Online shopping - cannot get any slots - Positive Wellbein...

Positive Wellbeing During Self-Isolation

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Online shopping - cannot get any slots

xeena profile image
50 Replies

Hi all - hope you are all keeping well with this virus - i have been self isolating since 15th March and i just cannot get the hang of how to get a delivery slot when i have done my online shopping and when i try to ring or email them they do not answer the phone or reply to emails - so any ideas please??

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xeena profile image
xeena
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Jennymary profile image
Jennymary

I got my online tesco click and collect slot just after midnight, the day to collect was 3 weeks away, things I would have liked to order when I first placed it were out if stock, but now they seem to be available, so I'll be amending my order a few days before collection day

xeena profile image
xeena in reply toJennymary

I think that the deliveries are terrible - i would sit at the computer if i could - but i am not allowed to be on it very much because of my eyes - never mind - onward and upwards. Thank you for the reply- xx

maria40 profile image
maria40 in reply toxeena

If what you need are food supplies you could try local farm shops. I had a beautiful vegetable box + eggs, bread and milk delivered yesterday - enough to keep me going for a fortnight. I had had a frustrating time trying to find online deliveries and discovered this shop through my local Nextdoor network.

xeena profile image
xeena in reply toJennymary

Hi there - thank you for the input - i will just keep trying - keep well.

Xeena, join the ever growing club. New slots usually go online at midnight so I think the only way you MIGHT get one is to sit at your computer at midnight and try and grab the first one you see. Others obviously do, and the maddening thing is they are probably young and able bodied and COULD possibly get to the shops. :-(

xeena profile image
xeena in reply to

Hi there - yes i think you are right about the young and able bodied - but i must only use the computer for a short while as my eyes are streaming and sor. Thank you for your input xx

xeena profile image
xeena

Thank you so much for the reply - keep well.

xeena profile image
xeena

Hi there - thank you so much - i will have a look and see what comes up for my area. - Keep well.

Unless you’re registered as vulnerable at a shop you won’t get priority shopping slots. During the days and at the end of the days around 12am I think that some shops place people in a queue for booking slots but you could be in the queue for hours and then get nothing and websites are crashing etc.

So, if one does manage to get a slot, either from being vulnerable (and either a supermarket contacted you or you contacted them or someone relevant to tell them you are vulnerable) or because you happened to be the next person who got to a free slot, then at Tesco, for example, you will be subject to an 80 item limit.

I think that the new 80 item limit for shopping at Tesco (don’t know if that is the case elsewhere) is just making the problem worse since if people were allowed to get more than 80 items in one shopping delivery then they would require less shopping slots. They should make the limit higher or, even better, tell shoppers to buy more items than they do currently for each shopping delivery (to last 2/3 weeks-depending on individual need for vulnerable people and if some people needed shopping more often that could be done) and then don’t allow another shopping slot for 2/3 weeks or whatever. That way, there would be more available slots:

Week 1

80 items- 1 shopping slot

240 items- 1 shopping slot

Week 2

80 items- 1 shopping slot

Week 3

80 items- 1 shopping slot

So, for example, there is 1 shopping slot versus 3 shopping slots for one household over a period of 3 weeks. Which is more logical in the current circumstances?

Why aren’t supermarkets doing this? Business can be a complicated thing. They could do this in theory and thereby making more slots available but if they do, they would still need to get more delivery staff generally at the moment and I suppose it is difficult to get extra delivery staff. I would be a delivery person but being autistic it really wouldn’t work out-I would find that job too difficult. I’m obviously grateful that Tesco and other supermarkets are doing their best with this I’m sure. If there are charities that can alleviate the pressure on Tesco and other supermarkets then that is a good thing. If people can only get 80 items then they will look elsewhere to charities for example to bring them more items if needed, if they can’t get another slot before they run out of food. Thus, the pressure on Tesco will be reduced. It is not rationing because there is no limit on the amount of slots a person can have. So, for example, someone could have 80 items * 4 in 4 deliveries and another person could only get 80 items in the same time period because they could only get one delivery.

As Jerry suggested, can you find a local support group who can help or possibly a neighbour?

xeena profile image
xeena in reply to

Now that makes sense - if only they would do it like that - but i have had enough now - i cannot be on the computer anymore today - so will see what tomorrow brings. Thank you for your input - keep safe and well.

in reply toxeena

You too. What’s wrong with your eyes?

xeena profile image
xeena in reply to

Hi there - thank you for your reply - i will just keep trying and see if i can get anywhere - i must get lucky at some point. - Keep well.

in reply toxeena

Thanks - you too. We do not need to rely on luck if there are people or charities in our own local community who know who to support and actually support them. I’ve only just today managed to actually ask for support by sending a message to someone in a prominent, influential position in the community. Sometimes I wish that I could be in a prominent, influential position in the community so that I could help people. I honestly didn’t think anyone would help to bring me shopping and I was finding it difficult to ask people/didn’t know who to ask.

