Waitrose delivery bikes

[Rose]

I saw this article in our local paper:

"A DROITWICH supermarket has launched a 'blast from the past' delivery method and is urging eco-friendly shoppers to take part.

Supermarket giant Waitrose used bicycles for delivery in the early 20th century, and now the Saltway store will be the first in Worcestershire to once again deliver groceries ordered online using pedal power in a bid to reduce carbon emissions and traffic congestion.

The store's eco-bicycle, which holds 18 bags of groceries and is able to keep products frozen and chilled for up to two hours, can be used to deliver to those who live within 15 miles of the branch and ensures the food arrives in the same condition as when it left the store.

Cycle trailers will also be available to encourage customers to 'saddle up' and cycle home with their shopping instead of driving.

The trailers come equipped with large canvas shopping bags for ease of use, are loaned out free of charge for up to three days, and the branch has designated cycle spaces outside the store."

I'm surprised it doesn't mention that the bikes are electric. But on looking at the photo of one, I think it might be a Gazelle Easy Glider.

 

[keithhazel]

I saw this article in our local paper:

"A DROITWICH supermarket has launched a 'blast from the past' delivery method and is urging eco-friendly shoppers to take part.

Supermarket giant Waitrose used bicycles for delivery in the early 20th century, and now the Saltway store will be the first in Worcestershire to once again deliver groceries ordered online using pedal power in a bid to reduce carbon emissions and traffic congestion.

The store's eco-bicycle, which holds 18 bags of groceries and is able to keep products frozen and chilled for up to two hours, can be used to deliver to those who live within 15 miles of the branch and ensures the food arrives in the same condition as when it left the store.

Cycle trailers will also be available to encourage customers to 'saddle up' and cycle home with their shopping instead of driving.

The trailers come equipped with large canvas shopping bags for ease of use, are loaned out free of charge for up to three days, and the branch has designated cycle spaces outside the store."

I'm surprised it doesn't mention that the bikes are electric. But on looking at the photo of one, I think it might be a Gazelle Easy Glider.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

if you live 15 miles away from the store that doesnt leave much lee-way for the riders return befor the batteries flat.....18 bags of shopping must mean more then just panniers and long handle bars...

 

[flecc]

A number of the Waitrose stores have the cycle trailers for their customers, the ones they use are the Bike Hod, ok so long as one doesn't corner too fast when they can tip sideways if loaded up to the top. Handy things though, since they can be wheeled around like a golf trolley:

 

[Alex728]

On your bike for grocery delivery (From Droitwich Advertiser)

maybe the delivery riders are issued with an extra charged battery?

 

[JohnofCambridge]

Our local Waitrose has had the trailers for a year. The put-off from my perspective is not the journey but the return period. You have to return within three days. For those who work that can present a problem - I would much prefer 7 or 8 days.

Mind you with the credit crunch hitting companies so hard, including my own, it may not be long before I find 3 days is not a problem - but then would I want to shop at Waitrose??????!!!!!

 

[keithhazel]

Our local Waitrose has had the trailers for a year. The put-off from my perspective is not the journey but the return period. You have to return within three days. For those who work that can present a problem - I would much prefer 7 or 8 days.

Mind you with the credit crunch hitting companies so hard, including my own, it may not be long before I find 3 days is not a problem - but then would I want to shop at Waitrose??????!!!!!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------


slightly ironic in that waitrose although top quality is so expensive that in the area where waitrose is located in hull,the majority of the people on low wages who cant afford a car and have to rely on a bike wont shop there as they cant afford it...and the majority who do have a car and can afford to shop there will think riding a bike below them...i have played safe and used our waitrose in this example as i know the facts to be true rather then generalise and get shot down in flames for saying my thoughts...

 

[Mussels]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------


slightly ironic in that waitrose although top quality is so expensive that in the area where waitrose is located in hull,the majority of the people on low wages who cant afford a car and have to rely on a bike wont shop there as they cant afford it...and the majority who do have a car and can afford to shop there will think riding a bike below them...i have played safe and used our waitrose in this example as i know the facts to be true rather then generalise and get shot down in flames for saying my thoughts...

So, do you shop in Waitrose then?

Anyway the trailers are for those with little imagination, I can attach more than that to my rack easily. 2 panniers and a sports bag bungied on top, job done and no rush to return it.

 

[flecc]

Anyway the trailers are for those with little imagination, I can attach more than that to my rack easily. 2 panniers and a sports bag bungied on top, job done and no rush to return it.

I agree, why have the extra drag of trailer wheels when shopping our way is so easy. I find my two large Dutch panniers handle most shopping loads.
.

 

[essexman]

well i guess it enables you to buy more than you intended? I know when i go shopping with just panniers + basket i have to be careful on what i'm buying. My waitrose is in town as well, so i shop in town and then buy the rest from the supermarket.

That said these days if i know i'm going to do 'a shop' as opposed to just getting a few bits and pieces i take the trailer its less faff than panniers.

The dump and garden centre are on the way so with the trailer and i can pick up\drop of stuff there as well.

 

[Patrick]

I was looking at the bike hod Waitrose self scan page and I spotted a problem. If you're self scanning your shopping and putting them straight into the bike-hod then won't you have to make several passes of the store to pack things properly? Go round once to get tins and heavy stuff to put at the bottom, go round again to get your root veg to go in next and so on.

It's not an issue for me anymore (our corner shop is now a great big Tescos) but I used to load my shopping straight into the paniers at the checkout. If it was busy then I'd often put the shopping back in the trolley and wheel it out the way so that I could take my time packing after I'd paid. I've always found that if you're carrying you're shopping over any distance it's worth the extra effort.

Patrick

 

[Mussels]

Wow, they are £280 for the standard one with the bag. You could get quite a trailer for that!

 

[flecc]

I was looking at the bike hod Waitrose self scan page and I spotted a problem. If you're self scanning your shopping and putting them straight into the bike-hod then won't you have to make several passes of the store to pack things properly? Go round once to get tins and heavy stuff to put at the bottom, go round again to get your root veg to go in next and so on.

Patrick

Quite true Patrick. Unfortunately supermarkets so often start with fruit and veg and end with heavy bottles of liquids, completely the wrong way round from a packing point of view for anyone who isn't a fan of "smoothies".

I've never liked the BikeHod type of carrier or tall pannier bags for that reason, preferring the squarer stiff shaped Dutch panniers.
.

 

[stranger]

I found a large blue foldable bag with semi-stiff sides (which prevent things that you don't WANT 'ready pressed' by the time you get home, from being squished on the way) and a fully zippable top, in Superbuys for £6.99 which holds a vast amount of shopping. I was amazed at what I could pack in.

The original intention was for it to sit in the back of the car to hold the shopping there--but it straps very neatly, with two of those elastic bungie things, onto the rack of the PB Shopper--and away we go.

Properly placed it doesn't seem to affect the balance or stopping power of the bike.

And as it's all mine I don't need to return it to anybody.

But I would just LOVE to see what Tesco (I like Tesco) would do with our monthly 'on-line shop' (all the really heavy stuff) on or behind a bike of any description.