Online Shopping: What are the pros and cons of substitutes?

Fridaycat

Hi everyone,

I only do my grocery shopping occasionally on line, I've used ASDA and Tesco in the past, but Sainsbury's have finally decided that they can deliver to me, which means I will probably do a lot more

In the past, I have always ticked "no substitutes" for all items, because I thought that if they don't have the product I want, they might substitute it for something I don't want - e.g. not very MSE, but when it comes to baked beans, we only like Heinz and don't really want any other brand.

So - am I being silly? What are the advantages of having substitutes? And what are the disadvantages?

Thanks

on-the-count-of-three

Fridaycat wrote: »

Hi everyone,

I only do my grocery shopping occasionally on line, I've used ASDA and Tesco in the past, but Sainsbury's have finally decided that they can deliver to me, which means I will probably do a lot more

In the past, I have always ticked "no substitutes" for all items, because I thought that if they don't have the product I want, they might substitute it for something I don't want - e.g. not very MSE, but when it comes to baked beans, we only like Heinz and don't really want any other brand.

So - am I being silly? What are the advantages of having substitutes? And what are the disadvantages?

Thanks

I suppose it depends upon where you shop & what their policies are. I only use Tesco's (& occasionally Ocado, but there is no control over substitutes there.)

With Tesco, I haven't found any cons. If there is something that we must have (like your baked beans) then simply tick the no subs box on that item only. If you are buying from an offer, then put in the notes to sub another item within that offer...be specific if you like about the choices you would accept.

I don't tend to have many subs...lucky I suppose, but when I have, I've had higher priced goods subbed & been charged the lower price. Some examples...Allinsons flour instead of value, fresh rainbow trout instead of value fillets, oh & some cheap baby bubble bath, about 10p a bottle subbed with much larger branded bottles.

Middy

Problem with substitutes with Sainsburys if its part of an offer is that the (dumb) internet shopper chooses something that isn't part of the deal and charge full whack for it. For example you pick 3 different bottles of £8.99 wine which is part of 3 for £12 offer. One of them is out of stock and they give you another bottle for £8.99 which isn't part of the deal and get charged £26.97.

Why can't they pick the same wine twice? It isn't rocket science?

BTW the store I work doesn't have internet shopping

kremmen

Pro with Tesco is that substitutes are charged at no more than original so ensure your choice is premium priced item.
If you really don't like the sub they will take it back :beer:

Paul

mirrorimage0

ive always been subbed a higher value item but if its really not what i want you just send it back with driver

silverorange

The Tesco driver has always pointed out if there are any substitutes to me, which are usually more expensive products eg I've had value products substituted for own brand, but if you don't want them just say no and they'll take them back, no fuss!

sarah1972

If your going to use Sainsburys then good luck if you dont want any substitutions !!

I stopped using them as week after week I had no milk turn up as there was no substitute for semi skimmed milk :cool: and 3 weeks on the trot there was no substitute for kingsmill medium sliced bread :cool:

Also with Sainsburys if you get a sub you pay the price that the sub is so if they sub you a premiuim product and you wanted a value product then you pay more whereas Asda and Tesco pricematch so sometimes you get some real bargains.

Fridaycat

Thanks for all the replies, everyone

It sounds like I might need to carry on clicking "no subs" for Sainsbury's but perhaps not be so concerned when I order online from Tesco (don't order from ASDA that much).

I'm just now waiting for a first online order discount for using Sainsbury's - e.g. £10 off £50 spend or whatever. When they didn't deliver to my area, it seemed like these codes were all over the place, now they do, the best I have found is 50 pence cash back from TCB! Anyone seen anything better at all?

sarah1972

Fridaycat wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies, everyone

It sounds like I might need to carry on clicking "no subs" for Sainsbury's but perhaps not be so concerned when I order online from Tesco (don't order from ASDA that much).

I'm just now waiting for a first online order discount for using Sainsbury's - e.g. £10 off £50 spend or whatever. When they didn't deliver to my area, it seemed like these codes were all over the place, now they do, the best I have found is 50 pence cash back from TCB! Anyone seen anything better at all?

If you have facebook keep an eye out for the ads on the right hand side as I had one the other week for £15 off your first order.

Might also be worth joining them on facebook?

https://www.facebook.com/sainsburys?sk=app_134294700006879

Fridaycat

sarah1972 wrote: »

If you have facebook keep an eye out for the ads on the right hand side as I had one the other week for £15 off your first order.

Might also be worth joining them on facebook?

https://www.facebook.com/sainsburys?sk=app_134294700006879

Thanks! Have just "liked" them

raphanius

Middy wrote: »

Problem with substitutes with Sainsburys if its part of an offer is that the (dumb) internet shopper chooses something that isn't part of the deal and charge full whack for it. For example you pick 3 different bottles of £8.99 wine which is part of 3 for £12 offer. One of them is out of stock and they give you another bottle for £8.99 which isn't part of the deal and get charged £26.97.

Why can't they pick the same wine twice? It isn't rocket science?

BTW the store I work doesn't have internet shopping

i found this out on my first shop with Mr S internet, duly ranted at CS and got three free delivery codes for my trouble!