Waitrose delivery fees

[lockdownwithwhoresdrawers]

Just a heads up that from the 9th September Waitrose are going to be charging for their home delivery slots. Although I'm a lifelong Waitrose fan, and I do understand there are overheads with staffing/vans etc, I am a little put out by this change!

Me too. In the past I have noticed times when the cost of items for delivery is more than on the shelf in the shop as well.

I’ve always been a bit surprised they don’t charge. I also use Sainsburys who do charge and I’ve never questioned it. Thanks for heads up op.

It's annoying isn't it! I like the convenience of being able to edit up til 6pm the night before and just always getting a slot at short notice so not sure really.

Also, no email was sent regarding this I don't think?

They’ve said it applies on orders placed after 9th September. I’ve got my next 4 week’s orders already placed so hopefully I can have those free. It’ll depend on how much they are going to charge as to whether I continue with Waitrose deliveries.

I already have to pay £3 for delivery, it came in earlier in the year, my weekly order is over £100 so it does feel a bit mean of them.

Yes this is a bit annoying. Wish it was waived with orders over a certain amount. Will probably still use them as the £3 is worth avoiding the hassle of going out.

All the other supermarkets charge (unless you sign up to their delivery pass schemes, like with Ocado and Morrisons) so I've been expecting this one to be honest.

It'll be bags next; only Waitrose still packs the shopping in bags, all the others make you unpack out of the crate yourself. Again not a major problem for me personally, but if I had reduced physical movement or limited strength I can see it being a problem.

I strongly don’t think it should be charged on lower orders only. Yet another way those on lower incomes, living alone or whatever end up paying more.

I spend on average £100 a week, I would spend more than £3 to up it to that level if it was waived at that point!

It would cost me £3 to get to Waitrose so I've no objection to paying it. Much easier than dragging shopping back on the bus.
Though it has been nice that it's been free, especially since they lowered their minimum spend.

Interesting that some have been charged for a few months, I haven't had this until today.

I'm also not in receipt of any vouchers which is beyond irritating 🤨

I’ve never even heard of vouchers ! Let alone seen or been given one.

@BIoodyStupidJohnson

All the other supermarkets charge (unless you sign up to their delivery pass schemes, like with Ocado and Morrisons) so I've been expecting this one to be honest.

It'll be bags next; only Waitrose still packs the shopping in bags, all the others make you unpack out of the crate yourself. Again not a major problem for me personally, but if I had reduced physical movement or limited strength I can see it being a problem.

Iceland use bags still

They did a trial of it at a selection of shops, apparently. We've just had the warning email. I think it's a price hike by stealth. The monthly bill will go up by £12-£15 for a weekly delivery. It also completely wipes out the value of member benefits like getting a free newspaper. I don't think it says much for how Waitrose values its loyal customers or those who rely upon a weekly delivery - the elderly, disabled and those still needing to shield, for example. An extra £15 a month is a lot for some people too. Tesco's delivery pass is less at £7.99 a month and that is for the most expensive one, with club card points available to earn on top, which can even pay for the delivery pass. I'm really disappointed in Waitrose. It's a similar decision to last year's Christmas delivery slots. They released them without warning as a free for all and left many vulnerable, shielding customers who usually are given priority and rely on a weekly delivery without one at all. It also comes at a time when many Waitrose delivery customers are reporting a long list of substitutions and a number of items not being sent or even substituted because of stock issues. It's all a poor show.

Ocado use bags as well. I’m not sure why you would expect delivery to be free, and also pay the same price on the groceries as you do in a shop? They are a business and obviously can no longer offer this service. I wonder whether they’ve had a big exodus from Ocado since they switched to M&S and struggling to keep up…

The Waitrose bags charge is 80p per delivery. I think it is important to provide bags for those shielding or who would struggle physically. They will take away used bags for recycling, including from other shops and things like bread bags which can now be recycled too.

Been charging here for a few months now.

I quite like it - demand has obviously dropped quite a bit so now I can get shopping delivered the day after I book rather than having to book three weeks out.

I think dropped demand has a lot to do with current water shortages. Delivery guy said this is what they are thinking - people not bothering with delivery of a heavy bulky item just isn’t available.

@justabigdisco

Ocado use bags as well. I’m not sure why you would expect delivery to be free, and also pay the same price on the groceries as you do in a shop? They are a business and obviously can no longer offer this service. I wonder whether they’ve had a big exodus from Ocado since they switched to M&S and struggling to keep up…

It’s that I don’t have spect to pay a fee for delivery and for groceries to be more expensive per item.

My point was that there were already making money by charging more per item so they were already in effect charging a fee.

As they are now charging a delivery fee, they should introduce a regular pass, like the other major supermarkets.

Yes, they are a business. But there are bad business decisions too. And often bad business decisions involve trying to make money from every angle or trying to leverage loyal customers rather than rewarding them.

John Lewis is going downhill rapidly. Some of that is the change from High Street to retail and changing incomes (basically younger generations being poorer). But some of it is John Lewis’s standards plummeting both in terms of quality and customer service.

Waitrose needs to be careful it doesn’t go the same way. Takes decades to build a reputation, and only years to lose it.

@MrsPnut

They’ve said it applies on orders placed after 9th September. I’ve got my next 4 week’s orders already placed so hopefully I can have those free. It’ll depend on how much they are going to charge as to whether I continue with Waitrose deliveries.

Me too!

If the new charge worked out about the same as other supermarkets (about £8-10 per month) then I'd live with it. If it's £3 per delivery and at least 4 a month (sometimes 5) then I'll be using them less often - an occasional top up of faves that I can't easily get elsewhere, rather than the main shopping

Waitrose don’t deliver in bags unless you ask them to.
£3 is worth it to save my time going to the shop, and I have never had anything charged at a higher price than on the shelf.
The problem is that demand is too high following the reduction of the minimum order value from £60 to £40.
And I got an email to tell me about the new charge

I’ll be moving to 3 weekly deliveries in that case, with the other weeks Click And Collect at Sainsbury’s for free.
I was really impressed with Waitrose’s response to increased deliveries during lockdown, they seemed to redeploy suitable staff very quickly. But no reduced delivery charges for less popular slots/no delivery passes makes it less attractive.
I do get the odd £10 off email vouchers but only for over £100 and with high delivery charges it just won’t be worth it.

Click & collect at Waitrose will still be free; no need to go to Sainsbury’s