SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (WXYZ) — Folks who’ve tried ordering groceries online during the coronavirus outbreak say they’re having some trouble actually placing an order. In some cases they're being told there are no dates available to pick up an order.
People are not mad about a delay with the service, they understand. What they are concerned about is there are no times slots available for pick up and some even are saying maybe the grocery stores should concentrate more on pick-up orders.
"You can’t get a time slot because there’s none available," said Sarah Richards, who has been trying to place an online order for a week.
Richards is like other Michiganders doing her part and staying indoors while trying to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
"I thought the whole point was to be able to stay home and not have a lot of people out on the streets and keep everybody safe," she said.
For RIchards, and so many others, the norm is no longer a thing, this includes going to the grocery store to get food and essentials. It’s also become incredibly difficult for people to place online orders for groceries.
"I’ve tried every day for a week and can’t even place an online order because I can’t even get an available day," Richards said.
We asked channel 7 viewers on our Facebook page to weigh in on the issues they are having. One viewer wrote, "I couldn't get a date for pickup or delivery. No dates available. I had to go shop, which put me on edge."
"I’m trying to do my part by not going to the store but it’s almost like you have to," Richards said.
Other viewers writing on Facebook say they understand the delay, but have other ideas to fix the issue. One viewer wrote, "close the stores to foot traffic. Utilize the employees for filling orders. Less person-to-person contact, no hoarding, shelves can be stocked without problem and wait times might be cut way down."
Another viewer telling us what is going on with his son who's working extra hours in the grocery store writing, “they have only so many appointment times. They have employees out sick. Besides risking his own health and that of his family, he's doing everything he can. Ordering online is jam packed with people are trying to place orders, but remember they are working as hard and as fast as they can to make sure you are taken care of."
