Scared to shop? Grocery delivery might be worth it, but comes at a price (2024)

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Grocery store shopping these days can be a nerve-wracking experience if you're elderly,immuno-compromised, quarantined orafraid of being exposed to coronavirus.

But there are ways to get groceries without going to the store. Peapod, Instacart,Whole Foods, Amazon and Walmart are just a few of the many options to shop online and have groceries delivered orprepared for pickup.

Instacart is a same-day shopping/delivery service serving stores such as Acme, Aldi, Giant, ShopRite, Costco, Petco, CVS and Safeway. You can sign up for the service at the store's website or on yourphone through theapp.

"Skip the lines, aisles and headaches," says the promotion on the mobile app.

I gave it a try.

Aftersigning up online at a store of my choice, Iclicked on items I wanted,selecting favorite brandsand amounts needed.

I got a window of time when the Instacart shopper got the list and began the order. Then, I could follow the shopper's movements in real time through textmessages.

There is, however, a price for convenience and peace of mind. It's easier to findbargains when you're the one in the store doing the hunting. Also,you'll be charged aservice fee, a delivery fee and a tip in addition to the cost of the groceries.

Ferne D. wasmy InstaCart shopper and did a good job, but she's not a miracle worker. The 5-pound bag of all-purpose flour I wanted? Sorry, it's not available at the Acme Marketwhere she's shopping, and there's no substitution.

Here was the breakdown of my March 25 order:Cost of groceries (14 items, three replacements and two refunds) was $65.79. A20 percent tip was$13.16 (you can go lower or higher). The service fee for me was$3.29.

The first delivery is free, then after that, it can start at $3.99. If you plan to use Instacartmore often,it's $9.99 per month.

There are some savings.If you share your Instacart experience on Facebook or Twitter,you'll get $10 off a futureorder, and a friend who uses it can also save$10.

Having someone else do the shopping right now is a burgeoning need.Instacart has said it planned to add 300,000 workersover the next three months to meet the demand for grocery deliveries.

But a nationwide strike from the approximately 150,000 Instacart employees expected on Monday could temporarily curtail the service.

The reason for the job action? Shoppers say the company isn't providing them with masks, gloves and other protectionfromcoronavirus. They also want an extra $5 per order in hazard pay andexpanded pay for workers impacted by COVID-19.

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How the order went

Last Wednesday, I tried out Instacartand was happy with the results.

After placing my order in the morning, around 10 a.m., I receive a text that Ferne D., my Instacart shopper, was ready to start looking for my items.

The text noted that I would benotified if there are any changes to my order, and perishables wouldbe temperature controlled in the store and "carefully handled by" the driver until delivery.

I follow the play-by-play action on my phone, and, in some ways, it's almost like a sporting event. Is this the new baseball?

Ferne D. tells methe 2-pound bag of fresh lemons I want are not available,but she is replacing them with six loose lemons, each costing 79 cents. I review her choice and approve it.

She also has no luck in finding basmati rice.

Uh, oh. I start thinking maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all.

But then Ferne D. sends me photos of the shelves in the grains, rice and dried goods aisle.

"Is there a replacement in the photo you would like?"

At first, I ask for a box of plain couscous, but then spy bags of Carolina long grain rice.

Can you pick them up, instead? No problem.

A loaf of seedless rye from my list isn't available, but rye bread with seeds is on the shelf. I approve Ferne D.'s choice on that one, too. Actually, it's a win for me. I did want the bread with seeds, butmade the wrong selection when I initially ordered.

I watch as the items on my list are checked off: Ferne D. finds unsweetened almond milk creamer, extra large eggs, organic blueberries, green tea bags and seedless cucumbers.

The only items not available? The all-purpose flour and a package of paper towels.

I receivea refund on my credit card charge for those two items. Interestingly enough,I scored both the flour and paper towelson atrip a few days later – on my own – to the same Acme where Ferne D. was shopping.

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Delivery comes much faster than I expected. I get a text that the items are coming by 12:50 p.m. and Ferne D. leaves my bags on the front step as requested. No face-to-face delivery.

Pawing through the bags, I find that everything I ordered is there. The navel oranges and lemons I asked forare real beauties. The two containers of grape tomatoes aren't bad, but I probably would have picked up packages that lookedalittle more ripe than the ones I received.

Would I use this service again? Yes, but probably only in cases of emergency.

A co-worker said her Acme Instacart order came in just over two hours with no problem, but aShopRite order was missing an item.

She tried letting Instacartknow in the app and on desktop that she was missing an item, but the website/app did not seem to be working correctly. She phoned and a message said there would be an 81-minute wait to talk to someone about a refund.

My co-worker said she also was told anorder for BJ's Warehouse could not be filled immediately, and would take a few days due to high demand.

Contact Patricia Talorico at (302) 324-2861 or ptalorico@delawareonline.com and on Twitter @pattytalorico.