I've not been to a shop anywhere since early October, I've had everything delivered, alternately from Asda and Tesco. I've found it easy enough to get a slot well into the future. When this latest lockdown started the delivery slots quickly filled up, but I just chose a click and collect one. As of now it's become easier again, my next delivery is on 1st February. Can't tip as I don't have any cash.
We've not had an issue getting a slot with any supermarket once my wife was recognised on the shielding list. Since then, and as we have a delivery every week, we got a delivery pass that allows you to see further ahead. Good value for £40 (I think it was).
When abroad I always tip as it's part of the culture but I wouldn't tip a delivery driver here unless I'd asked them to do something particularly effortful or unusual like walk up a huge flight of stairs or wait ten minutes whilst I unpacked it all and put it away or I'd ordered 300 tins or something. When I've had deliveries they literally park at the bottom of my drive and walk about ten steps with the bags and put them down, why would I tip that when they are getting paid? As far as I'm aware they are properly employed drivers and not part of the gig economy. It's not that I'm intentionally being tight, I just genuinely don't understand it. Are people tipping because it's Covid times (in which case do you tip bin emptiers, supermarket workers, bus drivers etc.) or do you always tip? And why them and not others? (Or who else do you tip too?)
Dont have an Asda or Tesco anywhere near me though Tesco seems to be decent in South Yorks as my Sister is regularly booking a tesco slot to deliver stuff for Dad and she can usually get them 2-3 weeks ahead - Waitrose or Sainsburys are the only supermarkets in Farhnam - unless Tesco Aldershot deliver this far - havent checked that. Have signed up to Okado and they havent anything either though you can in theory ask them to notify you when slots become available
I generally agree with you that I consider tips to be for above and beyond service. During Covid I've been tipping like food delivery people (where the app allows it digitally. Which, now that I think about it I've not had the prompt anywhere for a while. Maybe they've stopped doing it or I've just not noticed it...), purely because they're going out so that I don't have to. It's different to me than bin emptiers etc. who are not doing it specifically for me.