Naivety

[mickam]

I think I must be a little bit naïve. Like many others here I received my letter advising me to stay indoors for 12 weeks. Also, like many others here, I was unhappy about the fact that it was impossible to get a home delivery from any of the major supermarkets, in fact I posted on here about it. Unsurprisingly I was delighted when Tesco changed there policy and started making priority delivery slots available and, after a few phone calls, I was able to get on their priority list. After placing my first order I thought to myself that I would leave it at that and not place another order until my first one had arrived. After all I didn't want to be guilty of the very thing I had accused others of, being greedy and snapping up every available delivery slot. Well, today I got me delivery so I thought I would go online and place another order to be delivered next week. Guess what I discovered? I'm sure you've guessed, All the priority slots had been booked up for the foreseeable future. So much for trying to be fair. It seems that having a complete lack of consideration is not limited to the able bodied.

[Hidden]

Hi Mickam, please don't forget that probably all priority people had been waiting for slots too, unable to get a delivery since the hoarders hit the supermarket. If iuour area was anything like my local slots, then 10 or less a day were not a lot to be made priority.

I had waiting for over 4 weeks to get the delivery I ordered in early march pre official isolation but I had started isolation early and got a text the first day. It arrived yesterday minus quite a few items. I was told by Tesco Easter Sunday had priority slots and booked one, but to be honest I cancelled it as I thought I can't afford more money so soon. I did, by a miracle called insomnia, get a priority slot in the last week of April by which time this current food will be gone as I had emptied my cupboards surviving. Without the weekly veg box scheme managed to get on 4 weeks ago I would have had a few tins of pulses and half bags of pasta and cous cous to survive on.

I hope you manage to get a delivery slot soon. I have received a call from the social services this week who said if I got stuck they would arrive food and meds delivery. Perhaps something to consider? The worker was working from home so I can only suggest trying local adult social care services I think it was. Don't be too hard on others who are shielded. Everyone has been struggling to get a slot. And don't forget to sign up at all the other supermarkets. You never know. 🌻

[Yellowbluebell]

Unfortunately others just dont consider others. We know there are people who dont need these deliveries but their greed just can't stop them ordering. Like I mentioned the other day booking online does not get them priority on goods. Try registering with asda as well if you have one near you as their priority booking is different. Good luck YBB

[Hidden in reply to Yellowbluebell]

My neighbour who got me milk and Quorn today said the Tesco Extra near me was quiet today. So people are still trying to order online or click and collect. Or they have shopped themselves out!

[Yellowbluebell in reply to Hidden]

I think people are thinking if the shortages and assume the only way around it is to order a delivery. According to my daughters most things are available in store if people just bothered to go and see.xx

[SnazzyD in reply to Yellowbluebell]

Sorry, but do you really know it is these ‘others’ who keep ordering and ordering through greed? The public have been told that they should order online so they have and the providers were not set up for it. There are also many many people in my village who haven’t been told they qualify for having special status by the simplistic criteria but who have every clinical reason to worry. I have a scarred lung from radiotherapy and cyclical Neutropaenia every 3 weeks but low Pred dose so I don’t count, nor does my daughter who has lung scarred from pneumonia as a toddler. My 83 year old live in father-in-law whose severe chronic lung disease is quite the picture on scan doesn’t qualify. We are all trying to order online. My 56 year old sister is type 1 diabetic, is on warfarin, had major chest surgery for clots and needs pancreatic enzymes, she doesn’t count but. She and her husband are the youngest in their village and are the support network for it. She was turned away from elderly hour when she was shopping for her 87 year old neighbour whilst trying to protect herself. It is not as simple as just greed and the undeserving taking slots that those with their shielding status rightfully deserve. Yes, there will be some but I bet it is a small minority just as it turned out that the panic buying amounted to everyone just buying the equivalent of an extra £40’s worth each (loo roll excepted). Let’s cut down the Them and Us.

[Yellowbluebell in reply to SnazzyD]

Sorry if you think I was getting at you, I wasnt but I know there are a lot of people just locally that are abusing the system and therefore making it difficult for people like you and some of your family who do need to use online shopping whether or not you have been classed as vulnerable. I wasnt talking about people like you but about selfish healthy people who think it is easier to get deliveries in the hope of getting priority on things like tinned goods pasta and toilet rolls.

At no point did my reply insinuate that people like you and your family where the ones being greedy about online deliveries. YBB

[SnazzyD in reply to Yellowbluebell]

I think people like that will soon see it doesn’t work because half the order doesn’t come, especially if one’s time slot is later in the day. I normally have 4 x1 weeks’ worth booked in a go anyway, and happened to have 3 weeks left when lockdown happened. My orders are big with 5 adults who eat vast amounts of fresh food so typically 8-10 boxes, but I got half of one box and this was because the early slots took what food there was. The limit of 80 items means we still have to go out.

[Yellowbluebell in reply to SnazzyD]

Yep I got caught by the 80 items as well. I have alway tried to buy a month at at time and just stock up on fresh but that classes as panic buying now!!! I had a couple of slots already booked but managed to get another couple due to being awake at silly oclock with insomnia. Due to husbands illnesses i have been given priority slots now but like you say unless we are very lucky and get early deliveries then stock has already gone. Hopefully others will realise that hogging the slots wont give them more chance to get stuff. We can only hope sensenprevails eventually.xx YBB

[scats]

I felt the same as you, no slots left, even though waitrose said I would be shown priority slots . When our final delivery came we asked the driver if she knew when the new ones would be released. She said there was a computer update about 1am it might be then. On one of my night time toilet breaks I checked and there were some slots free on one day. It appears for waitrose anyway new slots are being released one day at a time in tbe middle of the night, every other slot still said unavailable.

