[UPDATED] Tesco DELIVERS (tesco.com)

Member Name: Jpdm

Product:	tesco.com
Date:	04/11/01 (2750 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: see review

Disadvantages: see review

[UPDATED - see end of op]

I have to say that I do enjoy a visit at my local supermarket whenever I have the time to pickup my groceries and just to add to my daily exercise. As it is quite close, you see, I go on foot.

Unfortunately, after a recent change to my working schedule, it seems that I did not have any time to go shopping. Really, the only time I end up being at home is quite a while after the closing time of the nearby store. It was therefore with great satisfaction that I learned I could have my groceries delivered to my door step.

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Is your house within the delivery area serviced by Tesco?

In order for anyone interested to check if the delivery service is available in their area, they can do that at the tesco.com website. Just enter your postcode and after registration you can order on-line given your areas is serviceable by Tesco.

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Finding and ordering your groceries

After logging in the on-line store the user interface is quite easy to figure out. On the left you can check the general category you?re after (i.e. baker, magazines). If you cannot find what you want exactly, it is possible to search for it using the appropriate box provided. This is particularly helpful as several things are not quite where you would expect them to be categorised.
Having found what you?re after, selecting it is very much a simple process of clicking on the plus (+) or minus (-) signs at the right of the product to add or subtract a product respectively. What I found very useful are two options that are available for each separate product. First of all, provided there is an ?options? button available, the user can click on a product in order to view its details whether these are its picture or its ingredients. Secondly, the user has the opportunity to write a small note/reminder for the person that actually puts together the order for him! As far as this is concerned

I would adv
ise you to keep it short. If you?re in doubt if what you?ve written fits, amend your order and go back to preview it. Click the yellow paper (reminder note) at the left of the product you want and what you?ve written should be still there. If it is not, try to shorten the note. Unfortunately, what you can write is limited to some 20 odd characters, which is not much to write a comment in. So try to remember the way you write your text messages!

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Placing your order

After you are happy with your order just click the checkout button. You are then presented with a page that shows your final bill including the service charge of £5. Payment is acceptable using your Visa/MasterCard credit card. Having done that, you are the presented with a weekly timetable of all the delivery 2 hour slots showing which of them is still available. Note that deliveries are not done on weekends. Another interesting feature is that you can have your groceries delivered at a friend/neighbour, as long you have arranged it with them! :-)

Of course your order qualifies for your loyalty card poitns with the TESCO CLUBCARD.

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Tesco.com home delivery experience

My overall experience was very positive. The delivery van was about an hour and a half late after the end of the 2 hour slot. However, I got a call about 20 minutes before the end of the 2 hours that advised me of the delay and gave me a new estimate as to when I would have my delivery done. Most of us cannot just wait for long, I was in my lunch break, so I decided to arrange for a next day delivery slot. Well done Tesco for providing us with this!

The next day the delivery done in the first half hour of the selected slot! The delivery man was very polite and I got a list with my order prior to having the goods brought. The list has the receipt and a print-out of all your goods. Note that some products that we
re
<
br>not available were clearly shown and that in some cases, where a similar product has been selected, you can simply choose to return it if it not to your liking.

All of the goods were put very tactfully in the bags according to which section of the store they came from.

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Final thought

I would positively recommend the home delivery of Tesco to everyone. There are though some thoughts I have to put down.

1) Two of the ordered products that were shown as delivered were indeed not. Unfortunately, I was not aware of that at the time of the delivery (how could I?). I left it uncommented , though on second thought, I will be writing to Tesco about it.

2) It is much easier to decide purchasing something on-line without actually wanting/needing it. So you better have a shopping list prepared before you go on-line.

3) On first try out, it takes quite a while for you to complete your order. However, a very useful feature is present at Tesco.com. Your favorite products list. It is found at the left frame of the on-line store central page. Admit it, it is more likely you will buy something already tried out previously than something completely new. Oh well, most of times...

4) While doing a short visit to my local store, prior to using the home delivery service, I noticed an offer of having your first home delivery for free making it quite an incentive. Again this was not the case as far as I am concerned.

To sum things up, the Tesco home delivery gets the tick from me. Nonetheless, it is in no way faultless. Small details need still to be taken care of.

AND PLEASE TESCO TRY TO USE LESS PLASTIC BAGS NEXT TIME!...

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[21/10/02]

Lately I have not been receiving all of the items I order. I guess Tesco's site is not 100% up-to-date...

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