Online Grocery Shopping -- Comparison

I’ve shared with y’all before that I like to do my grocery shopping online with Harris Teeter, because:

•  I can add items to my virtual cart as I think of them over the week and I only “check out” when I‘m ready to. 
• I can use coupons, which are subtracted from my next order (so I start off with a credit each time.) Super good on triple coupon days!
• I can add notes to my order, such as “please ensure that the roast is close to 3.5 pounds” or when something is priced by the pound and not per item, I will ask them to “ensure that 5 are included in the order, regardless of weight.” 
• They will go to the seafood, meat, bakery, and deli counters and get specific items for me. I don’t have to wait behind the people who want ¼ lb. of every meat and cheese, and want to taste each one first! 
• Pickup is fast and easy – pull up to the designated spot, call the store, and minutes later someone comes out with my groceries. I hand them my card, I sign their electronic machine, and they put them in the car for me. (Usually 10 minutes from the time I enter the parking lot until I pull out.)
• Online shopping means no “impulse buys” – as in, “Ooh! That’s new!” or “That’s on sale!” or worse yet, “I’m hungry, I will buy ALL the food.” LOL!
• I don’t have to stand in line!!!

Downsides/stuff to consider:

• I am not the one picking out each item (ex: seafood, meat or produce)
• Occasionally they are out of an item and they will substitute another item for the cost of the one I wanted. Ex: they were out of Harris Teeter free range brown eggs, which were on sale, so they gave me a dozen of Land O Lakes free range brown eggs for the sale price. Another time I wanted Harris Teeter Italian sausage and they gave me Johnsonville Italian sausage. So it’s not really a downside, but something to think about.
• One time I was missing a few items, and I had extra items I didn’t order. I think my order was mixed up with another person’s. I called the store when we got home and told them what was missing and they refunded the cost of the missing items, plus an (un-asked for) extra $20 for the inconvenience of having to return to another store to get what we need, and they said to keep the extra items.
• The fee is $4.95 per order, with some exceptions that are noted in the weekly ad: buying a certain item or reaching a dollar amount will waive the fee.
• The Harris Teeter I go to is on Savannah Highway by the Coburg cow. I really dislike Savannah Highway! (I have figured out a system of going through the side roads of Avondale, Maryville and Magnolia neighborhoods to get to St. Andrews Blvd. or Sam Rittenburg to get to and from the store with as little as bumper to bumper sitting as I can.)
• The other HTs are on James Island, Mt. P, and way far off our travel routes in Summerville. 
• You have to give them 3-4 hours “lead time” for them to shop for you, meaning if you want to get your groceries at 3:00 pm, you have to place your order by 11:00 am.

I told Mom when y’all were at our house on Mothers’ Day that some Wal-Mart stores now participate and I want to share my experience with you.  I normally avoid the Tanger and Coliseum area like the plague, but I happened to see one day that the “Center Pointe” Walmart is offering online shopping.  I went to Walmart.com\grocery, logged in, and selected my pick up time of 5:00 pm and the location.  Below are the highlights of our experience: 

• When placing my order, I did notice a few things; for example, when I entered “peanut butter” I also got results for peanut butter flavored dog treats, cocoa butter lotion, Peanuts DVDs, etc. So I tweaked my wording to “Great Value Creamy Peanut Butter.” Not too difficult, but you just have to be specific to narrow down the choices to see what you want.
• As a test, I ordered several different cans of dog food ... some were Alpo, some Ol’Roy, different flavors and cuts, etc. to see how they would perform. I received all 6 distinct varieties. 
• I ordered a deodorant from Health and Beauty and I got the right one, correct scent and all.
• I noticed that light bulbs, batteries and other items from Hardware are available, as well as Electronics, Housewares (kitchen, bath) and Crafts. 
• Excluded are Automotive, Sporting Goods, Toys, Shoes, and Clothing. 
• There is NO FEE. Minimum order is $30.
• I entered my debit card number online. 
• At 4:45, they called me to say the order was ready and that there was a substitution for my green leaf lettuce. I told them we’d be there soon (I picked up Bill at 4:30.) They said to call as soon as I get to the parking lot and they’d be right out.
• Called when we got there at 5:00 – I parked in one of several clearly marked spots on the side of the store closest to Sam’s club. There is clear signage and there are arrows painted on the road for “Online Pickup.”
• When we parked, the lady asked my name, went inside, and brought out a cart of stacking crates that contained our bags. She explained the lettuce issue -- they were out of the regular green leaf lettuce so she gave me a box of organic green leaf lettuce for the same cost. I signed her electronic machine, she loaded the groceries, and we were off at 5:10. 
• The bag containing our eggs was marked with a red sticker labeled “FRAGILE” and the lettuce was marked with a green sticker labeled “SUBSTITUTE.” (Side note, since the kids are coming this weekend I needed to buy extra eggs for baking.)
• There were no errors – the receipt was emailed to me and my total was $1.24 LESS than the original estimate.
• I didn’t have to stand in line!!! I didn’t have to handle germy carts! There were no screaming children! There were no creepy weirdos! (For a laugh, go look at www.peopleofwalmart.com .) No electric wheelchairs blocking the aisle! No impulse purchases! I didn’t have to hike all the way to pets and HBA! No hablando en Español por ayuda! No cashier with a sour attitude! No “My lane is closed, it’s my lunch break!”

·       Hee hee … and no husband who detests Walmart – “Are we done yet?”  “Can we go now?” “What ELSE do you need?”  “Ooh! Look – snacks!”  “I’ll wait here, you go get it” “I don’t know how that got in the cart!”  (OR I leave him sleeping in the car. LOL)

Know what this means?  I can get the low prices I like without having to go into a Walmart again!!!  Keep in mind, this is my first order so I don’t know if they will get items from the fresh bakery, deli counter, etc… will report on that another time.  I also don’t know yet about coupons. 

Mom and Dad, I encourage you to sign up for this service – it is very easy to place your order online (I think you can save “favorite” items, but I haven’t done this yet.)  It is a time saver and you DON’T need to even get out of your car.

Patty and George, you can check to see if the James Island Walmart is participating – if not, the Centre Pointe store may work if you need to come to North Charleston for anything.  If not, check out Harris Teeter!  You know the stores are always very crowded.  Online is the way to go.

Sally, look in your area!  Shopping with children – ‘nuff said!  Sit in your PJs at your laptop “grocery shopping” and pick it up in the morning after you drop off the kiddos.

Kirstin, also look in your area!  Knoxville stores may be participating.  This may be a timesaver for y’all too, especially with your long commute!