Moral dilemma - am I wrong to have groceries delivered when I could get out to shop?

Bogof_OAP

I told some friends that I have booked a Tesco delivery slot for a week before Christmas, and they were very negative that I was stealing a slot from someone who might have a more desperate need for it.  Bearing in mind that I am nearly 69, my husband is 74 with diabetes, so I didn't think I was doing anything wrong.  I only have a small local Co-op in walking distance and can't carry heavy bags up the hill back to home, and the buses going into town often have "sorry bus full" on the front, and they are pretty infrequent anyway.

Would be interested in people's views.  I feel a pariah now.

Farway

Shame on your "friends" of course you were not doing anything wrong or "stealing slots" Utter twaddle by utter ****** [insert own word here]

Too late now but should it happen again just thank them for volunteering to get your shopping for you in future and allowing a "needy" person to get a slot

I'm a simalar age but isolating & use online to avoid shops wherever possible now

MrsStepford

Don't feel bad. People with diabetes were on the original vulnerable list then it was reduced in Lockdown 1. All supermarkets have increased van fleet and slots, taking on more staff. Before the pandemic, I made forays to local farms, but other than that it was all done online. I have diabetes myself, and Waitrose gave me Priority status. You could check whether the Co-op will deliver by own bikes or via Deliveroo (fist few orders delivered free). 

Bogof_OAP

Thank you both, I feel better now.  The one said she was "just having a rant, and no need to fall out" but it hurt me especially when another one chimed in agreeing with her.  I didn't ask for their opinions in the first place!

It's only a tiny Co-op MrsS, just the basics and three miniature trolleys outside the door, not even any self-checkouts just two counters, so the luxury of deliveries is unlikely to feature!  They don't have much of a range anyway, just corner shop type stuff. Handy in an emergency but not really where you want to do your main Christmas shop!

Farway

Bogof_OAP said:

Thank you both, I feel better now.  The one said she was "just having a rant, and no need to fall out" but it hurt me especially when another one chimed in agreeing with her.  I didn't ask for their opinions in the first place!

It's only a tiny Co-op MrsS, just the basics and three miniature trolleys outside the door, not even any self-checkouts just two counters, so the luxury of deliveries is unlikely to feature!  They don't have much of a range anyway, just corner shop type stuff. Handy in an emergency but not really where you want to do your main Christmas shop!

Sounds like my Co-op, OK for bread & milk and seems to do a good trade in lottery tickets

Peter999_2

I don't get shopping delivered anymore so people who need it can get a slot.

To be honest, a 69 year old shopping for herself and a 74 year old diabetic are exactly the sort of people who I would hope do get the slots.     I'm very sorry that your friend was not very nice about it, some people just don't think and don't realise that what they say can really hurt.  

Nargleblast

Sounds like you have a couple of potential ex-friends there. If they're friends then they should know your situation and understand you did the right thing for you and your husband. Not only that, by avoiding going to the supermarket you are one less person potentially catching or spreading the virus. The big supermarkets ringfence a lot of their slots for customers they have listed as vulnerable so Joe and Josephine Public should not feel guilty about booking online deliveries or Click and Collect slots. Don't worry about what others think, you do right by you. As the previous poster says, you too could be classed as vulnerable.

Mickey666

Too many people seem to be intent on making high street shops some sort of moral crusade and trying to shame anyone who uses the ‘big bad’ supermarkets.  The OP has precisely described one very good reason why high street shops are losing custom:  I only have a small local Co-op in walking distance and can't carry heavy bags up the hill back to home, and the buses going into town often have "sorry bus full" on the front, and they are pretty infrequent anyway.
Who in their right mind wants to walk up and down a street of shops carrying an increasingly heavy bag as they visit the butcher, then the greengrocer, then the baker, then the fishmonger, then the paper shop, then carry it all back home?  Possibly in the rain.  It’s ludicrous.
High shops are not failing because the supermarkets are the spawn of the devil as meany would have us believe but because the vast majority of people PREFER supermarket shopping for its speed and convenience.
And what could be better than driving to a supermarket with free, guaranteed parking?  How about a supermarket that delivers all your shopping to your own doorstep?  As far as I’m concerned the only thing better would be for them to put all my shopping away in my cupboards
As for ‘stealing delivery slots’, that’s just plain nonsense.  Demand increases supply and the supermarkets have responded by adding more vans and employing more staff.  Give another few years and even the supermarkets won’t need many ‘shops’ because they’ll deliver directly to their customers from huge warehouses.  Amazon doesn’t have any shops and seems to manage perfectly well.
Welcome to the 21st century.

Torry_Quine

You're absolutely entitled to get shopping delivered. 

elsien

In my area the support networks are still running and still doing shopping for people who are vulnerable - some of whom don't do internet shopping so wouldn't be looking for a slot anyway. There are people out there who can support if anyone is genuinely stuck so I wouldn't worry about it.  There are many people who do online shopping for a variety of reasons, not necessarily Covid related and the supermarkets to have a system to prioritise more vulnerable customers - it's not stealing slots from anyone in your circumstances, that's a ridiculous statement for them to make. 

maman

I didn't think twice about having some heavy stuff delivered the other week. Slots were easy to come by. I'm not even vulnerable so maybe I should be feeling guilty. 🤔

I think anyone who wants to use online shopping is free to do so. It's likely that vulnerable people will be at home all day and able to take slots that many working people can't use. Also many vulnerable people won't have access to Internet shopping or even the facilities to pay online. 

My recently graduated DGD has taken a supermarket job so pleased there's work for the time being.