Greedy Supermarket Charges

I bought a delivery pass from Asda at the beginning of lockdown, so i don't pay any extra whenever it's delivered. The sell by dates are reasonable, but the substitutes take a lot of imagination!! There's usually at least one item we just don't get

Good Luck

Annie People who have not got to worry about increases in the their monthly outgoings are very fortunate.
If the OP signed up for Delivery Saver she wouldn’t have an increase in her outgoings, but she has rejected that idea.
I looked at the Tesco website & in fact, it is not an across the board 125% increase.
The cost of the more expensive slots is coming down.
Here is Tesco’s explanation, from The Grocer magazine:
Demand for slots remains extremely high at all times of the week, so we are moving to a simpler pricing structure with a flat rate that better reflects the cost of picking, packing and delivering orders,” said a Tesco spokeswoman. “This structure is fairer for everyone and means no customers will have to pay the highest slot price – which is currently £7 – as a result of demand. Customers who have signed up for our Delivery Saver subscription service will continue to benefit from free deliveries and collections as part of their plan.”

What they are saying is that because there is big demand for all slots, the customers using the more expensive ones are effectively subsidising the customers using the cheaper ones, and they’re trying to be fair to everyone.

Seems fair to me.

I agree Dee. I’m in the NE too and although I used to do most of my shopping at Waitrose, despite hours of trying, I’ve never been able to get a slot, and still can’t . Using their Click & Collect would have meant a 30 mile round trip, because the local branch doesn’t provide it. And yet DD who lives in Staffordshire has had no problem getting a slot.
We couldn’t even register with Sainsbury’s or Tesco.

Morrisons and Asda though have been very good.

Sashabel yes I agree a 125 % rise is greedy. The supermarkets have all seen a increase in sales. I am sure people would complain if Tesco increased the goods in the shop by the same percentage people would think they were greedy.
You were not commenting on the cost/value of deliveries just the increase.
People who have not got to worry about increases in the their monthly outgoings are very fortunate.

I find the different comments about people's experiences fascinating and I wonder if they tie in with location at all?

My experiences with Sainsburys were dreadful ie dog food substitution was toilet cleaner and half of the items had a use by date within 48 hrs.
Iceland - about half of the order arrived.

Tesco...I have a delivery saver, I get items with excellent dates, virtually no substitution and I find it reasonable, price wise.

I'm in the North East.

I have no health problems, at almost 81, and look forward to my food shopping trips. It’s almost like a social activity, these days, and I can buy exactly what I want, not what the shop decides to send me.
I haven’t bothered with deliveries at all. I just choose a quiet time of day, and amble around the shop keeping my distance from others. Occasionally I run into someone I know, or even a friendly stranger, and have a nice, distanced chat.
I know that some of you have health or mobility problems, or live some distance from the shops, but.......as they say....you should get out more - if you can. Fear of being infected is turning many people into agoraphobics and recluses. My mental health is as important to me as my physical health. I need human contact. Being closed off from the world for months on end is not good for anyone.
As for the delivery price increase. I think that they will regret it, as people will move to more reasonable suppliers.

I have had Tesco deliveries during the lockdown but now have been doing click and collect. At first it was 50p pick and pack but this was never added to the bill. Now I notice it is £1.50. It is worth it to me not to have to go into the shop. I've been very happy with the service from Tesco.

Delivery slots have been hard to get from Tesco and Sainsbury's in my area , so I have resorted to click and collect. No fees and super efficient. Why do people need one every week? We manage on a fortnightly shop, though we do have milk delivery from local dairy. I think I'm helping a local business and farmers by doing this.

I would not use delivery services anyway. I want to choose what I buy not what someone else thinks I want. I had to do it when I broke some bones in my foot some years ago & had to use the service.Despite delvery man being a really lovely man who insisted on carrying it all through to the kitchen for me, I never got on with it. Mind you it was better than sending DH for shopping as we got all the things he fancied & very little of the essential basics - like flour, washing powder etc.

I used to shop regularly with Tesco before lockdown but when we couldn’t get any time slot for our delivery we switched to Asda who have been fantastic (despite having a flaky website).

I think Tesco increasing charges is outrageous when so many people do not feel safe doing supermarket shops. I suspect they want us to go back in the shops because we are more likely to make unplanned purchases.

Personally I can’t stand for long as I have arthritis in my back so wouldn’t be able to go alone to the supermarket and queue up. I used to use my scooter to shop prior to the pandemic and only went shopping with my husband. My husband considers Asda good value because it saves time.

i ALWAYS USED tESCO FOR HOME DELIVERIES, i AM DISABLED AND CANNOT EASILY GET OUT. sINCE THE LOCKDOWN i SWITCHED TO sAINSBURYS BUT HAD MANY ERRORS FROM THEM SO NOW USE mORRISONS, i ALWAYS CHOSE THE CHEAPER SLOTS £1 IF AVAILABLE, I always tip the delivery man. Sorry for CAP lock, couldn't be bothered to delete and retype

Just to say, I am a longstanding Delivery Saver customer with Tesco and think it is a good option to consider. I have the midweek saver option (Tues-Thurs only) and that only costs me about £3.50 a month (not available to new sign ups at the moment unfortunately) but I would be happy to pay the full delivery saver price as it is 15 miles to nearest store of any size. My understanding is that if you don't use it enough to recoup your delivery costs, they will refund the difference, unless this has changed During the first couple of months of the lockdown they suspended delivery saver charges completely so I didn't pay anything. I believe this was in recognition of how difficult it was to get slots and that people were having to take whatever they could. I assumed that the latest change was also to reflect this and make it fairer for everyone, irrespective of when you manage to get a slot - obviously there will be winners and losers. Delivery saver does also give benefit of early access to slots 4 weeks ahead if you can be that organised!

