The mythical shopping slot.....or getting shafted for doing the right thing

[Box Brownie]

As Tesco customers of long standing (as well as others.....) when Covid19 pandamonim kicked off we had booked two home delivery shopping slots.

The one we had for today we tweaked the the contents over the past 2 weeks and phew we thought....no need to go to the store

But out of the blue we get and email this morning telling us that due to problems at the the store our order has been cancelled. Now I would have understood if, as in general 'they' appear to, due to logistical issues they might have needed to do say last week..........................but to cancel it on the day of the delivery is unbelievable

Has anyone else had this happen to them.

I am normally optimistic ~ but can we rely on our next slot for w.c. 6th April and how is cancelling a slot, let alone on the day of delivery, helping folk stay at home!!!!

 

[cambsno]

As Tesco customers of long standing (as well as others.....) when Covid19 pandamonim kicked off we had booked two home delivery shopping slots.

The one we had for today we tweaked the the contents over the past 2 weeks and phew we thought....no need to go to the store

But out of the blue we get and email this morning telling us that due to problems at the the store our order has been cancelled. Now I would have understood if, as in general 'they' appear to, due to logistical issues they might have needed to do say last week..........................but to cancel it on the day of the delivery is unbelievable

Has anyone else had this happen to them.

I am normally optimistic ~ but can we rely on our next slot for w.c. 6th April and how is cancelling a slot, let alone on the day of delivery, helping folk stay at home!!!!

Who knows, could easily be the fact that the slots are 100% booked and x% of the drivers are sick/isolating - all it takes is one additional driver to phone in this morning and they have to cancel slots.

Annoying yes, but cant see how you can be angry at Tesco... what would you expect them to do?

 

[Box Brownie]

Who knows, could easily be the fact that the slots are 100% booked and x% of the drivers are sick/isolating - all it takes is one additional driver to phone in this morning and they have to cancel slots.

Annoying yes, but cant see how you can be angry at Tesco... what would you expect them to do?

Absolutely fair point you make as to possible cause. I have chilled now though based on your possible reasons I do wonder if rather than cancelling, a reschedule would be possible.............. though of course that would just annoy others that would see their delivery cancelled.

I fully appreciate that the store home delivery services have been swamped by the demand and all being well it will settle into a workable rythmm !

 

[MatBin]

When Waitrose cancelled our Xmas food order a day before Xmas due to bad weather they said we could pick it up ourselves from the store, did Tesco not offer this, if not I guess it's because they have a centralized warehouse system and your food wasn't coming from your local store, or maybe the if it was a local store supply they had pickers/drivers call in sick. Sooner that than the driver/picker cough all over your stuff.
We have just had a mail from Sainsbury's telling us they are prioritizing those that have told them they are vulnerable and the Govt database that has identified who is being "shielded".
As a programmer myself this is an absolute nightmare situation to have to re-code and ensure it's tested etc when it's needed right now. Normally we'd test on a dummy site/project and ensure it's all working ok in a pre-planned way but that's just not possible right now.

 

[Deleted sulking member 63079]

I know of people who ordered 3 slots on 3 consecutive days with the same order in each, in case things were out of stock and they'd then amend the next order - removing the things that were delivered...

 

[Box Brownie]

We are now reconciled to the need to go to a supermarket this afternoon.................so remains to be seen how busy 'it' is and indeed whether (though the stores have been saying for a goodly while that all is/should be in store) we can get all that we need in one trip.

I suppose the question is, as fewer folk will be crowding in and with limits to numbers of any single item being restricted to max 2 or 3 'pieces', will the shelves show actual evidence of the "supply chain is not the problem..................it is the panic buying to hoard that has created the issue...."???

 

[cambsno]

We are now reconciled to the need to go to a supermarket this afternoon.................so remains to be seen how busy 'it' is and indeed whether (though the stores have been saying for a goodly while that all is/should be in store) we can get all that we need in one trip.

I suppose the question is, as fewer folk will be crowding in and with limits to numbers of any single item being restricted to max 2 or 3 'pieces', will the shelves show actual evidence of the "supply chain is not the problem..................it is the panic buying to hoard that has created the issue...."???

Certainly where I am there are no issues. M&S, Lidl, Tesco this week have all had plenty of food and even loo roll and paracetamol at times. Tesco and Lidl had some pasta last time I looked although choice is very limited. One day sliced bread was very low in Tesco but no real problems after that. In fact the only things you may struggle on is flour, yeast, pasta and some tinned stuff (and even beer). Granted, there may be less choice - 3 different types of the same product rather than 6+ but there is plenty of fresh meat, veg, processed food etc... Its just like christmas, some things out of stock but I did a shop this morning and aside from years got everything i needed.

In fact Tesco the other day seemed to have more veg than normal, bit liek Xmas! The only issue has been the local co-op in the village, seems to be empty soon after re-stocking for many basics like bread and milk. This morning Lidl, Asda and M&S were making people wait to enter to limit numbers (no q for M&S and probably on 5-10 for Lidl) but all fine.

