Waitrose home delivery and click and collect – when are slots released online?
DEMAND for home grocery delivery is at an all time high after the outbreak of coronavirus resulted in the government imposing a lockdown on Brits.
Waitrose is one of the supermarkets committed to providing home delivery and click and collect services during the lockdown. Here's everything we know.
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Does Waitrose do home delivery and click and collect?
Waitrose offers home delivery to customers who spend £60 or more and click and collect.
But there were no slots available for either when The Sun attempted to book on Thursday, April 9.
As a result of the outbreak of coronavirus, the supermarket has decided it will give the most vulnerable and the elderly priority for home delivery.
"We will shortly be starting to offer our elderly and vulnerable customers priority access to our delivery slots.
"We’re currently working through the complex detail of this and we’re doing all we can as quickly as we can, so please bear with us," a statement released by the supermarket reads.
Waitrose is still offering click and collect but not at John Lewis shops which are now closed.
Selected Co-Op stores and Booths also offer Waitrose click and collect.
Collection points that are no longer available have been removed from the list of options at the online checkout stage.
What time are Waitrose's delivery and click and collect slots released?
Waitrose doesn't release delivery or click and collect slots at specific times.
Customers have instead been advised to check regularly and keep trying for slots.
You may have to wait a couple of days for delivery.
A Waitrose & Partners spokesperson told The Sun: "We're increasing Waitrose.com slots significantly - by next week this will reach 20 per cent extra compared to usual."
"We've committed at least 25 per cent of our orders to elderly and vulnerable customers, who we're in the process of contacting to offer slots."
She added: "We have more than 10K extra people-hours than usual each week picking Waitrose.com orders (nearly a 50 per cent increase), and hundreds of extra drivers."
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Does Waitrose have restrictions on any items ordered online?
Waitrose has imposed item restrictions for customers who shop in stores and online too.
Customers will be limited to a maximum of three on any grocery item.
Also, for toilet paper, customers will be limited to two items.
For online customers, the supermarket said: "If you are shopping on waitrose.com, our temporary cap measures are still in place on grocery items, we have introduced a temporary cap on certain items, including some anti-bacterial soaps and wipes, tissues, pasta, milk and canned goods.
Supermarket home deliveries during coronavirus lockdown
Tesco do home deliveries with a £25 minimum spend and an 80-item limit. Slots are released every midnight.
Asda do deliveries with a £40 minimum spend and Click & Collect with a £25 minimum spend.
Iceland home deliveries have a £35 minimum spend, but are limited to elderly and vulnerable customers.
Morrisons has a £40 minimum spend on home deliveries and also provide £30 food boxes of essential items with a £5 delivery charge.
Waitrose home deliveries have a £60 minimum spend. A minimum of 25 per cent of products are reserved for elderly and vulnerable customers.
Sainsbury's have a £40 minimum spend on home deliveries. New registrations are currently closed.
What has Waitrose said about its response to coronavirus?
Waitrose has assured customers it is working hard to meet their needs.
The supermarket stated: "We know this time of great uncertainty is having a huge impact on our lives, and we want to let you know we are doing all we can to help our customers.
"We are continually monitoring the guidelines and advice provided by the UK Government and Public Health England and are committed to making the right decisions for our customers and Partners."
Waitrose has also advised customers to frequently check their website for updates and any queries as it is keeping its phone lines free for its most vulnerable customers.