Community Chat

[mousiegirl]

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@NicksmomESQ wrote:

@Spurt  I'm glad it works for you. I wouldn't become an express member because I have an issue with the shoppers & the substitutions. The high fees I mentioned turned me off. I don't know if it changed but last Spring there was an automatic 20% service charge. Around here if you don't include a 20% tip no shopper will accept your order.

   Different people in different areas have different experiences. 

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@NicksmomESQ   There is now a feature next to every item ordered whereby one can choose refund if product is not available, or agree to a substitution, I always request refund, and it has worked so far.  

From what I have read here, apparetnly it can be a different experience depending on area, as you said.

[DiAnne]

I think grocery stores are a petri dish since the pandemic began.  I have been using Instacart for a little over a year.  I use it for a local store that is known for its produce and  meat/fish.  I get an order from them once a week and a monthly order from Costco.  I order ahead for a Thurs or Fri delivery.  I choose my own replacements or ask for no replacement.  They usually send me a picture of my order on my front porch on the receipt.  I have had very few errors which have been quickly corrected by the company.  I do look forward to doing my own grocery shopping again (hopefully). 

[Katcat1]

UPDATE:   The groceries were suppose to be redelivered.  First at 3:10 pm and then I received an email stating 4:30 pm, then 5:30 pm and the 6:00 pm and I contacted CHAT and they wanted to know if they can deliver tomorrow.   I don't think so.  Credit orginal method of payment and I will never use this service again.  I ended up ordering from my local grocery and ordering the same items, I saved over $20.  My new name for them is Instacrap.

[AngelPuppy1]

I've read some of the replies, but not all.  I am unclear as to whether you got your food or not.  I believe Instacart is all over the country.  I have been using them for a year now, since the virus started.  I have had very little problem with them.  The issues I have had are minor.  Yes, they do charge for delivery and they expect a tip --- same as anybody who does a service.  There is a place on the ordering service where you indicate how you want to be notified when food arrives.  For instance --- I mark down -- Please ring door bell and leave on porch.

We also mark on each item whether we want a replacement item or not.  If we want a replacement item, we mark what we want.  Also, there is a bar at the top of the screen and it indicates where in the shopping process the shopper is.  So, you have a good idea of when they will arrive.  If they are going to be later than they are supposed to be, they will e-mail you or text you.  DH tracks them on his tablet and if the shopper wants to ask you a question, then he or she texts you and you can answer them back.  Any time I have had an issue, I have e-mailed them and they have gotten back to me quickly and tried to make it right.  

Is it always perfect -- no.  But we find it has really been a God send for us.  Before the virus hit we always did all of our own food shopping but once this hit, we found that people were not adhering to safety precautions very well and we felt unsafe.  

I would prefer to pick out my own items and my own product, etc., but all things considered, I am happy that this service and others similar to it are available.  

I'm sorry that this has not been a good experience for you.  Maybe Walmart or another service would work better.

[CalminHeart]

I use drive up to pick up groceries ordered online from one store and have Walmart deliver what I buy from them.  In both cases, I get the same prices they offer at the store.  I'm not a fan of Walmart but when times are tough, I do what I have to do.

I looked at instacart once.  The prices for groceries were always higher than ordering through the store's service so I never used them. Why use them when other options are cheaper.

[Spurt]

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@NicksmomESQ wrote:

@Spurt  I'm glad it works for you. I wouldn't become an express member because I have an issue with the shoppers & the substitutions. The high fees I mentioned turned me off. I don't know if it changed but last Spring there was an automatic 20% service charge. Around here if you don't include a 20% tip no shopper will accept your order.

   Different people in different areas have different experiences. 

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@NicksmomESQ 

WOW I guess it is different depending on your location and the contract with the grocery store....  

[Mominohio]

I'm sure this is available in the nearest city maybe, and I have heard of it, but it's never coming out to where I live. 

I'm not into any of the curbside pickups, or delivery of regular groceries. I do order online some canned and boxed items from Sam's, and Walmart, and that is just ok, as things come damaged, broken open etc. once in awhile, and the selection is kind of limited sometimes in sizes or brands etc. 

I just am not in a place where I'm going to rely on someone else that I don't know, or better yet, who doesn't know me, to pick out my fresh foods. I'm picky. Prices are high on meat and produce here right now, and quality is quite variable. I will do without meat and produce products if I can't find the quality I want. Mushy berries, bruised apples, green bananas (or over ripe), shriveled grapes, overly fatty pieces of meat......nope. 

I went grocery shopping yesterday, and three quarters of what was in the cart was fresh food, mostly produce. I chose not to get some things, as they didn't look fresh enough, or of the ripeness I wanted. But I made the selections, and didn't get home with a bunch of stuff that didn't meet my criteria. I could choose substitutes myself and just know before I even left the store if I had what I wanted in amount and quality. 

And it seems all this delivery of restaurant foods, groceries etc. is adding to the bill with fees (I get it, people need to be paid for their jobs) as well as tips. I geth that some people might find it convenient, others actually necessary to use such services, but not only are they not available in my rural area, I hope I don't come into a position anytime soon to need to avail myself of them. There are just some things I'd rather do for myself, to avoid the frustration of not being happy with what I am paying for in goods and service.

[Spurt]

To be fair to the Shoppers there were a lot of countrywide stories of Shoppers caught in a lot of "bait and switch" cases. Shoppers saw BIG tips and even though the shopping and delivery went smoothly, the customers removed the tip entirely and the Shopper didnt get any tip at all...So maybe thats why some Instacart places they made a tip mandatory....

[suzyQ3]

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@CalminHeart wrote:

I use drive up to pick up groceries ordered online from one store and have Walmart deliver what I buy from them.  In both cases, I get the same prices they offer at the store.  I'm not a fan of Walmart but when times are tough, I do what I have to do.

I looked at instacart once.  The prices for groceries were always higher than ordering through the store's service so I never used them. Why use them when other options are cheaper.

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@CalminHeart, it's just a matter of preference. I just prefer Instacart because when (not if) there are any problems, I can quickly get resolution online. Plus, I guess I just prefer the luxury of delivery. The market I use on Instacart is not too different in price from in-store, but I'm sure that some are.