I have not been able to find a delivery slot for any other supermarket, but nobody else has said I am on their prioty list.

I have checked the web sites of the local farm shops and found one of them will deliver if you are over 70 or vulnerable.

Hope this helps, good luck

[Marijo1951]

If you have Iceland locally, they seem to issue their slots around midday. I stayed logged on Wednesday all morning and there was nothing, kept refreshing and then suddenly at about noon, there were slots for the following day. They don't carry the full range that other supermarkets do, but they have good frozen veg, fruit and fish, plus dairy goods, tins and quite a lot of fresh stuff and household stuff (including toilet paper last week) and they deliver free for orders over £35.

[Rutger-red in reply to Marijo1951]

I've also found Iceland the easiest online delivery to access and have had one delivery per week so far. Also, the Iceland CEO announced on the radio that he was planning to reward his staff for their hard work from the money saved from the government's reduction of business rates during the current crisis. Iceland would not have been my supermarket of choice but I've been quite impressed. Only downside this week was that they were out of wine!🍷🍷🍷

[Marijo1951 in reply to Rutger-red]

Fortunately I rarely drink alcohol and this time of being locked in probably isn't a good time to start indulging! It's good to know that the CEO values his staff and is going to reward them - an extra reason to order from them.

[whitefishbay]

I think it is these shops are overwhelmed. I emailed Ocado and the pinged back saying they could not answer but looked the next day and got a slot. Luck.

[SusyTe]

We have found that there are several garden centres, farm shops and delis around here in Weybridge and Walton that are doing deliveries of food boxes so it might be worth checking that where you are. Good luck. ❤️ Xx

[borednow]

In all fairness to Morrisons (Sainsburys confirmed I am vulnerable but then offered absolutely no slots) , after trying over and over again and not being able to find a "slot", I wrote a very polite but stern email to their CEO. Didn't think it would make any difference but it made me feel better. Lo and behold 2 days later a slot appeared so I grabbed it. 2 days after that I got an email from customer services apologising for the difficulties I'd been experiencing but that they were pleased to see that I'd managed to book an order now!! Co-incidence? Took me quite a while to find an email address for the CEO but it was worth it.

[Floridafan]

Tesco slots are released at midnight, you’ll be put in a queue and the page refreshes automatically. It took me 15 minutes to reach the top of the queue and guess what.............the slots had all gone by then!

[Telian in reply to Floridafan]

They release slots at 8am too

[Devoid]

Hi Morrison’s are doing a box for £30 , £5 delivery by courier, you don’t pick items but from what I could see it was good range of staples, also Iceland that sells everything now seems to be doing better with slots if you have one local.

[Suzita76]

I, likewise, have received my letter (though only last Monday), but we have been trying to get a delivery from ANY supermarket for at least 5 weeks.

We did manage to get fruit and veg. from a local company (just Google to find local suppliers of fresh produce) and have also been able to piggyback on our neighbours’ Tesco delivery. They are getting deliveries at least weekly, having been loyal on-line customers for years, but are neither elderly nor vulnerable; I suppose we cannot blame supermarkets for prioritising their long-time customers.

This morning I was able to get fresh produce from our local Tesco express by getting there as they opened at 7am ( wearing my home-made mask and rubber gloves! There were only a couple of other shoppers there, all being very careful to keep their distance).

I think we will have to ask neighbours to collect our prescriptions, having seen the enormous queues outside the pharmacies, but there are a lot of good people out there very willing to help- just need to be asked.

Stay strong and safe!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I think Italy does have a better approach in general: there is no online shopping here at all, never has been, nor is there any shielding approach for anyone but the lockdown here is so efficient I don't feel unsafe going out to shop. If I did there are a few voluntary organisations offering shopping services and I'm sure if I shouted to neighbours someone would help out.

I just walked into the village, there were about 20 people in total. I went to the butcher - only 5 max allowed in and all except one elderly gent wearing the mask that is now compulsory when within speaking distance of someone else outside your home. A few more in the small supermarket but all walking the other side of the aisle and all, again except an elderly gent, wearing masks, they supply gloves and gel. I got all I needed - except OH's favourite biscuits, they have disappeared! The only restriction is on fresh yeast - one pack per person - I assume because everyone is baking their own Easter bread this year because they have the time.

[Suffererc]

My husband was offered a priority slot by Tesco. Government issued guideline about him, not sure why other than age..

I wrote to Sainsbury's my normal shop, and explained I have PMR and hey presto I have been given priority. Haven't booked one yet because I have a Tesco delivery booked for the 26th. But looked to see when I could next get a slot and Jon available.

Is it that family members are using the priority slots, who knows, couldn't understand the panic buying or the rush on toilet rolls.

[Poshcards]

I was given a weekly priority spot delivery by Asda,got first weeks shopping, went in to do the next one, which I was given every week until October 4th, only to find there wasn't one, even though they had guaranteed it, rang Asda customer help, after about 15 minutes, a young lady came on and said it was not guaranteed, my slot had been taken, I said, so do we have to starve? she said she has been told to say there is nothing she can do to help and put phone down!!!!! so back to square one and very upset and stressed about it all.

[Hidden in reply to Poshcards]

Oh dear...you will find it in some small print somewhere that they will say subject to availability. If you were priority then please get in touch with the local council. I think the adult social care/services have volunteers in my hometown who are there to shop and bring meds etc. It may depend on your circumstances. I really hope you get things sorted asap. 🌻

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Poshcards]

Time for the media - they do have uses. And as Poops says - the local council/volunteers.

[Suet3942]

You can phone Tesco and they put you on a list fir priority slots.