OT July Chit Chat

[Howie]

How do I find out if Peapod delivers in this area? Instacart doesn't.

[Catdancer]

In one town here (not near enough to me) the grocery store does deliver -- and charges a flat $5.95 for a delivery. I'm assuming that if you buy a large enough order, it is still worth the $6 service charge. I'd think a 15 -20 percent tip -- just like going to a restaurant== would be reasonable. Or maybe a couple of dollars a bag, if you have a large order.

Rose -- you shop at 4 or more stores for groceries?? There are two grocery stores in our town...I've been in the second one maybe a half dozen times. The other one -- I've shopped enough in it that (unless they change things around, which has happened a couple of times) I know where everything is in the store, and so when I have to send someone to the store for me, I can tell them where to look for the items on my list. I don't like shopping enough to go around to multiple stores for stuff!

Yes, every on line shopping experience is a bit different, and it takes a couple of times to get the hang of it. I see someone already said, when you want a free item on a "buy one, one free", you have to click on two items (or enter 2). I online shop at Amazon and Walmart, and each has a somewhat different system to place the order. I'm most familiar with Amazon, as the groceries are done almost exactly like anything else bought there.

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((Hugs to All)))))) ~

jeanie ~

In my experience, the tip has been charged when you place the order at the lowest amount. So, it goes onto your total, when you checkout. I also gave the shopper a cash tip the first time, until I realized I can decide the tip and change it after the delivery. You should get an email from Instacart as your receipt. Scroll to the bottom of the email, and you'll see a button:

Screen Shot 2018-07-10 at 3.49.12 PM.png

Click on that and it takes you to Instacart, where you can rate the service and adjust the tip.

I recommend going to Publix, when you aren't ordering to familiarize yourself with what they have. I search for items or categories, so that I can see what's available.

The next time you order, you should get a page with all of the items you ordered this time. It saves searching for them. It's called "Your List," and it's done for all of the stores. Every time you order, it's updated.

Virginia ~

Perhaps it would help if you either called or spoke in person to the manager of Harris-Teeter and ask that H-T consider using Instacart. If enough customers indicate they want this service, then maybe H-T will join Instacart.

Sunshine ~

Here's an older article about How Instacart Makes Its Money:

Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register...

And here's an article from April 2018 about Tipping:

Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register...

Love & Light,



Rose

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((Cat)))))) ~

Rose -- you shop at 4 or more stores for groceries?? There are two grocery stores in our town...I've been in the second one maybe a half dozen times. The other one -- I've shopped enough in it that (unless they change things around, which has happened a couple of times) I know where everything is in the store, and so when I have to send someone to the store for me, I can tell them where to look for the items on my list. I don't like shopping enough to go around to multiple stores for stuff!

We live in a giant metropolis and have grocery stores everywhere. Because we are vegetarians, and we primarily eat organic food, not every store carries what we want. Meat substitutes are a prime example. Not every store carries every brand of meat alternatives, and most stores only carry a small sampling of the entire line.

For example, Jim likes Quorn, which is high in protein. Two of the 5 stores don't carry Quorn, and the other three carry a little of this or that, but not the entire Quorn line. So, to get the items he wants, I have to go to all 3 stores. It's the same with Field Roast, Yves, Tofurky, Beyond Meat, Gardein.

Only one of the 5 stores carries Jim's favorite brand of tea. And so on ...

I know exactly where everything is in all 5 stores, and I create my Instacart shopping list so that the shopper goes around the store from entrance to exit, without having to search for anything.

Believe me, I wish that I could find everything in one or even two stores, but that isn't the case. The only store, which comes closest to that is the one that isn't on Instacart, and it takes me over 2 hours to get there and back and to shop.

I hate shopping! And going to 5 different stores was wearing me out and causing me extreme RA pain.

But, I am shopping primarily for Jim, who needs food he likes and wants to eat, food that is high in protein, food that tastes good to him, because his taste buds are affected by chemo, immunotherapy, and radiation. He only likes a certain kind of yogurt, and that is only carried in one of the stores.

With Instacart, I only have to go physically to the one store. And when I get there, I clean them out, so I don't have to return for a couple of months.

I wish that Instacart existed, when I was a single mom, working outside of the home, and even after that. I used to take my boys with me, both in wheelchairs, to grocery shop or go to Costco. No internet then. Pushing 2 w/c's and pulling a loaded cart. No one in the store ever offered to help me, until I got to the checkout, then the bagging person (usually male) would ask me if I wanted help to my car. I was usually not in a great mood at that point, and I would answer sarcastically, "What do you think?!"

Instacart is a dream come true for me. I can only do so much on 3-4 hours of sleep per night. And if I keel over, Jim and Jon ~ well, I'm in charge of everything, so it would be devastating for them. Jim says, "We'd be lost without you." And that's true. I'm not bragging. It's just a fact.

Love & Light,



Rose

[stillstANNding]

Howie, Pea Pod is for Stop and Shop. Do you have any of those near you?

I think you have mentioned Food Lion. Here is their website:
Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register...
They do say they deliver using Instacart.

Do you have another major grocer in the area?
ANN

[Howie]

I don't need a food delivery service, but I was wondering if the need arises, that I would use them. Right now, driving to the grocery store once a week is the only out of the house thing I do. As long as I can drive, I'll keep doing my food shopping.

I go to Food Lion, and they have the electric shopping carts which I use. That's the only reason I can still do my own shopping. That's a really thoughtful service they provide, and I am very thankful for it.

[Virginia]

Thanks for all the information. I found out that Food Lion, Lowe's Foods and Whole Foods in my area use Instacart. They are all very close to me.

Rose, are you saying that the shopper goes to these different stores all at once, or about one per week, alternating depending on what you want?

[Virginia]

I just found that a Publix is coming 5 miles from my house. We have them a little further away. I will try to get to one so I will have some idea what they are like.

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((Virginia)))))) ~

I shop once a week at one of the 4 stores. If I ordered from more than one store at a time, I would have two different shoppers. And since February, I've only had the same shopper a couple of times. So, that's a lot of different shoppers I've met! They have all been very nice, friendly, and helpful.

That's great that you found 3 stores! Now if we can just get H-T on board!

Love & Light,



Rose

[Sunshine]

IVIG all day long. Home by supper...

[stillstANNding]

I hope you have a good treatment w an extra long-lasting boost, Sunshine.

ANN

[Howie]

Good morning all!

I went to the store early and picked up a few things to last me until the weekend. Maybe by then, my pasta will be gone, and I'll load up on something. Pasta works well because I cook once, then every meal is 3 minutes in the microwave and I'm ready to eat.

I got some mail which I picked up, and also mailed a birthday card to my brother. The mail I got was from my doctor's office, and he isn't there any more. So I have to use his replacement, or find another doctor. I'm just going to use the new doctor.

All I ever go to the doctor for is to have my scripts rewritten and called in to CVS. I hope I can keep doing that with the new doctor and they won't want to do a bunch of tests.

Well, everyone have a great day.

[agate]

Howie, recently had the same experience--with a couple of doctors. So far the new doctors that were offered as replacements have been working out OK. Hope your new doc will turn out well!

I eat pasta quite often too--especially packaged Annie's macaroni/cheese because it's easy to cook on top of the stove, and then I have 3 meals made--the leftovers can be reheated with a bit of milk added. In hot weather I don't like turning the oven or even the microwave on.

[Lazarus]

How do I find out if Peapod delivers in this area? Instacart doesn't.

Peapod is stop & Shop....if you have that grocery store nearby just call and ask. Or look for a website.

[Howie]

Thanks Linda.