I always have groceries delivered as I dont drive. Like others here it's cheaper for even the most expensive slot than a taxi. It's also a lot less hassle and I've never had any major problems. For years I used Tesco but there were often frequent substitutions which made it tricky if you needed a particular ingredient for a recipe. After that I used Waitrose for a while who were excellent, at that time if something was to close to sell by date either took it back or didnt charge. Since then I've used Sainsburys with no problem. Well until lockdown. Fortunately I had a good store cupboard and friends and family nearby.! I remember at the time thinking if I ran out of something there was always an online shop. I'm high risk but not shielded. Not an online order available anywhere. I know it was a chaotic time but I felt so sorry for all those who had no one to help. Apparently Sainsburys allocated slots initially on age on nectar card! My first online order was Iceland who often seem to have slots available. This may be as although they do the basics in household goods there is simply not the choice of major supermarkets. The quality of what they do sell is excellent. I also managed to secure a slot with Adsa and have done on a regular basis since. I must admit on my last order quality of fruit and veg ok but only just. I'm not surprised delivery charges are going up. Home delivery loses money,which is probably why Aldi and Lidl avoid it. Since the demand increased during the pandemic most supermarkets have had to buy extra vehicles and hire extra staff to do orders/ drive. I dont have any choice but dont begrudge the extra charges. I dont have to traipse around a shop either. On training for moving and handling we were told the easiest way to damage your back was a supermarket shop,especially if use deep trolleys. Just visualising put items in,getting out at till, putting back in trolley,putting in car,getting out of car...!

I've used Tesco deliveries for years and have delivery saver for mid week. I've noticed their delivery charges are more than other shops for a while. Since lockdown I've not been able to get a Tesco delivery anyway so need to stop delivery saver. During lockdown I've had Sainsbury's deliveries most weeks and their charge is lower than Tesco. I sometimes use Iceland and they are very cheap, just have a smaller range.

Our 2 local Tesco stores have both had staff testing positive for Covid this month, so I would be reluctant to shop with them anyway.

What reason are they giving for increasing the delivery charge when there are more people having deliveries? It’s just greedy.

I've just renewed my Tesco mid week deliveries for 6 months using £7 worth of vouchers.

I wouldn’t mind a delivery charge if I’d ever been able to get a slot during lockdown. (Many thanks to all on here for your advice about where and when is best for deliveries)
What I do mind is the increase in prices - 2 identical baskets of shopping from Sainsbury's from February and yesterday have a difference of nearly £11! Made me wish I wasn’t so insistent on making lists and keeping bills!

I don't consider £4:50 unreasonable for delivery, when you consider what is involved. I often pay more than that for Sainsburys.
If I shopped myself, I would have to get a taxi back, which would cost £3:50, plus all the hassle of going round the store gathering my goods.
I have never tipped the driver, though, and they have never behaved as though they expected it.

My husband had his shielding letter, Asda contacted us for free deliveries which we could have weekly but have fortnightly to leave spaces for others and support our local shop with fortnightly deliveries too, it is free over £40 anyway, we have a regular slot allocated until mid-November when it will be reviewed

Have you got space for one monthly shop? You will save on deliveries, and probably get extras like free water, and you will be able to prepare vegetables / cook for the freezer.

Tesco's price cuts are often labelled, 'Aldi price match', janea so they're not distancing themselves, they're competing.

I shop in Aldi, Sainsbury's and Tesco. Tesco is a little bit cheaper than Sainsbury's, who have been very good to us during Lockdown. I won't be deserting either of them because they both have good lines in gluten free products but I missed the big savings on the basics that Aldi offers.

I don't shop on price but I'm not going to pay through the nose either.

Perhaps Tesco is trying to distance itself in the market from Lidl and Aldi.
Maybe it would rather have discerning customers who shop on value and not just on price, and reward those who stay loyal to the brand by using their Delivery Saver scheme.
At £7.99 a month I think that's very good value.

As I said before. This price hike starts on 3rd August. Don't know if its any different for other countries in the UK

Anyone who’s moaning about price increases post-Covid, and supermarket delivery charges, should save their breath till we leave the EU without a deal.
You ain’t seen nothing yet!

Although I'm expecting some price increases I was pleasantly surprised at some of the price slashing in Aldi last week. It was my first venture out post Lockdown.

I would imagine they're trying to entice people back in.

I've always said their Slimline Tonic is just as good as Schweppes and at 37p was a no brainer. This week it was 26p.

Lots of reductions in the meat section as well.