Online Shopping Substitutions - Are Deals done between companies?

Aginoth

Having had some strange substitutions recently with my Tesco online shop my wife asked a good question.

Do Tesco and their suppliers enter into deals so that the particular suppliers goods are listed as the substitute that will always be given?

For Instance we ordered Riverway Cumberland Sausages and these were substtuted by Richmond Irish Sausages, but a couple of times previously we've also had different sausages substitued by Richmonds Irish Sausages, regardless of recipe or quality of the original oredered item.

Anyone else seen this behaviour?

Sharon87

Maybe Richmond sausages aren't as popular so they're always in stock? The ones you buy might be popular (especially if on offer), so they sell out quickly

DCFC79

I cant comment on tesco but where i work the handset device gives a suggestion for a sub but you dont have to give that sub as we have the option of picking another item as a sub as the 1 suggested isnt always the best option in terms of price and/or the item itself.

For example a customer wants some mature cheese but its OOS and the suggested 1 is also a mature cheese or theres a mature cheese on offer say bogof so we would offer the cheese thats on offer. It depends on the picker though, maybe tesco pickers go with what is suggested on the handset or if they arent able to not pick the suggested item.