Tesco and Sainsbury's halt online orders in Scotland

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Distribution across Scotland has hit a backlog after heavy snows saw days of transport chaos


Festive online shopping 'at peak'

Supermarket giant Tesco has stopped taking orders through its shopping website from customers in Scotland, because of the weather.

The company said it could not guarantee orders made through Tesco Direct would be delivered in time for Christmas.

Sainsbury's has also suspended deliveries for Scotland. Parcel Force took similar action at the weekend.

Scotland is recovering from several days of snow and ice, which saw the transport network grind to a halt.

In the wake of the problems, Tesco said its priority was to deliver goods which had already been ordered. Grocery deliveries are not affected.

Asda Direct warned it was unable to deliver large items, such as furniture, before Christmas, and said it had stopped taking orders for in-store collection in the run up to 25 December.

The online shopping sites Amazon and Firebox are suffering similar problems, with Firebox saying next-day delivery was not currently guaranteed.

How weather has affected online shopping for Scotland

Tesco Direct has stopped taking orders
Sainsbury's has suspended deliveries
Asda Direct not delivering large items and has stopped orders for in-store collection before Christmas
Parcel Force has suspended deliveries
Firebox cannot guarantee next-day delivery
Boots has suspended next-day deliveries
M&S not accepting home delivery orders
Home Delivery Network deliveries "limited" or later than normal
River Island unable to take new orders. Current orders taking seven-14 days to arrive
Virgin and Laithwaites wine companies cannot guarantee deliveries before Christmas
Courier Yodel battling to clear 14-day backlog
Boots has also suspended its next day service, although the chain's store collection and standard home delivery services are still available.

And Marks & Spencer are not accepting any home delivery orders for Scotland, due to a week-long backlog.


A statement on the Tesco Direct website reads: "We apologise for any inconvenience, but unfortunately we are currently unable to take any new orders in Scotland and the Scottish Isles.

"This is due to the adverse weather conditions causing a build-up of orders. However, if you have already placed an order we will do our very best to deliver your items as soon as possible."

Tesco took the decision as the courier company Yodel battled to clear a 14-day backlog of parcels.

Sainsbury's website said: "We have temporarily suspended Standard Delivery for Scotland and some parts of North-East England."

Christmas is the busiest time of the year for online shopping, with an estimated £6.4bn spent over the festive period.

In a statement on the Parcel Force website over the weekend, the delivery company said it would not be accepting any parcels for delivery in its Glasgow, Edinburgh, Perth and Aberdeen centres, until it was "confident" it could honour Christmas deliveries.

"Whilst we will continue to deliver as many parcels each day as we possibly can, if we accept more parcels for the affected areas it will make recovery from the current position exceedingly difficult," said the company.

Parcel Force said it regretted having to take the "unprecedented decision" not to accept deliveries for its depots in Scotland's main cities.

Home Delivery Network, which serves more than 350 retailers, warned its deliveries would be limited, or made later than normal.

Wine companies Virgin and Laithwaites both said they could not guarantee Scottish deliveries before Christmas, while clothing chain River Island said it was unable to take new orders, while current ones were taking about seven days to two weeks to deliver.

Are you waiting for an order? Let us know if you are worried whether your Christmas presents are going to arrive on time

My mum posted me a parcel first class last Monday, maybe it will arrive today. It took over a week for a small parcel from Cirencester Cupcakes to get here, despite it being posted first class! I just hope the things I ordered from Amazon two days ago will get here before Christmas, or I might have a very disappointed other half.

Helen, Orkney

Comments: I placed an order with toys r us on the 2nd of December and I'm still waiting for it to be delivered! I'm starting to worry now as all my little boys xmas gifts are on that order. It looks like I may have a mad dash to the shops if his presents don't arrive!

Beverly Scott, Kirkcaldy

We have ordered two parcels from Amazon, one on the 1st of December and one on the 10th. The first one was being delivered by the 'Home Delivery Network' and has been delayed in Droitwich for nearly a week. The second one is still moving around the country, but slowly. Its likely that our second order will arrive before our first one.

