15 December 2020, 10:40

ASDA, Sainsbury's and Tesco all have new Christmas shopping updates for their customers.

With just a few days left until Christmas, many of us are starting to stock up for our festive supplies.

But with next week predicted to be the busiest time for supermarkets, now stores have updated their rules in a bid to keep customers safe during the pandemic.

Ok so it's my first time doing an Asda Christmas delivery but after ordering from Asda dozens of times I thought I was quite savvy. Booked my Christmas delivery slot as soon as they became available. Delivery due the 23rd. Plan was to update order this week now I have a better idea of numbers for Christmas dinner and what I need. Asda is the next major supermarket retailer to reveal its 2020 Christmas range and we're more than happy to be able to give you guys a sneak peek. So, without further ado, here's some of Asda's. Grocery stores will use traffic light systems, 24-hour opening times and door marshals to allow Brits to shop early during what is expected to be their biggest ever Christmas sales period. Bookings for Asda's Christmas grocery delivery slots opens in November. Delivery Pass holders can start booking their slots on 13 November and will have priority booking for slots within the week up to Christmas. However, the last home delivery for groceries is on 23 December. Asda have also said they are axing its recurring delivery slots between December 19, 2020 and January 2, 2021. For deliveries over £40 Sainsbury's some one-hour delivery slot charges will.

As well as extended opening hours and more delivery slots, ASDA has even introduced virtual queues to stop crowds of people gathering.

Here’s all the updated festive supermarket rules…

ASDA

As well as Safety Marshalls keeping an eye on customers, and social distancing signs in place, ASDA has now introduced their brand new virtual queueing at over 400 of their biggest stores.

By scanning a QR code from posters at the stores, you can queue on your phone, rather than in person

This means that nobody has to stand outside in the cold while waiting to pick up their turkey.

When it is almost your turn to enter the store, you will get a text to let you know.

The store will also be delivering Christmas groceries between December 21 and 23 with slots available to book online.

While many of these slots are already full, customers can use click and collect to avoid going inside.

Sainsbury’s

Sainsbury’s has extended its opening hours this Christmas with most stores open from 6am until midnight between December 21 and December 23.

Retail and Digital Director at Sainsbury's, Clodagh Moriarty said: 'In a year like no other, we want to do everything we can to help our customers celebrate Christmas, making sure they have everything they need to make the festive season as special as possible.

'We also want to make sure customers and colleagues are kept safe, which is why we're opening our stores for longer and encouraging people to shop early and asking them to shop alone, where possible, this Christmas.

'This will help customers get in and out of shops quickly and safely and make sure everyone has what they need in plenty of time for the big day.'

Customers are also encouraged to shop alone regardless of what Tier they are in, while hand sanitising stations are still available across all stores.

Tesco

Tesco has made more delivery slots available online this Christmas, but they have already been filling up fast.

A statement on their website read: 'We're really sorry but we now have very few slots left for 20–24 December. We're experiencing high demand for slots around Christmas.

'We're sorry if you're not able to book your preferred slot. Take a look at the following tips to help you manage your Christmas shopping with Tesco.'

Shoppers can also pre-order their Christmas food and pick it up in store with click and collect.

Tesco will keep over 300 of its largest-format branches open for 24 hours from December 14 until Christmas Eve.

Other branches will have opening times extended by one hour during the same period.

Morrisons

Morrisons has now released its Christmas Food to Order 2020 option which can be collected or delivered.

They also have a Christmas Dinner for Two Box service available to help ensure that self-isolating customers get everything they need.

Aldi

In the run up to Christmas, Aldi is also extending its opening hours for any last-minute shoppers.

Stores will also be opening until 6pm on Christmas Eve, while there is also a click and collect service available across many stores.

To find out which stores are taking part in the click and collect service, click here.

Marks & Spencer

Along with many other supermarkets, Marks & Spencer is extending the opening hours before Christmas.

The majority of M&S stores will be open until midnight on 21, 22 and 23 December.

