Comments on: Why Ocado failed to deliver

By: Suzie

Suzie — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:23:18 +0000

I have to agree with Jeremy. Ocado do provide a great service. Contrary to Simon’s view I have found that I am supplied with products with a long “sell by” date whereas when buying in store I have frequently dropped my concentration and picked up something that is due to expire the next day. I receive very few substitutions with Ocado and there is always the option to hand them back to the driver and have the amount credited back. I agree with Andrew that it is better if you can see the products before you buy them but that benefit is (to me) far outweighed by the ability to shop from home.

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:40:25 +0000

I’ve tried the online offerings from Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury and Ocado/Waitrose. Ocado was easily the best in terms of a much broader range of products and far less subtitutions. Delivery times are excellent - although I have to say Sainsbury are pretty impressive on that front (sometimes they even deliver early)
My time at the weekend is far too precious to spend wandering around a supermarket, so I’ll continue to shop online (with Ocado for the moment) as I have done for years!

By: Simon

Simon — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 15:40:12 +0000

Re Andrew’s comment @ 12,41, couldn’t agree more. Not only that, the “use-by” dates are invariably very close when the goods are delivered. What am I going to do with a 4 pint bottle of milk that goes off the following morning? Little things - but enough to stop me ordering again!

By: andrew

andrew — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 11:41:00 +0000

Well I’ve tried both online shopping and ’scan and shop in store’. Of the two I find the latter more convenient. So I don’t see where the growth comes from. Some time in the future, when you can tour a 3D version of your local store and see what is on the shelves, can guarantee that what you have selected (exact brand, size, price- no substitutions or missing product) arrives, and arrives within, say an hour, then I might be tempted to try again, but I suspect my preference for seeing what is available before i buy (so much fruit is rubbish when you look closely at it, and i like to select my cut of meat) will be an issue even then.