Grocery delivery service has enhanced my life

It's hit or miss. A friend does it with Walmart. They substitute, or are out of stock frequently. They also don't have their entire grocery inventory available to purchase - they only have limited products and sizes available, usually the larger sizes. She can't get a 12-pack of Coca-Cola products, for instance. Safeway charges much higher prices for delivery customers than they do people who shop in-store. This is in addition to the delivery fees.

I have Walmart grocery pickup. I have not stepped into a grocery store in almost 3 years. I have never had an issue with selection or order correctness. The only drawback is that it's an hour long round trip drive. My local Walmart neither has pickup or delivery. I can't wait for delivery!

J’adore Instacart!

Goo, OP.

I think Publix contracts with Instacart and I've had no issues. Maybe Walmart uses their own associates who aren't so great at shopping.

I hadn't even heard of Instacart until a coworker mentioned it to me a couple weeks ago. I think I will try it out.

I enjoy grocery shopping.

Grocery shopping on my cell phone plus two hour delivery is a dream.

Sometimes Instacart offers one hour delivery!

I feel that way about my pick-up-drop-off laundry service. It's really enhanced my life!

But I had grocery delivery after surgery, when I couldn't lift anything. I found I missed checking out all the odd things on the shelves and picking out the produce myself.

We've had nationwide Grocery delivery for 20 years in the UK, it's jut normal now.

I still use a local butcher for meat though as it's better quality (they also deliver).

^^ Just^^

If I was too busy, I would probably use the service. I'm not, so I'd rather save that $100 for gas

I've tried it and I've never been happy with the produce selections (plus, for me at least, it is hard to visualize what a pound of something is sometimes). Is two pounds of oranges 1-2 oranges? Six?

I want to look at steak/fish before I buy it.

Just not for me.

You put how many individual oranges you want in the item comment box, idiot r14.

Not all services work like that asshat R15. At least as of last year, Safeway.com was strictly by the pound.

I do use the HEB curbside service in Houston. No delivery or shopper fee if you don't need your stuff same day, but prices are always marked up 3% from in-store. Totally worth it for the convenience.

I live in NYC and get everything delivered. I've always gotten restaurant food delivered but in the past year have started with groceries and laundry. I just downloaded drizly today for alcohol. I don't have a car or a cart so I love not having to schlep heavy bags all the way home. It's really been a game changer.

I love grocery shopping. And when it comes to fresh produce or meat I don't want to leave it to someone else to pick out what I want.

I would also be concerned (yes, "concerned") about produce selection. I'm familiar with what a pound or two pounds would look like, so I'm OK with that. I don't buy much meat & fish, but if I did, I would also be concerned about that. Frozen chicken breasts or thighs would probably be OK.

Packaged stuff like dried pasta or Prego sauce, no problem.

4 hours a week OP?! How much time does it take you to go grocery shopping.

Anyway, I like perusing the aisles. I used delivery when I was injured, but I don't have a problem getting my own groceries.

I don't drive but live two miles from the nearest store. So Walmart delivers my groceries: it's not bad at all. It's a bit hit and miss sometimes: eg, they substituted crushed tomatoes with herbs for sardines in tomato sauce; I phoned them, they apologized and refunded me charge and gave me a gift voucher. Overall I'm a satisfied customer.

I like going to the store, being out of the house, getting some steps in, and looking at hot guys. If I was a shut-in, I’d probably use delivery.

Watch out for the coronavirus R23.

[quote] I still use a local butcher for meat though as it's better quality (they also deliver).

Now THAT sounds like heaven! Especially if the shop is familiar with you and knows your selections.

[quote] I do use the HEB curbside service in Houston.

It’s Jewish, you anti Semite!

I started using Amazon Fresh and it's pretty good. When I first joined, they had a lot of great items from their Whole Foods division that you could choose from, but they've recently taken a lot of them off -- I was bummed because I really liked their chicken samosas and they're history.

There are a few downsides - 95% of my order is great but about 3-4 times an item is missing, but you can call or go to their Help link and someone will refund the difference right away. A lot of time you put things in your cart and if you go back to add something else a few hours later, random items are missing and you have to try to figure out what disappeared. They don't always tell you what was removed or why. Also they don't offer a wide selection of raw meat - that brand of chicken they have, called Bare, is way overpriced. Last, using the SEARCH feature is janky - you get strange hits depending on the words you use. I put in "frozen corn" and the screen shows things like BBQ sauce, carrots and sauerkraut.