Their ‘Sparks book and shop’ online reservation service will allow customers to book a guaranteed 30 minute slot on the M&S website.

M&S will be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day to allow staff to spend more time with their loved ones.

Lidl

Lidl stores will be running reduced hours on December 24, with stores closing early at 7pm on Christmas Eve.

Whether you shop at Asda, Iceland, Morrisons, Ocado, Tesco, Sainsbury's or Waitrose, we reveal how to find the cheapest supermarket online delivery deals, including the price of monthly passes. Some even offer free deliveries!

Cheap online supermarket deliveries: monthly delivery passes are key

If you regularly do your grocery shopping online, it's vital you track down the cheapest supermarket delivery deals or you'll end up wasting a load of cash.

Our guide explains how to do just that and covers all the main supermarkets, including Tesco, Sainsbury's, Ocado and Iceland.

But before your scroll to your favourite store, please note some supermarkets have reported a sharp spike in demand for online deliveries due to the second lockdown, so you may have to wait longer to book a slot at some stores.

The increased demand is being driven by people worried about stock shortages seen when lockdown was first introduced earlier this year.

While we can't help you jump the queue, you can at least ensure you pay the lowest possible price for your delivery, whenever that may be.

Asda delivery costs

Minimum order: £40

Delivery cost: £1-£6.50

Cheapest delivery slots: Monday to Thursday afternoons and evenings

Time slots: two hours

Regular Asda shopper? Grocery Delivery Passes entitle you to free delivery anytime for specific days, but new delivery passes are no longer on sale at the time of writing.

Asda is unable to confirm when delivery passes will go back on sale. We’ll update this article if Asda gets in touch with any new updates.

When delivery passes were available, shoppers could get an Anytime Delivery Pass, which was available for 12 months. You had to pay £5 a month for 12 months or a £55 one-off payment, or alternatively you could get a six-month pass for £35 (or six £6 monthly instalments).

There was also a midweek 12-month pass for deliveries on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, which would have set you back £24.

Asda promised that if your Delivery Pass didn't save you more than you would have spent on standard delivery charges, it would give you an eVoucher for the difference.

Make sure you save on your next shop with these top tips.

Iceland delivery costs

Minimum order: £25

Cost: £2 delivery charge for orders over £25 but less than £35 (free delivery for orders over £35)

Cheapest delivery slots: you only pay for delivery if you spend less than £35

Time slots: two hours

Iceland doesn’t sell delivery passes but does offer a Bonus Card, which will give you access to exclusive offers.

Once you've registered your card, you can load money onto it and Iceland will top up every £20 with £1, effectively a boost of up to 5%.

Iceland will also provide free delivery on spends over £25 to Bonus Cardholders – but only when you pay in store.

Asda Groceries Christmas Delivery Slots 2019 Youtube

Morrisons delivery costs

Asda Groceries Christmas Delivery Slots 2019 Free

Minimum order: £40

Cost: 99p-£6.90

Cheapest delivery slots: afternoons and evenings, Tuesday-Thursday

Time slots: One hour

Regular Morrisons shopper? A Delivery Pass will entitle you to free delivery anytime for specified periods.

The anytime pass, which covers deliveries any day of the week, is available for a month (£8), for six months (£40) or annually (£65).

There's also a mid-week pass, which you can use for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday deliveries. Monthly (£5), six-month (£20) and annual (£35) passes are available.

If your Delivery Pass ends up costing more than standard delivery charges, Morrisons will give you a refund.

You can also get a Morrisons More Card to earn points, which you can redeem at the supermarket.

Make sure you save on your next Morrisons shop with these top tips.

Ocado delivery costs

Minimum order: £40

Cost: £2.99-£6.99 or free with spend over £75 for certain orders

Cheapest delivery slots: early morning or late evening

Time slots: One hour

Ocado has paused its Smart Pass and there's no confirmation when they'll be back on sale.

