinued (citing plain flour in full size bags and tinned tomatoes) as examples.

I got this answer (on the 3rd attempt)

"As of my knowledge, we are generally phasing out products that are not as fresh as others on the market place. This is simply to offer our customers an organic, healthy and fresh product, instead of one that is designed to last longer"

I find this hard to believe... Not everyone wants organic (it's still very niche), and there's nothing unhealthy about the products in question. I think their strategy is all over the place, and tactically, they clearly aren't delivering either.

Thanks to the poster who mentioned the previously faulty star reviewer codes are now working. I've added mine to this week's order. Aloe Vera juice, organic deodorant and giant chocolate buttons to review.

I just got an email saying my smart pass would be increasing in January. I’ve really fallen out of love with Ocado since the M&S takeover. Can anyone advise on delivery slot prices in East Anglia? How much do they cost, are there any free ones? I think our deliveries come from Peterborough.

@ReviewingTheSituation

I'm in the middle of an ongoing debate with the customer services team about why basic own label products have been discontinued (citing plain flour in full size bags and tinned tomatoes) as examples.

I got this answer (on the 3rd attempt)

"As of my knowledge, we are generally phasing out products that are not as fresh as others on the market place. This is simply to offer our customers an organic, healthy and fresh product, instead of one that is designed to last longer"

I find this hard to believe... Not everyone wants organic (it's still very niche), and there's nothing unhealthy about the products in question. I think their strategy is all over the place, and tactically, they clearly aren't delivering either.

What wonderful timing. Just before the anticipated food supply issues with Brexit they decide to reduce the amount of time that food will last.

we are generally phasing out products that are not as fresh as others on the market place.

What the fuck does that even mean?

I had a large Amazon Prime Now delivery today. Reasonably priced own brand beans, tinned tomatoes, pasta, tomato purée, garlic purée, squash etc.

Really don't want to leave Ocado but they are becoming less suitable for large family shops week on week.

Awful since they lost Waitrose. Stock issues every week despite booking weeks in advance

I think I may start getting an Abel & Cole fruit and veg box again in the new year and extra bits from them too - they are not any more expensive than Ocado at this point. I had a delivery from them this morning of cheese, milk, yoghurt, mince pies, kombucha and veg and it's all lovely (and I don't remember anything ever being out of stock/unavailable when the delivery arrives).

Will need to keep my Smart Pass just in case during these pandemic times but will then review going forward...

@StanfordPines

we are generally phasing out products that are not as fresh as others on the market place.

What the fuck does that even mean?

Based on my experience, it means "any meat or fish we supply has a use-by date of about 3 days (so just buy our horrid , more profitable, ready meals instead)".

Can’t see how anyone can do a weekly shop with really short sell by dates!

@viccat

Thanks to the poster who mentioned the previously faulty star reviewer codes are now working. I've added mine to this week's order. Aloe Vera juice, organic deodorant and giant chocolate buttons to review.

The cutoff for delivering mine is 19th, & my order’s on 21st, so I’m stuffed

viccat
Ive just started getting Oddbox veg box, 2nd one coming on wednesday. Quite impressed with the first one.

I love Ocado. I’ve just got the free shortbread offer. I didn’t think I’d get it because I added it to a delivery 4 weeks in advance that I couldn’t change. I thought it would be out of stock but it arrived

The John Lewis credit card is offering 5 points for every £4 you spend in John Lewis and Waitrose. I tempted but still can’t forgive Waitrose not finding a substitute for my 6 bread rolls. I couldn’t go out to replace. There must have surely been something in the shop they could have sent instead

Let’s see what my Ocado Christmas delivery brings

Well, it won't bring any Tunnocks Caramel Wafers as they have stopped selling them now. It's the thin end of the wedge.

I’m buying all my Xmas party food this week and freezing it.
I’ve got an identical shop next week and will remove from that whatever arrives this week.
It’s a foolproof plan 🤔

@RaaRaaLaLaLaa

Well, it won't bring any Tunnocks Caramel Wafers as they have stopped selling them now. It's the thin end of the wedge.

Did they ever sell them? I remember looking for them and they weren’t available a while ago.

I cannot get a delivery with ocado or sainsbury's into the foreseeable future now. Which is a slight hiccup. I've solved my paracetamol issue I was having, but buying from an online pharmacy.

Can't get an order at all now, after months of weekly orders two weeks in advance ;(

I've always somewhat defended Ocado as I hate going to the regular shops and I've always had luck with slots. But I've noticed the creep of products disappearing now...

Cheap Ocado feta cheese has gone for example... but you can buy slightly more expensive M&S feta. Is it just the same product repackaged?

As of my knowledge, we are generally phasing out products that are not as fresh as others on the market place - seems a really wanky reply to someone asking about tinned tomatoes and flour

M & S are advertising the fact they are doing cheapo priced fresh veg for Christmas instore - again this offer doesn't seem like it is being passed along to Ocado.