Grocery delivery

[NotGolfer]

Two years ago when the shut-downs happened we only ordered one time from Fresh Market. We weren't impressed! They did make substitutions but it made the bill go up because the price on the original-ordered item wasn't honored. So we haven't done any ordering since.
We see the Kroger truck in our neighborhood from time to time. Has anyone tried them. I just went online to check them out and their prices seem reasonable. IF you've used them and they can't fill your item-order, do they substitute?? How soon after placing the order does it arrive at your door-step?? If you have any other tips, they'd greatly be appreciated.

****Update: As always people don't stay on topic. I don't care about the other options. I asked specifically about Kroger. Good for you if you prefer others. Thank you to the folks who actually answered my question.

[CFrance]

Two years ago when the shut-downs happened we only ordered one time from Fresh Market. We weren't impressed! They did make substitutions but it made the bill go up because the price on the original-ordered item wasn't honored. So we haven't done any ordering since.
We see the Kroger truck in our neighborhood from time to time. Has anyone tried them. I just went online to check them out and their prices seem reasonable. IF you've used them and they can't fill your item-order, do they substitute?? How soon after placing the order does it arrive at your door-step?? If you have any other tips, they'd greatly be appreciated.
There's this thread: https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/krogers-experience-325419/?highlight=kroger


Also if you use the search function and put in "kroger" there are some other threads.

[NotGolfer]

Thank you to the two responses---one on here and one in private mode. I tried to answer the private one but for some reason the link wouldn't allow me too.

[NotGolfer]

Now..what's with the "subscribe" tab along the bottom of the posts????

[jbartle1]

I'm hooked on Walmart pickup and looks like many others are also, order online, "pop the trunk" pickup, and away you go, all substitutes are upgraded at same price of original item, occasionally they give gift bags, no exposure to virus, friendly folks. I understand some friends like to "pinch and poke" their veggies, as long as bananas are not ripe, I'm good.

[Papa_lecki]

The service is only as good as the person doing the shopping, so every experience is going to be different, because you have a different shopper.
I use Instacart A LOTm, and still make mistakes, i.e. get the smaller can vs the bigger can.
I am still shocked, how many times I’ve gotten one banana, instead of a whole bunch.
There seems to be a lot of substitutions for more expensive items - maybe a ‘feature’ of the software’s algorithm.

[Babubhat]

Kroger was wonderful. You can specify if you will accept substitution. Walmart plus has free 3 month subscription. Code can be found on slick deals. Many items come same day

[tophcfa]

We tried it last winter from Publix using Insta Cart before we could get vaccinated. We had two bad experiences and haven’t done it since. Too many substitutes with stuff we wouldn’t have chosen, poorly selected fresh fruit and vegetables, and very expensive.

[HeleneGB]

I stopped using them for same reasons.

[mcwood4d]

Wal-Mart pickup and instacart are the way to go in my opinion. Walmart is just easy and reasonably priced. We scan the barcode of an item from our pantry with the mobile app to build the Walmart shopping list. Instacart involves individual "contracted" shoppers and they are very responsive (frequently ask questions while shopping about desires if substitution is required) to your particular desires. If you're unable to engage via text in real time your instacart shopper cannot make the right substitution. YMMV

[skippy05]

The people who are pleased with Kroger delivery are choosing MUCH higher prices in exchange for convenience. Do your OWN comparison. Pull up 2 browser screens: One with Walmart's curbside service and the other with Kroger. Place the same items in each 'cart'. Proceed to check out but don't really check out. You pay a LOT more for Kroger's service. However, for some, this might be ok due to the aspect of home delivery.

[Sunflower33]

I have been using Kroger for quite sometime now and love them. Good fresh and prices reasonable. They come when they say and you pick the time.

[Papa_lecki]

We have an app called ANYLIST on our phones. We linked it up to Alexa. When we run out of something, we say “Alexa, add eggs to grocery list”. Eggs get added- when we go to shop, the grocery list from ANYLIST transfers to Instacart, all we do is pick the brand or size of the item on the list. Pretty cool.

[Ptmckiou]

I only shop online with Kroger and Publix. I have been for 6 months and never had an issue. Great experience. I use Kroger for large weekly shopping. They have the best produce and prices around. However, they don’t have same day delivery, but you can pick just about any time for the next day. I allow substitutions and they’ve always been fine. If I want same day delivery, I shop online with Publix and usually the first time slot for delivery is within two hours. The Publix shopper always text me while shopping for my items and if need substations snaps a pic of the item and asks if that will work instead. However, YOU have to be available to to immediately chat with them via the Publix app during the grocery shopping if you want to control the substitutions. We tried Walmart delivery once and the produce just didn’t last long, like Publix and Kroger. The head of lettuce from Walmart started going bad after 5-6 days, when the same head from Publix or Kroger will last about 10 days.

[Nannyof3]

I used Instacart, Walmart delivery & Walmart pick-up. Instacart was the best. My shopper would text for acceptable substitutions. With Walmart, they do the shopping not a personal shopper. If you do not want substitutions you must specify that on the order. I found both of them to be very good. there were a few things here and there that were wrong but overall they both gave good service.

[Mlogan22@tampabay.rr.com]

Don’t see the need to bash fresh market. Get over it, it was two years ago. Just ask a question what you want.

[seoulbrooks]

Don’t see the need to bash fresh market. Get over it, it was two years ago. Just ask a question what you want.

Did not read any "bashing" The Op just stated their experience. No need for speech police! Our own FM experiences with holiday meals and some employees has also been less than enjoyable.

