That time of the week or month has come and you need to shop for groceries. If you are a busy working parent, whether you work from home or you were a stay at home mom or dad grocery shopping can become tedious and time-consuming.
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Over the last few months I have come to my senses and realized that I will no longer be going into store to grocery shop unless it is just to pick up a few small items. Being a working mom, wife, mother of two very busy children and having my own physical disability to deal with, I’ve realized that my energy is much more beneficial when you someplace other than in the grocery store. Lucky for us that we live in a technology based society and you can basically order anything to your front door.
The weather got really bad here in Chicago this winter so I decided to try a few online grocery delivery services. I have shopped Peapod before, it was expensive and annoying, but that was years ago. Since then there are grocery delivery services memberships that you can purchase so that your delivery is free. there are coupons and loyalty rewards you can add to reduce your cost on delivery. Well honestly things have just changed and it’s for the better, making online grocery delivery is accessible to anyone.
With so many grocery delivery services out there, it can be hard to decide which one is best for you. Here I have listed a few options that are available to help narrow your search.
Tips For Using Online Grocery Delivery Services
Before I get started with the stores that I love the most, I want to share with you a few tips that will make your online experience easy, quick, and worthwhile.
- Make a list, it keeps you organized and will save you a lot of time when you know what you want
- You may need to substitute some items
- Order more than once the first time around and made it seem a little overwhelming so be prepared to give it a second try
- Order in advance so you get the delivery time and day that you want
- Check the stores policies on coupon and returns
- Check delivery cost and any additional service fees prior to placing your order
- Tipping the delivery person is generally optional, but always a courtesy
- Grab a cup coffee or tea and relax, someone is saving you major time
So now that you know the general rules to order your groceries online, let me share a few of my favorite stores.
Walmart Grocery Delivery
If you follow me on Facebook or YouTube you know that I have a shop at Walmart.com and use their grocery delivery services several times. I tried the company back in the beginning of the fall and I was a little skeptical about the process and my first delivery you can check out my initial experience here.
I went ahead and gave them another try and I fell in love. Walmart has the best customer service when it comes to their grocery delivery service. There is no membership fee or monthly costs unlike other services
When you shop at Walmart grocery delivery you go online Walmart Grocery or use the Walmart Grocery app. I suggest having a grocery list of things that you need or want to buy so that you can spend the least amount of time combing through pages of products. After your first order, Walmart will save your purchased items, which will allow the next shopping experience to be much easier if you tend to buy some of the same items weekly or monthly. You can mark items like your favorite and they will show in your suggestions the next time you shop.
The delivery windows are plentiful and varied you can have an order delivered in the early as AM and as late into the evening. Check your location for delivery times. Many stores will also have a pickup option, so if that works, you can save yourself the delivery fee by ordering your groceries online and picking them up in the store. If you use my code you can save $10 on your first order.
Walmart grocery delivery is my favorite because if they are out of an item they will substitute you for an item that is of the same value or more. You also have the option of calling their service line if there is an item that you are not satisfied with. They can offer to replace the item or refund your money.
Keep in mind that someone will be doing your grocery shopping for you they will be scanning items and making sure that your order is accurate and complete. Be patient because mistakes no rare and minor to happen. However from my experience with Walmart grocery delivery they have been nothing but great at fixing any kind of errors.
You have your choice of picking up at the store if there is a location near you who are coming right to your front door and grabbing your bags inside. I am a satisfied customer with Walmart grocery delivery and I think it something I won’t be using for a long time to come.
Instacart
Instacart allows you to choose from multiple grocery store it’s in your local area. That means you can shop more than one store at a time which is a plus because sometimes one store does not have everything you need. With Instacart you are basically using a personal shopper to grab your groceries from different stores.
I recently used Instacart to shop at Aldi. The prices were comparable to the ones in the store and I like shopping at Aldi because it is one of my favorite stores. You can find coupons to use on certain items and at certain stores when you shop through Instacart. My suggestion is to decide what items you need and browse the store that you frequent them u you can find coupons to use on certain items and at certain stores when you shop through Instacart. My suggestion is to decide what items you need and browse the store that you frequent the most.
With my last delivery, the personal shopper actually called me to ask if I wanted a particular substitution. I thought that was a nice touch and excellent customer service.One of the reasons I chose Instacart on this particular day was because the order was available for delivery in less than two hours. I was doing last-minute grocery shopping and decided to get Instacart a shot because you can have your groceries delivered in as little as an hour depending on your area any availability. As the same with other services you can order online and have it delivered to you or you can choose to pick it up in the store.
To find what stores Instacart delivers from in your area visit their location page. Instacart does have a program where you can pay for free delivery. They have a monthly fee and an annual fee. Depending on how frequently you shop this may be an excellent way to save money on delivery fees. You can use my code to save on your first order. Use JROBINSON9B4EDB149 to save $10 on your first order.
Amazon Fresh
Prime fresh is a great grocery delivery service offered through your Amazon account. There is a $14.99 a month fee, or to begin you can try a free trial here.
With Amazon Prime Fresh, just like the other services you shop online and pick the items you want. You can schedule your delivery and get it as early as the same day or the following morning.
I have used Amazon fresh on occasions when I need something out very quickly and when I’m trying to have it shipped to someone else. Amazon fresh is my go to for missing items that I tend to buy from Amazon.com anyway.
Amazon orders are picked from your local grocery areas and are delivered fresh. You can order items through your Alexa device or keep a running shopping list so when you go online to order you already have a list available to you.
Be mindful when you’re signing up for Amazon fresh and check for how much their feet is. It seems to have changed over the last few months. While Amazon.com is my favorite place to shop Amazon fresh is a little pricey for me. I will keep it in the back on the for as needed use.
On my list of grocery delivery services to try is Google express. Google express is one of the cheapest Grocery services that’s available and it does not require a membership.
Google Express
With Google express I suggest you play sure order a couple days in advance so that you can get the delivery date that you are looking for. Google express shops for your items from different participating stores. If you are able to shop from Cosco (with the membership), Walgreens, Target, Boxed and so many other grocery stores.
So there you have it those are my suggestions for anyone wanting to try onlinegrocery delivery services for the first time. Remember to give it a chance and just have fun knowing that you’re saving yourself the fuss of crowds and hours of time.
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Great tips! I have been resistant about trying grocery delivery. I like making my own selections, especially when it comes to produce, but your tips have encouraged me to give it a try.
I just used Walmart Grocery Pickup for the first time last week, and I have to say, I’m in love. It was such an easy thing to do, and I didn’t need to take all four of my kids in the store!
I am always adamant to try online grocery shopping. I am afraid that I will not get the best quality when it comes to fresh produce or meat. Your tips, however, made me think twice! Will definitely consider trying this soon.