Shopping cheaply at Ocado?

Jasminda

Has anyone managed to reduce their shopping bill/shop cheaply at Ocado.co.uk?
We've tried shopping online at Sainsburys, Tesco and Ocado and Mum still much prefers Ocado. I have to concede the service is miles better, but it seems to me they're the most expensive, and apparently no value range at all unless I've completely missed it?

kunekune

I tried to do my shop at Ocado just before christmas, but they wouldn't let me register. Seems that because we are in a new build house and the PO have not activated our postcode yet, we don't show up on the system. I don't particularly want our groceries delivered to Twismo Insurance, even though they were very nice about the furniture that time the delivery people trusted satnav over common sense ... But I would think that the trick is the same as elsewhere: look at what's reduced and make your meal plan up as you go, based on what is a good deal rather than a preconceived idea about what you might want for the week. That's the great thing with shopping on line, you can adapt as you go.

whatatwit

Having played about on mysupermarket.com recently...i didn't think that shopping cheaply and Ocado went together in the same breath. :rotfl:

That compares Tesco/Asda/Sainsburys and Ocado....I suppose they may have cheap things, but they don't deliver anywhere near me, so never really considered them before.

angie_loves_veg

Ocado is Waitrose.....

Service is great, they treat their staff very well, they have no value ranges (and indeed their 'standard' ranges are above average quality - often comparable to 'finest' type ranges), only use free range eggs in 'ready meals', champion local producers that sort of thing....

... so this of course will always cost more

KathrynPenguin

I second the above. They are also excellent if they are late. Now I wouldn't say I deliberately order for a time when they are likely to hit a lot of traffic but....

As soon as the hour is up, call the call centre the delivery charge will be waived and in the next delivery there will be a free bottle of wine. Of course its nice wine too rather than plonk.

Oh and the free range egg thing is VERY important, you may well think you are doing well by buying free range eggs BUT lots of product you buy contain battery eggs which really isn't necessary.

zappomatic

angie_loves_veg wrote: »

Ocado is Waitrose.....

Service is great, they treat their staff very well, they have no value ranges (and indeed their 'standard' ranges are above average quality - often comparable to 'finest' type ranges), only use free range eggs in 'ready meals', champion local producers that sort of thing....

... so this of course will always cost more

Ocado is not Waitrose. It's a totally separate company which the John Lewis Partnership originally owned 50% of but that's now down to about 30%. The connection is that the food is all sourced and supplied via Waitrose.

LandyAndy

zappomatic wrote: »

Ocado is not Waitrose. It's a totally separate company which the John Lewis Partnership originally owned 50% of but that's now down to about 30%. The connection is that the food is all sourced and supplied via Waitrose.

Which is what the previous posters meant. Waitrose and cheap just don't go together.

Quote from the late Alan Coren: "I've never been into a Sainsburys, I just thought they were there to keep the riff-raff out of Waitrose":rolleyes:

DrFluffy

LandyAndy wrote: »

Which is what the previous posters meant. Waitrose and cheap just don't go together.

Want a bet - I do all my shopping in Waitrose at 3pm on a Sunday - half price City! Love it! I usually fill the freezer!

bunty109

There's odd things in Waitrose that are cheaper than Tesco: rigatoni pasta for one, strangely enough!

The other tip I have is to register with Ocado perhaps getting a money off discount for a first shop (I think an existing shopper can invite you and then get a discount themselves). You usually have to spend over £90 but will get around £15 off. Delivery is usually cheaper than Tesco and the likes too.

After that, use sparingly: I find that once I haven't used them for a while I get offers saying if I place a large order I'll get £10 and sometimes a free gift as well (I've had cookery book and bottles of wine). Yes, the shop is dearer but the £10 off usually offsets that and I'll stock up on stuff I can only get from there such as their select farm chicken.

It isn't exactly a money saving way to shop as it is dearer, but if you like the quality of the produce and want excellent delivery then there are ways of reducing the cost of it.

DrFluffy

I just placed an online order and got a free bottle of Champagne and a Ocado brushed steel cooler! It's my "3rd birthday"... Huzaahhh for Ocado!!!

monkey22_2

I went yesterday afternoon and did a week's shopping for £50 - the same as I would spend at Mr T's. They have some SERIOUSLY good reductions at that time of day and of course the quality is very high.

There was a report in the paper last week comparing supermarket prices. Waitrose was £9 dearer than the cheapest supermarket (which was either Morrisons or Co-op, I forget) for an average weekly shop.
Someone from Waitrose pointed out though that they weren't really comparing like with like. Waitrose stuff is free-range and fair-trade etc and that's what you pay the extra for.