I’d never grocery shopped online until the advent of Covid-19.
Being in the ‘Vulnerable’ age group I needed to have home food deliveries.
That was when I realised this was going to be a marathon. I tried all the large supermarkets who delivered to my area, but all slots were full weeks in advance, some weren’t taking any new registrations.
I followed a link and filled in forms until I discovered this was England only, I live in North Wales, so I had to start again. Wales’s advice was to get friends and relatives to shop for you – not practical.
I tried again a few days later and found a phone number for oldies to ring the Dept of Work and Pensions. I listened to the automated message and inputted my details. Then waited. A week later an automated phone message told me I was now accepted as ‘vulnerable’ by a large supermarket chain and prioritised on their home delivery service. Great!
Then the fun started. I had to order. That was fine until it came to sizes. The enticing photos were a tad deceptive. I ordered a lovely brown seeded loaf, it bore no relation to the skinny, pale specimen that arrived. How big in pounds and ounces is 250g? or even 400g? It’s different when you can actually see the product.
The first delivery was fine, a few strange substitutions, but we managed. Then I tried to book another slot for a week ahead, No chance! I tried all the other supermarkets too and they were either booked up for ever or not being released until some secret time during the day or night. I phoned and was told ‘keep trying.’ I do, frequently.
How I long to be able to do a simple shop again and actually choose items for myself.
