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!

Has anyone else notice the creative pricing on Ocado at the moment? £2.09 for a bog standard bag of pasta??? Do they think we are fools? (No voucher at all, humph)

Not just pricing but ranges and choice since they split from Waitrose. Less choice in general, M&S stuff generally poor value, less of the niche ingredient items and certainly less vegetarian foods and ingredients (unless you count M&S fake meat range which is no better than any bog standard supermarket range).

I've cut down orders from Ocado because they have become so expensive for basics and have less of the unusual items which kept me returning.

Are people getting their deliveries in the snow? Where I am Sainsburys haven't sent any delivery vans out today so now I'm worried about my Ocado order arriving.

I've thought the same @StanfordPines - I used to get Waitrose Minestrone Soup. M& S version = Minestrone and bacon hmm

I am not a vegetarian so for us is fine, but I did comment to dh that they've automatically cut alot of their consumers out by doing that

Yes. Unnecessarily adding pork cuts out a lot more groups than just vegetarians, you would think that M&S being a Jewish company would know that.

That said I had the same problem with Waitrose. I picked up some tortilla chips and it was only after I got them home that I realised the flavour was something and chorizo. The front of the pack showed the main flavour in big letters, I don’t remember what it was but some kind of herb or something that meant I didn’t bother to check the ingredients because nothing lead me to think it wouldn’t be vegi. It was only when I was putting it away that I noticed on the back in tiny writing it said Thyme (or whatever it was) and chorizo.
Yes I know I should check but as a vegetarian of 25 years you come to know the products you need to check.
Not only did it catch me out but it could have been a problem for someone Jewish or Muslim too.
I contacted Waitrose and said it was my fault but they need to rethink the packaging, and they did.

@BentBastard

Are people getting their deliveries in the snow? Where I am Sainsburys haven't sent any delivery vans out today so now I'm worried about my Ocado order arriving.

Mine arrived this morning right on time - SE London so the local Ocado depot is in the London/Kent borders with a fair bit of snow still this morning (it has thawed a lot since).

Thanks Nordica - sounds like that's probably my depot too.

Not thawed at all here yet.

I guess it's different with the supermarkets as they still have the in store trade but Ocado doesn't have that.

I have noticed the poor vegetarian choice recently and very short dates on bread products.

Snowless here, but I've been astonished that Ocado carried on deliveries in previous snowscapes, despite being in a hilly area.

I popped into our local M&S today; bits of their "dine in" for £20 look great (allegedly I save £12.50 on it).

@Madcats

Snowless here, but I've been astonished that Ocado carried on deliveries in previous snowscapes, despite being in a hilly area.

I popped into our local M&S today; bits of their "dine in" for £20 look great (allegedly I save £12.50 on it).

I looked on Ocado at the Dine in (which I normally I love!) and the veggie choice was pasta - so no thanks.

Why can we not get the M&S dine in offer via Ocado I have messaged them but no response.

this is what I was looking at - the Valentines Dinner for 2. But I have seen other M&S similar Meal packages. Now I am looking again - the "saving" is only really because they have boosted the price on the wine.

www.ocado.com/webshop/combo/valentine-s-dinner-for-18/158533058

I looked on Ocado at the Dine in (which I normally I love!) and the veggie choice was pasta - so no thanks.

The vegi option is always a bit rubbish. It’s like restaurants 10 years ago. Have a mushroom risotto and shut up you picky bugger.

Is it just me but the expiry dates are getting shorter on many items? Also, some food doesn't feel as fresh as before at arrival.
For instance, carrot sticks are consistently very dry and old and had to stop order them.
Bread has 1-2 day shelf life (no prob, I freeze it..but....).
Yesterday I got mince meat delivered with expiry day tomorrow. Again, not a huge problem. However I kind of plan my meals around how much they'd last based on what I used to know. And now it's a bit confusing.

I once received steak a month out of date. Seriously!

The Waitrose meal deal (which they deliver)is rather better.

We are going ahead and trying the meal boxes for a month - I will report back on how that works out. Really interesting to see others’ experiences and that Ocado used to stock them moons ago

Really miss Waitrose!

@user1471523870

Is it just me but the expiry dates are getting shorter on many items? Also, some food doesn't feel as fresh as before at arrival. For instance, carrot sticks are consistently very dry and old and had to stop order them. Bread has 1-2 day shelf life (no prob, I freeze it..but....). Yesterday I got mince meat delivered with expiry day tomorrow. Again, not a huge problem. However I kind of plan my meals around how much they'd last based on what I used to know. And now it's a bit confusing.

When I complained about my bread they sent a slightly garbled email pointing out that it conformed to their expected minimum shelf life that is displayed on the product page. Bit annoying that it's only 2 days but everything else has just about been ok. I do a weekly shop at Ocado (used to do one every 3 weeks or so, mainly for bulk/storecupboard/specialist stuff). I always have something from the freezer or takeaway on the day before delivery as I don't expect anything to last that long!

My tomatoes only have 2 days now each week and some have been rotten when they come, meat doesnt feel that fresh any more

Got the 50% sale email - maybe around 20 items in the sale and none I’m interested in

The sale email was a complete joke! Sun tan oil? Like anybody will need any this year!

I’ve defected almost completely over to Waitrose. The choice is amazing compared to Ocado. Much harder getting delivery slots though and it’s a bit annoying to have to stay up until Midnight every Wednesday to get a slot for the following Sunday! Haven’t had Ocado order for four or five weeks now, just got to take the plunge and cancel my smartpass....

The swim nappies in the sale are quite good value (not that they're any use at the moment, but hoping they will be by the summer!). They're £5.50 per pack in Boots and only £4 on Ocado, but down to £2 with the 50% off.

I wanted sugar this week - just 'normal' run of the mill granulated sugar. No stock of the kg bags, so ordered 2 x 500grs - which were substituted this morning for 2 x 1000 5gr sachets at a cost of £6.99 each

Imagine having to open all of them to make a cake - luckily I read the detail of the sub as the email only said

Sorry, but the following had to be substituted:
• 2 x Silver Spoon White Granulated Sugar
with
• 2 x Tate & Lyle White Sugar Sachets

so opened the receipt and saw the detail.

As for defecting from Ocado, I would like to know when will I be able to move from the bottom of the priority list for Waitrose delivery?
Once in a blue moon I can get a slot but it is usually very last minute.
Surely when all the at risk people are vaccinated, they may drop the prioritisation system?

How do Waitrose manage their priority list? I've had a couple of slots recently but even at midnight all the slots are immediately taken.

I've managed to get a weekly reserved Ocado slot so I'm more relaxed about having a reliable food source.

@cotefolie my MIL sees slots that are further away than me (2 weeks?)
She was 70+ and vulnerable and she informed them or was put on a list at the start of the first lockdown.