OT: Ocada fail

To refresh my memory I just went to their website.

The opening page starts with (in very large print which nigh-on fills my display) "Start shopping the ridiculously easy way" and large button labelled "Book a Delivery".

That the takes you to a "Log In or Register" page. Assuming you don't already have an account with them, the "Register" process would take your address details.

You certainly _could_ evade that, and go straight on to browsing the items for sale, but - especially if you had previously found they don't operate in your area - I'm not sure why you would choose that route.

I certainly have a few complaints about how Odcado's system operates, but I can't go along with you on this one.

My first attempt to use them was back in 2022. The website has probably been updated since then.

Does entering your address in that first stage automatically tell you that they don't deliver to your Postcode? On my attempt recently, I deliberately went to the Postcode check first, but that was because of the 2022 debacle.

That I cannot tell, since they evidently _do_ deliver to my area.

If you had first attempted to book a delivery, as the website suggests you do, then you would have found out that there were no delivery slots available for your address.

It doesn't seem to be an appalling failure that the website allowed you to bypass that and browse the site.

Ocado can apparently reach nearly three quarters of UK households. They have no obligation to reach 100%, do they?

I won't buy anything on line if they won't tell me the cost of delivery before I enter my personal details. A lot of web sites will only tell you as a last resort. Probably means I wouldn't have bought from them anyway but they have effectively removed themselves from being considered.

In message <vj164p$30jrq$ snipped-for-privacy@dont-email.me, at 09:56:41 on Sat, 7 Dec

I had this problem in Dorking last month. Not exactly somewhere in the back of beyond. Trying to book an Uber it said "we can't pick you up from where you are" (which is probably because it was a narrow one-way back street). So I walked to the High Street and tried again.

This time it accepted the task, and said "we are trying to find you a driver..." and 15 minutes later, after about a dozen "hold on, we are almost ready" was still "we are trying to find you a driver..."

So I gave up and used a conventional cab firm.

But did it suggest that back in June 2022 ? As far as I remember, I went through whatever process it led me through at the time. They have had 2 1/2 years to extend their range, when they suggested in

I've not used Ocado a lot, just taking over from my wife who has used it for many years before becoming too ill, but as I found it the first thing you do is book a slot, and that process tells you the cost of the possible delivery times, which varies from zero upwards depending on the time and availability.

Then you fill the basket.

Then you check out.

Then, up until a certain time usually the day before, you can add stuff and update the check out.

Then it (usually) turns up at the set time.

nib

In message snipped-for-privacy@mid.individual.net>, at 12:54:07 on Sat, 7 Dec

It's much the same with Tesco. Amazon not so much. I needed something earlier today, and despite having a paid-for Prime account, the earliest delivery they quoted was Tuesday (not Sunday) and no option to pick a specific slot.

So I tried Screwfix, and they said "not in stock".

Morrisons, who use the Ocado IT system but fulfill from their own stores, will also change the stock shown to you based on your location and delivery/collection time. eg if you select one tomorrow then some items will be out of stock, but if you select one next week they might not be. Which is another reason why they need a slot selected in advance of shopping.

Theo

Everything at Amazon has a last-orders time, and not everything has next day delivery (some of it comes from distant warehouses, eg in the EU). If you miss last-orders (usually about 11pm for me, but it varies based on your location - can be ~5pm in some places) then it'll bump the delivery one day later.

I don't buy much from SF because they say 'available for collection' and then when you click through it turns out to be 'for collection tomorrow', when the only reason I go there is because I want it today. Toolstation gets a lot more business from me because when they say 'for collection' they actually mean on the shelf in the branch. Other items are clearly labelled as 'next day collection'. It would be nice to be able to filter items based on their stock status though.

Theo

In message <pco* snipped-for-privacy@news.chiark.greenend.org.uk>, at 13:20:59 on Sat,

I was trying at about 10am, and "one day later" would be Monday, not Tuesday.

Exactly. And Argos are going down the same route.

Yes, and the thing I wanted, they said was out of stock.

Yes.

My complaint about Amazon is that they often deliver earlier than they forecast. In the early hours of Tuesday morning the "Echo Show" that lives on my desk still told me to expect a delivery "Tomorrow" (i.e. Wednesday). It arrived a 1PM on Tuesday.

Do you feel, somehow, entitled to Ocado deliveries? So, you've been wronged?

Their commercials were telling me how good a service they provided. They lied, they could not provide me with any kind of service. The adverts. did not even mention that some areas had no deliveries at all.

Like Nationwide claiming that they are giving back money to their members, when in fact, they are only giving money back to members who bank with them.

Members who just have savings accounts are disregarded

Perhaaps you need counselling. Such events can be truly traumatic

Well, welcome to the RealWorld™ Man up and grow a pair

TV adverts should not be taken at face value anyway ,just treated as a guide or starting point, it still surprises me that some purveyors of what is usually low quality tat think sticking the slogan “As seen on TV” on the packaging or a shop counter display is somehow an endorsement of its desirability and effectiveness .

GH