[Freeda]

We have used Kroger delivery when it first started in the area; and it was fine; but we already had an Instacart account, and don't want to pay for both delivery services. We find that what we got at Kroger we can also get from Publix, which is on Instacart, so we have just continued with Instacart. Instacart was a service that we just occasionally used before the pandemic, but since the pandemic we almost never go shopping; and not just for groceries, as Instacart offers many other non-grocery stores now - Bed Bath and Beyond, pet store, etc etc. It's a wonderful convenience. Between Instacart and Amazon, we get most of the things we need; groceries and otherwise. I also like that shopping on Instacart shows me all the options for an item, so I learn about new products, and can price compare; much more than I would take time to do for each item if I was shopping in person at the grocery. If we take time to indicate for each item what substitute you will accept (if any - you can say you don't want a substitute), and state the quality for each item (ie, for bananas we alway state 'green', and if we want more ripe ones also, we put a note in stating that), the shopper always does a good job. I think when people have problems with delivery, it's because they didn't take time to give these instructions for each item. Also, if we copy our previous orders and put them in the shopping cart (and then delete from the shopping cart any items we don't want on the new order), our instruction note for each item will automatically be there, so no need to type it again. I can order for delivery within a few hours, or can order several days in advance; and I pick the date and time. It's an amazing convenience, because I can order groceries or other things while watching tv or just relaxing at night, and it frees up my day time hours for other things. I will always use it, pandemic or not. Years ago with three small children and working full time, I had help at home that did my grocery shopping; this is the closest I've come to having that again. Plus, any small difference in the cost versus going into the store (this varies by the store - the stores themselves, not Instacart - control that) is well worth the time and car expense savings. Finally, Instacart is amazing about refunding any item that you have a problem with. No questions asked -- their system immediately refunds it either to your cc or to your Instacart account; whichever you ask them to do.

[nn0wheremann]

Two years ago when the shut-downs happened we only ordered one time from Fresh Market. We weren't impressed! They did make substitutions but it made the bill go up because the price on the original-ordered item wasn't honored. So we haven't done any ordering since.
We see the Kroger truck in our neighborhood from time to time. Has anyone tried them. I just went online to check them out and their prices seem reasonable. IF you've used them and they can't fill your item-order, do they substitute?? How soon after placing the order does it arrive at your door-step?? If you have any other tips, they'd greatly be appreciated.

****Update: As always people don't stay on topic. I don't care about the other options. I asked specifically about Kroger. Good for you if you prefer others. Thank you to the folks who actually answered my question.
Kroger filled our order correctly, but we thought they were pricey.

[billethkid]

We tried it last winter from Publix using Insta Cart before we could get vaccinated. We had two bad experiences and haven’t done it since. Too many substitutes with stuff we wouldn’t have chosen, poorly selected fresh fruit and vegetables, and very expensive.

The reasons we stopped using insta cart and others like it!

[bxmt54]

Two years ago when the shut-downs happened we only ordered one time from Fresh Market. We weren't impressed! They did make substitutions but it made the bill go up because the price on the original-ordered item wasn't honored. So we haven't done any ordering since.
We see the Kroger truck in our neighborhood from time to time. Has anyone tried them. I just went online to check them out and their prices seem reasonable. IF you've used them and they can't fill your item-order, do they substitute?? How soon after placing the order does it arrive at your door-step?? If you have any other tips, they'd greatly be appreciated.

****Update: As always people don't stay on topic. I don't care about the other options. I asked specifically about Kroger. Good for you if you prefer others. Thank you to the folks who actually answered my question.
I’ve used it many times as Kroger was very popular in the Midwest where I’m from. As you’re ordering on line, you can tell them if it’s okay or not to substitute items. You can also pick your delivery day and time. They do deliver quite late. I think it is either 9 or 10 o’clock. I also buy a lot of Kroger brand items. After I stood in line Monday at the WalMart Marketfor what seemed like hours I will either order from Kroger or do the pickup and go at WalMart. Hope this helps!

[Vermilion Villager]

Expect more troubles with any type of service type work now and in the future. Dept. of Labor just reported 4.5 million people quit their jobs in November 2021, and the vast majority are in the service area. Can't blame COVID unemployment relief because that ended a long time ago. The new norm.....

[JudyMonin]

I have used them many times. Great service. Items were fresh and delivery on time. Prices are good. You can opt out of substitutions.

[twinklesweep]

No matter what shopping service you choose to use (assuming you do choose to use one), you can explicitly specify "no substitutions." There's no excuse for not doing so and the complaining about substitutions you weren't happy with.

[Villagesbound]

Two years ago when the shut-downs happened we only ordered one time from Fresh Market. We weren't impressed! They did make substitutions but it made the bill go up because the price on the original-ordered item wasn't honored. So we haven't done any ordering since.
We see the Kroger truck in our neighborhood from time to time. Has anyone tried them. I just went online to check them out and their prices seem reasonable. IF you've used them and they can't fill your item-order, do they substitute?? How soon after placing the order does it arrive at your door-step?? If you have any other tips, they'd greatly be appreciated.

****Update: As always people don't stay on topic. I don't care about the other options. I asked specifically about Kroger. Good for you if you prefer others. Thank you to the folks who actually answered my question.

I have used Krogers for a few month now and I love it. They always have great deals and coupons you can just clip online and then order the item. I signed up for the yearly free delivery and they have always been right on the timetable I have selected. You can decide if you want to accept substitutions or not but it is never more than the original cost of what you agreed to buy. When there is a substitution you can either accept it or not. I think they are saving me money each week and I could not be happier.

[Bay Kid]

I seem to get run over by the personal store shoppers. Good service but I still like to pick my own food if possible.