FURIOUS Tesco shoppers have complained after being forced to “wait for hours” in a virtual queue to secure a Christmas delivery slot.
The supermarket opened its bookings system to all customers at 7am this morning after delivery saver scheme members were given priority access on November 13.
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Tesco said there has been an “unprecedented demand” this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Yesterday, the supermarket was already warning the Christmas slots has almost sold out – a day before they were released to all shoppers.
It comes after the saver scheme customers were already left frustrated after having to wait hours to secure their slots last week.
The supermarket’s website says it now has “very few slots left” for deliveries on the peak dates of December 20-24 so non-priority customers are facing intense competition online.
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Supermarket Christmas delivery slots
HERE’S when you can start booking an online delivery slot at each supermarket:
Tesco: Already open
Asda: Already open
Morrisons: Not revealed yet
Sainsbury’s:
- For delivery on 20 December, slots can be booked from 29 November
- For delivery on 21 December, slots can be booked from 30 November
- For delivery on 22 December, slots can be booked from 1 December
- For delivery on 23 December, slots can be booked from 2 December
Iceland: Business as usual with delivery slots released six days in advance so keep an eye out from December 14 to bag a slot for December 20
Waitrose: Already open
Ocado (including M&S): Sold out
Despite making more than a million delivery slots a week available, Tesco has said there are not enough for everyone.
Angry shoppers took to Twitter this morning to say they had been waiting online for hours to secure their slot, with some comparing the process to buying tickets for Glastonbury.
Others said that most slots had already been booked up and they were unable to select the time and date they wanted.
One customer said: “@Tesco really disappointed with Tesco’s .. after being a delivery customer for over 5 years and waking up at 7am last week and again today, I was still unable to get a delivery slot.”
Another wrote: “Queuing on @Tesco website from 7am for a delivery slot for our #Christmas food shop.
“We have access to priory slots due to #shielding however there was nothing available after 19th but Christmas food not available till 20th. Guess it’s beans on toast for Christmas Dinner then.”
A third wrote: “@Tesco How is it that my mum has been online waiting for a xmas delivery slot since 6am & is still in the waiting room.”
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One joked: “@Trying to get a Christmas @Tesco delivery slot this morning was like trying to get a @glastonbury ticket “You are in a queue and this page will automatically refresh”.”
Others complained that they were having technical issues when trying to book.
One customer tweeted: “@Tesco selected Christmas delivery slot for a disabled person and nothing is happening….your page isn’t doing anything. Not impressed”
Another said: “@Tesco what is going on I keep going to book a slot for delivery and its kicking me out when the dates come up.”
Supermarkets have been put under increasing pressure to meet demand since the coronavirus crisis hit and in the lead up to the already busy Christmas period.
The pandemic has seen a surge in households relying on online shopping and retailers have hired thousands of seasonal workers to try and keep up.
Shoppers have also been warned by retail experts that they should shop early because of the combination of Christmas and the second lockdown, or risk delivery chaos.
A Tesco spokesperson said that the queues were down to “unprecedented demand”.
They told The Sun: “While we have significantly more slots this Christmas than ever before, we apologise to those customers who weren’t able to secure one on the day of their choice.”
The supermarket is advising customers who are still planning their festive shop to look at availability earlier in December and use the Click+Collect service.
The spokesman also urged people to shop in store where possible “in order to free up slots for those who need them most”.
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Christmas delivery slots from supermarkets are in high demand every year and often sell out, even when there’s not a pandemic.
Ocado has already filled up its slots this year while other supermarkets will make them available closer to the day,
Sainsbury’s is planning to release its slots staggered over several days between November 29 and December 2, while Morrisons has not revealed a schedule.
Tesco’s cheeky Christmas ad 2020 says none of us are on the naughty list this year
