While that's certainly true for Sainsburys (I've seen them in the store) it's not true for Asda.

Asda home deliveries do come from a warehouse. My local one is over 20 miles away. I know this because I quizzed the driver. This is one reason I always choose the times they say there will be a van in my area.


So it isn't just me then!

Here's a serious question. It would take me about half an hour to open all the bags and carefully check every item off against the list. Is it unreasonable to expect the driver to wait until I've checked the goods before I sign for them?

I wondered this myself but I check it afterwards when unpacking. If something is missing I just email Tesco and they've never disputed it so far.

I just look in the bags as I'm taking them out of the big boxes. I wouldn't expect him to stand there while I unpacked it!

I've never had a missing item that I'm aware of personally.

Same here especially as Tesco put any substitutions into a separate blue bag. Plus they give you a sheet with any changes.

They won't wait around for a proper inspection but you can do a very quick check.
I always check the content of the at least two plastic bags from each crate they bring to make sure that the crate is actually for me. Once the driver brought me another customer's one but I did spot it and told him. He grabbed one that was my neighbour's by accident. I have never had anything missing. The only other mistake they've done is that they delivered 16 grapefruits when I ordered only 8. I wanted 8 pink ones but I got 8 yellow ones as well. They only charged me of 8 though so it's ok.

I have been more and more vigilant when it comes to checking the more expensive items, but you just never quite know what to expect...

Anyway, I've wasted enough time complaining. In the end my simple email to customer service brought the desired restitution. Luckily I wasn't desperate for the beer; it was just on special offer!

Anyone else think their reply sounds a little disingenuous, or am I being cynical?

My last Tesco order included two bottles of rum for £22. They did a substitution which was not that bad but I lost the discount. I rang them and they gave me the discount on the new rum. Better than a refund. Todays order from Asda came with an extra can of coconut milk, not charged for.

Rum, coconut milk?

Aye, leave art't coconut milk though mate

I did it once and only once

Tesco 4 crates for £25 offer, £5 off voucher when spending over £50, £3 delivery

8 crates delivered to the door for £48 plus I think I had cashback on top also

Every one i know who's done it has stopped again. Mainly because they substitue stuff thats out of stock with other stuff that isn't what you want.

Eg. My brother-in-law ordered some toilet rolls (among other things), a large econemy bag with loads of rolls for x amount of £.
It was out of stock to they replaced it with premium rolls for about the same price. Only (or course) there were only a couple of rolls in the pack. Not what he wanted at all.

I've never heard anything good about the service from people I know.

I can see it being useful for old/disabled people, but other than that.....

I really don't understand these issues with substitutions.
When Sainsbury's deliver the first thing they do is they give you a report of what you've ordered and the list of substituted products is just bellow it. It says what they couldn't deliver and what they used to make a substitute, if anything.
If you don't like the substitute you just give it straight back to a delivery guy and he will take it back.
I really don't understand what the problem is here...

Exactly. They're basically offering you a substitution, they don't just dump the stuff at your door and run, I actually get mildy frustrated that they care so much, Mr. Lee are you sure you don't mind accepting the 326ml soy sauce when you ordered 350ml soy sauce? Well actually driver I am offended beyond reasoned thought actually, how dare you take the liberty of assuming I would accept this grotesque "other soy sauce", get the [LIFTED] out of my sight.

If you don't like the substitutions, stop being a lazy ar*e and do your own shopping.

Which is why I do my own.

I do my own when I happen to be passing a store; I pick up some fresh bread and salad stuffs etc.

The rest of the time, petrol is just too expensive. My nearest store is only a 10 mile round trip, but that's still a quite a few quid in transport plus a couple of hours of my time. I prefer to shop late at night, but often then they simply don't have anything on the shelves so it's a total waste of time!

It would seem it takes me 3 days plus a refund, and the contemplation of driving to a store before the substitutions and errors stop being annoying