R25 Come off it who, outside Cabot Cove, has a 'local butcher'? Next you'll be saying you have a baker and a fishmonger in your village.

"'A mon Lolo, sa Tatie,' je vous prends un chocolat?" R11

R28, I didn’t say I had any of those things, someone above me did.

Though I do have a local butcher, but they don’t deliver like that other poster’s butcher.

[quote] Though I do have a local butcher R25/R30

Come off it R25/R30 who, outside Cabot Cove, has a 'local butcher'? Next you'll be saying you have a baker and a fishmonger in your village.

[quote] [R25] Come off it who, outside Cabot Cove, has a 'local butcher'? Next you'll be saying you have a baker and a fishmonger in your village.

I have a local butcher, fishmonger, cheesemonger, boulangerie, and florist. They all deliver to my doorstep. What's the problem?

Ina "I have coronavirus" Garten

But no candlemaker, Ina bitch (who the fuck are you anyway)?

I have a liquor store that delivers. Does that count? It shure does for meee.

[quote] I have a local butcher, fishmonger, cheesemonger, boulangerie, and florist. They all deliver to my doorstep. What's the problem?

The problem is you don’t have a sommelier who delivers? How low class. You must live in the bad part of town.

No sommelier?!? That is sad; still in Pittsburgh R36?

Drunk Whores Rejoice!

Not available at my address R38. Just checked. Dang.

I live two doors away from a smaller grocery store and one block from a big one, so while they deliver there's no need.

Of course, Jeffrey and I have access to the finest of wines. One of our frequent dinner party guests is a Master Sommelier. I can call him any time I need a special wine for a special occasion.

Funny, I just used Instacart for the first time today! I have a cold and just wanted a day in bed. It was great!

I've had a housekeeper since I was 40. Worth every penny and I haven't been in a grocery store in many years.

Does Instacart do Attended Delivery where they hand the groceries to you instead of just leaving them on the stoop? I am disabled and need the groceries carried up the three flights of stairs to my apartment. I can’t carry my bags up the stairs. I called Instacart to ask but haven’t gotten a consistent answer that I can rely on.

I currently use Attended Delivery from Amazon but I’m willing to switch to a different service.

They bring them to your door, r44.

I live in a third-floor condo.

I haven't used Instacart in a couple of years but they did bring everything right to my apt. door. They made a lot of mistakes though and they brought things back a second time which meant waiting around all day and they still didn't get it right. I pick no substitutions. I want what I want or I'd rather do without.

I'm disabled too and I also can't go to the lobby for my food.

I'm okay with Amazon Fresh and Amazon Whole Foods that both do attended delivery and they're pretty good. I often don't get everything I order because of the no substitution I choose but it's still pretty good. The prices aren't bad at all.

If you use Instacart for supermarkets like Shoprite or Stop n Shop you will not get the sale prices on anything.

Also there are so many things the stores carry that you can't ever get online like stuff at the deli counter or most of the fresh fish and even meat. But I have no one to actually go to the stores for me so these online shoppers are a godsend, even with the limitations.

That’s complete bullshit, r46.

I use it every other day. Maybe it was different a few years ago, but you’re just wrong.

In South Carolina, they came inside and began putting items away! I said whoa, no thank you. Next time, just leave everything on the porch.

I am retired, I only leave the house a few days a week as it is, going to the grocery store is just about the highlight of my week and I have a huge crush on one of the stock guys. I enjoy it and go early in the day M-F when they aren't at all busy. However it is nice to know the service is there, if I become ill, or too old to drive, I might use it then.

I really appreciate all you people who hate grocery shopping aren't blocking the aisles with you hate of grocery stores and are using these services.

They technically still are, r49. But now it's the instagram workers. My guess the workers hate it more than the DLers.

how lazy have we become? how did people ever survive without delivery service? How did they fit it all in?

Is it really weird to have a local butcher and fishmonger? I live in a cluster of small towns and have to drive a bit, but I have access to lots of local stuff I guess others don't have. And they often show up at the farmer's markets so I can do a lot of one-stop shopping that way. I must have 5 bakeries within 5-10 miles. One you go to for bread, another is French, so you go for croissants. Delivery is another matter though. Doesn't happen.

What is it about local butchers that so upsets you rubes? I live in the heart of NYC and have access to the best butcher shop (Esposito's) and fish market (Seabreeze), both within a ten minute walk. Rarely do I eat any animal protein found wrapped in cellophane on a grocery store cooler shelf.

[quote] how lazy have we become? how did people ever survive without delivery service? How did they fit it all in?

It's not just about lazy people. I can see someone like a grandma or grandpa, who has given up driving, using this service.

I'm not that old, but I have rheumatoid arthritis, and when I'm flaring up I am not capable of pushing a shopping cart around the store or carrying bags of groceries into the house. Online shopping/instacart are a lifesaver! I put "no substitutions" on my order, but most shoppers text me if the exact item is out, and offer useful information like, "the size you wanted is out, but I could get the smaller/larger one." They charge $9.95 for the service, and I usually leave a 20% tip for the shopper as well. It's totally worth it. And one of the guys is pretty cute... ;)

I have my pantry staples and bulk items delivered. Now I enjoy going to the store for a few ingredients that I happen to be in the mood for.

The key to Instacart is to keep your phone handy as the guy is shopping.

Then you’re notified in real time of replacements and can approve or not/ask for something else/chat with the guy over in-app text.

How can anyone not know this?

I use Shipt for my Meijer (large supermarket like Walmart). They keep in contact with texts, they tell you if something is out of stock and ask what you want to substitute. I just have them leave it on my front porch. I usually use it once a month like on a weekend when I don't feel like going out, otherwise I go to the store myself. I have only had one error, I ordered creme curls once and they brought me cannoli instead, it wasn't that big of a deal.

R58 types extremely fat.

r59 I was embarrassed to tell him he got me the wrong thing so let it go. Not fat but no longer 2 hot 2 b believed!

Gurl, you so nasty!

r61 don't laugh until you've tried them. They are good but you can see why I didn't want to make a fuss over not getting them. My grandma loves them too. HA!

My family is from the Netherlands, I live in a large Dutch area so creme curls are pretty common here but it was a young guy delivering (I have them leave it on the porch but it shows the picture of the person delivering on their website).

My family is from the Netherlands, I live in a large Dutch area so creme curls are pretty common here but it was a young guy delivering (I have them leave it on the porch but it shows the picture of the person delivering on their website).

And now I got the dreaded double post.... I'll show myself out

Oral fixatia.

Your large Dutch area is rapidly expanding, r64.

I suspect that the produce you order and have delivered is produce that is about to go bad.

I have dry goods delivered and then shop myself for produce or deli. I live 3 flights up, too, and I hate grocery shopping.

I've wanted to try it, but I also feel like once I take the plunge I'll always rely upon it. Perhaps I'll save it for a nasty hangover or if I catch COVID-19.

The downside is if you are a coupon clipper you can't use them.

r67 they are sweet so I don't gorge on all of them at once. You people act like you've never had a baked good before. I'm sure you are only buying fruit and vegetables when you shop.

I get my groceries AND my weed delivered to my front door living in California. What a time to be alive!

[quote]Is it really weird to have a local butcher and fishmonger? I live in a cluster of small towns and have to drive a bit, but I have access to lots of local stuff I guess others don't have. And they often show up at the farmer's markets so I can do a lot of one-stop shopping that way. I must have 5 bakeries within 5-10 miles. One you go to for bread, another is French, so you go for croissants. Delivery is another matter though. Doesn't happen.

It depends on where you live, of course. I have two grocery stores within a block, as well as one corner grocer who also --like the larger grocers-- has a butcher and sells fresh bread meats. Within three short blocks of my house are three bread bakeries, and on pastry (and bread) bakery; two fish markets; two butcher shops; three fruit and vegetable markets; and five shops that sell ready-made meals to heat/serve at home, with bread also for sale. Any of these places will deliver, but I'm not a recluse and don't have any mobility problems so why? And why not look at what's on offer? With so many things so close it's not a bother and needn't take more a few minutes to shop every day or two. For me it's a better routine than driving to a grocer store or stores with a long list - or ordering online or by phone.

Are you a boomer? You're talking about this as if it's a recent thing - I've been doing online grocery shopping for several years at this point. It saves a huge amount of time, I tend to only buy what I need and less distracted by added extras, it's much more convenient as I can literally shop while in bed, in the bath or at the gym, and I don't have to slog my way through a supermarket every week dodging annoying kids and elderly people.

I find it take way longer to browse the items online than to shop in the store. All of their sites are so overwhelming and you can’t find anything unless you already know exactly what you want.

It’s much faster to just go up and down the aisles to shop and also discover new items. Plus I want to know what’s on sale. A lot of things are buy one, get one free in store but not online.

Simply type "buy one get one free" in the search bar and all the sales pop up.

R75 I disagree. I don't know what company you're using, but I use Ocado in the UK and they have it down to a fine art. When you open the app you pick your delivery slot (which is a one-hour slot) and you then have a number of menu items such as 'Offers on your favourites' which lists all the things you've bought before that are on sale, plus there's a whole section for different offers including Half Price, Buy One Get One Free etc. You can filter and customise (Fresh, Vegetarian, Bakery, Store Cupboard) so that it's a breeze. I usually go through the offers on favourites, then add anything that looks good from the 'New' list and anything from Half Price, add anything else I need and I'm done. It takes me about 20 minutes - when I did my weekly food shop in person before, the whole thing would take about 4 hours (driving to the store, going up and down the aisles picking things out, then queuing and paying and driving home again).

I could never go back to regular weekly shopping in person. I do still use supermarkets for essentials and add-ons from time to time but for that I tend to use the smaller local shops that I can pop in and out of in 5 minutes.

[quote]Simply type "buy one get one free" in the search bar and all the sales pop up.

No, those kinds of offers and sales aren’t available online. A lot of them you have to use club cards which won’t work on Instacart.

I wouldn't permit anyone to choose my produce, meat or fist.

Not with the shit they sell in every store there is.

But I have other things delivered.

Amazon Fresh has free delivery of you're a Prime member. If you use SNAP or EBT, you aren't asked if you want to give your delivery person a tip - that option is removed as you're only supposed to use those funds for actual food. I'm sure most folks just hand the guy a few bucks though.

I can see grocery delivery being great if you're very busy, or a shut in, but those people doing the shops for customers, rolling their huge carts around the stores, are a major pain. They act as if they have priority over the customers doing their own shopping. For that reason I have reduced my visits to the grocery store tremendously. I'm retired and at the beginning of each month a close friend and I go to Costco to stock up on non-perishables to last a full month (or more). Then we hit the independent produce markets around his home out in the suburbs. Now I only go to the grocery store if I need something fast, which is rare.

[quote] If you use SNAP or EBT,

The question is, how can someone on SNAP or EBT afford a Prime membership? Seems that $120.00 would be better spent on necessities for the home.

Most of my weekly shop comes from the organic produce market. They don’t offer it, and in case, with stuff like fruit one has to choose carefully. Like white nectarines: some have fabulous room-filling aroma, some don’t.

I get a lot of stuff that I don’t want to lose in the car - beverages etc.

I buy meat and produce if it’s used the next day. I too often get perishables with close expiry dates.

It's convenient if you're really pressed for time or have difficulty getting out, but I prefer picking out my own items. Sometimes when you're picking up your regular whatever item, you notice a new adjacent item or something on sale. And as others have said, I prefer selecting my own produce and meats and fish.

[quote] I get a lot of stuff that I don’t want to lose in the car - beverages etc.

How big is your car exactly?

I order non-perishable items from Amazon (toilet paper, cleaning supplies, etc.) and have meat delivered from an organic online place that does monthly deliveries (Butcher Box if you're interested) and dog food/treats from Chewy

But living in NYC, there's a Trader Joe's and other supermarkets on my way home from work, so it's not a big deal to stop in to get produce and random other items.

If I lived someplace where it took 20-30 minutes to get to the supermarket though, I'd be all-in on delivery.

I live in Manhattan and shop daily. I like to see what’s fresh and available and on sale/special.

It’s not a service I use, but I can understand why people love it. The shopping services are pretty popular. I’d say that a quarter of the shoppers at my Fairway are Instacart.

The only thing that bugs me is that they seem to get priority at the deli counter. They don’t take a number and wait on line like I do.

R82

Amazon has discounted membership for EBT/SNAP users -- instead of the usual $120, the fee is $5.99 a month which adds up to about $72 a year. Amazon wanted to give lower income folks the ability to get food, etc. too, and lowered the membership price.

I use Publix and Instacart. It's not that expensive and they text you asking if you want this sub or what you want on say a sandwich.

The one I cannot stand - they were shit in the Northeast and they're awful here in the south is DoorDash. Either they steal your food or they just never deliver it.

For realz Lucifer?

I have never had a problem with DoorDash and they deliver from many restaurants that previously did not have delivery service.

There's a significant markup and bad press about the delivery people not getting tips, but in the dead of winter in NYC, it is awesome.

@YourMillenialFriend - yeah really. Someone wanted Pizza - little Ceasers is right around the corner. I said I'll go get it. Nah, have it delivered. So I did and they said it'd be delivered by a certain time. Except over an hour and half later no pizza. I ended up calling Little Ceasers and the store was 5 miles away I went and picked it up. Never again.

I'm a fat whore who lives in a houseboat on Lake of the Ozarks. Can I get Velveeta and Mrs. Freshley's delivered by barge?

I won't use them - tried a few times and they never, ever got the orders right.

I use Peapod (associated with Stop & Shop), and have only two minor complaints. Their strawberries are clearly the oldest ones they’re stocking because they don’t last. I’ve complained and gotten credit for them a few times. The other complaint is that my kitchen is 3 flights up, and one of their deliverymen will only carry the groceries up one flight. They have a lot of drivers, fortunately. And, yes, I tip well. Most of the deliverymen seem to like me.

I got groceries delivered just ahead of last Christmas. The delivery man was the late 30’s or early 40s Gay guy that I like. I gave him a gift basket of chocolates I had made, and he cried. “Nobody does this” he said. “Well, people are jerks”, I replied.

[quote]The question is, how can someone on SNAP or EBT afford a Prime membership? Seems that $120.00 would be better spent on necessities for the home.

Typical Repug.

It's only 10 dollars a month. And did it ever occur to you they got it while they were employed? Lots of people get laid off and not everyone gets unemployment for example. Those that don't can apply for food stamps.

In California I use Vons / Pavilions. They have a unique system that looks at what you buy from them online, then over time they give customized discounts in the form of digital coupons you would NOT get by walking into the store. And pretty decent, like 30% -40% on some things I buy all the time.

That’s not a unique system. That’s just their app with their “For You” recommendations. Anyone can walk into the store and use the app.

It's still unique R98. Yes anyone can use the app, that's the point but it's still customized to your specific buying patter. The other chains like Ralphs, Whole Foods, don't use it. Just generic discounts on a generic app.

The Target app has it. The Tarder Joe app has it. What’s so special about it?

[quote] Amazon has discounted membership for EBT/SNAP users -- instead of the usual $120, the fee is $5.99 a month which adds up to about $72 a year. Amazon wanted to give lower income folks the ability to get food, etc. too, and lowered the membership price.

People in a household or neighbors can also chip in for a membership for one person. So, even if there's just 2 people chipping in, that is $36 per year or $3 per month. Not so bad.

Customized to your buying habit. Not one size fits all R100. And its not an app. I just go online from home. Good to know about Trader Joe's . Walmart? Really?

I thought I read somewhere that EBT and SNAP dont allow any kind of delivery? I tried it once years ago when I was no them. Only if you are disabled or over 65 I think.

A few months ago, I got really sick of shopping. I started stocking up on no-brainer stuff like toilet paper, paper towels, dried pasta, and condiments. It took a while (and cost some money), but now, I'm mostly just buying buying produce and minor impulse buys. I borrowed a friend's vacuum sealer and I think I'll buy my own (for cheeses, etc.).

I kind of split the difference. I order everything online through deliver that cant go bad or just needs refrigeration like, milk, paper towels, water, soda, canned things, coffee etc. Then I hit the store just for personal selection of things like meat and fresh fruits. Makes that one trip really short and fast and if they miss anything in my delivery that's when I pick that up.

[quote]Instacart. It's not that expensive and they text you asking if you want this sub or what you want on say a sandwich.

I used Instacart once and I got messages saying the shopper had substituted items, but never once asked me if the subs were okay. Then she took 45 minutes to get here when the store is only 2 miles away. I had an injury and a coupon for trying them free, so I thought this would be a good idea. I was mistaken.

Then when she got here, she dropped every glass jar in the order, because she'd put all 7 of them in one thin plastic bag and it broke. Then I had to almost yell at her to stop trying to pick up broken glass because there was NO DAMN WAY I was going to let some lady slice her hand open on my property.

When I called Instacart to get a refund for the broken items, the lady on the phone almost didn't give me a refund, then started giving me attitude after confirming what had broken, "Uh, GOD, what were you MAKING?"

"I wasn't putting the jam, queso, olives and capers all in the same dish, you know."

"...Oooo... kay?!?!?!?"

Fucking insufferable. It was a goddamned nightmare.

R106 I know this would be my experience if I tried Instacart. I feel for you. Hell really is other people.

Instacart is horrible! I used them once and this big black heifer showed up, huffing and puffing pushing a cart, reeked of cigarette smoke, vaginosis and piss. She didn't bother to unload it either, just pushed it into my condo cart and all was going to leave it all there. It didn't occur to her she needs to return that thing. We have elevators, don't know why she was huffing and puffing. After she left I had to open up the door to air the place out. Even the inside of the bags smelled like smoke and piss, how is that possible!

I got a delivery from Amazon yesterday. They HATE delivering to high-rises, so they dump stuff in front of the building. A neighbor moved stuff from there to the lobby. I was expecting the delivery, so I brought a cart with me to the lobby. I brought my package up plus two for a neighbor on another floor. This is the downside of free delivery.

I do not understand how some of you admit to shopping at Walmart. They're evil.

ANYONE USE one of the many healthy food delivery companies? if so, what's a good one and also one that doesn't charge you a arm and a leg? so many to choose from now...

of course now, they're national companies and local companies to choose from.

R100 Trader Joe's doesn't have an app, nor do they discount anything or have sales, so what are you talking about?

They are all expensive R111. Only the rich can afford to eat that way unfortunately.

I never said Trader Joe’s has one. So what are you talking about?

Thanks to all you lazy bitches who just increased the price for the rest of us. Do you really think they didn't raise the price for your lazy asses? They should make it very expensive so you will have to get your sloppy butts out rather than sitting and jacking off waiting for your fucking bag of potatoes and bottle of cheap wine. Entitled cunts.

I live in a high rise and I choose attended delivery and they always bring it to my apartment door and hand it to me or place it on a table I have right near the door.

Instacart I hate. Nothing but problems and yes, nasty customer reps.

well smell r115

How much do the different services charge for delivery? Do you also tip?

How much do you usually tip?

It's good when I can't get to the store, but like R7, I prefer picking out my own stuff because I've gotten deliveries from WF and the "personal shopper" tends to do a shitty job. For example, some of the produce they pick is either not ripe or too ripe and they choose perishables with a date close to expiration when I'd be reaching in the back for the fresher stuff.

We heard about your reaching in the back, r120.

Wow, it honestly never occurred to me to tip my grocery delivery person. Not sure that's even a thing in the UK tbh.

R122 It's not done quite the same way as in the US as here in the UK.

The products aren't supplied from 'live; stores, they come DCOS stores that aren't open to the public and the delivery drivers just deliver, it's their job and they are fairly well paid to do it.

I might tip a delivery driver at Christmas, but other than that never.

123 replies, and not one mention of Fresh Direct? Did this service fall out of favor? I used to use it a few years back, but found it overpriced.

They are definitely overpriced, R124, that's why I stopped using them.

R123, that's not quite correct. There are large grocery stores that deliver. Keyfood in several neighborhoods (at least in Brooklyn) delivers - and the particular store where I've been when I'm in the area (Ditmas Park?) has high quality, organic products because the neighborhood is a hipster one.

R125 I meant that the DCOS 'Dark Store' thing is how it works in the UK.

lot's of Organic in the UK, generally not much more expensive.

Apologies, R126. very little sleep, I got the US/UK backwards.

Fresh Direct has an offshoot delivery service called Food Kick, which offers limited grocery items, some prepared food and beer/wine. It's marketed towards the younger, hipster crowd, those who don't ever hit the big supermarket like their parents did, but need to get some basic items that everyone has in their home for a few days or if they have friends coming over and need some party items and wine.

FK is set up that you pick what you want and put it in your cart - no human interaction like with Instacart. I've only used Foodkick 1-2 times when it first popped up in Brooklyn. It's OK - never got anything other than standard milk, bread, orange juice, etc. It's a little pricey, and probably will ever use it again - I use Amazon Fresh as my go-to for everything now.

R126, only last night on the news here in the US I learned about "dark restaurants." Several restaurants have teamed up to create a megarestaurant caterer that will operate only on behalf of delivery services.

[quote]Sometimes Instacart offers one hour delivery!

FUCK THAT. I delivered for part-time for Instacart for two months...never again. Yeah, people would expect one hour delivery on the busiest day during the busiest hour. Oh, and they would order plenty of things from the deli so I would end up waiting at the counter for about 20-30 minutes. The pay is shit and few people tip...except for the folks who could least afford to, and that breaks my heart. NEVER the fuck again.

When I had a problem with Instacart they first suggested I just take the tip away from the delivery lady, instead of giving me a refund on my broken items. Your beef with Instacart customers not tipping is probably really a beef with Instacart themselves.

She may have been terrible at delivering groceries but she still got most of it here and it was only a $5 tip, I wasn't going to take it away from her.

But I waited tables at a Pizza Hut years ago and yes, the people who tipped the best were the people who looked like they had the least. The rich frat boys, sorority girls, upper class families taking 27 kids out for a birthday party, they never tipped.

R131, and yet we have stereotypes that makes those people seem like they're the great tippers. Ethnic-types tend to be the best tippers from my experience: Greeks, Arabs and Italians.

I never accept delivery requests from people who don’t tip. 78 items, 6 cases of water and $0 tip? No way. Fuck you.

And up 4 flights of stairs R133! Usually customers that run you around the most, complicated orders, or are the biggest pain in the ass tip the least!

Do you have to tip these people when they show up?

At least you can see how much they tip before you accept the request. I wonder if anyone ever picks up their deliveries. Same with DoorDash. $2 pay, no tip. I wonder if their food just sits there all night or some poor schmuck actually drives out there for $2.

[quote]Do you have to tip these people when they show up?

Of course you have to tip.

The tip box for Instacart is on the website or the app, so you give them the tip up front.

It's the same with food delivery apps, in my experience. The grocery pick-up service (they shop, we go pick it up) won't allow us to tip the workers, though.

I’d like to tip in cash when they arrive. That way I know they receive 100% of the tip.

R139, you might have a hard time getting anyone to deliver if you put $0 tip. I learned my lesson never to accept those deliveries. Been burned too many times. Maybe one out of ten would tip cash.

That is awful, R140. I know I always made a point of tipping Fresh Direct in person when I used to get from them (they're too expensive, though) because I asked one guy "Do you prefer online or in-person?" WF makes a point of telling you that 100% goes to the delivery person, so I do it online when I do get deliveries from them.

The UberEats app messed up and didn't include the tip I put in a couple months ago and the delivery guy almost punched me over it. I'd rather he'd have just not shown up at all if he was that big of a fucking baby about it.

What did he say? UberEats doesn’t show the tip until after the delivery is done. A lot of people tip a few hours after.

It seems the convenience of delivery must be weighed against the nuisance of tipping.

[quote]UberEats doesn’t show the tip until after the delivery is done. A lot of people tip a few hours after.

Am I thinking of the wrong delivery service? We use several including a local-only service. I would have sworn it was UberEats because it was a McDonald's order, which we've only done once because guests were over and they wanted some of those sugary iced coffees.

He insisted I write a note on a receipt he had in his hand to prove I didn't tip and when I said I did tip, he basically lunged at me. I told him I'd make sure there was a tip and closed the door right then, and my memory is I went back to the app, saw there was no tip, added it again, and it went through just fine.

The Vons/Pavillians chain of grocery stores I get my deliveries from specifically forbids tipping. And the delivery charge is only $6.00. They pay their delivery people a living wage and its a separate department even though they shops in the same store, not just some random bag person. Instacart is a different story I guess.

"He insisted I write a note on a receipt he had in his hand to prove I didn't tip and when I said I did tip, he basically lunged at me."

This person was incredibly rude. You shouldn't have rewarded him with a tip afterwards for this behavior. As far as I know, tips are still voluntary.

Hell, R147, I would've reported him to the company. Lunging at someone? He's a fucking POS.

What is a good tip? I give $5 to restaurant delivery, and $10 to grocery and laundry delivery.

I tip 15-20% for Instacart.

R149, that is a good tip. Some people give way less than that like $0.50. Or $0.01.

The UK posters on this thread are talking about an organized well paid staff picking the orders and passing it to a delivery driver for distribution.

The US posters are mainly referencing Instacart which seems to rely on a non centralized arrangement that isn't provided by the supplier (store).

We aren't really talking about the same kind of delivery service.

Hey guys, don't forget about regular online ordering: Amazon, Target.com, CVS,com, Walgreens.com, etc.

Added plus: don't have to worry about tipping anybody.

Does anybody have CSAs (community supported agriculture) in your neighborhood? If you're flexible, you can maybe get that delivered.

I usually get between 10 and 20 items from Amazon Fresh or Whole Foods. I tip 5 dollars in cash. I never tip online because I'm afraid they won't come up to my apartment, even with attended delivery chosen, if I tip online. They always seem happy with the tip.

Here in the UK I can also get a separate delivery of a selection of Organic Vegetables/fruits from a few different local farm shops.

I don't do it unless I'm having guests as it's far too much for 2 people, always incredibly fresh though and not expensive.

In the US, you can get those produce boxes but you can’t choose what you get.

[quote]I usually get between 10 and 20 items from Amazon Fresh or Whole Foods.

Are you the cunt who got my oatly oatmilk because I placed an order and when it was finalized, it was out of stock.

A $5 tip is shit.

Cheap cunts.

Online ordering from Walmart is iffy, R153, because they run out of stuff super fast. But it's cheaper than buying most stuff locally and I'm on a pretty tight budget so it's what I usually get.

Every place online is out of a lot of things like Mucinex, Gatorade, Kleenex, Clorox Wipes, etc.

I tip 15% for delivery generally, 20% to 25% for waitstaff when I go to a restaurant. If it's a small delivery order I will make the tip at least $5 though.

[quote] Are you the cunt who got my oatly oatmilk because I placed an order and when it was finalized, it was out of stock.

Huh?

Instagram is touting new, updated policies that will make their delivery safer during this crisis. Has anybody used them?

Instagram delivers groceries? ' So I assume they offer your choice of self-absorbed, buff insta-hos?

Oh god. I meant Instacart. That was too early in the morning for me. Link is to Instacart.

Delivery in some ways isn't new - my parents had milk delivered to our door several times a week, and for a time we had the farm collective box thingy that has had a resurgence of popularity at farmers markets at the like - you sign up with a local farm and they deliver cuts of meat and/or fruits/vegetables.

The market I worked for in HS did limited home delivery but mostly for customers who had already been in the store to shop. We had some very elderly customers who would do smallish orders that were standing orders, and I remember seeing some of the stock running low on items and setting it aside for their weekly order. But that was a store that, even in the late 80s, still had old registers, old price guns and no scanners!

[quote] Huh? —Punctuation!

Bitch, I didn't get my fucking oatmilk for my coffee and I'm mad. When the apocalypse comes, I'm coming for your stuff!!!!!!!!

I love you, r166!

And you can have my stuff. It ain’t worth much. Just take care of the 8-track player, though.

I was going to place a grocery delivery this evening and they must be busy because next available time was 3 am

Grocery delivery service is overwhelmed here in Norway. We're hit hard by the virus and it now takes a week to get the groceries you have ordered.

wow r169 sorry to hear that

Reporting from Dallas here, ordered groceries from Instacart on Sunday, will receive them (hopefully) Thursday.

I ordered a carton of More 120s Menthol Lights, six bottles of Barefoot chardonnay and a package of Tide Free 'n' Gentle Laundry Pods.

Well, the little snip who delivered got EVERYTHING wrong! The Mores were full-flavored menthols, the Barefoot was sauvignon blanc and the Free 'n' Gentle was powder, not pods (which makes my caftan chafe!).

You can bet I had some sharp words for "Blanca Z." when I telephoned her employer! Oh, yes, I did!

I took the 4 am delivery spot so hopefully they won't be out of stock, they didn't have TP, paper towel, or hand soap available to order.

WOOHOO they are restocking shelves and I got a good shopper, she called me and she got me TP and Bounty and is checking if they have hand soap. What happens is that as soon as it hits shelves it is gone but they are restocking right now (3:30 AM)

She found hand soap too, it finally pays to be a night owl. So happy because I am having problems with my legs and didn't feel like going out and now I have everything I need.

I just tried to order from PrimeNow and got this message:

Well R14 here and I just tried it again. Not as bad as I remember. I'd still prefer to do it myself though.