Best supermarket for home delivery

Mnoee

They don't substitute frozen for fresh (or vice versa) because its not one guy walking round the whole supermarket to pick your shopping, it's many people covering different areas of the supermarket/warehouse picking those items only.

It's frustrating when key items are missing, but Tesco really are the best I've used for substitutions as they have the text box - and 9/10 they have brought me 'literally any bread' or 'substitute this specific cat food only'. Still, 1/10 times it's not read/ignored, unfortunately. 

I can't drive due to disability, and though I do have people willing to bring me a lettuce when I desperately need one (or a very expensive corner shop), I try to be self-reliant as much as possible - which does mean a different way of shopping. A big freezer and a store cupboard full of things you can make from packets/cans is a good start - you simply can't expect any supermarket to give the level of service you're expecting. 

For next time, if it's absolutely necessary to have cauliflower, you could order both fresh and frozen. If both arrive, you have the choice of either keeping the frozen as a back up or for next time, or returning one - I've used all of the online delivery services over the years and have never had an issue rejecting any items. I try to keep spares of bread, bacon, most veg... Basically anything that can be frozen, is. They all randomly go out of stock with no suitable substitutes at some point. 

Xenon

Misslayed said:

There's an option on the Tesco website to leave a message for the picker. Tick the substitution box and leave message eg 'If unavailable please sub with florets/brocolli/frozen'. Or if no substitute is acceptable just untick that box. 

I have always liked that feature from Tesco...wish Asda (mostly online shop with them at the moment) would copy

GingerTim

Ocado by a country mile - never an issue.

triade

Mnoee said:

They don't substitute frozen for fresh (or vice versa) because its not one guy walking round the whole supermarket to pick your shopping, it's many people covering different areas of the supermarket/warehouse picking those items only.

It's frustrating when key items are missing, but Tesco really are the best I've used for substitutions as they have the text box - and 9/10 they have brought me 'literally any bread' or 'substitute this specific cat food only'. Still, 1/10 times it's not read/ignored, unfortunately. 

I can't drive due to disability, and though I do have people willing to bring me a lettuce when I desperately need one (or a very expensive corner shop), I try to be self-reliant as much as possible - which does mean a different way of shopping. A big freezer and a store cupboard full of things you can make from packets/cans is a good start - you simply can't expect any supermarket to give the level of service you're expecting. 

For next time, if it's absolutely necessary to have cauliflower, you could order both fresh and frozen. If both arrive, you have the choice of either keeping the frozen as a back up or for next time, or returning one - I've used all of the online delivery services over the years and have never had an issue rejecting any items. I try to keep spares of bread, bacon, most veg... Basically anything that can be frozen, is. They all randomly go out of stock with no suitable substitutes at some point. 

Thanks, yes it is very difficult for me to get out, I can hardly get out of bed some days and I have a learning disability so it's often very difficult for me to even do the shopping in the first place, that's why I've been using mealime to plan meals and get my ingredients.

I'm generally quite astounded at the lack of empathy from other commenters though, okay so every time I order a shop, I have to write in the comments box for every item a whole list of other things just in case the item is out of stock? that's just plain ridiculous, totally unfeasible and unreasonable. especially if the shop is likely to ignore it, I've gotten so sick of instructions being ignored on delivery forms, I've since stopped using justeat, deliveroo etc. because of orders missing main items, me going hungry and just having to make do without the burger i ordered etc.

I can't afford a lot and i can't go about ordering things that I'm not going to end up using. The only things i have in storage now are potatoes and chips and rice and pasta, which I'm not able to eat because I developed candidiasis and I need to follow a strictly low carb diet.
I've had issues like this before from tesco near me, I used to order ready meals, one for each day and they just didn't bring one of them. they could have brought a duplicate of one of the others but instead they think I would be happier eating nothing. I swear, if people have such a problem receiving frozen, they can refuse it, and no harm done, the delivery trucks have freezer units on them specifically to keep these things frozen til delivery.

YoungBlueEyes said:

triade said:

<snip> 

This is not me being picky or contrary, this is me essentially left to go hungry for four days.

Wow. 

