Ocado - Hacks, Tips, and Smart Pass Rip-offs Thread 9

[GaryUnicorn]

Carrying on from the old thread:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/4104964-Ocado-tips-tricks-subs-M-S-shortbread-giveaways-and-defectors

Give a vague area of where you live, or first part of postcode, and how much you pay for your smart pass. They seem to charge how much they think we will pay.

London, SE23 : £9.99 for an anytime pass. Customer for 10+ years.

I’ve just seen this thread and I’ve been paying £6.49 for a midweek pass in the North West

@StanfordPines

I asked how many slots I’m allowed per month and it’s only one a week. No more. Never has been more apparently even pre-covid.

That is bollocks. I have two booked this week right now. Simple reason is that my friends and I haven’t decided which day we are meeting up so I’ve booked two identical deliveries and I’ll just cancel the one I don’t want.
I’ve often had more than one delivery a week.

I know it’s bollocks.

I really hate it when they blatantly lie to you.

I’ve got 2 deliveries this week as it happens. Had forgotten I’d booked my normal slot plus my easter slot.

They make up any old crap on the phone.

For those getting anniversary gifts, do you only get them if you sign up for the promotional emails? I don't recall getting one for a long time.

I had one last year, the first in 9 years of Ocado delivery.

It’s a voucher online for £10 off wine or chocolate. Well that’s what I got. Probably other customers get a spa day and champagne.

I had mine in September with a ‘sorry it’s late’ message. As it turned out it arrived just before we went away for the week with our adult kids and their partners so I bought a load of chocolate and we shared it out.

I don’t think I’ve endeared myself to them for one this year

@Quarantino

Yes that's bull - obviously it's dependent on demand and covid has changed things but pre-covid I could probably have gotten as many deliveries as I wanted. I'm still paying 3.99 - I've never had a weekly shop with Ocado apart from the first two months of this year. Before covid it would be irregularly, like every 2-3 weeks, and other covid times I do fortnightly. I do like the ability to be able to book ahead though. I've had a smartpass for donkey's years, started off at 1.99 or something as a trial that kept getting renewed. I don't even know how much normal delivery fees are if you don't have a pass, actually - with Sainsburys you can get £1 slots sometimes.

Spoke too soon - for the first time in years they're putting my Smartpass up - to £8.99, or £3.99 midweek - I basically only have midweek anyway.

I've signed up for the free fortnightly deliveries. Should I ditch my mid week smart pass? What do you think?

So i got a smart pass at beginning of lockdown last year, i have underlying heath condition so was super worried about leaving house and didnt for around first 3 months it was £34.99 every 6 months so around £8.50 month for midweek, but anyways had acado for years before and did have pass few years ago. Anyways just cancelled it and im going to waitrose really not happy with quality and price seems to be going up, their 3 for £10 meat deal is really rubbish compared to waitrose so noticed im spending more because of that. Just emailed to cancel told them why and got refunded , managed to get 2 delivery's for waitrose for next 2 weeks

@Words

I've signed up for the free fortnightly deliveries. Should I ditch my mid week smart pass? What do you think?

I haven't heard about this! It would suit me... unless you get taken off any priory list thing from not having a smartpass.

I pay £1.99 for anytime pass, though since the start of lockdown I’ve got into the routine of just picking the same midweek evening slot each week. Don’t know if that makes a difference. Have been with them for years abs spend £££ so could easily do the free Wednesday slots if I wanted, though I like the Christmas priority booking for slots, as I loathe doing the Christmas food shop in an actual store!

I actually miss the Waitrose products, so sometimes shop there in store, especially school holidays when normal routine is out the window. Also, Sainsbury’s when I need to pick up children’s basics / dressing up clothes. Shocked at some of the price differences, but the app is so easy I prob won’t change.

It was my Ocadoversary last week. I think I'm off their favourite list again as no voucher forthcoming this year lol

Hi @quarantino - I got an email inviting me to participate a while ago ( after I complained about lack of delivery slots, interestingly.) It's only recently allowed me to book my slots, starting in a month's time.

You need to commit to the same ones every week or fortnight, and it's free. So I will be ditching my mid week smart pass when it comes up for renewal in May.

It fills your trolley with suggestions and I have found that a bit fiddly to edit, but apart from that looks ok.

@Words interesting - this is exactly the way I've been using ocado for the last 4 years. Fortnightly recurring slot, auto filled with stuff which I edit. I used to be able to have any day of the week but late last summer it turned into Tuesday-Thursday only. But I pay for a smartpass for this????

Oh - so only available to smartpass people? I only have mon to Weds availability on this system. Used to be Tuesday to Thursday

I have an anytime pass and I will say I got a priority slot all though lockdown.

Probably have high average spend as currently have 5 adults in house (DC24,23,20 and DH and me) so don't know if that was a factor.

Pay £49.99 for six months so £8.33 a month in SE. Been customer for a very long time.

Can feel aggrieved at these threads despite always having priority slots and being able to book the varying amounts ppl pay is irksome.

Still I guess as I order weekly it works out as £2.00 a delivery and when you look at it that way it is worth it for me.

I do miss waitrose products though

Just checked the ts and cs- the reserved system is free. Not linked to Smartpass.

It's probably best for me to stick with that and do a smaller more frequent shop. I regularly spend over 100 but it's just me and the cats. So won't get priority I don't think based on massive spending.

I also miss the Waitrose products so have signed up with them too, but have been disappointed with extremely short dated items several times. Can't deny the quality though and I really miss their cook's range, their own brand fabric conditioner and their almond croissants. :(

I find it weird that the price of the smartpass varies so much between people!

@HunkyDory69 I've bought raspberries and blueberries the last two weeks no problem from Ocado.

I just had the dreaded email telling me my smart pass price is increasing from next month. Have been paying £5.99 a month for anytime for yyeeaaarrss and now it’s going up to £8.99 ☹️

Can anyone explain to me what's going on with bag charges/refunds ?
They're only refunding me 5p per bag, but are charging me 10p.

Just want to check I'm not missing something before I send a sniffy email!

blog.ocado.com/how-ocado-works/bag-recycling-and-collection/

Good observation SlobSister, I hadn't spotted they they still seem to think our 10p bags are still 5p ones. I think I'll send a sniffy mail too.

Is anyone finding things are going downhill again with stock availability? Past two weeks my orders have had 3-5 substitutions or missing items again for the first time in months. Annoyingly they always substitute with something more expensive as well.

Today I'm missing rocket and the other salad I ordered was damaged and all over everything else in the bag so that means no salad now.