Tesco changes home delivery rules to help shoppers get online slots

During lockdown, it's been a struggle to secure supermarket delivery slots online as people scramble to get their shopping.

Many supermarkets are often booked up for weeks or have long virtual queues.

Tesco now plans to tackle this by limiting one weekly shop per customer in the hope that more delivery slots will be available, The Mirror reports.

The new rule applies to all Tesco customers including those on the vulnerable list and with a Delivery Saver account.

Tesco now plans to tackle this by limiting one weekly shop per customer (REUTERS)

It comes after the supermarket giant limited customers to an 80 item shop to prevent food shortages and free up more space in delivery vans for more orders.

They have also increased the number of online orders every week from 590,000 in the first week of the crisis to more than one million this week.

This will be increased to 1.2 million slots in the next two weeks.

Tesco confirmed the move when replying to customers on Twitter.

They said: "Thanks for getting in touch. Your account will be limited to one order per week.

"We've introduced a limit of one order per week, to help more customers secure a delivery slot.

"One slot a week applies to all Tesco Customers, not just those with a Delivery Saver Plan."

Tesco CEO Dave Lewis thanked customers for their "patience and support" in an email yesterday.

He said that online grocery shopping is still "one clear area of concern and frustration" and admitted "we know we need to do more".

For those who do go to Tesco stores, a number of rules have been put in place, including:

•  Staff directing customers where to park their cars to help limit the number of people in-store

•  Customers may be asked to wait in their cars before going inside, particularly in bad weather, with staff telling them when it’s their turn

•  Floor markings outside entrances to help queuing shoppers stay 2m a part

•  Limiting the number of people entering stores where necessary to avoid crowding

•  Hand sanitisers placed around the store for customers and staff, with extra cleaning products for wiping down trolleys and baskets

•  One-way aisle systems

•  Separate entrances and exits where possible

•  People encouraged to shop alone where possible
•  Shoppers to visit stores where possible to leave online slots free for vulnerable people who can visit

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