My first instacart dealio

[easyrider]

We did our first instacart today. I actually think they screwed up on pricing the salmon. It must have been on sale because I was surprised when I saw the actual prices on the package at $16.99 a pound. I think I paid about $6.50 a pound. The veggies look really good. The bananas are perfect. I met the shopper and she looks very clean and was very nice. I could get use to this, lol.

I would never have used this service if it wasn't for covid 19.

Bill

 

[DaveNV]

We did our first instacart today. I actually think they screwed up on pricing the salmon. It must have been on sale because I was surprised when I saw the actual prices on the package at $16.99 a pound. I think I paid about $6.50 a pound. The veggies look really good. The bananas are perfect. I met the shopper and she looks very clean and was very nice. I could get use to this, lol.

I would never have used this service if it wasn't for covid 19.

Bill

Check the "sell by" date on the salmon. I bought fresh shrimp at the grocery store a few weeks ago, and it was marked down to less than half price because its freshness date was due to expire within another few days. I was using it that same day, so no issue for me. But it could be the price you paid was discounted due to the expiration date.

Dave

 

[easyrider]

Check the "sell by" date on the salmon. I bought fresh shrimp at the grocery store a few weeks ago, and it was marked down to less than half price because its freshness date was due to expire within another few days. I was using it that same day, so no issue for me. But it could be the price you paid was discounted due to the expiration date.

Dave

Ya got me. I had to check. It expired in June 26, 2020. ha ha ......ha

Bill

 

[plpgma]

We started using Instacart not long after being quarantined and have nothing but good reviews for it! Yes, there are some instances where they have substituted something that we didn't really want -- but that has been minimal -- and also yes, it can be a bit more pricey than going into the store ourselves. However, I'd rather pay a few extra dollars than take a chance on getting Covid-19! All things considered, I give it a solid thumbs-up!

 

[DaveNV]

Ya got me. I had to check. It expired in June 26, 2020. ha ha ......ha

Bill

Well, then you got a deal. Or somebody scanned it wrong. Either way... What time's dinner? Do you have a Drive Thru window?

Dave

 

[wackymother]

I used it for the first time a couple of weeks ago and now I have another order pending--they're just supposed to do it when there's an opening in the next seven or eight days.

We were pretty pleased with our first experience, except it's painfully expensive. I'm happy to pay the fees and the tip, it's just that the items are really expensive too. Like I ordered store-brand chicken parts and our shopper substituted organic very fancy chicken parts, so what should have been a $20 item became a $70 item. I stopped him in time and he put the organic chicken back, but Instacart still charged us. I had to ask for a refund, which they did very quickly. So overall a good experience.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

I would love to use them, and check frequently. Although they serve my area they don't have any open delivery windows.

 

[csodjd]

I would love to use them, and check frequently. Although they serve my area they don't have any open delivery windows.

Same here. We've been trying and trying, without success. They did manage to charge my card about $250. But we never got the food.

 

[TravelTime]

Remember to tip well and show gratitude. The workers are risking their lives to deliver food to your home.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Same here. We've been trying and trying, without success. They did manage to charge my card about $250. But we never got the food.

Ouch! Can you do a charge back to your credit card?

 

[BJRSanDiego]

Last week we tried to use InstaCart with Vons grocery and Von's own delivery/pickup. I wasn't able to select either pick up or delivery. We tried for over an hour on line initially followed by trying it 1/2 dozen times in the next 8 hours.

I tried calling InstaCart support a dozen times from 3 pm to 11 pm and they told me the queue size each time. Depending when I called the wait time was between 120 and 300 minutes. So, I gave up and went to the store in person. It wasn't until later that I learned that Vons does not appear to be fully compatible with Google Chrome. But I found this out by accident. It works fine with MS Edge. So for our next replenishment of supplies, we'll have them deliver.

 

[1Kflyerguy]

So far i have not found any of the delivery services with an open time slot here in San Jose...

 

[Panina]

I used it for the first time a couple of weeks ago and now I have another order pending--they're just supposed to do it when there's an opening in the next seven or eight days.

We were pretty pleased with our first experience, except it's painfully expensive. I'm happy to pay the fees and the tip, it's just that the items are really expensive too. Like I ordered store-brand chicken parts and our shopper substituted organic very fancy chicken parts, so what should have been a $20 item became a $70 item. I stopped him in time and he put the organic chicken back, but Instacart still charged us. I had to ask for a refund, which they did very quickly. So overall a good experience.

Have you joined, for 9.99 a month or 99.99 for the year, the fees disappear to mostly 0 or $1. I did the monthly just in case service gets bad.

 

[Panina]

So far i have not found any of the delivery services with an open time slot here in San Jose...