People are so often in their own world.

I would definitely go shopping for my neighbours or anyone who needed me to if I wasn’t autistic and didn’t have difficulties with going shopping. I would also be a nurse or a doctor. I’ve often wished I could be. Instead, I’m learning everything I can about viruses and thinking about my inventions. I’m really busy at the moment. I’m always telling my neighbour if she needs anything just let me know. My neighbour is nice. I think the supermarkets are trying their best in the circumstances but they need more people to try to get their shopping either in store or from local charity deliveries because they don’t have enough delivery persons. It’s even more difficult going shopping now because of all the changes. I can’t imagine going to the shops at the moment. The sensory difficulties, not understanding things and people etc. are bad enough without the changes too. So even with the elderly and vulnerable hour or similar, at the moment the changes at the supermarkets and everywhere are a lot to deal with.

I want everything to be good and to stay that way-the same good way.

I think the universe will be a good place one day or at least parts of it. A part of the universe that will never change and always be good.

I will be there.

Lots of love to everyone!

Forgive people and love people.

Be the best you can be and be proud of yourself and other people!

Let’s be each others rock and teach each other wisdom.

xeena profile image
xeena in reply to

Hi there - yes i would do anything for any one - i have spent my life helping people but where i live no one talks to me and i have been here now for three years and they even stick notices on my car if i park where they want to be - not that there are any specified parking slots apart from disabled bays which i am not allowed to have even though i am disabled and i have my blue badge in my car and my parking permit - i even asked if i could have a mobility scooter and was told no as i am not allowed to bring it indoors and i was told if i got one it would have to be left in the car park - i said it would be stolen - they said that is a risk you have to take - so where do i go from there - i have given up now. Thank you everyone for all of the advice and help - it is greatly appreciated. God bless and keep you all safe and well.

Bagrat profile image
Bagrat

Morrisons are doing a basics box for £35 delivered by DPD but even they have no slots according to website

Many local shops are delivering free. Have you had leaflets from local covid 19 support groups. Worth ringing round green grocers , farm shops and our local wholesaler is delivering to house holds at present as well.

Craftyperson profile image
CraftypersonReading Rabbits in reply toBagrat

My friend got one of those and said wasn't too bad but of course you can't stipulate what in, so if any special needs or gluten and lactose free like me no good

xeena profile image
xeena in reply toBagrat

Hi there - no i have not had any leaflets - but i will try and find some farms or something local to me to see if i can buy food from them. Thank you for the information. Keep well.

Craftyperson profile image
CraftypersonReading Rabbits

With must of them you have to book your slot first. I've been trying Morrisons but as soon as I log in it says sorry no deliveries available in your area. Not even slots so I don't know if not coming out here anymore as 35 miles away. Tried ringing no answer emailed them 2 weeks ago and no answer.

If you are in the at risk group you can register on gov.uk and it lets you go to top of queue apparently.

Midori profile image
MidoriVisually impaired in reply toCraftyperson

Only if you are in England. The rest of Britain is not included.

Craftyperson profile image
CraftypersonReading Rabbits in reply toMidori

I didn't know that cheers

xeena profile image
xeena in reply toCraftyperson

Hi there - thank you for the input - i will just keep trying - i either get lucky or i don't - just have to see how it goes. Keep well.

Craftyperson profile image
CraftypersonReading Rabbits in reply toxeena

Hope you finally get a slot

xeena profile image
xeena in reply toCraftyperson

Hi there - i wished - i have been on the computer since this morning and have tried Tesco - Asda and Morrison - no slots available - so i will have to ring my sister who lives in Worthing to see if she can come up and do a shop for me - i am really p**d off now. I rang the new GP for some medication that i had ordered and he has not as yet done it and i asked for something for the pain of my gout and what he is giving me is not good for me as i told him - it is a cream to put on my feet - he gave me capsuled two weeks ago and when i read about who should take them i found out that i should not because of my COPD and Asthma but he did not care - i told him i do not trust doctors as they put us on so much medication and then complain that we are on it for years when it was their fault - i have been on diazepam for over thirty years and they are going to stop it so i said that i had to be weaned off of it - he ignored me and put the phone down. So i am just sitting here waiting to see if the Pharmacy are going to deliver me anything or not. Hope you all get your shopping done - take care and keep well - bless you all.

Craftyperson profile image
CraftypersonReading Rabbits in reply toxeena

You should definitely be weened off I'd ring PALS patient liaison services and put in a report and ask to speak to another gp in practice.

Have you tried to find out if any local help services. I got a phone call from vicar giving me numbers of local people helping and a weekly free mag here called what's on has been printed as what's not on and lists local companies delivering, phone numbers for helpers etc.

Hope your sister doesn't have to come too far.

