Sainsbury's Direct

[Gussy]

Anyone else experiencing problems with their order? I placed an order for delivery on Thursday and I'm still waiting for my food. I use the online service regularly because I don't have a car and two kids on my own and no way of doing more than the odd local shop for a few light items. So I eagerly await my weekly delivery of tins, drinks, frozen and other heavies. Anyway, aside for my reason for using them, I get a call on Thursday saying a few people are off sick and can they deliver on Friday. Ok I say fair enough can't be helped (but no offer of compensation for the inconvenience caused)...Friday comes and goes, no delivery. I call the helpline and I'm kept on hold for 25 mins before they say they'll call me back in 5 mins. No one called back. So its Saturday and I'm still waiting. Is this the usual standard of delivery around here with Sainsburys? (I'm new to area. I've had no problems with them before). If so, can anyone recommend any other local grocery delivery services? Thanks.

[RosieH]

I've never had a problem, but then I use them very seldom. Complain to customer services and ask for some compensation - frankly, after this length of time, they should be offering you your shopping for free (if you can point out what your time is worth and how long you've waited in wasting it, I'm quite sure it'll cover the cost of the shop).

I've always found Ocado reliable.

[daizie]

NO COMPUTER? Experience the joys of online food shopping by walking blindfolded around Tesco dropping items into your trolley

[womanofdulwich]

i'va always used Tesco- 100% reliable. I htink it is cheaper than Sainsburys and they give you a free tabloid newspaper .

[Huguenot]

Do you get your choice of tabloid, or do they choose for you based on your selection?

[Pickle]

I gave up on using Sainsbury's direct a few years ago after consistently poor service - missing items, late deliveries and deliveries cancelled due to lack of staff etc. We now use Tesco and I've been happy with their service. Their delivery slots are now in 1 hour blocks like Ocado which is brilliant.

[Ladygooner]

Used Sainsburys once - never again. Delivery so late they gave me lots of money off. Lots of substitutions too. Nappy wipes instead of tissus?!! Ocado are the bes imo.

[Moos]

What Pickle said. Tesco also have the advantage of delivering in crates, which saves loads of plastic bags, whereas Ocado although very reliable and good quality use lots of bags and over-wrap all their stuff.

[siousxiesue]

Last time I had a similar problem and no joy from customer services, I googled the chief exec of the company (it was Teaso that time) amd emailed direct to him, worked a treat. Had call from his PA and compo in the form of vouchers!

[dulwichmum]

I have to say, I have had the same experience as Pickle - two years ago they delivered to me on Easter Saturday, they were very, very late, gave me someone elses Easter Eggs (about 6) and lots of substitutions - lots and lots. When I pointed out that I had not ordered Easter eggs - they guy laughed and told me to keep them - he didn't care a jott that someone else may have been expecting them and hadn't received any.

That made me feel sick, to think that some poor child on Easter morning hadnt received their Easter eggs because of that man. I never stray from Ocado.

[louisiana]

Moos Wrote:

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> What Pickle said. Tesco also have the advantage

> of delivering in crates, which saves loads of

> plastic bags, whereas Ocado although very reliable

> and good quality use lots of bags and over-wrap

> all their stuff.

You hand back your bags (from the previous delivery) to the Ocado van driver.

[RosieH]

It's weird, everyone recommending Tesco on here. I've never had anything but bad experiences with Tesco (4 hours late, 50% substitutions, refusal to bring them up my steps to my door) but maybe they've got better since.

[The Minkey]

I tried to use Tesco for my first online grocery order - it was a really frustrating experience and I ended up with no delivery at all. Customer Services never bothered to reply to my subsequent complaint despite the fact I chased it 4/5 times. I gave up and decided never to use them again. I've used Sainsbury's a few times. They do one hour slots and when they were late once, by 15 mins or so, the driver gave me a ?10 voucher which was a nice touch.

As for substitute items, it's a default setting. Just uncheck the box, you only have to do it once and it will apply to all your orders from then on.

[siousxiesue]

The only reason I don't use Tesco is they trade in live animals in their stores in China, 'for cultural reasons'...

[womanofdulwich]

Can you tell me a bit more about this story? I may have to cahnge my shopping habits- I am assuming we are not talking pets Siousxiesue?

[CocoC]

Gussy

I had exactly the same experience a few weeks back with Sainsbury's - two failures to deliver, a promise to call me and never doing so, blah blah. In the end I got a full refund as I'd completely given up hope on my food ever arriving. I emailed the week after and got a voucher for ?15.. which I have to redeem against another Sainsbury's online shop! Not sure I can be bothered to try again!

[Moos]

louisiana Wrote:

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> You hand back your bags (from the previous

> delivery) to the Ocado van driver.

Nnyyeaah, that's what Ocado said when I complained to them. But with crates you don't need to use bags at all, which seems an improvement to me.

Also, Ocado food is very wrapped up - bananas in a plastic bag, for example. Perhaps I'm being unfair and they're obliged to wrap everything up, but it makes me a little uncomfortable.

[siousxiesue]

There was a whole online campaign and petition to sign, automatically sending a protest email to Tesco. They sell turtles see this link http://www.tortoisetrust.org/activities/tesco.html

womanofdulwich Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Can you tell me a bit more about this story? I may

> have to cahnge my shopping habits- I am assuming

> we are not talking pets Siousxiesue?

[Ridgley]

I find when, you order on line they tend to send you items that is a couple of days before it goes out of date or it is out of date the next day. So I tend only order tins foods or toiletries and go myself

[louisiana]

Moos Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> louisiana Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > You hand back your bags (from the previous

> > delivery) to the Ocado van driver.

>

> Nnyyeaah, that's what Ocado said when I complained

> to them. But with crates you don't need to use

> bags at all, which seems an improvement to me.

So they leave you with crates?

Or them empty the crates onto your floor?

I'm imagining the driver does not offer to put away all your shopping into your kitchen cupboards etc. (?)

[Moos]

Not completely sure Louisiana as I don't use Tesco myself, but I gather from my neighbour that they bring the crate into your house, stick the items on your kitchen table or wherever and take them away again.

[candj]

> There was a whole online campaign and petition to

> sign, automatically sending a protest email to

> Tesco. They sell turtles see this link

> http://www.tortoisetrust.org

Probably not to everyone's taste but they sell a lot more than just live turtles at the markets in China - frogs, snakes, chickens, and all manners of seafood, etc. It is indeed for eating. I didn't realise Tesco did this, but I guess it's their market over there.

In any case, I would recommend Ocado as being good and very reliable.

[SeanMacGabhann]

why does selling and eating turtles/tortoises differ from say pigs or chickens?

[candj]

Is that for me Sean? It isn't different at all. I just didn't realise that Tesco did it (they opened up in China a few years ago), but it doesn't surprise me as Carrefour, another big supermarket in China, also sell live animals which I've never seen in France (aside from fish perhaps).

[Huguenot]

I think it was aimed at siousxiesue

Everybody sells turtles in China.... shoe shops, newspaper vendors, doctors...