A Tesco customer was left stunned after her online grocery delivery arrived with a significantly more expensive substitute for a half leg of lamb she had ordered. Irene, who shared her experience on X, had ordered a half leg of lamb priced at £8.50 per kilo. However, due to a stock shortage, Tesco replaced it with a full leg of lamb worth £45, but charged her only the original price.
Irene expressed her surprise in a viral post, stating: "Ordered half a leg of lamb off Tesco for £8.50 and, because they didn't have it, they've sent me a £45 whole leg of lamb for £8.50 instead... which is amazing, except I'm not entertaining Henry VIII." Despite the bargain, she noted the full leg had a shorter shelf life of three days compared to five for the half leg, raising concerns about finishing it in time.
The post quickly garnered reactions, with many impressed by Tesco's substitution. One user commented: "And you've only got a few days to eat it," to which Irene replied: "It's in the oven rn [right now] we will do our best." Others suggested freezing the excess or using leftovers for stews and curries. Another user joked: "You poor b******... Why would you even complain at that? Cut it in half and freeze it." Irene clarified she was not complaining, just shocked by the unexpected upgrade.
This incident highlights the occasional quirks of supermarket substitution policies, where customers may receive items of greater value than originally ordered.