Hope you get some meds

Take care

xeena profile image
xeena in reply toCraftyperson

Hi there - i have been on the Gov.co website and tried to register - i am waiting for them to get back to me - will let you know what happens. Be safe.

Craftyperson profile image
CraftypersonReading Rabbits in reply toxeena

Good hope you get somewhere with them

nkotbjoeymc profile image
nkotbjoeymc

I just can’t wait till this is over but I don’t think it’s ever going to be over.

xeena profile image
xeena in reply tonkotbjoeymc

It will be lovely when it is all over and back to normal - but i think it is going to take a long time before this happens. Take care and be safe.

Midori profile image
MidoriVisually impaired

No ideas, but I am in the same boat myself. Can't get a slot for love or money, so although I am meant to stay in, I have no choice but to trek to my local Tesco. They say they've released extra slots, but none on the website I can find.

Cheers, Midori

041051 profile image
041051

Hi xeena. My son is in the shielding group and he can't get a slot. A couple of days ago someone phoned from the local council and gave us a number to ring if we need help with shopping or prescriptions. That same day, the hospital sent him a prescription through the post. The pharmacy wouldn't allow me to send it to them through the post nor would they deliver the tablets and collect the prescription at the same time. I phoned the council number he had been given only to be told that there is nothing they can do. I am a disabled pensioner and I have to go out most days to shop for my son. It makes me so angry that I have to put my life at risk to help my son when I shouldn't have to.

xeena profile image
xeena in reply to041051

Hi there - thank you for the reply. I will ring the council and ask them for help. I rang the new GP that i have and asked for some pain medication he said he would give me some - but i don't know where it is as it has not been delivered and i can hardly walk as i have a really bad gout flare up - i also need my eye drops and my inhalers for COPD - and i am not getting my B12 injections anymore so i do not know what to do - i will try and ring him again- Take care and be safe.

041051 profile image
041051 in reply toxeena

I do hope you get some help xeena. I was lucky because I got my B12 injection in mid March but I'll have to wait and see what the situation is in 3 months. Take care

xeena profile image
xeena in reply to041051

Hi there - i had my last injection on the 3rd October last year and the day after i was told to leave the surgery and now just last week i was given this new GP who i have not met and does not appear to know anything about me and he is prescribing some painkillers that i asked for but i do not know how or where they are - he did not say that they were to be collected or if they were being sent to me. I also need eye drops as my hospital appointment for the 6th has been cancelled and this morning i had a text from the hospital stating that the surgery will now look after my eyes - i do not trust any GP's as i had private tests done in February and they were saying that my results were not good and needed immediate attention - this new GP sent the nurse to do a blood test on me and the GP says it is all normal. Before i was excluded from the surgery in October last year i was told that i was Hyperparathyroid and was being referred - but it never happened - i could never trust GP's anymore after having lost one of my kidneys after the GP let me suffer ten years with stones and then my gallbladder was removed a few years later. Sorry for the rambling and thank you for the input. Bless you.

041051 profile image
041051 in reply toxeena

Wow, you've had a really rough time. I changed surgeries when I had a uti a few years ago. I'd had it for a week and eventually the g.p. phoned me and told me to just keep drinking lots of water. The next day I dropped a urine sample in to the surgery and just as I got home a nurse phoned me to tell me I needed to see the doctor. I told her the doctor had refused to see me so she just did a prescription for me. I discovered later that I had kidney disease. I have literally just changed surgeries again because I have had terrible pain in my right knee and I was told by the local MSK service that I should ask for a referral back in to their service. I went to the surgery for the appointment in case the doctor wanted to exam me but she just did the referral. 3 months later I had a phone call to offer me an appointment only to discover that I'd been referred to the neck/shoulder clinic so I had to wait 2 weeks for the surgery to do another referral. Who knows how long I will have to wait to be seen My B12 injection was done at the new surgery but I had made the appointment a couple of weeks earlier when I registered at the surgery.

xeena profile image
xeena in reply to041051

Hi there - i am so sorry that you have had problems as well and i hope and pray that you get better very soon. In the last ten years i have never been examined by a GP and like you i too have kidney disease - i am at stage three kidney disease - but it is all ignored - i have an enlarged fatty liver with a riedels lobe - and a tortous aorta - all of which is ignored by the GP's. I had a private blood test done in February this year and my B12 was 17 and my vitamin D was 6 - and my uric acid was very high as was my cholesterol - i just have to live in the pain of it all as i have no one to tell - this new GP will not even let me have an appointment. I also have a thyroid nodule in my throat which makes swallowing very difficult - but hey ho i guess that is life. I truly hope that you get seen very soon for your neck and shoulder and that they get you sorted out very soon. I get a crawling sensation under my right shoulder blade - it is horrible - but nothing done about it. I really do wish you well - Bless you and thank you for the input.

