Christmas online food delivery chaos as self-isolating shoppers are told orders won’t arrive until AFTER December 25 and others receive deliveries with NO turkey
- Shoppers are scrolling through slot times but finding they are fully booked
- People self-isolating are wondering how they are now going to source food
- Asda and Morrisons both confirmed to MailOnline slots are limited before 25th
A scarcity of online delivery slots risks sending scores of Christmas dinner plans up in smoke.
Shoppers are desperately scrolling through slot times but finding they are fully booked or will not arrive until after December 25.
The festive rush has also left people who are self-isolating wondering how they are going to source food, while others choosing to avoid public places before meeting elderly relatives are now having to weigh up going to shops.
The last-minute dash appears to have resulted in shortages – which left one Tesco customer furious when her delivery arrived with no turkey.
Posting a photo of her order, she fumed on Twitter: ‘Just received my online delivery (last slot available before Christmas) and one product was not available with “no appropriate substitution available”.
‘Only the turkey!!! Really?! On 17 December no alternative turkey you could send? Beyond disappointed.’
The scramble for food appears to have resulted in shortages – which left one Tesco customer furious when her delivery arrived with no turkey
Shoppers are desperately scrolling through slot times but finding they are fully booked or will not arrive until after December 25. An Asda in London is completely booked for deliveries
People took to social media to vent their frustration at not being able to clinch a booking
Tesco did not immediately respond to a request to comment, but rival supermarkets admitted there were few delivery slots in the run-up to Christmas.
An Asda spokesperson confirmed to MailOnline that delivery slots were ‘few and far between’ and that, because their lorries are not dispatched on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, Wednesday would be the cut-off to get a booking.
A Morrisons spokesperson said: ‘At the moment there’s limited slots available online at Morrisons.com.’
People took to social media to vent their frustration at not being able to get a booking.
Ryan Peach tweeted Tesco, saying: ‘There are no delivery slots available and I’m having to isolate are there any options available?’
Karen from Tesco responded: ‘Hi Ryan. I’m sorry that you are struggling to get a slot. I’m afraid that as these are fully booked, I’m unable to assign you a slot or make a slot available for you.’
Mr Peach was left deeply unimpressed: ‘That’s a shame. You would think when you can’t leave the house that Tesco would be able to organise a slot!’
Another person wrote: ‘I have to go to Asda and gosh I’m worries it’s going to be busy and no social distancing. But I need to get food and there’s no delivery slots online.’
Another said sarcastically: ‘Well done Sainsbury’s – not a single slot available until December 28. You are bloody useless!’
Industry sources hit back and questioned why people have left bookings until the week before Christmas.
Boris Johnson has relaxed coronavirus restrictions so that three households in England can mix from between December 23-37.
The temporary easing of curbs has put family gettogethers back on the menu – along with traditional Christmas dinners.
The Prime Minister advised anyone seeing vulnerable relatives to self-isolate beforehand, which has led some to shun supermarkets and place orders online.
As a result, online delivery slots have been snapped up and left many unable to book an order that will arrive in time.
Sainsbury’s was also approached for comment.