 

[Suvv]

A friend of mine had her Sainsbury's order undelivered last week but she was given the option of collecting it herself, which she did. They are just inundated at the moment, our nephew is a Sainsbury's delivery driver but he cannot work extra shifts as he looks after his daughter on the days his wife has to work.
I am not sure if it was Tesco or Sainsbury's who sent an email asking people to shop in store if possible and leave the delivery slots for those who need them. I am a reasonably healthy 71+ but I am reluctant to go to a supermarket.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

Even at 85 it looks like I will have to go to Morrisons or Tesco. as delivery slots seem non existent, I have one for the 6th April then no more are available.
The 3 of anything rule means you have to shop for some stuff at least every two weeks.

Though me and my daughter will double up our orders together on the 6th April slot. if it fails we are in trouble.

 

[Tringa]

So far so good here. We had a Tesco order delivered on Tuesday. About six items were not delivered but otherwise fine.

Dave

 

[cambsno]

So far so good here. We had a Tesco order delivered on Tuesday. About six items were not delivered but otherwise fine.

Dave

Thats because most people have 86 loo rolls, 17 bags of pasta, 26 tins of beans and 5 packets of self raising to keep them going still!

 

[Box Brownie]

Thats because most people have 86 loo rolls, 17 bags of pasta, 26 tins of beans and 5 packets of self raising to keep them going still!

Now, is that self raising.......in case they get bitten during the next phase of the zombie apocalypse, sort self help/first aid when bitten???

 

[mj4456]

My mate has a wee job 3 nights stacking shelves in a supermarket, due to the rush/staff shortages they are doing 1/2 shift stacking shelves the other 1/2 picking orders, unfortunately this means that neither job is getting done to a satisfactory level, they want to recruit more staff short term but, who wants to be surrounded by potential Covid 19 carrying customers.

 

[tijuana taxi]

Certainly where I am there are no issues. M&S, Lidl, Tesco this week have all had plenty of food and even loo roll and paracetamol at times. Tesco and Lidl had some pasta last time I looked although choice is very limited. One day sliced bread was very low in Tesco but no real problems after that. In fact the only things you may struggle on is flour, yeast, pasta and some tinned stuff (and even beer). Granted, there may be less choice - 3 different types of the same product rather than 6+ but there is plenty of fresh meat, veg, processed food etc... Its just like christmas, some things out of stock but I did a shop this morning and aside from years got everything i needed.

In fact Tesco the other day seemed to have more veg than normal, bit liek Xmas! The only issue has been the local co-op in the village, seems to be empty soon after re-stocking for many basics like bread and milk. This morning Lidl, Asda and M&S were making people wait to enter to limit numbers (no q for M&S and probably on 5-10 for Lidl) but all fine.

Nearly full beer section in St Ives Waitrose, plenty of fresh meat, milk, cheese, butter and bread.
No eggs, rice or flour and only allowed three items from each section.
Letting one person in when one comes out, queue wasn't long and moving quickly, disinfected trolleys too.

 

[cambsno]

Nearly full beer section in St Ives Waitrose, plenty of fresh meat, milk, cheese, butter and bread.
No eggs, rice or flour and only allowed three items from each section.
Letting one person in when one comes out, queue wasn't long and moving quickly, disinfected trolleys too.

Now I get the stockpiling of loo roll, pasta, rice and tinned stuff, but eggs??? You at best have 3 weeks life on them, maybe 2. Where have they all gone???

 

[tijuana taxi]

Now I get the stockpiling of loo roll, pasta, rice and tinned stuff, but eggs??? You at best have 3 weeks life on them, maybe 2. Where have they all gone???

I thought that too about eggs, we get ours from the fortnightly farmers market.
That was obviously cancelled, so getting a bit low on them now.
Saw a place the other week over near Hilton that was selling free range eggs, might have a little jaunt over there later.

 

[nilagin]

Now I get the stockpiling of loo roll, pasta, rice and tinned stuff, but eggs??? You at best have 3 weeks life on them, maybe 2. Where have they all gone???

They're being eaten by all the people who couldn't get big roll.

 

[broc]

Now I get the stockpiling of loo roll, pasta, rice and tinned stuff, but eggs??? You at best have 3 weeks life on them, maybe 2. Where have they all gone???

Apparently you can freeze eggs if you remove them from their shells...... not that we have done it. We do have an 'emergency' 4 pint container of milk in the freezer though.......my wife likes milk in her tea.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

Now I get the stockpiling of loo roll, pasta, rice and tinned stuff, but eggs??? You at best have 3 weeks life on them, maybe 2. Where have they all gone???

Not that bothered by eggs going off... they last longer than you think, as they age the air sack gets bigger. and the white gets runnier. But they probably take a lot more than a couple of months in the fridge, to get to the sulphurous stinky stage, and then there is no doubt about it.
I can not remember when I last had an off egg...not even the Curates variety.

A very fresh Egg will have an almost non existent air sack, and will sink in water, and when turned out on a plate the yoke will sit high on a jelly like raised ring of clear white surrounded by a thinner area of clear egg white.
When stale, it will have a large air sack and float in water, when turned out there is no distinction between the two white areas. but will still be edible.

When served a poached or fried egg, it is easy to tell the freshness by the distinctive shape of the two white areas surrounding the yolk, or lack of same.

Here endeth.........