Keep checking throughout the day. Usually about 2 pm I find slots for the same day delivery open when there are no other delivery days open to book.

 

[Panina]

Where I live in SC I have been very happy with the service. Many times the store is out of the products I want but the shoppers reach out. If I chat with the shopper they always answer. One of the shoppers told me the earlier in the day you book the better chance to get what you want. I have been booking an appointment a week out and then modifying my order the night before.

I use it for my mom in NYC and it isn’t as good but it is the only choice. The shoppers never try for an alternative nor do they answer a chat question. Only way to get a delivery is if something opens the same day. I have never seen a future day appointment.

 

[easyrider]

I wondered how long it takes to get the order. I ordered food yesterday at about 3 pm and the app said I would see it this evening and that I could add to the order if I wanted. The order showed up by noon today.

Another thing is I had thought I was given a great deal on the salmon but I just looked and they did charge more after the food was delivered. The first charge that I thought was a bargain was only pending. Todays charge was the actual cost. I tipped $7.00. They charged about $8.00 to pick up and deliver.

Bill

 

[Sandy VDH]

Here in Houston area I have been using Instacart for Costco same day delivery. I have used it twice so far. It has been great. I select my acceptable substitutions in advance, or just reject it if there is not an acceptable match. Costco doesn't carry as many products, so the substitution list is usually pretty short.

You have to be a Costco member to use it.

I have gotten frozen, fresh, refrigerated and even a hot rotisserie chicken delivered so far. Not much inventory left for TP or sanitizer, but I have enough on hand now. I had a friend pick up some TP for me, since I tried to order twice and both times by the time my order got picked they did not have it.

Yesterday 2 items were not available, Bananas and chicken burrito bowls were not available.

Prices are about 20% higher than costco instore, and then tip is on top of that.

 

[Bucky]

I would love to use them, and check frequently. Although they serve my area they don't have any open delivery windows.

They are just jammed upright now. As soon as the Surgeon General came on tv and said this week and next will be the worst, the order lights lit up! Finally was able to get an order placed this morning with the earliest delivery date available of Sun 4/12! The problem is when I tried to go the stores own website and order I found out it’s maintained by instacart also.

 

[Glynda]

Instacart had no availability here when I tried to order last night. I am having to order curbside pick-up from Harris Teeter and it's up to a one week wait now.

 

[rapmarks]

My neighbor said she finally was able to get a delivery time bec she ordered at three am

 

[wackymother]

Have you joined, for 9.99 a month or 99.99 for the year, the fees disappear to mostly 0 or $1. I did the monthly just in case service gets bad.

With my pending order, they aren't charging a delivery fee, just a "service fee" that's like 5 percent of the final total. I'm not sure why they're not doing the delivery fee.

I hear that being a member--that is, paying the $99.99--doesn't help you get a slot anyway. We live in a great area for groceries and under normal circumstances we go to one place for bread, one place for cabbage, one place for parsley, one place for chicken....it never occurred to us to use Instacart before, and I hope someday we won't need it again.

 

[Panina]

With my pending order, they aren't charging a delivery fee, just a "service fee" that's like 5 percent of the final total. I'm not sure why they're not doing the delivery fee.

I hear that being a member--that is, paying the $99.99--doesn't help you get a slot anyway. We live in a great area for groceries and under normal circumstances we go to one place for bread, one place for cabbage, one place for parsley, one place for chicken....it never occurred to us to use Instacart before, and I hope someday we won't need it again.

Some off times and places have no delivery fee. The service fee with my membership is most often 0. Once in awhile $1. I joined the monthly at $9.99 because my first three orders cost me almost $20 in fees. Joining was cost effective.

 

[wackymother]

Some off times and places have no delivery fee. The service fee with my membership is most often 0. Once in awhile $1. I joined the monthly at $9.99 because my first three orders cost me almost $20 in fees. Joining was cost effective.

Does the monthly fee wipe out the service fee? Or just the delivery fee?

 

[CalGalTraveler]

I keep checking and still nothing. Can't get Safeway/Doordash either even though I was able to order last week. I wonder when they open up the window. May need to do this at midnight like timeshare reservations?

 

[wackymother]

I keep checking and still nothing. Can't get Safeway/Doordash either even though I was able to order last week. I wonder when they open up the window. May need to do this at midnight like timeshare reservations?

Yes, I've heard they open some slots up at midnight. I've also heard 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. But I've snagged two Instacart slots in the middle of the day, and two Whole Foods slots, also in the middle of the day. I work in front of a computer most days, so I can check periodically.

I wish Whole Foods would let you book further out! They only do that day and the next.