Amazon

[tut]

We're persevering with Tesco online grocery shopping at the moment. It's really not working, and it's not saving money, but we're giving it a good go to see if we can get used to it.

Will show this post to her indoors Graeme, who does the shopping anyway. The actual ratio is around 8 to 1 in store, but that would be reversed if I was doing the shopping. Problem is I think she actually enjoys wandering around and doing it herself, whereas that is just a waste of the time I have left for my legs, and she knows where the relevant aisles are.

When she went away to Dubai both times for three weeks, the only things that I bought were some milk and eggs, and a fish supper. We have two chest freezers and an American fridge/freezer with enough meat etc to last for a year for the two of us, pasta, rice, pizzas that are topped up whether they have been used or not, a medicine cabinet the size of Boots, the tumble dryer does not go on(towels, dressing gowns, bedding all have to go in to make them soft), dishwasher gets a holiday, washing machine a couple of times, 20 min power showers come down to a couple of mins, what the hell do they do in all that time, so by the time she gets home the holiday has been paid for by the savings.

I do not tell her that of course or she would want twice as many holidays as they would be virtually free.

tut

[Corranga]

Interesting thoughts on JL.

I bought my TV from them a couple of years back.
I spend just over a grand, so a fair amount on cash, buying what was at that time a decent spec / high range Samsung.

I started by reading reviews online and public opinion on forums to narrow down a selection, then had a walk around / a few demos in a local currys / pcworld type shop.

Armed with the new knowledge, I went online, to find a decent price, settled on a deal that was more than £300 cheaper than currys / pcworld, and had a free bluray player. I asked JL to price match and the deal was done.

I found MANY threads on AV forums etc recommending JL due to the 5 year warranty and price match policy. This combined with them hand delivering (as in using a JL branded truck rather than a courier) were the key points for me.
I've never stepped foot in a JL store in my life, but am happy in the knowledge that they go above and beyond other high street retailers, matched the best deal I could find, gave me a 5 year warranty, and took the care to ensure my high value purchase made it to me safely (even if they did block the inside lane of the dual carriageway outside my house with their truck..!)

[tut]

I always buy from JL if possible, and they can match or get close to other online companies price. Been with them for decades first in their stores and then online. Apple products are virtually a fixed price from any seller, but you always get two years warranty with them, and five years on larger electricals.

Always had excellent service from them, just recently had to have a new tumble drier replaced twice due to a manufacturers problem with a thermostat that almost set them on fire, and they then upgraded me to a £100 more expensive model, plus £50 for my troubles.

tut

[campbell]

Graeme, you have far too much time on your hands if you can write such a detailed review of Tesco Online Grocery shopping

We have been using it for several years. Could not imagine returning to the "weekly shop" at a real superstore :-/

We do still swing by our local Sainsburys for odds n ends, but Tesco delivery wins out because...

1. No dragging the two terrors round a shop. Nothing more boring for them, nor more stressful for us.

2. Can track the cost of the "basket" as we go. Has proven important during various times of necessary personal austerity.

3. They deliver. To the kitchen work top.

4. Can browse to secure best special offers. Generally only buy wines that are on "special". Ever.

5. Saves time.

6. Can shop remotely. That is, I could lodge an order from a hotel room whilst away on business. Yep. Not unheard of

7. Flexible. Can open up an order with just a few items, book the delivery slot some days away, then chuck additional items on (using iPad, Tablet, laptop, IPhone, etc) as we think of them or use them. Next stop the kitchen bar code scanner?!

8. Holidays de-stressed. Tesco deliver to several of the Forest Holidays destinations we frequent. Including some very remote ones. So more room left in the car boot for kiddie krap, LOL.

Just our experience.


PS. Just about to buy some new hifi. Richer Sounds, no question. Key combo of online browseability, store advice from "real person", and good scale for buying power and thus pricing.

In fact might order right this minute. From the train


PPS - I had the time to write all this while languishing on yet another train back from Leeds...I should probably open an office there!!

[Sanjøy]

Campbell all the kool kids are going retro B&O hifi these dayz

[Sanjøy]

Oh and amazon credit card for the win.

[campbell]

Campbell all the kool kids are going retro B&O hifi these dayz

Tannoy all the way for me, Sanj.

And BA Amex rewards fund our Florida fixation

[graeme]

Next stop the kitchen bar code scanner?!

This is on my list of TODOs, but not high priority. Dead easy though... there's a Tesco grocery API, USB barcode scanners are cheap, Raspberry Pi and a wifi adapter (£30). I've got a power socket in a cupboard and the scanner will get mounted to the back of the cupboard door.

Worth pointing out that the Tesco Android app can already do this.

[rossybee]

Was out for a few beers last night with one of my best pals who happens to be a store manager of Sainsburys, I was gonna query some of the above but realised it's such a boring topic we discussed cars, women, family etc

By total coincidence, whilst supping lovely draught Nelsons, my darling wife booked a heap of provisions through the asda "click & collect" (they were doing a tenner off when spending £50 ) so I'll see how that works...

[woody]

Next stop the kitchen bar code scanner?!

This is on my list of TODOs, but not high priority. Dead easy though... there's a Tesco grocery API, USB barcode scanners are cheap, Raspberry Pi and a wifi adapter (£30). I've got a power socket in a cupboard and the scanner will get mounted to the back of the cupboard door.

Worth pointing out that the Tesco Android app can already do this.

Sounds useful.... Think the thing that would persuade me to use online food shopping would be a similar set up to Family Mart (Tesco) in Korea where subway stations have isles with photos of the products and barcodes. Scan the barcode of what you want with their app and it gets delivered.


Campbell, Sanj is correct on the hifi front, vintage B&o wins.

[Sanjøy]

Amazon and supermarkets are pitching for collection lockers at the London tube stations. Awesome idea for London living. Just need to get rid of the train drivers (and Bob Crowe) and let the trains run themselves.

[Shug]

We've done the Asda thing now (only one that delivers to our particular chunk of nowhere) It kinda worked, but I mostly agree with Graeme. It's more complex than it needs to be (as, yes, they need to generate new product sales, not just fulfil a standard repeating order) Also, we are the worst for going into the supermarket not knowing what we'll want to be eating that week. Poking about for stuff actually means you're getting more variety - there's nothing about a picture of food on a web-page that sells it to me - we also got substituted stuff that was crap and we'd just never order fresh fruit and veg without seeing it in the flesh. TBH, for that stuff, there's a farm shop a little further up the road than the nearest supermarket that does fantastic fresh produce.

So we might order from time to time, if we're stuck for a few days, but I can't see it replacing the actual shop anytime soon.

[vet111s]

Anyone else had an email about the cost of amazon prime going up? Seems to include some video download or other now. Haven't checked whether I can opt out of this service and just stick with the delivery aspect

[flyingscot68]

Going up to £79 pa.
Now includes 15000+ movies and box sets with unlimited screenings.
Also just discovered I can download a free kindle book every month included in Prime membership.
Need to get a kindle now.

[Corranga]

Going up to £79 pa.
Now includes 15000+ movies and box sets with unlimited screenings.
Also just discovered I can download a free kindle book every month included in Prime membership.
Need to get a kindle now.

I *think* it's only going up if you're not already a member though? (I'm not a member though so might be wrong).

Kindle wise, you have access to the kindle lending library which allows you to take a book out (it expires after a month or something?), decent if you read often I suppose.

I believe the 15,000+ movie and box set streaming service was previously called Lovefilm Instant.