Neat Experience - Curbside Grocery Shopping

15 years ago

Our local Publix is one of two test stores for a new service - curbside shopping.

I tried it today - only their third customer! You order all your groceries online, request a time later to pick it up and voila! - Your shopping is done.

Normally, the service costs $7.99 but the first visit is free. Their website was nicely laid out - easy to find or search for items and I can even shop their sales - they often have buy one get one free items.

I even got sliced meats and cheese, a roast, produce, anything you can think of!

I think it's great - works well for me because I often have my dog with me after picking her up after work. I can see this for the busy mom, handicapped people, pet owners like me, and being here in Florida - those pesky afternoon downpours!

Great experience. Just thought I'd share.

Barbara

Here is a link that might be useful: Publix Curbside Shopping

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Comments (18)

bigfoot_liz
15 years ago
AHHHH! i saw, with GREAT envy, that service on their website last week LOL! made me think i should be looking at moving to tampa or coral gables (i think that's their other location for this service). when i lived in chicago i had peapod service for $5 or $7 i ordered online and it was delivered to my house! i sure missed that 13 yrs ago when i moved here :-/ ~ liz
cynic
15 years ago
Coborn's has a pickup service that's free if the order is over $25, $4.95 if under $25 and let's face it, it doesn't take a lot to make a $25 order! They'll also deliver it for $5 if it's over $25 and $9.95 if it's under $25. I've really debated about it. They have good quality items but they're a bit spendy but I'm thinking especially in the winter it could be a great thing.

Byerly's used to have a delivery service that a friend of mine just loved. She said they'd even unpack and put the stuff away for you but that service is history as far as I know.
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socks
15 years ago
Vons here in CA has grocery delivery. When I suffered a broken leg involving months and months of crutches, I shopped online and they delivered it to my back door. I don't know how I would have survived without that service.
jennmonkey
15 years ago
Safeway and Amazon do grocery delivery here too! I don't have a car, so it's very tempting because I can only ever get as many groceries as I can carry (and take on the bus!). I should look into it more.
monica_pa Grieves
15 years ago
We've had grocery home delivery, ordered thru their web sites, from several supermarket chains here for 8-9 years.
I used it several times when I was having problems with out of control RA.
dotmom
15 years ago
That sounds like such a nice convenience. Our local grocery store is mediocre at best. As it is the only store for three small towns, I guess they don't have to try harder. One plus for ordering on line, it would end impulse buying, which I'm guilty of.
linda_in_iowa
15 years ago
When I was a kid, my grandma was a live-in nurse for a very wealthy, elderly lady. My grandma would call the grocery store and give her order and they would deliver it to the back door. The store send the grocery bill to the wealthy woman's family. My grandma could order whatever she wanted.
sjerin
15 years ago
Just wondering, would one be expected to tip the delivery person?
monica_pa Grieves
15 years ago
Yes, I always tipped. Depending on how many bags - probably $5-10. The delivery person brought the bags into the kitchen for me.
yborgal
15 years ago
My dad used to own a good-sized grocery store back in the 40's,50's and 60's..meat market, deli, pre-cooked foods, etc.

He had 2 grocery vans and drivers that delivered groceries to customers that phoned in their orders. There was no extra charge for this service and his elderly customers & those without cars really appreciated it. When he sold the store the new owners stopped doing this.

I hope Publix will keep the service going. It would be nice , too, if they extended to other stores throughout our city.

Mimiboo, were you satisfied with the produce and meat items they picked for you?
joann23456
15 years ago
We have Peapod here, and we've used it a number of times. We usually stock up on canned goods and other heavy stuff. We also usually have or can find a free delivery coupon, and tip the driver $10 because of the heavy stuff. It works so well -we love it!
cynic
15 years ago
I thought about mentioning the issue of a tip but seems to me that a tip would probably be in order. With Coborn's they'll leave it at your door and you can even put coupons in an envelope on the door but I'm sure the drivers would be looking for a tip. Seems like everyone expects a tip these days.
liz
15 years ago
They tried it at our local Krogers years ago and it bombed...but that was before internet was so popular and definitely before everyone had a cell phone...I'd do it in a heartbeat and pay the extra just to not have to go on occasions.
Kathsgrdn
15 years ago
I have mixed feelings about this, hate to shop but like to check expiration dates on things before I buy them. If someone is picking out your groceries for you they aren't going to pick the latest dated milk, for example. Not that I have to worry about milk spoiling anymore....
monica_pa Grieves
15 years ago
They just leave groceries outside? What about the meat and frozen things like ice cream?
cynic
15 years ago
For frozen things through Coborn's it's packed with dry ice as I recall and refrigerated stuff is insulated. I believe they say it will keep 4-6 hours.

Just looked it up:

"Will my ice cream melt? Will my lettuce freeze?
Your groceries arrive in weatherproof totes and coolers to keep your frozen food frozen and your perishables protected from the weather. Freezer items get packed in ice and dry ice to stay frozen for several hours Â even ice cream. We usually suggest that you unpack your groceries within 4-6 hours of delivery Â sooner in extreme temperatures. If you're wondering exactly when your groceries arrived, you can always log on to our web site that day, and you'll see the exact delivery time next to the yellow truck at the top of the page. (If they haven't arrived yet, you'll see our "Target Delivery Time.")

Tipping Policy
No tipping, please."

One thing they are a stickler on is that an adult with ID must be home for alcohol delivery, otherwise they make a charge and refuse to leave it, which only makes sense.
donnakt_gw
15 years ago
I had PeaPod in Maryland. I loved it..but moved to Ohio and I haven't found any delivery here..I have no car and depend on my daughter to take me to the grocery. I'm sure it's no fun for her..
cynic
15 years ago
I don't worry about expiration dates too much anymore although I *do* check them most of the time. Usually though they're within a day or two anyway and the important part is keeping things at proper temperature, although with bakery items a day or two makes a difference. I like to pick out the better looking things like bacon and certain types of produce though. There, I do see quite a difference but for the most part, I guess it isn't a huge thing. And I like to pick ribs based on thickness. However these are all pretty petty in the grand scheme of things. This does look a lot more attractive, even though you do pay for the convenience. But then again, figuring the time to drive to and from the store, and shopping time, it's easy to rack up 2-3 hours on a shopping trip so what's time worth plus gas and wear on a vehicle? Plus I just don't like shopping so I can see that as an advantage too. I used to buy from Schwan's but haven't done that for a long time.

Neat Experience - Curbside Grocery Shopping

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