Actually this post would never happen without my best friend. She is working full time in amultinational organisation where hours are not 9-5. Her husband is a successful businessman leading an incredible socially responsible e-learning business. They have busy social lives and they struggle to cook healthy food from scratch when they reach home after a refreshing day at the office. Sounds similar to most of us, right? She actually asked me for a detailed guide of online grocery shopping providers and some information on how I manage to cook every evening on top of preparing our lunch boxes for the next day. Not sure about "detailed" but here is a quick overview of online grocery shopping.
Well I actually assume that the majority of full-time working Londoners shop for groceries online. I have been doing it for the last 4 years without a fail. Online shopping saves me time, money, products are always fresh, if an item is missing it takes me 2 minutes to buy it at our local Waitrose. People who have funny arguments against online shopping (something like fruits will not be fresh or I relax spending my Saturday lunchtime at the queue) can carry on spending their lives and weekends at overcrowded supermarkets and then pleasantly work out carrying those plastic bags.
We tried quite of a few of online grocery providers, most supermarket long enough, to form a more or less objective opinion. Supermarkets develop and improve their shopping websites constantly which is great. So far I am ready to talk about Ocado, Sainsubry's, Tesco, Asda and Waitrose.
1. Sainsubry's
2. Ocado
3. Waitrose
4. Asda
5. Tesco
2. Ocado
3. Waitrose
4. Asda
5. Tesco
Website: the website improved a lot actually, now it is more user friendly, easier to navigate and you have more options to sort your products according to reviews ect. Reviews, however, are still not available on all products.
Mobile/tablet: Mobile app is bad, ipad app is non-existent.
Couple of years ago it was very easy to register at Sainsbury's website, very easy to select a slot. The website was simple and intuitive. It actually improved now and became even easier in my opinions. Shoppes get a very generous time to shop while the slot is being reserved for them. It is great in comparison with the others meaning you can take a break and do something else while shopping online for groceries (I rarely do that but sometimes it is necessary).
Time slot: one hour and 99% of the time the driver is on time. Until two years ago Sainsubry's gave 10£ vouchers for being late but they stopped it :( However they are rarely late as i mentioned. Currently slots are available 3 weeks ahead. Also most of the time slots are available for tomorrow but I would not recommend to shop for tomorrow as you might 1. Not get the time you want 2. You need to plan your grocery shopping a couple of days in advance.
Also the driver can contact you directly which is very important! It is fairly difficult to contact Sainsbury's support in comparison with Ocado.
Delivery cost: is relatively high - from 3,50£ to 5,50£ unless you shop from Tue to Thu and your order exceeds 100£.
Substitutes: Sainsubry's weakest point. You can opt out of substitutes which we did. Substitutes are usually crazy with all the providers besides Ocado. Sainsbury's constantly misses something.
Exp date: if the expiry date is close then the product is packed in a blue bag and you can decide on a spot whether you want to keep it or want a refund. Easy!
Packing: 99% of the time groceries are packed nicely! it is very rare that eggs are broken and usually drivers at Sainsbury's check them with you which is very different from the other supermarkets.
Additional features: Sainsbury's has got a wonderful meal planners. They are not that straightforward but still very useful. I tested them for a while prior to establishing some rules that one needs with this meal plans. Plus we just had a delivery and Sainsbury's are looking for more drivers which - hopefully - means more slots are available.
Additional features: Sainsbury's has got a wonderful meal planners. They are not that straightforward but still very useful. I tested them for a while prior to establishing some rules that one needs with this meal plans. Plus we just had a delivery and Sainsbury's are looking for more drivers which - hopefully - means more slots are available.
All in all: Drivers at Sainsbury's are very friendly and efficient. Due to the delivery time availability, quality, variety and product prices this is a well-rounded choice for us so far.
Website: Superior! It looks good, very easy to navigate and shop, fantastic feature with reviews where almost all products have got customers reviews (one may argue reviews are not necessary as products change throughout the year).
Mobile/tablet: fantastic mobile and ipad app. I guess that is why their average basket is so pricey - they spend lots of money on technology while it would be beneficial for them to improve their food quality.
Delivery cost: Can be anything from 0 to 6 pounds depending on your order price and time. Smart pass is available but we never used it as it suits Ocado fans only.
Substitutes: Ocado is the winner in this. We never had a grocery substitute with this provider.
Exp date: Never close to expiry, always fresh.
Packing: Decent, bags are massive and have different color according to the type of food that is in it - fridge, freezer, cupboard etc
Additional features: Receipt is arranged according to your product expiry dates which is very useful as you will not waste food and make Jamie Oliver happy. Ocado also has promotion for first-time shopper ranging from £10 to £20.
All in all: We have been using Ocado for a long time because they always, always have a time slot available as late or as early as we need and their website and customer service are fantastic. However Ocado is not my favorite for a very important reason: food quality. Their bakery, fruits and vegetables are of a lower standard and much pricier than Sainsbury's, Waitrose or Asda. Similar food basket will be more expensive in Ocado in comparison with Sainsburys with less food quantity. Unacceptable. We had enough and now I use Ocado in case of emergency if I, say, need a lot of food for tomorrow and no one else has a time slot available.
