Well they probably are panic buying – and a hefty reason for this is the supermarkets’ actions for xmas. They are making it very difficult if you need, should say “must have” deliveries:
Waitrose just changed their lead-in period for home deliveries from 25 days to 15 days. Result – deliveries sell out within minutes of dates going on site (midnight). Deliveries gone by morning. All xmas week slots sold out two weeks ago!
Tesco deliveries, at present, still keep 21-day notice period but deliveries, again, are gone within minutes of midnight. Collections not too bad but will get worse.
Asda have been excellent until today; they offer a regular slot which you get automatically without need to book. Just got email saying this will not work from 19 Dec to 2 Jan. But I can book an ordinary slot for this period (as a crumbly priority customer). Sadly, I can’t make this booking because the booking site won’t make those dates available.
This is a disgrace. These companies just do not understand the hassle and trauma this causes. We have to have deliveries because of health issues. We also buy for house-bound 80+ yr-old neighbour. I must spend 3 or four hours each week on computer not just booking orders, but making checks that booking procedures have not changed (they do, regularly) and trying to book the slots I want. The latter means staying up until midnight to get slots before they sell out. Difficult because of drugs I must take at 10pm which knock me out well before midnight.
It’s bad enough having to cope with new lockdown; not knowing whether we’ll get essential deliveries is a bluddy nightmare.