Asda Order Amending Policy

Fingerbobs

Managed to get a click-and-collect slot on Asda yesterday, but I noticed that they only allow orders to be amended during the last 2 days before collection. 
I'm not quite sure how this helps them manage demand. My order is now locked until 2 days before collection, at which point I can completely change everything on the order if I want to. Isn't this the wrong way round? I'm confused. 

TheBanker

Maybe they mean manage demand on their website/system. I'm not sure if Asda is one of the stores that had to introduce queuing for the website, but if they are experiencing high demand then stopping people repeatedly edit and update orders might help. 

It is the opposite approach to the other stores though. Most of them have brought forward their cut-off time so you can't edit the order just before it's due. 

Nelski

It easier that way at least within 2 days they have an idea of what is actually going to be available and that the price will be accurate. you don't need to do the awful queuing for asda so just do it the day before

Fingerbobs

Thanks both. Yes, it's actually more convenient for me because my collection date is 10 days away, and I'm much more likely to know exactly what I want the day before. I was just curious as to how it's useful to Asda to do it that way, when other supermarkets have done the exact reverse.

Steve_L

I agree, it did seem counter-intuitive at first sight. It's also just changed to 3 days, by the way.

Changing anything without it overwriting the entire order is another matter. You seems to only be able to add items from the "trolley". Changing the amount of an item in the order seems to not be an available (or readily available) option. The instructions are clearly written by someone who knew what they were doing. Unfortunately, they forgot that they would be read by someone who doesn't.

Also, amending an order is a recipe for potential disaster. For a start, what you want to add might not be in stock at the moment you try to add it. Trying to amend the order will also reveal other out-of-stock items. Either or both of these can bring the order total to below £40 and trigger "pick & pack" and delivery charges. If so, then just cancelling any amendments (they call them "amends", which is what you make if you've done something wrong) seems to get you back to where the items, that you now know are unavailable, back on the order, where it's their responsibilty to provide a substitute. You hope.

Fingerbobs

It's up to five days now, by the way.

Fingerbobs

It does seem a bit odd that you can only order stuff that's in stock at the time you place the order. For example, I can't add skimmed milk onto my order at the moment, because it's currently out of stock, but I'm sure they will have restocked their milk by the time the order collection date comes. 

Steve_L

One day. I'll place a small test order of really popular items and then keep amending it until nothing is left.

millie

they sent me an email this morning telling me that 6 items that are on my delivery for tomorrow were out of stock. they suggested I logged in and amended my order choosing other items. I did not do that because I know they would just remove the items from my order. I just checked their website and 3 of the items are now in stock. The order wont be picked until tomorrow morning so how would they know there would be no stock. 1 of the items was whole milk 

Fingerbobs

Same thing happened to me. Had an email yesterday to say quite a few items I'd ordered were out of stock. Like you, I didn't log in because I knew they would just remove those items from the order, and I just wanted to take a chance on the substitutions. 
Went to collect today, and only 4 items had been substituted, and those were only a different brand of the same product (flour, bread, hand soap, kitchen roll), which I was quite happy with. So I basically got everything I ordered. 

Steve_L

I note that the window for amending an order has increased to 6 days.

Just 2 more days and I'll be able to amend my weekly recurring order before I place it.