I never felt the need to try online grocery shopping. I always go myself, like I have... since forever! However, last week I missed, (we go every two weeks) because of a severe sciatica attack that left me walking with a cane, and only for short distances. (It's finally clearing up, I'm over the hump).

I seen an ad for Meijer's promoting online grocery shopping, (we don't have any nearby, dammit). I then got an idea to try the only big box store around, Wal-Mart. (Yeah, I don't care for them either) and sure enough, they had it at one of the two closest stores to me that has recently went live.

I took my grocery list and started adding items to my cart by going through various departments, but that proved to be tedious. The search was way better and I soon completed my shopping, made an online account, set a time for pickup on Monday between 11am and 12pm and paid for my order. We went there the next day and got there right at 11. They have about a dozen parking spots near a door and a sign with a phone number to call. While I was fumbling with my phone, a woman came up to my window and took my name. She said it would be a couple of minutes, and next thing I know she was hauling out two flatbeds with another woman. I jumped out of my truck and helped them load my stuff in coolers and after signing electronically, we were on our way!

I like it! Very efficient, and quality was right up there. The only minor glitch was that they had to substitute a few items that weren't in stock. Not a major issue.

I think I like living in the future. This seems to be ideal for the elderly, handicap, or other limiting factors of going in to shop.

I'm still holding out for a Meijer's. That rumor has been going on since before I moved up here 20 years ago. Maybe someday. But in the meantime, I may try this again.

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Mr. Lahey: A lot of people, don’t know how to drink. They drink against the grain of the liquor. And when you drink against the grain of the liquor? You lose.

Randy: What the @#$%& are you talking about?

Yup, I got hooked on Wal-Mart online shop/pick-up when looking after sister. I was a little skeptical, but no more. No quality problems, selection and price matched in store 99%.

Maybe one of the most impressive things is for those items I allowed substitutions on (You can allow or veto substitution on an item by item basis), if they make a substitution, they use the item next up the rung in quality, but only charge you the price of the out of stock item. Given that I only experience one or two substitutions every other trip or so, that’s a very smart, customer friendly way to handle it.

Rick-o,

You still did it the hard way. Why didn't you have the groceries delivered to you? My wife and I use an online grocery shop for the vast majority of our grocery shopping these days. Sometimes Peapod. Sometimes Fresh Direct. More often, lately, Prime Now (from Whole Foods) via Amazon. We pick and choose what we want, choose the delivery time and hit the go button. The groceries get delivered. We put them away. done.

There are occasional goofs, out of stock items with or without a substitute. Nothing insurmountable. Overall, I gotta says, it's much easier than schlepping to and from the local grocery store. This is especially true of the one that is a few minutes away because parking there is horrendously awful.

The few times I hit the actual grocery store is when I want to take Little M there or need to grab an item or two that I didn't get in the last big order. Little M _loves_ riding in a shopping cart and brings out the smiles in everyone as we zip around there store at full-grocery cart speed.

All things considered relatively equal, though, I'll take grocery shopping online over hitting the local store. Much easier overall.

Robert



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/03/2019 02:20PM by Robert M.

Any fees for the service?

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Saint Cloud, Minnesota, where the weather is wonderful even when it isn't.

Speedy,

There is a small fee for the service plus a tip. With Peapod, the fee varies depending on the time you choose for delivery. Can't remember off the top of my head for the others. Some of the stores deliver via Instakart. Even with a fee and a tip, online grocery shopping is still worth it.

Robert



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/03/2019 02:30PM by Robert M.

....is the tip small....??

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_____________________________________

I reject your reality and substitute my own!

I've been suffering with a back injury and have also been using Walmart's online order/store pickup service (there are no grocery delivery stores here). It's been a real lifesaver for me. I can still drive and they load my groceries. I've only had a few substitutions and they have all been fine. They ask you to rate them afterwards and I've given them five stars every time.

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Northern California Coast

Quote
Robert M
Rick-o,

You still did it the hard way. Why didn't you have the groceries delivered to you?

Robert

They don't offer it here yet. They just got to the point of having pickup available. Maybe in the future that service will be available. In case you don't know, I live in the sticks. We're lucky to even have a Wal-Mart, let alone anything else. We do have a Schwan's service [www.schwans.com]. I see their trucks around town all the time. They are way too expensive for my blood though.

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Mr. Lahey: A lot of people, don’t know how to drink. They drink against the grain of the liquor. And when you drink against the grain of the liquor? You lose.

Randy: What the @#$%& are you talking about?

Quote
Robert M
Speedy,

There is a small fee for the service plus a tip. With Peapod, the fee varies depending on the time you choose for delivery. Can't remember off the top of my head for the others. Some of the stores deliver via Instakart. Even with a fee and a tip, online grocery shopping is still worth it.

Robert

The pickup service is free at Wal-Mart. I would think they would charge for this service in the future, but now it's no different than going in.

I didn't tip. Is that customary for someone rolling out your stuff to your vehicle?

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Mr. Lahey: A lot of people, don’t know how to drink. They drink against the grain of the liquor. And when you drink against the grain of the liquor? You lose.

Randy: What the @#$%& are you talking about?

At our Wal-Mart tips are not allowed, but including their name in the review is very appreciated. I’ve assumed that in addition to loading your vehicle, they pull orders when they’re not loading.

We don’t have a Wal-Mart that delivers, but I have used Safeway’s delivery service when push came to shove (Safeway is noticeably more expensive).

The charge is based on how quickly you need the delivery, and can be discounted on larger purchases. It ranges from $8.99 to free, with windows from within two hours to within, I believe, six hours. A tip isn’t necessary, but not prohibited.

I had an occasion where it was raining buckets and the guy cheerfully made two trips to the second floor to get everything to the door. I gave him ten bucks and a glowing review (of course).



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/03/2019 09:01PM by Blankity Blank.

I have a friend who delivers for Instacart in her spare time - it is a shopping and delivery service for many vendors including Costco - available in western Washington - not sure about other areas - you all might check to see if it is available near you.

[www.instacart.com]

Rick-o,

I don't do local pickup so I can't give you an answer. I rarely do an online order with a local pickup and the few times I do it, I have to go in the store and get the item from the local pickup desk. No need for a tip. I'd definitely tip if someone gives me a hand by bringing a bunch of goods to the car and helps me load them or assists me with a larger, heavier or bulky item.

I rarely order online with a local pickup because to me, it kinda defeats the purpose of ordering goods online. Why am I going to buy something online and then go tot the store and grab it when it's just as easy to have the local store deliver it to me? In some cases online order with local pickup makes sense. Buying items from Micro Center comes to mind. Most times, I can afford to wait a few hours or a day or two for the delivery.

Robert