More Supermarket Craziness

Dearknees1

I use Ocado and rarely get substitutions. When I do they’re sensible, I’m told in advance and therefore am ready to reject. Customer service is excellent. Very quick refund for damaged or incorrect items. Packing is less impressive. There’s always at least one really light bag containing one item and one bag overfilled with heavy items. It doesn’t matter how much you complain nothing changes. Nevertheless other people’s experiences convince me to stick to Ocado.

Tesco tell you in advance ....they also tell you if something has a short date

My daughter ordered a pack of 4 nailbrushes, she works with horses, and they sent her a ball of string. We can't actually blame the pickers though as it's the tech that chooses. It's a bit like if you search for a clothes rack on Amazon, it will bring up every type of rack ever invented, or if you change it to clothes horse then they show everything relating to or picturing a horse.

Sainsbury's also automatically refund. They also refund on the doorstep if something is a bit squashed or the lid has leaked. Leaky lids are more common now they use those daft 'ecologically friendly' peel back ones on yoghurt, and the white ones on milk. I haven't paid for milk for ages, as they always seem to drip. If they drip onto something else the driver usually refunds that, too - even if it's in a box.

The substitutions can make you aware of price differences though. I was restocking the medicine cabinet, and ordered own-brand 'Imodium', which was out of stock and replaced with the branded stuff. Sainsbo's one was £1 for 6 tabs, and the branded one was nearly £7 for 12.

After I retired I went to work part time at asda. The girls who pick and pack the orders use an electronic scanner which suggests substitutions when something isn't available.
They keep us amused in the canteen by relating the hilarious ideas the scanner comes up with as suitable replacements.
I imagine by the end of their shift when they're tired and not concentrating they don't take the trouble to check to see if what they've picked makes sense.
You've shown us some real humdingers though, and although its good to laugh its infuriating if you need the item for a recipe or meal.

sodapop

My husband thinks the warehouse staff are having a competition to see who can come up with the most unlikely substitute.

That's probably nearer to the truth than you think. 😁😁😁

Thanks for all the replies, some made me laugh, some made me cringe !
I know it's the forfeit for not picking your own stuff instore, but sometimes it's just too bizarre and surely a computerised system can tell that disinfectant isn't chocolate !!!

I'm vegetarian and I can remember being really annoyed a few years ago when they kept sending real meat instead of veggie burgers !

The worst thing ever in online shopping was a New Year's eve, Tesco were booked to deliver to me with all the tasty bits we needed for a family party night. The driver never came and when I phoned them, they said he had rung the bell and no one had answered, which was a complete lie because we had a door camera. I was fuming, luckily there was still time to grab what I could from local shops but there ended my relationship with Tesco !!

My son delivers for Tesco and rarely seems to have complaints about substitutions. He did have a customer yesterday who wasn't happy when she found chicken poo on one of her eggs.

At least that shows they were from actual chickens, I suppose.

WRT my Imodium post, they do charge for the cheaper item if they substitute a more expensive one, in case anyone is wondering. Well, they send a voucher for the difference, anyway.

My daughter thought she had ordered a pack of Brussel’s sprouts. She received one sprout in a large bag.

The pickers are on time limit, so they just pick up the one at the front.
It is a nightmare getting around to do your own shopping these days - have to watch my toes as they pick and push in.

FranP

The pickers are on time limit, so they just pick up the one at the front.
It is a nightmare getting around to do your own shopping these days - have to watch my toes as they pick and push in.

Occasionally I've had an item or two right on date and have had the price refunded but mostly the dates are fine.

Doodledog

At least that shows they were from actual chickens, I suppose.

WRT my Imodium post, they do charge for the cheaper item if they substitute a more expensive one, in case anyone is wondering. Well, they send a voucher for the difference, anyway.

Ha ha that's like complaining there are seeds in the tomatoes !

I ordered sheets for my son who was moving away from home, I ordered a fitted and a matching flat sheet but they substituted the flat for another fitted one. No amount of me explaining that I couldn’t put two fitted sheets on the bed would work, that was Asda !!

When I had a cat, I ordered cat tray litter liners, but what was sent was a packet of sanitary towels.

This week I ordered a pack of six salt and vinegar crisps. What arrived were six packs, 36 packets of crisps so I will not have to order for many months, if I am still eating them.