Tesco has announced it is making a huge change to its online ordering within weeks – but the move has infuriated loyal shoppers.
The supermarket giant is now raising the price of its minimum spend for delivery.
From May 2, shoppers must spend a minimum of £50 on their orders – up from £40.
While raising the minimum spend for delivery, Britain’s biggest supermarket will also raise an extra £4 to £5, if Delivery Saver customers don’t raise their basket fees to that level.
Buyers remained angry at the move, calling it “greedy” given that the cost of living crisis has seen British households tighten their belts.
Tesco shoppers have been angered by the rise, saying that given the cost of living crisis and inflation they cannot afford the basket increase
The supermarket attributed the change to its ‘delivery economy’ plan, saying it aimed to ‘reduce the cost of door-to-door deliveries to your groceries’.
The minimum spend for click & collect will remain the same across all stores, which is currently £25.
Alerting customers to the change, Tesco wrote on its website: “From May 2 the minimum basket fee will increase to £5. Minimum cart fees are added to all orders that do not reach the minimum cart value.
“At the same time, the minimum basket value for home delivery will increase to £50. The minimum order value for Click+Collect will remain at £25 for all stores.’
The supermarket justified changes to its ‘delivery saver’ plan, saying it aims to ‘reduce the cost of home deliveries of your groceries’.
They added that the move will help ensure their home grocery operation remains as efficient as possible.
Tesco explained on the website saying: “Depending on the Delivery Saver plan you sign up for, as long as you stay above the minimum basket threshold, orders will be delivered free of charge during the hours or days specified in the plan. you have chosen.
“You can do this once a day for each day your plan is valid. And with the Delivery Saver Guarantee, if your plan doesn’t save you money, we’ll give you an eCoupon for the difference. For more information and to register, visit our Delivery Saver website.
However, buyers were angered by the rise, saying that given the crisis in the cost of living and inflation, they cannot afford the increase in the basket.
This comes despite Tesco saying ‘the majority of our customers will not be affected by these changes’. Our average order value is over £90, well above this new threshold.
But, loyal shoppers spilled their fury on social media.
One person wrote on Twitter: ‘Are you pissing off?! First you reduce the value of Clubcard rewards AGAIN and now I have to spend a minimum of £50 or else I will be charged for delivery? Everyone is trying to SAVE money and you do ridiculous crap like that?? Absolute greed, disgusting.
Tesco will have the highest minimum spend on deliveries. For example, Morrisons customers only need to spend a minimum of £25 and those below £40 will incur an additional £3 charge.
A second wrote: ‘These lovely people @Tesco are @it again. To hell with you if you only want or can afford to spend a measly £40+ delivery. We no longer need or want your custom.
While another person said: ‘So not only is @Tesco reducing the value of their club card rewards and increasing their delivery charges (the cheapest delivery slot used to be £1 now it’s £3), but it now forces people who rely on home deliveries to spend ten pounds more…’
And another asked if their friend would be able to afford the hike, wondering: ‘Will John still be able to afford it when @Tesco’s minimum spend increases by 25% from £40 to £50 ?”
In comparison, with other supermarkets, Tesco will have the highest minimum spend on deliveries.
Sainsbury’s requires a minimum spend of £40 or shoppers will have to pay £7.
Meanwhile, Morrisons customers only need to spend a minimum of £25 and those below £40 will incur an additional £3 charge.
Asda shoppers must spend £40, but will only be charged £3 if they don’t.
And Icelandic customers must spend a minimum of £40, but those with less will incur a £3 fee.
Speaking about the increased delivery charges, a Tesco spokesperson said: ‘To ensure we can continue to serve our online customers as efficiently as possible, from May 2 we are making some changes to our minimum basket threshold, the first change we’ve made in almost eight years.
“For the vast majority of our customers, there will be no change in the way they buy.”
Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Asda and Iceland have been contacted by MailOnline and This is Money for a comment on their delivery charges and whether they will do the same with Tesco.
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