041051 profile image
041051 in reply toxeena

You too xeena, my thoughts and prayers are with you

xeena profile image
xeena in reply to041051

Thank you - god bless and keep you safe xx

Nuttyshirlz profile image
Nuttyshirlz

Hi I’m also on my own and in shielding group. Boots are delivering my pills and I’m having to sit up at midnight to get food delivery bookings. Half stuff not there but il wait until day before to adjust it and update it. Iceland are probably the quickest. Council couldn’t help me said would put my name to list but yet to hear back. Name on government site but still waiting for them too lol. So not holding my breath for their help either. 🙂

xeena profile image
xeena in reply toNuttyshirlz

Hi there - i did not get any joy by going on the Gov website - no reply. I have been up all night trying to get a slot but nothing was available in any of the supermarkets - and as for the Pharmacist who is supposed to be delivering my medication - i first rang the GP and asked for medication over a week ago and then again a couple of days ago and still nothing and to crown it all my back feels like it is breaking in half and i have no heating - can it get any worse - i think not. Thank you all for your help and i wish you all the very best of health and happiness. Keep safe and god bless you all.

Nuttyshirlz profile image
Nuttyshirlz in reply toxeena

It took me couple of days to get mine. Have you tried Iceland they ask you to click vulnerable. I order my pills online then couple days later ring boots. I’d keep ringing doctors if you need your pills. Stay safe

xeena profile image
xeena in reply toNuttyshirlz

Hi there - thank you for the reply. I did not know that Iceland done online shopping with delivery so i will give it a try. I have a new GP who has no idea what is wrong with me and he will not shift his butt to send me a repeat script and i cannot ring the Pharmacy as i do not know what i am going to be prescribed and he will not take any notice of me if i tell him what i was on when i was with the other Surgery as they take no notice and say that they have to wait to hear from the new GP. Keep well.

Nuttyshirlz profile image
Nuttyshirlz in reply toxeena

Yes Iceland are pretty good and you don’t have to spend as much. Don’t you have a copy of your medication. I always get a copy when pick up my medication. Oh you don’t no what’s wrong with you. Well that explains why. Won’t give you pills. Take care

xeena profile image
xeena in reply toNuttyshirlz

Hi there - yes they do know what medication i should have - but they are trying to change it to virtually nothing at all - it is not my fault that the previous GP had me on so much medication also i do have a lot wrong with me - most of it through doctors neglect - they ignore my B12 and vitamin D deficiency - i lost a kidney through doctors neglect and then my gall bladder - i have an enlarged fatty liver and a tortuous aorta also i am hyperparathyroid - all of which gets ignored - i have not as yet been able to have a consultation with the new GP - i am in terrible pain and need something for it but like everything else it gets ignored no matter which doctor it is. So yes i know only too well what is wrong with me - i had my private tests done many times and my last one was all about my vitamin d being down to 6 and the fact that i am hyperparathyroid. I also have COPD - Asthma and Gout - hence i am in terrible pain. You take care.

xeena profile image
xeena in reply toNuttyshirlz

Hi there again - i have been on iceland site for two hours and followed all the instruction about self isolation and i ticked the box to state that i was and then i done my shop and was told to go to checkout and pay - to which i tried - but there were no slots - it even said that if you spend over £35-00 you get free next day delivery - so i kept trying to pay and it would not let me - so i have given up now. Thank you.

Nuttyshirlz profile image
Nuttyshirlz in reply toxeena

Did you not book your slot first

xeena profile image
xeena in reply toNuttyshirlz

Hi there - yes i did book my slot first - it comes up red and i ticked it and i also left a message in another box for the delivery driver - but i could not get checked out as there were no spots to be had. Keep well.

Denzie profile image
Denzie

I’ve learned that you have to check several times a day. I’m in the US and my Kroger app tells me when I check in and before I start my list if anything is open. When I couldn’t get anything near me I went to a store another 10 miles out. I live in a semi rural area though that makes that possible.

xeena profile image
xeena in reply toDenzie

Hi there - i am not allowed out and i cannot walk very far - but it is a good idea if you are able to do it. Take care - bless you.

Denzie profile image
Denzie in reply toxeena

Can someone from a nearby church help you? Offer they have parishioners who they trust to help. As a shut in they likely won’t require you be a member if their parish.

xeena profile image
xeena in reply toDenzie

Hi there Denzie - thank you for your reply. I have been on the computer most of the night and of course today to iceland - i clicked the vulnerable box - done my shopping and went to check out and hey ho - there were no slots to be had - so i just give up now as my eyes are red and sore and i have had enough. Keep well - take care. Also you ask about a church - i really do not know where there is a church near me - the ironic thing is that there is a Massive Tesco just five minutes from my house and i have tried ringing them but they do not answer - i send them emails they ignore them - i now give up. Take care and keep well.

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