John Ruddy, Montrose

I am shocked by this news... how am I going to get the pizza in for Christmas dinner??

Paul Band, Ayr

I ordered some presents from findmeagift.com on 5th December and they still have not arrived. I'm tempted to phone the telephone number they gave me in the confirmation e-mail but I'm pretty sure that it will be caught in the backlog. I am starting to worry that the presents will not be here by next week, as one of them is an office Secret Santa gift for next Tuesday!

Amy, Moray

I ordered and am awaiting delivery of a parcel which i arranged to have delivered to my parents in Aberdeenshire, have tried tracking parcel with parcelforce but it does not seem to have moved out of the Aberdeen depot since it arrived there last Friday morning. The roads are now perfectly passable, i think it is a lame excuse. We get snow!! deal with it.

Fiona Campbell, Middlesbrough

I ordered items from Firebox on 30th Nov and am still waiting on them. I also ordered form Lovelula on the 30th Nov and am still waiting. Many major and minor roads in and out of cities as well as every road in my home town have been cleared for many days now. Still no deliveries. Fingers crossed that they'll get here soon!

Laura, Dunfermline

I have been a fan of online shopping for many years and this is the first time that I am beginning to panic. I am waiting for 5 parcels to arrive, 2 of which were ordered over 2 weeks ago. I also am waiting for an order to arrive in a local Boots store for onward posting to an address in England. This was due in store last week but on Saturday was told that they had had no deliveries for 3 days. I am definitely thinking that I might have to buy extra presents to ensure that family get something for Christmas!

Elaine Brechin, Insch

I am still awaiting a parcel sent from Guernsey on 24th November. We have had NO parcel deliveries since the snow started. I am awaiting 7 parcels in all. There has not been a mail van in sight in our area in that time. We are only 2 miles from Perth!!!

P.Edward, Perth

I ordered an optical cable off Amazon last Monday and it arrived by the Wednesday (courtesy of Royal Mail) - despite the bad weather!

David, Glasgow

I ordered two items on the 30th November and they arrived today. I am also still waiting on about 3 other items from amazon and when I tracked the items they have been confirmed as being in Doncaster for the last few days. I don't blame the companies they will be trying there very best to get the parcels outs but fingers crossed they come soon.

Gwen Mullan, Fife

Just got two parcels from Parcel Post - ordered online at start of December - so things are moving - keep faith.

Beth Marshall, Cupar

This is ridiculous, so many folk are gonna have Christmas ruined for them. I ordered most of my Christmas gifts over two weeks ago, only one has arrived. How do you tell kids they haven't got anything as it is all stuck in the post. Try explaining to little ones that Santa can't come!!! Great if you can afford to go out & buy more, but not everyone is in a position to do so, I know i'm not!!!

Jacqui, Livingston

I have been waiting for two deliveries since the end of November. One was from Amazon, the other from Wilkinsons. They both arrived yesterday (Sunday 13th) on the same van from Home Delivery Network. Someone is having the sense to collate deliveries. Well done.

Cherie Churchill, Newton Stewart

I was waiting on several items, all Christmas gifts, expected them here last Monday and I still do not have them. The tracking on one of them shows the parcel at a standstill from Tuesday last week and nothing since. The others seem to be in limbo.

Stephen, Lanarkshire

Have ordered my whole Xmas shopping online - Still awaiting loads to be delivered (13 Parcels) from Amazon / Baxters and various other companies. Believe that Parcel Post should be ensuring extra Sat and Sun deliveries to cover.

Andy, Shotts

I ordered 7 items from Amazon on 29th November and I'm still waiting on any of them arriving at my door.....it's all xmas presents and I'm concerned now that come the 25th - I'm not going to have very much to hand over to people and with the weather due to turn again at the end of this week I'm worried it's going to be 2011 before I see them!

Dorothy, Dunfermline