Tip for getting shopping slots when shielding...

[Rosie_rabbit]

Morning all on this beautiful sunny Easter Saturday 🐣🐣🐣

So, having 3 children and being on the shielding list causes worries about keeping us all fed. I’ve struggled to get any slots, even priority slots with Tesco, even when I wait I up until midnight.

However, I had an email yesterday from Asda saying that I was now recognised on their system as vulnerable. They offer free delivery and a recurring weekly slot!! I went online to check, there were lots of available slots. I booked one then made it a recurring slot for every Wednesday.

Such a relief to know that I can get regular food now with 3 hungry teenagers in the house and living in a village with no shops to send them to.

Just thought I’d share for anyone else having problems getting regular food 😁

[Pippy25]

Thanks for sharing, that is good news and must be a relief for you having a family to feed. Again with your teens being off school it must be extra stressful in respect of more food and drinks are needed and consumed during the day. So glad you've got a regular slot. Take care x

[Kags1068]

Hi Rosie

I had this email from ASDA yesterday too. I was very impressed. I normally use Ocado, but have been having real problems with them. First they wouldn't recognise me as shielded, and then when they said they did, it was with a very brusque standard email saying they were giving most priority (ie. 90%) to their very longstanding loyal customers and 10% to the vulnerable! (I have shopped weekly with them for at least 3 years, so obviously not one of most long-term).

I understand they want to prioritise loyal customers too, but I thought a 90 to 10% split a bit harsh. As such, I couldn't get a slot for about 14 days!

ASDA by contrast, offered the same as they did you - priory slots, free delivery and a regular weekly delivery. I use ASDA stores but never tried online. Have placed an order already. Think I should reward those who make an effort!

Am pleased it has worked for you too - it really is a big worry (especially as you have hungry teenagers - eek! I thought hungry cats were bad enough)!!😁

Take care

[Rosie_rabbit in reply to Kags1068]

I’ve got 2 hungry cats too, and a big hungry dog 😂 I managed to get an order in from Zooplus just before it all kicked off and locked down.

So glad it worked out for you too, I was so impressed with Asda. I’ve shopped with Tesco online forever and they’ve not been great. Ocado don’t sound much better, how ever long do you need to be with them to be a long-standing customer!! My friend, who must have been with them for a long time have been guaranteed a weekly delivery by them but they’re not on the vulnerable list, although probably are vulnerable in their own right.

[Kags1068 in reply to Rosie_rabbit]

OMG - Dog & 2 cats too!! Just 2 cats for me (although it sometimes feels like half a dozen galloping around)! I'd be lost without them though. Good thinking with the zooplus. I often use Fetch who are attached to Ocado and will deliver free with an ocado order. But not now, obviously! Glad your friend is ok and has a weekly slot, eventhough not officially on vulnerable list. They told me they weren't doing weekly slots at preeent as I did used to have a weekly reserved slot! Very bizarre and possibly short sighted way of deciding priority though. I will think twice in future now. Have always found them ok in past.

Strangely, I also had an email from Tesco too. (Have online account but never used it). They offered priority delivery slots. When I looked I could get one the very next day and any day afterwards! Also had text yesterday telling me there were slots for Easter Sunday if I wanted one! I can only assume the availability must be varying massively by area. It's very disappointing you have been let down by them.

Anyway, so glad you are keeping everyone fed. Don't want anyone getting hangry as well as being in lockdown😄

Best wishes

[Paula-C in reply to Kags1068]

Can I ask you, when you filled in the government data base registration and they asked if you'd got someone to shop for you what did you do? I put that I have, it's just me that's been told not to go out, but he husband doesn't want to go into a shop amongst people incase he brings it back to me, click and collect would be fine for us.

[Kags1068 in reply to Paula-C]

No problem. When I first completed it, I said no, I didn't need help with shopping as we were then getting a weekly reserved order.

When that stopped, I went back and re-did the form and said this time said yes, I did need help. (They did say you should amend it if things change).

That definitely seemed to do the trick. If I were you, I would re-do the form too.

Good luck😊

[Paula-C in reply to Kags1068]

Thank you so much for replying. Just been telling my husband and he said he can't go shopping for you, I might bring it back to you. He gets the flu vaccination because of me incase he brings it back. We've been very lucky up till now and managed to get online shopping, click and collect or delivered.

We've got slots booked until the end of April, but someone posted on here that Asda are cancelling slots and offering them to vulnerable people. I received a letter from nhs England yesterday, it tells you about the gov data base, there's a number to ring, I'm going to phone this week.

[Kags1068 in reply to Paula-C]

Good for you. I would ring as soon as you get chance as it seemed to take a few days for my info to get processed (although that could have changed now). Dead easy to phone, just an automated line asking a few simple questions. Remember to have your NHS number to hand. I didn't- haha!! Your husband is quite right

My husband is shielding too, as trying to isolate in the same house would be impossible!😊

[Paula-C in reply to Kags1068]

Thanks. xx

[Hidden]

Thats great news!! Thanks for sharing 🤗 X

[Summerrain14]

Great news and such a weight off your mind about getting your shopping. So pleased for you and your family. It is really nice hearing that services are starting to fall into place. x

[Hidden]

According to my neighbour used to shop with Asda online. The alleged priority slots they give so freely, are slots already booked by 'normal' shoppers that have been cancelled by Asda. She can no longer get any slots. Not exactly generous of them, is it.

[Rosie_rabbit in reply to Hidden]

Gosh that doesn’t sound great!!

[Hidden]

Certainly doesn't Rosie.

[allanah]

Congrats, that's great news . Maybe trickling dow now ...