Instacart vs Pickup (at home)

[OrangeBirdGirl]

I've been doing grocery pickup for quite some time now. I am getting a little aggravated by the out of stock items and they won't substitute. Plus I feel the produce doesn't last me as long as it would have it I picked it up. The only way I've done pickup is where I place the order directly with the grocery store.

So, what is Instacart all about? Is this more like a UberEats but for groceries? I'm wondering if this is the type of service I more need. Where they will take the time to pick you out the decent product, softer bread, etc. If something is out of stock, do you have the ability then to request something else?

LOL or maybe the solution is I just need to stop being lazy and get myself to the grocery store and pickout my own groceries?

 

[kdonnel]

At the beginning of Covid I tried grocery delivery and found I hated it.

I spent way more time selecting groceries than if I just went to the store, got crap delivered, and found my groceries smelled like smoke when delivered.

I also found delivery about 30% - 40% more expensive.

 

[tvguy]

I'm not in their demographic. I want to pick my produce and meat, and take of advantage of in store specials that aren't listed on the website.
I have had Schwans home delivery for 30 years, but that is all frozen foods. They come by every two weeks. But other than that, I don't even have pizza delivered. I pick everything up myself.

 

[momz]

I use kroger where i live. I place my order on the kroger ap and they have it picked and delivered in the time it would take to do it myself. yes, there is a cost to it, but for the convenience I am happy to pay the fee. If there is something on my list that is out of stock, they will text me. I can request a substitute or I can ask to remove the item.

 

[unrequited23]

With Instacart you can pre-select acceptable substitutions or choose do not substitute. Also your driver has the option to message you during the shop through the app. We've only used it once, when we had covid and needed essentials, lots of liquids and foods that were ready to eat/easy for DH to cook. Our bread was a little smushed, but honestly, I had no complaints.

My friend does a combo of walmart pickup and Hello Fresh for her family and believes it saves her a couple hours a week of shopping and meal planning.

 

[_19disnA]

I like to pick out my own produce and meats. Some cuts of meat look too fatty or the size isn't right for how we intend to use it. If the cuts of pork (for example) don't look appealing, I may change the menu plan to get chicken or beef instead. Also want to see what new items are available and can pick from the choices available on the shelf. I think during the height of covid it was probably a safer way to avoid being around lots of people in the grocery store. However, if you shopped early in the day, practiced social distancing, wore a mask, used hand santizier that was readily available at the entrance and stores weren't that crowded, you could minimize your risk. I think for some people the idea of delivery works for them, but I don't see this as ever being the way the majority prefer to shop.

Some of the store apps aren't particular easy to navigate and you probably waste more time clicking around on their site then just going to store to pick out things when aisles are clearly organized around various catergories.

 

[mjkacmom]

I’ve been doing most of my shopping online for pickup for over 10 years, it costs $5 but sometimes it’s free, same prices as in store, it helps me compare prices, sales, and keeps me from buying stuff I don’t need. They used to call with substitutions, now I get a text with a substitution I can accept or deny. I used instacart a ton with Covid, Shoprite and Costco. Prices higher, plus a fee and big tip, but worth not standing in line outside the stores. I liked being able to message throughout the shop, they’d even take photos of the (empty) shelves to help with substitutions. All shoppers weren’t equal, but tipping well got my order done fast.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I've been using Instacart since 2020. I love that it lets me send combination gifts to other people like flowers, cupcakes, cheese and meat platters and such and I've used it for birthdays, as a get well soon thought & in sympathy. I loved that it allowed me to coordinate groceries to my college age kids. Love that it lets me pick out groceries to be delivered upon my arrival when I travel. Love that I can order from home if I'm not up to shopping on a given day & can hand pick all substitutions and most shoppers will send images of options and allow me to pick, which means they get a bigger tip

Down side is that sometimes a shopper isn't great but I've found Instacart to be very accommodating with fixing hiccups. Some food I just don't get this way and go in person because the price hike is silly, like roasts and such. Other foods I don't get because they are always damaged, like pears and I don't think shoppers understand they are delicate but there is a way to give notes so I can specify certain things. Curbsides generally don't allow notes or communications

 

[mjkacmom]

I've been using Instacart since 2020. I love that it lets me send combination gifts to other people like flowers, cupcakes, cheese and meat platters and such and I've used it for birthdays, as a get well soon thought & in sympathy. I loved that it allowed me to coordinate groceries to my college age kids. Love that it lets me pick out groceries to be delivered upon my arrival when I travel. Love that I can order from home if I'm not up to shopping on a given day & can hand pick all substitutions and most shoppers will send images of options and allow me to pick, which means they get a bigger tip

Down side is that sometimes a shopper isn't great but I've found Instacart to be very accommodating with fixing hiccups. Some food I just don't get this way and go in person because the price hike is silly, like roasts and such. Other foods I don't get because they are always damaged, like pears and I don't think shoppers understand they are delicate but there is a way to give notes so I can specify certain things. Curbsides generally don't allow notes or communications

My last Instacart order was a disaster. We rent a beach house for around 15 people every summer, we started doing Shoprite pickup or Instacart a few years ago so not having to go to a packed unfamiliar grocery store is a treat. My sisters family flies in from Chicago, and we pick them up at the airport on the way. Last summer their flight was canceled, and they were booked on 2 different flights later in the day. We have several vehicles so my 20 year old has to work that day so he picked up the last batch, right after testing positive for Covid (which he shared with others). Put in an $800 Instacart order with everyone’s input (so lots of stuff not written down). It was supposed to be delivered at 8 pm. Around 8:30 we get notified it was delivered - it was not. Contacted Instacart, they said they were happy to refund my card and give me a 10% off coupon. I said I just wanted my groceries, we were starving. No can do.

The next morning we sent a bunch of teens/young adults to the store with a huge list.

 

[Kitty 34]

Around here (small town USA) the only pick-up I use is if my DH goes shopping which he does every now and then. Otherwise, I get in the car, walk to the store, grab a cart, fill it, pay for it and come home. Works for me.

 

[tvguy]

Around here (small town USA) the only pick-up I use is if my DH goes shopping which he does every now and then. Otherwise, I get in the car, walk to the store, grab a cart, fill it, pay for it and come home. Works for me.

We normally shop Sunday morning. Nobody in the store. I can hit Walmart, my local chain grocery store, and my foo foo coffee shop and be home in an hour.