The Smart Pass entitles you to no extra delivery charges, lets you save at least 10% on selected items and offers access to exclusive sales among other benefits. Delivery charges apply as normal during Christmas week, but Smart Pass holders get priority.

Sainsbury’s delivery costs

Minimum order: £25

Cost: £1-£7 or free delivery with spend over £100, Monday-Thursday after 2pm

Cheapest delivery slots: Tuesdays and Wednesdays (afternoons and evenings)

Time slots: One hour

If you shop at Sainsbury's, you've got a choice between two delivery passes, but you’ll need to spend at least £40 per shop.

The Midweek Delivery Pass covers deliveries on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, and is available for three months (£10), six months (£18) and 12 months (£30).

The Anytime Delivery Pass covers deliveries any day of the week, and costs £20 for three months, £35 for six months and £60 for 12 months.

Sainsbury’s will send you a voucher to cover any difference if you haven’t saved money with a Delivery Pass.

Get a Nectar card to earn points, which can be redeemed at Sainsbury’s, as well as 500 other brands.

Heading off to Sainsbury's? Save with our top shopping tips, and don't forget you can rack up Nectar points whenever you shop with a credit card from Sainsbury’s Bank.

Tesco delivery costs

Minimum order: £40

Delivery cost: £4.50 (or £5.50 for orders from Customer Fulfilment Centres) + £4 if you spend under £40

Time slots: One hour (but you can save money by opting for a four-hour window)

Unfortunately, Tesco has paused new registrations for its Delivery Saver pass.

“Since the start of the coronavirus outbreak, we’ve worked very hard to increase our online capacity and have more than doubled our slots each week,” said a spokesperson for Tesco.

“We continue to offer priority access to over 600,000 of our most vulnerable customers.

“We’ve temporarily paused new sign-ups for Delivery Saver so that we can support existing and vulnerable customers given the high demand for online slots.”

When the Delivery Saver pass was available, you paid £7.99 for one month or £47.94 for six months for one delivery a day with a minimum order of £40.

There was also the option of paying £6.99 a month for six months or its cheaper midweek delivery saver pass, which cost £3.99 a month.

Similar to some rival schemes, you got a grocery eCoupon if you didn’t save money with the Delivery Saver plan.

Don’t forget Tesco’s Clubcard scheme, where you earn points that can be turned into vouchers for shopping or days out.

Save on your next Tesco shop with our top frugal tips. Also, don't forget you can boost your credit score and earn Clubcard points when you shop with this credit card.

Waitrose delivery costs

Minimum order: £40

Cost: free

Cheapest slots: delivery is always free

Time slots: One hour

Regular Waitrose shopper? Join MyWaitrose for free as it provides a number of offers, but almost all are only available in store.

Make sure you save on your next Waitrose shop with our top frugal tips. You can also earn points every time you shop at Waitrose with this credit card.

Top tips for saving on all online grocery shopping

1. Sign up for emails with all of the supermarket websites, even if you don't intend to shop with them straight away.

Like all retailers, supermarkets often send out discount codes (such as 15% off your shopping) to entice us to shop with them, which will usually more than cover the delivery charge.

2. Switch around. Never use the same delivery service twice in a row. Supermarkets tend to ignore loyal customers and send their best deals to those who haven't used their service for a while – make them stew and watch the offers roll in!

3. Complain, complain, complain. If there is anything at all wrong with your shopping (late delivery, damaged fruit or vegetables, items too close to their sell-by date, dented tins) don't just accept it, phone up and tell them.

Most customer service managers are keen that you enjoy the service and will often replace or simply refund your money, straight away.

What's more, depending on the problem many will issue credit notes too, giving money off your next delivery (which may cover that delivery fee!).

4. Check prices. Depending on what you buy you could still end up spending more at different supermarkets, even if your delivery costs nothing.

5. Don't forget Click & Collect. A number of supermarkets offer Click & Collect services, where you order in advance and simply have to pick up the shopping, which is already bagged up and ready for you.