slo’s THURSDAY 4/14 poll - Curbside Pickup

[BayouQueen]

I checked the box that yes, I've used it consistently. But that's just because I go with DD quite often for her pickups. I haven't used it, as I'm not in a hurry for anything, but DD has a baby, so she does pickup at Target, Carters, and some others. It has worked really well for her.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I selected 'other'. Started using it before COVID, back maybe mid 2019. Our next door neighbor told me how well it works at Walmart. I had pretty much most of the time bought 'my stuff' at Walmart or local Jewel or Mariano's (Albertsons and Kroger). Also the heavier stuff, milk, orange juice, things like that. Marie enjoys shopping, I hate it.

When COVID started early 2020, I just kept doing what I had been doing. I get about one small pickup a week, maybe 50-60 bucks. All my previous purchases are listed in my account, I just go in maybe a couple times a week, click the stuff i want and put in my 'cart', then checkout for the day and time convenient for me. Produce, lettuce, fruits, etc, always excellent. I think they are instructed to pick 'the best' for the customers so the customers don't get disappointed and go elsewhere. Never a bad produce item. Also, never a mistake, always 100% accurate on every order. And I have an order about once a week.

Before COVID, they had 7 parking spots. Then they went to 14. Now, 23. And always many cars there.

I use Instacart for large, heavy delivery from Costco, cases of water, giant packages of TP and paper towels.

For restaurants, we used drive-through, delivery or curbside while restaurants were all closed. Still pretty much stay away from indoor dining.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

When Covid was first around I used it for restaurants but never stores. Now most of the restaurants are eat-in, although I don't do that very often.

 

[CynBeth]

We have only done curbside for restaurants.

 

[tvguy]

At stores? Never have. At the peak of the pandemic we would go to the grocery store at 6 am Sunday morning when they opened to avoid crowds. 2 years later we now wait until 7 am on Sunday morning. Last Sunday we were out the door at 7 am, hit Walmart, the local chain grocery store, and picked up a foo foo coffee at our favorite coffee stand (NOT Starbucks) and were back home by 8:10 am.
We like to decide which produce and which specific pieces of meat, and fish we buy, not leave it to someone else. Been a number of amusing stories here on the DIS the past two years of gaffs made by people making online orders and either not knowing what they really wanted, or the person pulling the order in the store getting the wrong item. Someone posted they ordered a Turkey Roast, and THAT is exactly what was in their order. One of those frozen, pressed blobs of turkey meat. What they REALLY wanted was a boneless turkey breast. Or ordering 4 onions and getting a 40 pound SACK of onions.
I have used curbside pick up a few times at Outback Steakhouse and at the local Lobster restaurant. Very different to get lobster tails, to go.

 

[Micca]

I'm not a fan of curbside delivery, but there have been a few occasions. Chick-Fil-A completely closed their indoor dining service for a considerable period of time, so we did curbside there.

 

[prairie_girl]

Started using it at the beginning of covid, am still using it, don’t see a reason to stop.

This is specific to grocery shopping.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

We use it for grocery pick up the majority of the time (and it was this case pre-covid too). If we only have a few items as opposed to a week's worth of meals planned out we just go into the store. It's super easy for my husband to pick up on his way home from work though for grocery pick up. Walmart now has wrapped grocery in with in-store pick up so curbside also includes online orders sent to the store.

For other stores it depends on the particular store. We've done Petsmart before and even though they have now put in dedicated spots it's just easier to go in and press the button for pickup inside the store.

We've also done lockers for in-store pick up depending on the place and location although haven't done that as much as in the past.

 

[fla4fun]

I have never used it because I would have to get out of my car to open the back door anyway (wagon) since the latch is difficult to find if you aren’t familiar with the car, I have done in store pick-up before, especially if the item I want is hard to find and I want to make sure I get it.

 

[mrodgers]

I view it as lazy, if you don't have an issue that would make shopping difficult. Thus, never have and never will.

Pickup at a restaurant I view as something different. That's picking up food to take home and eat, rather than being too lazy to walk into the restaurant.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I'm not a fan of curbside delivery, but there have been a few occasions. Chick-Fil-A completely closed their indoor dining service for a considerable period of time, so we did curbside there.

CFA was closed for a looonggg time inside. I remember getting an e-mail from the manager at the one at 87th and 435 location that their dine-in was reopened and thinking "wow it's been a while".

 

[AppleDumpling]

Not for stores, only for restaurant pickup. Mostly during he worst part of the pandemic when we were in lockdown. Restaurants were closed, except for curbside pickup. And honestly, we ordered in way more than we ever ate at restaurants pre-Covid to support local businesses and keep them in business. We continue to eat out more, now that we can go inside.

