Theoretically a great online store but some problems in application (tesco.com)

Member Name: SugarSpun

Product:	tesco.com
Date:	09/09/09 (29 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Convenience

Disadvantages: Manky veg because you don't get to choose your own

The concept of online grocery shopping is sheer genius. Having your food picked out and delivered by someone else, thus saving you the time and effort of wrangling the ravening hordes at Tesco and carrying the food you buy home with you? A wonderful idea.

Tesco's site is reasonably easy to navigate and is extremely logical, with things laid out in the same categories they'd be found in in-store. Delivery does cost, but it's variable depending on the popularity of the slot you choose and there are frequent discount codes available. You can also register your Clubcard for online purchases so you don't miss out. The option to add notes beside items means that, should something be out of stock or if you need a particular size of vegetable, you can tell the picker about it and theoretically everything should be ok.

The only problem is that not all the people who organise your shopping are any good at doing grocery shopping. I assume that Tesco isn't telling their staff to choose the mankiest-looking veg, the closest-dated meat and the most dented tins, so the only explanation is that this is the fault of the people doing the shopping. Inexplicable substitutions are another personal bugbear of mine - having been sent Value orange squash instead of pure organic orange juice, and shoelaces instead of tampons, both in the same order I'm leery of allowing substitutions at all. If Tesco's shoppers could be trusted to be logical and not to palm off the least likely sellers on the customer who's, after all, spending money for the privilege of not seeing the veg before buying it, this service would be perfect.

Summary: Could be better but still a great resource.