TESCO has issued important shopping advice ahead of the festive season after their Christmas food delivery slots almost sell out. By Sophie Harris PUBLISHED: 07:53, Mon, Nov 23, 2020. Tesco's website says: 'We're experiencing high demand for slots around Christmas'. At the moment, shoppers can book a click and collect slot or a flexi saver delivery slot. Supermarkets have recently warned shoppers that delivery slots are being snapped up fast and there are only a few remaining in the lead up to December 25. Tesco, Asda, M&S and Sainsbury's have all.
Tesco customers have been left furious after having to wait hours in a virtual queue to secure a Christmas delivery slot.
This morning the supermarket released slots for the week starting 21 December - but only to their delivery saver customers who pay a subscription fee.
But after waking up to log on at 7am, many complained they had still not been given a slot after two-and-a-half hours of waiting.
One person posted on Twitter: 'What an absolute joke. Been a delivery customer for years, have delivery saver.
Almost two and a half hours waiting and still in the queue 😡
— Sonia Bradley (@50N1ABR4DL3Y) November 13, 2020'Went on at 6.45am. Been in the queue for two hours and 20 minutes. What is happening? Should I just shop elsewhere this Christmas?'
Another user posted: 'Been waiting 2.5 hours now (since 6.59) in a queue for Christmas slot. What's happening? Am I lost in cyber hell somewhere?'
Customers were faced with a message that read: 'You are currently in a queue - we'll put you through as soon as we can.'
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On its Twitter page, the supermarket posted: 'A lot of customers are using our website and app at the moment. So we're temporarily using a virtual waiting room to help manage the flow.
'We're sorry if things take a bit longer than usual.'
Anyone else still in the online Tesco queue for a Christmas slot?! #tescopic.twitter.com/f4qKOrng2l
— SEN Resources Blog (@senresourceblog) November 13, 2020While some were given slots after a long wait, others were unsuccessful and forced to shop for their Christmas dinner supplies elsewhere.
Those who did manage to book complained festive essentials like turkeys were not yet available.
There was also no mention of people on the government's vulnerable list, who are entitled to priority delivery slots because of coronavirus.
@Tesco been waiting 2.5 hours now (since 6.59) in a queue for Christmas slot. What's happening? Am I lost in cyber hell somewhere?
— annie (@annie6724) November 13, 2020A Tesco spokesman said: 'Demand for online slots over the festive period is high, and we have more slots this Christmas than ever before.
'We are experiencing high volumes of traffic to our website and groceries app and are temporarily limiting the number of customers using it.'
They apologised for the inconvenience and claimed home delivery and click and collect slots are still available for the Christmas period.
A Tesco Christmas delivery slot scramble has seen people stuck in queues for hours as customers line up to slam the retailer.
Tesco operates stores across Birmingham and throughout the Midlands - from city centre Express and Metro stores to larger superstores further afield, like in Ladywood and Hodge Hill.
The supermarket giant is Britain's biggest grocer.
The supermarket is rolling out slots for Delivery Saver customers from 13 November at 7am.
Non-delivery Saver customers can get them a week later, from November 20, at 7am.
Tesco also offers a click and collect service for those who want to avoid the store crowds.
But people have been stuck in queues ever since, with some finding even more problem when they eventually reach the front.
Tesco Delivery Slots
© Birmingham Live / Graham Young Tesco introduces flat rate for delivery service for online ordersThe supermarket giant was forced to install an online queue system to help it manage the 'high volumes of traffic'.
Tesco Delivery Christmas Slots 2018 Youtube
Customers on social media complained about the delay, saying they were being made to wait for hours.
Tesco tweeted in response to apologise 'if things take a bit longer than usual'.
'A lot of customers are using our website and app at the moment,' it added.
A Tesco spokeswoman said: 'Demand for online slots over the festive period is high, and we have more slots this Christmas than ever before.
'We experienced high volumes of traffic to our website and groceries app this morning and temporarily limited the number of customers using it.
'We've now removed the waiting room and customers will be able to log straight on.
Tesco Christmas Food
'We're sorry for any inconvenience this caused and would like to reassure customers that there are still slots available for home delivery and click and collect over the Christmas period.'