 

[LoveSpringsteen]

I used it for groceries several times in 2020. It wasn't bad and I really appreciated the convenience, but too often they were out of things (especially the sale items) and it was a hassle to deal with substitutions. I've also used the Target drive-up service and that's pretty nice and keeps me away from Target impulse buys!

 

[bobbiwoz]

Never have and probably never will unless I’m incapable of going in the store.

This is my answer too!

 

[DisneyHardin]

I haven't used it for groceries, but have used it at other places like Kohl's, Total Wine, Old Navy, etc.

 

[E&Cmom]

I only used it once or twice in restaurants that it was the only option at the time. Now that everything is reopened I can’t see myself using it again. When picking up, I just walk in.

 

[Dan Murphy]

never have and never will.

I could have said that, maybe when I was your age years ago and in your good health condition. Not sure your age, but I do not think you are approaching your 78th birthday soon.

But with dealing with current afib (ablation coming up next Wednesday), spinal stenosis, arthritis and general old guy aches and pains, I gladly will let a younger (generally) grocery worker, earning his/her income, to do the physical walking around a store for me. That way I don't have to look for a place to sit at the end of each aisle as the afib exhausts me, even walking relatively short distances. And zero impulse buying to boot.

If it is freezing or sweltering out, raining or snowing, I don't have to deal with it. I would much rather have a young guy/gal who is getting paid, to help me do the tough part for me, walking around a store, aisle by aisle looking for stuff. Pickup takes me about 5 minutes in the parking lot. I always combine my date/time pickup with some other errand, or quite often a doctor appointment, so as to minimize wasted driving. I stop for the pickup on the way home. And while waiting there for the order, I can place my order on another app (Buona Beef) for some Italian beef and sausage sandwiches to bring home for Marie and me for lunch. Drive across the street to the drive-through, another time saver and leg, back and heart saver, for my purposes.

So, if in good health, 'never have' is good. If in less than good health, to one degree or another, I would never say 'never'. It is a valuable resource and service I gladly use.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I voted "other" -

Pre-pandemic, we used Curbside at a local restaurant that had it long before others. (We ate there sometimes, too, but used it when we got take-out.) During the initial shutdown, more places around here began to offer it, which was nice. We still use it sometimes, but have also started eating in at places as well.

I've never used it for groceries, but did use it a couple of times at other stores when it was the only option (I think maybe when Michaels and Petco first opened back up?)

In general, I like browsing, picking out my own produce, etc., but I wouldn't say I'd never use it. I definitely would if I had a reason to (sleeping child in the car, needing to pick up a large order quickly on the way home from work, mobility issues...)

 

[mrodgers]

I could have said that, maybe when I was your age years ago and in your good health condition. Not sure your age, but I do not think you are approaching your 78th birthday soon.

But with dealing with current afib (ablation coming up next Wednesday), spinal stenosis, arthritis and general old guy aches and pains, I gladly will let a younger (generally) grocery worker, earning his/her income, to do the physical walking around a store for me. That way I don't have to look for a place to sit at the end of each aisle as the afib exhausts me, even walking relatively short distances. And zero impulse buying to boot.

If it is freezing or sweltering out, raining or snowing, I don't have to deal with it. I would much rather have a young guy/gal who is getting paid, to help me do the tough part for me, walking around a store, aisle by aisle looking for stuff. Pickup takes me about 5 minutes in the parking lot. I always combine my date/time pickup with some other errand, or quite often a doctor appointment, so as to minimize wasted driving. I stop for the pickup on the way home. And while waiting there for the order, I can place my order on another app (Buona Beef) for some Italian beef and sausage sandwiches to bring home for Marie and me for lunch. Drive across the street to the drive-through, another time saver and leg, back and heart saver, for my purposes.

So, if in good health, 'never have' is good. If in less than good health, to one degree or another, I would never say 'never'. It is a valuable resource and service I gladly use.

My individual sentences go together in that when I said "if you don't have an issue which would make shopping difficult" it's obvious to me that would be the disabled and/or aging folk. It is obvious to me that one would assume it is perfectly abled body people I would consider it lazy.

Someone like me, lazy. My 72 year old mother who has an artificial hip that resulted in almost the same pain they were trying to correct, absolutely curbside pickup would be awesome.

 

[Southernmiss]

Never used it prepandemic. Was like mrodgers-I'm able bodied, not lazy. But once I tried it, I love it.

Mostly use it for neighborhood Walmart grocery pick up. Never had an issue.

It's such a time saver! Time is . I have a favorite shopper and am so excited when she shops for me.

About every 2 or 3 trips, I shop in person to see what's new and for meal inspiration.