Community Chat

[suzyQ3]

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@september wrote:

@suzyQ3    I'd say you could give shopping for yourself a try, especially if you're willling to go a bit early, during senior shopping time.  Where I live, it's 8-9 at Whole Foods, I think the same at Trader Joe's.  I am in and out of the store in 20 minutes or less.  We barely have any contact with each other. 

At Trader Joe's, the cashier even has you pull your receipt out  of the register, yourself!   They have done so much to make shopping safer.  Those carts have never been so clean!

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@september, I've heard only good things about TJ's response to the Covid. They do have some items that I love, so I might go in. Unfortunately, though, I still need my supermarket (which does have senior hours). Oh, well, as long as I'm out already. :-)

[bikerbabe]

I disagree with the article that assumes that the Instacart shoppers were stealing. I think they are flooded with orders right now and hired a bunch of new people that are poorly trained. I never had any problems with Instacart until recently, and I’ve use them for over two years.

My last order was perfect. The previous two orders had problems. They were both new employees and I could tell they were shopping for multiple orders at once. I received some items that were not mine and I was missing some items that I was supposed to have. I think they’re just not keeping track of what items go to which customer. One order I received multiple bags of food meant for someone else. I could even get through to report an error. So someone else did not get their order or was seriously shortchanged. The shoppers that know what they are doing attach labels to the bags with my name and the number of bags in the order so there’s no confusion with delivery. The two orders that had problems that was not done. I will say I have never had a substitution without notification first asking for my approval. Another benefit of having their app on my iPhone.

[bikerbabe]

Wanted to add:

In person shopping I’ve had good experience at TJ, Ralphs and Sprouts. Not impressed by Staters infection control precautions although they are the closest to home.

[stevieb]

I used Instacart once and all I can say is never again. Their alleged service might work well under more normal conditions, but under current conditions, I found it to be a misery. I'll stick with store based delivery services and avoid the Instacart model going forward. I also think the store based services offer fewer windows for fraud. I'll be checking next week to ensure Instacart charged me the correct amount and not the amount they 'preauthorized', which was significantly more. 

[itsmetoo]

I've used InstaCart through Costco three times and problems with overcharging, missing food, etc two of the three times.  I have much better luck with Walmart's pickup.  I've never had an issue with them.

[Carmie]

You can no longer use any delivery service or pick up service for groceries where I live.  They were four weeks behind and have now stopped allowing any new orders to be placed.

If you need groceries, you need to get them yourself.

I would demand to see a receipt upon delivery.  That is serious business when one isn't provided.  I would report this to the Attorney General's Office.

[kaydee50]

Another vote for Trader Joe's.  We don't go to the senior hours--the line was long waiting to go in--but go on Thursdays around 10 am.  Today, we were in and out in 10 minutes, seriously.  Store was empty, shelves were full, cashiers available.  When we walked in, an employee asked me if I wanted the cart wiped down.  I declined, but she said they had all been wiped down.

[september]

There are only two other stores (besides TJ and Whole Foods) where I've shopped since the covid crisis began, and they were good, also.  One was Market Basket, where the selection of products is just so huge.  If I need a bit of everything, that's the place to go.  

The other is Target, where I can pick up basic grocery items as well as various other things. That's where I'll go tomorrow, to get tea, coffee, Burts Bees facial wipes, maybe paper towels, if they have them!

[millieshops]

I haven't yet tried home delivery -  I've been able to eat well shopping every other week and because I know the markets are having great difficulty getting their orders filled, I go with my list and when what's on that list isn't available I know what I'd prefert as a substitute or even that I can live without for anothwr 2 weeks.

Given that so many times I've had a young cashier ask "What's this?" or "How do you use that?"   I'm not surprised that the shoppers don't know how to shop the way I do -  60 years of practice pays off!

[QueenDanceALot]

I haven't use any of the delivery options, but feel for anyone who needs to and who is having such difficulties.

I have been pleased with Trader Joe's and my local food co-op.  I avoid my local Kroger which is a nightmare and have gone to another county to shop at what I call "the civilized Kroger".  

Today I went to the co-op and got much of what I needed but will be hitting Trader Joe's in the next few days for the rest.  They are really on the ball there.