Ok. Are you honestly going to go hungry for four days because you didn’t get a cauliflower delivered? It’ll beggar up your meal plan, but could you write another one around the ingredients you do have? Or are you completely without food now? 

yes, why would i just keep vegetables in my fridge waiting for it to go off, just in case tesco decide they are going to bring me nothing instead of the two full heads of cauliflower i ordered?? and I don't have an infinity freezer, not everyone is made of money. it's large enough for supplies for a week or two but not for every single possible contingency.

triade

GingerTim said:

Ocado by a country mile - never an issue.

Thank you, I've heard good things.  I will try them.

I just want to sort out my health, I was living off junk food because I couldn't cope, it's been all I can do try and figure out how to get a meal plan with easy recipes and actually cook, it's really hard for some people in this world you know? dealing with PTSD combined with learning disabilities, financial pressures and an awful living environment, not to mention pain and repeat infections and constant indigestion. and i come here for help and wouldn't you just know it, once again MSE members jumping to the defence of a soulless corporation and making me feel like garbage even more. why are some people here so sociopathic?

KxMx

Unfortunately online food shopping can be unreliable as you've found, better to look at ways of reducing that reliance where you can- I am also disabled and do truly understand your predicament. 


Try the Old Style section of the board, they can help advise on the best "store cupboard" foods that would meet your needs, so you are not so reliant on individual items arriving from online shopping.

Once you have some meal ideas you could batch cook and freeze, I'd definitely think seriously about upgrading your freezer capacity too because it would make things easier.

triade

KxMx said:

Unfortunately online food shopping can be unreliable as you've found, better to look at ways of reducing that reliance where you can- I am also disabled and do truly understand your predicament. 


Try the Old Style section of the board, they can help advise on the best "store cupboard" foods that would meet your needs, so you are not so reliant on individual items arriving from online shopping.

Once you have some meal ideas you could batch cook and freeze, I'd definitely think seriously about upgrading your freezer capacity too because it would make things easier.

Thank you, this is useful. I have been looking for options and I feel like I'm floundering so suggestions of different ways is very helpful.

turnitround

Perhaps a couple of tins of soup kept in a cupboard would be useful for emergency meals.

Katiehound

Certainly look at the Old Style Money saving board. Lots of folk there would help. Also many people on there are trying to stretch whatever they have to fill more mouths or do an extra meal .

I would suggest that you always have some fresh staples in stock such as potatoes, carrots & onions then with the addition of just one other item be it meat or eggs you have the basis of a home made meal. Shop bought ready meals are not a good buy- when you look at the % of meat (for example) you see how low it is whereas a packet of mince could make several portions of savoury mince/ lasagne /cottage pie plus you know exactly what goes in it- no cheap sugary fillers.

If you can batch cook , then you can eat one portion and keep / freeze the other 3 & this way you will build up a stock of your home made ready meals. Lots of things are easy to make.

Did you see Jamie's £1 meals- or whatever the programme was called? You can watch it online for free. he had some good ideas- maybe not exaclty what you would eat but it might be 'food for thought.'.

If you can not eat certain foods then ask the question: what easy dish could I make with x, y, z? What can i use instead of 'whatever'?
 People like to be helpful, you just have to ask the right questions!!

Good luck

triade

Katiehound said:

Certainly look at the Old Style Money saving board. Lots of folk there would help. Also many people on there are trying to stretch whatever they have to fill more mouths or do an extra meal .

I would suggest that you always have some fresh staples in stock such as potatoes, carrots & onions then with the addition of just one other item be it meat or eggs you have the basis of a home made meal. Shop bought ready meals are not a good buy- when you look at the % of meat (for example) you see how low it is whereas a packet of mince could make several portions of savoury mince/ lasagne /cottage pie plus you know exactly what goes in it- no cheap sugary fillers.

If you can batch cook , then you can eat one portion and keep / freeze the other 3 & this way you will build up a stock of your home made ready meals. Lots of things are easy to make.

Did you see Jamie's £1 meals- or whatever the programme was called? You can watch it online for free. he had some good ideas- maybe not exaclty what you would eat but it might be 'food for thought.'.

If you can not eat certain foods then ask the question: what easy dish could I make with x, y, z? What can i use instead of 'whatever'?
 People like to be helpful, you just have to ask the right questions!!

Good luck

Thanks, I appreciate all the info. I'd struggle to deal with creating my own recipes and coming up with my own meal plans though. My brain just doesn't work well lately. I've made a post in the old style section.