Ocado, What are they like?

redmandarin

Hi Mishy and others!

I've used Ocado twice, because I was tired of being let down by Tesco and Asda (ie., non delivery of order, many items not delivered because out of stock, out of date items, lots of chilled products with only one day to go so I would be expected to eat the lot on the day of arrival, etc). Ocado are expensive, but their service is excellent. They know exactly what items they have in stock when you place the order, so what you order, you receive - no missing items or substitutions! The quality is brilliant, delicious fresh food and great ready meals, (I'm veggie, so no idea about meat though) staff helpful and friendly, one hour slots, an easy to use, comprehensive website, with the ingredients of each product (including nutritional values) fully listed for most items (essential for veggies or allergy sufferers).

I can't afford to use Ocado often though, sadly, owing to the cost, but I reduced by first purchase by ringing them to say my first order was on it's way and could I have discount. The rep said no, so I asked for a manager. She checked my impending order on the system and gave me £15 off my next order. They also sent me a free bottle of wine (with my second order) to thank me for my first order!

All in all, an excellent company - (but I suppose sometimes you get what you pay for)! Tesco and Asda take note! :T

Lady_K

Oh not sure I dare phone up for a discount, how much did your total come to for the first order to get £15 off? I thought they might send a discount code to encourage me to start shopping with them though. I have decided I will not make an order unless they do coz if it is more expensive I will need some encouragement for sure but they do sound good though

BigAde

I've used them a fair bit....

I tend to alternate between them and Tesco depending on who's got the best offers at the time. The Ocado service is always superb, prompt and friendly drivers for whom nothing is too much trouble. The best thing about Ocado is that delivery is free on orders over £75; I rather begrudge paying Tesco a fiver for delivery for a worse service.

In terms of cost/quality... yes, Waitrose stuff in general is superior to Tescos and also slightly more expensive. Depends what you buy of course, and if you're careful about what you buy from there, you can avoid the outrageously expensive stuff. The difference in price can easily be set against the delivery charge, so all in all I don't think there's that much difference between them. I find the Ocado experience a lot more pleasant having said that.

In terms of the £15 vouchers... you just need to give an existing customer your email address to refer you and you get £15 off your first shop (and the referer gets £5 as well!). I've done it a couple of times and it's worked okay for everyone!
I'd gladly offer to do it here , but that's not allowed... I think you need to go via the referers board (or something like that.. it's in the board rules).

sallybananas

Hi there - great forum.... just discovered it, so this is my first post..... anyway, I would recommend Ocado, may be more expensive but they don't charge for delivery (if it is over £75) and also the quality is great. If you have a problem they are quick to deal with things and also you can get refunds etc online via their website if you have a problem with anything.

Also, I have found this code to use.... spend over £90 and you can get a 15% discount (1st time orders only). The code is 'VOU5239280' and is valid until 11/06/06. This was printed in the June issue of Olive magazine so is open to all.

Cheers, sallybananas

never_enough

Can recommend Ocado/Waitrose. I used them to have groceries delivered to my mother when she'd just come out of hospital. They were great, the driver took everything into her kitchen & even asked if she needed help putting things away (she couldn't walk very well so they may've just felt sorry for her, she has that effect on people... )

Really couldn't fault them, the one hour slots are great, the substitutions much less frequent than with Tesco~generally the stuff is better quality & lasts longer. Worth the extra especially if you tend to do a large fortnightly or monthly shop. With Tesco they seem to think that we're going to eat three quarters of the perishables within two days. It *really* annoys me that they deliver bread that runs out the next day. Who would ever pick that up in the store? [unless it was 10p of course!] Waitrose used to only charge 1p for something like a lettuce or bread that ran out the next day AND the driver would point it out to you so you could choose wheher to accept or not.

I've got another voucher for Ocado, 15% off your first shop, but it does need to be over £90. Enter VOU1041107 at check out. Leaflet came with an Amazon order. Valid until 30/06/06. Limited to a max £30 discount.

nearlyrich

I just got the intro email this weekend have they opened a new store in the North west? I got a 15% off 1st delivery and another email today with a similar offer but it doesn't say 1st order.

Our neighbour was having a delivery this morning with lots of boxes and two people carrying in the boxes...Tesco only have one person.

I might give them a try....

Lady_K

I got one of those too. An email message at the weekend saying they were delivering in my area but no discount voucher. Then today I got another email with a voucher for 15% off if I spend over £90, that will be free delivery too as its over £75. That also doesnt say anything about first time shop so I'm wondering if to use the first time shop one that never enough has posted then use the one they sent me later.

I wouldnt normally spend £90 though and it would still end up quite a lot because there are no bogoff items on there that bring the final price down... so all in all it would end up me spending quite a bit more

nighty29

I can recommend them as they are excellent. Everything that has been said plus fantastic customer services! I got £75 off my next shop when they delivered 4 minutes later than the hour-slot I selected!!!:T :rotfl:

Lady_K

£75 for 4 mins? Are you sure thats right it sounds a lot?

Did you complain to them or did they register the 4 mins late themselves and offer compensation

Amys

They are very good, the shopping is packed well, they are also very good at timekeeping arriving in the 1 hour (not 2 hour) slot that is booked. The waitrose near here also have a good range of more unsual foods, such a vegertarian, kosher etc.

They also look like they have a wider delivery area compared to Tesco et al.