Christmas delivery slots 2020: when to book Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose orders
CHRISTMAS is the busiest time of year to reserve a supermarket delivery slot - we reveal when the leading grocers will release them.
Shoppers need to move quickly this year to bag one as the coronavirus pandemic has seen a surge in households relying on online shopping.
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But luckily all of the leading grocers have dramatically increased the number of slots available to keep up with demand.
This is to ensure vulnerable and isolating customers are still be able to get food and essentials.
Thousands of seasonal workers have been hired to help fulfil orders too.
Even so, Christmas delivery slots are usually snapped up fast so you won't want to hang around.
Tesco shoppers were left fuming again after being forced to queue online for more than an hour after the slots became available for priority customers.
In 2019, they sold out within hours of going on sale - and at one point even the website crashed.
Most supermarkets release delivery slots for the key dates just before Christmas between December 20 and December 24 in November.
We've spoken to Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Iceland and Ocado to find out when the retailers will be releasing the slots, so you can mark the date in your calendar to make sure you get one.
But shoppers are being told to order as early as possible where they can, so it could be worth planning ahead and getting items that won't go off.
Tesco
Tesco has more than doubled the number of delivery slots available since the coronavirus lockdown - it now has 1.5million delivery slots a week compared to 600,000.
Shoppers who've signed up to the supermarket's Delivery Saver scheme can now book their festive slot - they were available from 7am on November 13 and there was a lot of demand.
Customers can get unlimited free home delivery and click and collect when they sign up to the premium service.
Here's how to cut the cost of your grocery shop
SAVING on your shop can make a big difference to your wallet. Here are some tips from Money.co.uk about how you can cut the cost of your shopping bills:
- Write yourself a list – Only buy items that you need. If it isn’t on your list, don’t put it in the trolley
- Create a budget – Work out a weekly budget for your food shopping
- Never shop hungry – you are far more likely to buy more food if your tummy is rumbling
- Don’t buy pre-chopped veggies or fruit – The extra they’ll charge for chopping can be eye watering
- Use social media – follow your favourite retailers to find out about the latest deals
- Be disloyal – You may want to go to different stores to find the best bargains
- Check the small print – It’s always worth checking the price per kg/lb/litre when comparing offers so you’re making a like for like decision as a bigger box won’t necessarily mean you get more
- Use your loyalty cards – Don’t be afraid to sign up to them all. They all work slightly differently – work out what bonus suits you better and remember to trade in your points for additional rewards
It costs £7.99 a month and you'll get priority access to the Christmas delivery slots too.
For everyone else, delivery slots for the festive season opens today, November 20, from 7am.
Delivery fees cost between £4.50 and £5.50 depending on where your order is fulfilled by either a supermarket or warehouse, while click and collect costs £1.50.
There's a £4 surcharge for deliveries worth under £40 and click and collect orders worth less than £25.
Asda
Asda has already launched its Christmas delivery slots.
In 2019, they were released on November 19 and November 13 for Delivery Pass customers.
This year they have been released earlier and there are already some days where slots are fully booked for December 20-24.
If you can't get a delivery slot for the dates you want, you can still order online and click and collect in store instead.
You'll have to go to the store to pick up your order but you'll avoid having to do the shop itself and queue at the checkout.
Asda has temporarily stopped issuing new delivery passes while demand is high during the pandemic, but usually it costs £5 a month or £55 for the year. A six month pass would cost £35.
For customers without this pass, delivery costs between £3 and £5.50 depending on the day and time of your slot.
There's a £3 surcharge for delivery orders for less than £40 and £25 for click and collect orders.
Morrisons
Morrisons said that the Christmas delivery slot launch date is still yet to be confirmed. We'll let you know when we find out more.
In 2019, slots opened up for customers on November 27 for deliveries between December 20 and 24.
Delivery pass customers were given early access from November 6.
The Anytime Pass offers free delivery on orders from Monday to Sunday and costs £65 a year, £40 for six months to £8 a month depending on how you pay.
Shoppers get free delivery on Tuesday to Thursday and costs £35 a year, £20 for six months of £5 a month.
With a delivery pass, two slots were the maximum you could book for those key December 20-24 dates last year.
Otherwise, delivery costs between £2 and £7 depending on the slot.
Amazon Prime customers can benefit from free delivery when they order from Morrisons through the online giant.
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's has released the following Christmas delivery slot schedule:
- For delivery on December 20, slots can be booked from November 29
- For delivery on December 21, slots can be booked from November 30
- For delivery on December 22, slots can be booked from December 1
- For delivery on December 23, slots can be booked from December 2
This is the same way slots worked last year.
Sainsbury's delivery pass holders are promised early access to Christmas slots and we've asked the retailer to confirm the dates for this.
The supermarket does not offer any deliveries on December 24, 25 or 26.
Sainsbury's charges £7 for delivery on orders under £40 and between 50p and £7 for orders worth more, depending on the day and time slot.
There's a minimum order value of £25 but delivery is free for orders over £100 booked for between Monday and Thursday after 2pm.
Click and collect is an option if you miss out on a delivery slot.
Supermarket home deliveries
HERE'S what other supermarkets charge for their home delivery services.
- Asda delivery charges range between £3 and £5.50. There's a £40 minimum spend on home delivery orders and a £25 minimum spend for click and collect.
- Iceland offers free home delivery, but you have to spend a minimum of £35 to place an order.
- Morrisons delivery slots cost between £1.70 and £6.90. There's a £40 minimum spend on home deliveries.
- Waitrose doesn't charge for delivery, but you need to spend a minimum of £60.
- Sainsbury's charges between 50p and £7 for delivery. There's a £25 minimum spend.
- Tesco charges £4.50 for all delivery slots. There's a £25 minimum spend.
- Ocado orders less than £75 cost between £2.99 and £6.99. More expensive orders are free.
Sainsbury's offers two subscription delivery passes which are still available to buy now. This will give you priority access to Christmas delivery slots.
The Anytime Delivery Pass gives you one free delivery a day, seven days a week when you spend £40 or more.
This pass costs £60 for 12 months, £35 for six months or £20 for three months.
The midweek delivery pass is cheaper and gives you one free delivery a day on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays when you spend £40 or more.
This pass costs £30 for a 12 months, £18 for a six months or £10 for three months. Any deliveries outside this time slots are charged the normal rates.
Sainsbury's has doubled it's delivery capacity from 340,000 a week in March to 660,000 now.
Iceland
Iceland told The Sun that is doesn't offer customers the chance to book Christmas delivery slots early.
Instead, it will be business as usual with the supermarket releasing delivery slots six days in advance.
That means you'll need to keep an eye out from December 14 to bag a slot for December 20.
Iceland offers free next day delivery, Monday through to Sunday between 8am and 9pm.
There's a minimum spend of £35 though before you qualify.
"We’d love to give all our customers the Christmas slot they want, but we simply don’t have enough slots for everyone this year."
Its delivery slots for Christmas opened from October 24, with early access for Smart Pass members.
The premium services costs £10.99 and offers unlimited free deliveries.
You also needed to be a member by October 1 to have access.
Ocado suspends free deliveries between December 20 and 24 so customers have to pay the normal charges.
Orders less than £75 costs between £2.99 and £6.99. More expensive orders are free.
Ocado struggled to keep up with demand in the first month of lockdown.
With the country now in lockdown again, these are the rules supermarkets have in place to protect shoppers from coronavirus.
Many shops across England have now closed their doors temporarily and they will remain shut until the second lockdown is lifted on 2 December - these are the essential shops which can remain open.
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