shopping for housebound

coolcats

I volunteer for a volunteer centre. We befriend and help elderly / housebound. At the moment some volunteers do shopping for clients. We are looking at offering a service for these people using online food shopping. They would give us the shopping list, we would order it online from tesco's etc to be delivered direct to them.
Its all at the research stages, which stores to use (Asda, tesco, sainsburys) and who to make it work with the finacial side of things, getting the shopping list and ordering.
If any one does something simular, or has any ideas on how we could make it work, or any suggestions please let me know. All ideas are welcome.

OneYorkshireLass

Would that not be more time consuming for you? You'd have to collect the shopping list, return to an office/home, do the online shop (which I know isn't always straightforward) and then contact the person to let them know when it will arrive.

I assume some people would be organised enough to phone their order through to you and for you (and your other volunteers) to know what they mean (my elderly relatives can be very particular about brands/sizes/prices etc). I reckon a 'phoning the order & online shop' system would work if you could work around problems such as stores 'substituting' items (which aren't always the same).

Having to collect a shopping list and then return to a computer to input the list is probably more time consuming than getting the shopping done. Plus the befriender is probably the only person they will see that day ... or even that whole week.

Also, how would the person receiving the delivery put the items away? Are they even able to answer their own door?

Sorry if it sounds as though I'm putting the mockers on your idea, but it's just a few things to think about.

cherylim

I have to agree with OneYorkshireLass, what will happen with substitutions? I've tried all online shopping services and find Tesco to be the best for providing what you order, but with all you'll have a risk of them bringing substitutions (many times nothing like the original), or not delivering items at all.

What then? If it's an essential, I guess you'd have to go to the shop ANYWAY just to get what they need?

coolcats

Thank you for all the ideas and query's all welcome. Its only in ideas and planning stage. The substitions could be a problem, but we will say no to substitions I think to make sure its the product asked for. I would like to look at a way to work with local shops as well.
For the ones that are not able to answer door, possible work with their befriender, if they have one, to be there to help. Giving the befriend possible more time with them.
I'm thinking we work on the idea of a set delivery day and as near to the set time as possible. Which is arranged in advance, with only changes made to say about. The shopping list sent in / phoned by a certain time/ day we phone them if no order sent in.

judexx

coolcats wrote: »

Thank you for all the ideas and query's all welcome. Its only in ideas and planning stage. The substitutions could be a problem, but we will say no to substitutions I think to make sure its the product asked for. .

Saying no to substitutions will not increase your chance of getting the product originally ordered but could well mean that a vital item in the order is missing.
Eg if the person orders a small Hovis loaf of bread, and this is out of stock, they will not get any bread.
Surely better to have the option of a different brand rather than no bread ?

HTH

OneYorkshireLass

coolcats wrote: »

For the ones that are not able to answer door, possible work with their befriender, if they have one, to be there to help. Giving the befriend possible more time with them.

Ahh, I thought you meant the online order would be instead of the befriender visiting. Glad this won't happen.

sleepless_saver

Have a look at this scheme - the Food Train - which has been running for a long time now, in Scotland.

coolcats

Thanks for the information, plan to have a look in the week and get intouch with them.

The service we are looking at offering would be an extra to what we already offer, not instead of. We have a befriending service, which includes going shopping for people but also taking them shopping, there is a service that takes people to local supermarkets by mini bus (not offered by us but we pass on details). The problem is getting enough volunteers to go shopping/ take people shopping. We have had to turn people away where there is no volunteer available, we are looking at bridging that gap and offering more.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

fedupconsumer

Another suggestion for you, Amazon.co.uk have a subscribe and save grocery service as well. I find it useful ordering certain products i.e washing power on a subscription basis. You select the "subscribe and save" order option and select the frequency of deliveries and it automatically sends you the product when you want them. It may help those who have memory or cognitive problems.

Richie-from-the-Boro

- how do you envisage the management of paying for the individual shopping list ?
- each person having an individual account administered by yourselves ?
- who will take central responsibility for banking details / passwords / VISA verification numbers etc ?
- ther majors already have a well run delivery & payment with review-able 'shopping lists'
- delivery to door - who will take the shopping into the dwelling ?
- flats are out - the minimum wage slaves are not required to go further than a ground floor doorstep
- the majors all have 'do not substitute' tickbox's
- free delivery on specific midweek days, free delivery at other times over £100

I think your idea is a very good one and to a very large extent simply centralises and duplicates what already exists, so I assume you would centrally manage the ordering, deliveries and payment functions. Its this area you will need to think through - who in your organisation will want the responsibility and accountability for holding and keeping secure personal banking details of others ? All in all I'm sure you will find a work-around for the financial control issue and I wish you well with your endeavors.

coolcats

We don't plan to hold any bank details, they would pay us direct for the shopping, with us holding a bond returnable if they stop using the service. With us keeping strict records of what is paid in / out by who. Its all in the planning stages of what will work best.