Substitutes: Ocado is the winner in this. We never had a grocery substitute with this provider.
Exp date: Never close to expiry, always fresh.
Packing: Decent, bags are massive and have different color according to the type of food that is in it - fridge, freezer, cupboard etc
Additional features: Receipt is arranged according to your product expiry dates which is very useful as you will not waste food and make Jamie Oliver happy. Ocado also has promotion for first-time shopper ranging from £10 to £20.
All in all: We have been using Ocado for a long time because they always, always have a time slot available as late or as early as we need and their website and customer service are fantastic. However Ocado is not my favorite for a very important reason: food quality. Their bakery, fruits and vegetables are of a lower standard and much pricier than Sainsbury's, Waitrose or Asda. Similar food basket will be more expensive in Ocado in comparison with Sainsburys with less food quantity. Unacceptable. We had enough and now I use Ocado in case of emergency if I, say, need a lot of food for tomorrow and no one else has a time slot available.
Waitrose
Website: fairly simple and user-friendly, easy to shop. Waitrose improved its website too. Very easy to register.
Mobile/tablet: Better than Sainsbury's, worse than Ocado.
Time slot: Waitrose improved a lot in my opinion - time slots are now easily available and reserved for 2 hours for you while you shop. However drivers are still late and they never call - not allowed to call customers directly hence you have no idea what's going on. Bad.
Mobile/tablet: Better than Sainsbury's, worse than Ocado.
Time slot: Waitrose improved a lot in my opinion - time slots are now easily available and reserved for 2 hours for you while you shop. However drivers are still late and they never call - not allowed to call customers directly hence you have no idea what's going on. Bad.
Delivery cost: Free with a minimum order being £60. I never shop below that minimum.
Substitutes: Rarely but happens. Agains something between Sainsbury's and Ocado.
Exp date: The best option for fresh products for sure.
Packing: Average.
Additional features: Promotions for first-time shoppers available.
All in all: Food quality and variety in Waitrose are superb however it comes with a price tag. Would order at Waitrose more often if their driver deliver my groceries on time.
Substitutes: Rarely but happens. Agains something between Sainsbury's and Ocado.
Exp date: The best option for fresh products for sure.
Packing: Average.
Additional features: Promotions for first-time shoppers available.
All in all: Food quality and variety in Waitrose are superb however it comes with a price tag. Would order at Waitrose more often if their driver deliver my groceries on time.
Asda
Website: average.
Mobile/tablet: It is heavily criticised and reviewed badly however I find their mobile app manageable.
Time slot: 2 hours... So it is only a weekend option and still it is too much, believe me. Drivers arrive on time however but it is difficult to miss 2 hour slot.
Mobile/tablet: It is heavily criticised and reviewed badly however I find their mobile app manageable.
Time slot: 2 hours... So it is only a weekend option and still it is too much, believe me. Drivers arrive on time however but it is difficult to miss 2 hour slot.
Delivery cost: Expensive for 2 hour slot. Ranging from £1 to £5. Asda also offers delivery pass, currently discounted.
Substitutes: Disaster. Asda is the worse when it comes to substitution. I wonder whether they substitute on purpose despite all their claims.
Exp date: Very good and if a product expiry date is close the driver make sure you are aware of that. You can refuse to accept such product.
Packing: Random. You never know where your washing powder may end up (can be next to your bread). Doesn't bother me as we never know how supermarkets operate before we see their shelves. Or at least I don't know and don't think highly of them.
Additional features: Drivers are careless and not particularly polite. One guy smashed 12 (!) eggs and was pressing us to accept them and throw them ourselves.
All in all: Food choices are limited however fruits are good. Asda also has got a particular mix of mushrooms we like hence I occasionally give them a go.
Substitutes: Disaster. Asda is the worse when it comes to substitution. I wonder whether they substitute on purpose despite all their claims.
Exp date: Very good and if a product expiry date is close the driver make sure you are aware of that. You can refuse to accept such product.
Packing: Random. You never know where your washing powder may end up (can be next to your bread). Doesn't bother me as we never know how supermarkets operate before we see their shelves. Or at least I don't know and don't think highly of them.
Additional features: Drivers are careless and not particularly polite. One guy smashed 12 (!) eggs and was pressing us to accept them and throw them ourselves.
All in all: Food choices are limited however fruits are good. Asda also has got a particular mix of mushrooms we like hence I occasionally give them a go.
Tesco
Website: not too bad.
Mobile/tablet: manageable.
Mobile/tablet: manageable.
All in all: basically I had terrible experience with Tesco. I have heard that their drivers are the worse but this incident was a disaster. The driver refused to deliver products to our flat (1st floor) as he was arguing he is only responsible to deliver it to the main entrance. The driver started to shout, became offensive and took or products back to the van. When I tried to grab the products and told him to leave them he pushed me and I fell. When I called their support a person without a command in English language did not even understand what happened. The investigated was going on for months. I figured out that in London it was relatively normal to get this problems with Tesco. Taking into account the fact that products quality in Tesco is the worse in the UK I am not sad that this provide is not for me.
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