Delivery chaos as shoppers self-isolating struggle to book online orders that arrive before Christmas

SHOPPERS who have to self-isolate over Christmas have been left in the lurch as online supermarket delivery slots have sold out.

Customers have been desperately searching Asda, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Tesco websites for a free slot so food will arrive before December 25.

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Asda has no more delivery slots available at one London postcode

Supermarkets have been urging customers to book slots early this year as millions more rely on online shopping amid the coronavirus pandemic.

But despite huge recruitment drives from the Big Four retailers to help cover the festive season, some shoppers are struggling to bag a pre-Christmas slot.

This particularly affects those who are self-isolating due to testing positive for Covid-19 or because they have come into contact with someone who has it.

One person on Twitter wrote: “@Tesco @Asda @Sainsburys do you have any provisions in place for deliveries for people in isolation due to Covid infections between now and Xmas Eve?

Customers who are having to self isolate are struggling to book a pre-Christmas delivery slot

“Or are all delivery slots closed? Late request in the day and month I know.”

Sophie said: “The worst part about isolating for 10 days during December is that there are NO food delivery slots until 5th of Jan.”

Another customer said: “@sainsburys we have just found out we are Covid positive and need to isolate over Xmas. We have no one to help with food drop off.

“There are no online delivery slots. Are you able to help us get some sort of delivery before Christmas day?”

Ryan said: “@Tesco there are no delivery slots available and I’m having to isolate are there any options available?”

Anyone who tests positive for coronavirus must self-isolate for 10 days, according to NHS guidelines.

It means anyone who has to isolate from today won’t be able to leave their home – even to go to the supermarket – until December 27.

Many others are currently self-isolating ahead of seeing family and friends over the festive season when lockdown restrictions are eased.

Here’s how to cut the cost of your grocery shop

SAVING on your shop can make a big difference to your wallet. Here are some tips from Money.co.uk about how you can cut the cost of your shopping bills:

Write yourself a list – Only buy items that you need. If it isn’t on your list, don’t put it in the trolley
Create a budget – Work out a weekly budget for your food shopping
Never shop hungry – you are far more likely to buy more food if your tummy is rumbling
Don’t buy pre-chopped veggies or fruit – The extra they’ll charge for chopping can be eye watering
Use social media – follow your favourite retailers to find out about the latest deals
Be disloyal – You may want to go to different stores to find the best bargains
Check the small print – It’s always worth checking the price per kg/lb/litre when comparing offers so you’re making a like for like decision as a bigger box won’t necessarily mean you get more
Use your loyalty cards – Don’t be afraid to sign up to them all. They all work slightly differently – work out what bonus suits you better and remember to trade in your points for additional rewards

Up to three households will be able to form a “Christmas bubble” and meet between 23 and 27 December.

When The Sun checked Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons for pre-Christmas deliveries at a London postcode, we found they were all fully booked.

Sainsbury’s told The Sun that some slots were still available but it was dealing with “unprecedented demand”.

Asda added that slots were “few and far between” while Morrisons said slots are “limited”, according to the MailOnline.

On social media, Tesco apologised to customers saying slots were “fully booked”.

Shoppers are still able to book click and collect orders in some areas although you shouldn’t use this service if you are self-isolating.

If you are having to stay at home and you can’t book a slot, you should ask a friend or family member to do your shopping for you and drop it at your door.

The Sun has contacted Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and Tesco for comment.

Tesco has more than doubled the number of delivery slots available since the coronavirus lockdown – it now has 1.5million delivery slots a week compared to 600,000.

Meanwhile, Sainsbury’s has doubled it’s delivery capacity from 340,000 a week in March to 660,000 now.

Ocado struggled to keep up with demand in the first month of lockdown.

People ‘walking the wrong way in supermarkets’ and acting ‘selfishly’ to blame for rising Covid cases, Wales’ Mark Drakeford claims

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk