Instacart Experiences?

[lionqueen]

Hi. We have a trip planned over Easter and I was thinking about trying out Instacart for groceries. We have used Garden Grocer in the past and have been very happy with them. I was wondering what everyone's experiences were with instacart were and if you were as happy with them as you were with other grocery delivery services? Will Instacart deliver the groceries like Garden Grocer? I was also wondering if Instacart separates the perishables so that they can be places in cold storage? Thanks for any of your input

 

[wilkeliza]

I have not used them in Orlando but I use them about twice a month or more at home. When everything is in stock it is great but if they have to replace something it is hit or miss. The app lets you approve a substitution but some times if you order say 4 15 ounce cans of sauce they may only send 4 8 ounce cans.

 

[disneynutz]

We have used them twice at WDW/Publix. The first time the item prices seemed close to Publix prices, last week they seemed higher. They did not separate the groceries and IMO, they are not a Disney authorized Disney partner so bell services shouldn't accept the order.

Bill

 

[lionqueen]

We have used them twice at WDW/Publix. The first time the item prices seemed close to Publix prices, last week they seemed higher. They did not separate the groceries and IMO, they are not a Disney authorized Disney partner so bell services shouldn't accept the order.

Bill

They delivered it right to your room?

 

[disneynutz]

They delivered it right to your room?

At VGF he did, at BWV he gave the order to bell services. My understanding is that the guest should have to meet the driver curbside since instacart isn't an authorized Disney business partner.

Bill

 

[CaliAdventurer]

Being from Seattle, Amazon handles like 2/3 of my life with one service or another. Hands down- PRIME NOW is the best grocery delivery service and I have used it at VGF with no problems. That time we were right there so we grabbed them as they arrived because it was easier and then we saved the tip to the bell desk. There's a simple app and the service is FREE with an auto grat of 10%. I used Instacart last month at VGC and HATED it. They had only half the items I asked for and I kept getting messages while the gal was shopping about substitutions; honestly, it would have been easier to have just gone and shopped myself. AND THEN I realized that I had to PAY for that lousy situation and THEN they expected you to tip also. Disney, however, handled it great. Bell Desk called and then brought them right up.

I have also talked to some of my PRIME NOW delivery persons (I do 75% of my grocery shopping with them because they have many stores to choose from all at once including a pet store and a health store). They pay a few bucks above Seattle minimum wage to the drivers who cover the transportation expense and then the tips help and it shows. The drivers are always respectable and friendly. I can get behind that!

 

[wilkeliza]

Being from Seattle, Amazon handles like 2/3 of my life with one service or another. Hands down- PRIME NOW is the best grocery delivery service and I have used it at VGF with no problems. That time we were right there so we grabbed them as they arrived because it was easier and then we saved the tip to the bell desk. There's a simple app and the service is FREE with an auto grat of 10%. I used Instacart last month at VGC and HATED it. They had only half the items I asked for and I kept getting messages while the gal was shopping about substitutions; honestly, it would have been easier to have just gone and shopped myself. AND THEN I realized that I had to PAY for that lousy situation and THEN they expected you to tip also. Disney, however, handled it great. Bell Desk called and then brought them right up.

I have also talked to some of my PRIME NOW delivery persons (I do 75% of my grocery shopping with them because they have many stores to choose from all at once including a pet store and a health store). They pay a few bucks above Seattle minimum wage to the drivers who cover the transportation expense and then the tips help and it shows. The drivers are always respectable and friendly. I can get behind that!

There is a massive difference between the two services. Amazon prime now sales things direct from their warehouse so they already know what they have in stock and will not substitute. If they are out they are out and you just don't get charged for it.

Instacart on the other hand is a personal shopper of sorts. So apart of the agreement is that if something is out they will try to substitute it. You can chose for all substitutions to be auto approved so you don't get all those messages. Prime Now may not have perishable items, alcohol, or a wide selection of food products. Instacart on the other hand actually shops in a grocery store so unless you are asking for something super specific (in my case it is usually arborio rice those buyers can't find it for the life of them) they will find it in the store or the same but different brand.

A PP mentioned authorized business partners. I don't think Disney has actual authorized business partners for food and grocery delivery. They will accept any perishable delivery at bell services. To my knowledge none are allowed straight to the room unless you are there and not in say club level. Outside of that the other authorized dealers I know of are medical supplies companies and ECV rentals.

 

[CaliAdventurer]

That is actually not the case for PRIME NOW; you are thinking of Amazon Fresh. PRIME NOW has a ridiculous amount of items in a simple to shop store with pictures. You can either narrow the store you want to shop from or shop from all of the available retailers in that particular locale. They are bringing on more vendors it seems as it builds speed.

For example, yesterday I ordered groceries from PCC, my local natural co-op market that is the bougie organic brands and then a separate order came from Amazon's facilities of all the regular stuff like breakfast cereal, TP, etc. You don't have to choose a market to begin shopping, just search and it will show which retailers have it and the price. (in my area its PCC, Uwajimaya, New Seasons, All the Best Pet Care, & Amazon) There is a $30 minimum per retailer. You just shop and the cart separates for you. You check out one by one but it costs you nothing more to have a delivery from one store or three. Typically the store is preparing it for the driver so you don't get all the texts from the shopper and questions and substitutions. If an item is out you will get a text but many times the preparer will text if you would like to substitute. Rarely happens. It is by far a superior situation. Instacart took me as much time to deal with the shopper as it did to have gone.

Prime Now is not available in most areas yet. But it IS available in Orlando & Anaheim. AND in metro areas, there is restaurant delivery too. Anaheim has it, not sure about Orlando.

 

[wilkeliza]

That is actually not the case for PRIME NOW; you are thinking of Amazon Fresh. PRIME NOW has a ridiculous amount of items in a simple to shop store with pictures. You can either narrow the store you want to shop from or shop from all of the available retailers in that particular locale. They are bringing on more vendors it seems as it builds speed.

For example, yesterday I ordered groceries from PCC, my local natural co-op market that is the bougie organic brands and then a separate order came from Amazon's facilities of all the regular stuff like breakfast cereal, TP, etc. You don't have to choose a market to begin shopping, just search and it will show which retailers have it and the price. (in my area its PCC, Uwajimaya, New Seasons, All the Best Pet Care, & Amazon) There is a $30 minimum per retailer. You just shop and the cart separates for you. You check out one by one but it costs you nothing more to have a delivery from one store or three. Typically the store is preparing it for the driver so you don't get all the texts from the shopper and questions and substitutions. If an item is out you will get a text but many times the preparer will text if you would like to substitute. Rarely happens. It is by far a superior situation. Instacart took me as much time to deal with the shopper as it did to have gone.

Prime Now is not available in most areas yet. But it IS available in Orlando & Anaheim. AND in metro areas, there is restaurant delivery too. Anaheim has it, not sure about Orlando.

Prime Now in Orlando only has the Amazon warehouse and a few restaurants. They do not have the personal shopping there that other cities have. There was no confusion at all. I use prime now quite often so definitely know how it operates. Yes it some cities (mine included) you can shop at other stores through prime now but if what you want is not in stock or they can't find it they just leave it out and email you to say it was out of stock so you weren't charged. In Orlando you can order from the Amazon warehouse or from a few restaurants but they do not have the grocery stores like other cities.

 

[CaliAdventurer]

Prime Now in Orlando only has the Amazon warehouse and a few restaurants. They do not have the personal shopping there that other cities have. There was no confusion at all. I use prime now quite often so definitely know how it operates. Yes it some cities (mine included) you can shop at other stores through prime now but if what you want is not in stock or they can't find it they just leave it out and email you to say it was out of stock so you weren't charged. In Orlando you can order from the Amazon warehouse or from a few restaurants but they do not have the grocery stores like other cities.

Hmm, thanks and that's too bad. We are spoiled to be the test group here probably. They seem to bring new vendors more frequently now will change. I'll be there in April and will be curious to see the selection again.
Either way, they have me at FREE.

 

[DVC Jen]

we have used Dizzy Dolphin Delivery and love them.

 

[pinklotusflower]

We used Dizzy Dolphin last year & loved them, they shopped where we wanted and the price was very reasonable. It was waiting for us at Bell Services and even include some surprise gifts.