I've had yet another problem with my on-line grocery order. I won't say who it was with because they're all very similar in my experience. I always get great service from the delivery driver (ooh err misses) but I often want to give whoever did the picking and packing a good hard spanking.

This time, 25% of my beer was missing and some delicate goods were damaged. Last time, they forgot my tobacco. Pretty much every time, the substitutions are laughable.

What is your experience?

Thankyouverymuch.

*emails customer service again*

I've tried most of the supermarket online offering at one time or other. I found the 'big three' to be pretty laughable to be honest. Tesco, Sainsbury Asda - tried them all, never got a complete order from any of them, always had idiotic substitutions. Ocado/waitrose however I've had pretty good experiences of; generally they seemed to get most things right and their substitutions were logical when they happened. However obviously it's a bit more expensive, although they do give you option of cheaper delivery costs if you're willing to accept delivery at an unusual time.

Thing is though I need to fill my petrol tank up pretty much once a week anyway and the supermarkets are the cheapest place to do that right now. So if I'm having to go there once a week for go juice anyway, I might as well do my shopping myself. If you didn't have a car or needed to fill it up less frequently I'd see the value in online shopping more, but for me it turned out to be more gimmick than valued service.

Jon

Selected 'I rarely have any problems'. At most, it's only ever something minor like an item being out of stock (I don't allow substitutions as I'm fussy and I can get mother dearest to pick a few things up if need be), or an item has been damaged in a way that wouldn't be the driver/packer's fault (something they wouldn't have noticed).

Have to say I do find with some of Asda's deals that they're so good that they're out of stock, I'd have thought that'd be something they could update the site with in some way, or put a notice on or something.

Other things I've noticed:

Asda are generally cheaper all round inc. delivery.

Asda don't seem to be that bothered about packing, but then I'm not fussed tbh.

Tesco may have more delivery slots available, but see delivery price comment above.

Why is it so difficult to get Frisps?!

I've not done it, I just wouldn't trust someoone else picking my stuff. So many things to go wrong, use by dates, wrong fruit and veg, old and dried out "fresh" stuff, substitutions. Also I plan "menus on the go" and adapt as I go around depending on what looks good, what's on offer, what I just fancy on the day.

Having saidf that I ordered a load of booze one Christmas from Asda. Six bottles of most things, so expecting it still in the boxes. Poor delivery guy had a load of bags each with three bottles in!

Freaking awesome! I order every two weeks from Sainsburys, have it delivered in the evening when I am back from work.
Reasons:
1. Convenience - I don't have a car so I would have to drag big items (juices, milk, beer, energy drinks, toilet rolls, cleaning products) from the supermarket. Now I have it delivered to my house. It also saves time, it is easy to order and I don't have to deal with pensioners who seems to have mistaken local M&S with a park so they have come for stroll between the isles.
2. Price - I live in a quite expensive area of London (Belsize park) and everything costs arm and a leg here. I have M&S and Budgens close, both with ridiculous prices for anything. If I wanted to buy from a big store I would have to take a bus or a tube and that obviously takes time and time is money so you just can't win...
Saying that, the cost of delivery (£3.50) is sometimes enough to wipe out the savings you've made. But if I am shopping in reasonable size (usually £50 order) I do break even.
3. Selection - Both supermarkets in walking distance are a medium sized so they don't stock everything I need. Especially cereals selection is poor and they only sell small (uneconomical) 500g boxes. Online I can get specialty items like certain types of beer, cheeses, energy drinks etc...

They only things I buy from local supermarket are vegetable and bread as they don't last long enough to get me through to the next delivery. Everything else I have delivered. I always check the substitutions to make sure I am happy with them but I haven't had any issues worth mentioning.

I just wouldn't be fcuked traipsing about trying to find stuff cos they've moved it again, with the 'hand-braked and abandoned' trolleys and their moron users, waiting for ages at the till and then carrying it all yourself (I don't drive)... I wouldn't have the patience for that every week after work

Sainsburys do free delivery off-peak in the week, if you order over a certain amount. Since I drink and smoke, it's really easy to make an order up to £100

Also, by playing off the big three against each other, I nearly always have an email voucher for money off or free delivery.

+1, they're extremely paranoid about each other and it's mostly cos Tesco give you loyalty points

Both Asda and Morrisons are both within 3 miles and there's a local Asian supermarket within walking distance which is fine for things like bread, milk etc. Even where I've lived previously, the supermarkets were just about within walking distance. So never needed to bother with deliveries.

I've had nothing but good experiences using Tesco online deliveries for my Mum's Christmas shopping. I always request no substitutions and so far so good.
I've been doing this for the last four or five years now.

Mark

I live in a village where the most local shop closed last year, and the next nearest is a half hour round trip and doesn't stock much. I do go there, but only for emergencies. Last time was 3 weeks ago when I bought very expensive hay fever pills and cigarettes.

I used to tick the "no substitutes" box, but every now and then you get a really good deal when they give you something twice as good for the same price. If you don't like it, you can always hand it back for an instant refund.

My main problem is that I've had so many missing or broken items, the next time I order I'll have to make the poor delivery bloke wait while I spend an hour unpacking everything and ticking each item off the list.

That's true about the instant refund.

I'd maybe send off an email about the items, see what you get out of it...

I do it but don't find it "fantastic" It's not somethign to get enthusiastic about, they just bring you your stuff when you don't have a car to go get it for you. The main problems are when they didn't have it in stock, that would be the case if you went in person too, only you don't have to spend any time among the public and you don't have to be exposed to all the advertising - also they tell you everything that's on a bogof offer on one page, so you can see if it's a good time to stock up on beverages or bog roll. (the only two options*)


*inaccurate

In my 3rd Year i used to share a delivery with my flatmate because the closest "supermarket" was a Sainsbury's Local that was both overpriced and understocked... great for picking up an item or two, but a regular shop would have been extortionate. After that it was just a Lidl and Iceland, however both were around a 30-40 minute walk away and making a round trip needed me/us to be in a very specific mood (i.e. we wanted to go into town as well).

We ordered from Tesco's and in general it was really good, i never had an issue with the "Sell By" dates on my milk although i'd generally pick up Veg from the aforementioned "local" shops). We also ordered a lot of frozen food (or i'd put most fresh meat straight into the freezer) so it wasn't too much of an issue.

I think the only mix-up they've had was when they'd charged (and delivered) baby food to us... the driver certainly found it amusing and it was sorted out there and then.

I've seen a lot of negative reviews from online shopping here (probably all from the same people) which has put me off trying (just for a laugh). Missing items, less than fresh groceries, poor or no substituions etc. Just saves a lot of hassle to just go to the store IMO. Given that I tend to go when it's quiet means I can whizz around the store and be out in thirty minutes. Means it's about an hour from leaving the house to finish unpackin the majority of the time.

Unless of course my mother tags along in which case it turns into a three hour expedition!