Online grocery shopping is a convenient and time-saving option for many busy people. You can order everything you need from the comfort of your home and have it delivered to your door in a few hours or days. But with so many online grocery services available, how do you choose the best one for you? We're here to help!
Let's dive into our top pick and compare their prices, selection, delivery options, and customer reviews to help you decide which one suits your needs and budget.
What We'll Cover
Instacart
Instacart is a grocery delivery service that allows you to shop from multiple local stores in one app. You can choose from thousands of products, including fresh produce, meat, seafood, dairy, bakery, pantry, frozen, household, pet, and more. You can also order alcohol, flowers, and prescriptions in some areas.
Instacart employs personal shoppers who pick up your items from the store and deliver them to your door. You can communicate with your shopper via the app and request replacements or additions if needed. You can also track your order status and see real-time updates on your delivery.
In most places, Instacart offers both scheduled delivery for future dates as well as same-day delivery. In some stores, you can choose curbside pickup if you'd rather drive yourself. Depending on your order quantity and delivery schedule, the delivery price starts at $3.99 and changes. A service charge of 5% of your overall order amount (minimum $2) and a different service charge for alcohol orders are also applicable. Additionally, to compensate the expense of the service, some items may be priced higher than those in-store.
If you use Instacart frequently, you may benefit from joining Instacart+, which costs $99 per year or $9.99 per month. Instacart+ members get unlimited free deliveries on orders over $35 and reduced service fees. They also get access to exclusive deals and savings.
Instacart has mixed customer reviews online. Some customers praise the convenience, speed, and quality of the service, while others complain about missing or wrong items, poor substitutions, delayed or canceled deliveries, and high fees. According to Sitejabber, Instacart has a rating of 1.27 stars out of 5 based on 2,256 reviews. According to ConsumerAffairs, Instacart has a rating of 2.2 stars out of 5 based on 477 reviews.
- Shop from multiple local stores in one app
- Same-day delivery available
- Communicate with your shopper via the app
- Instacart+ option for unlimited free deliveries and reduced service fees
- Delivery fee and service fee apply without Instacart+
- Some items may be priced higher than in-store prices
- Mixed customer reviews online
Stopandshop
Stopandshop is a grocery store chain that operates in the northeastern United States. It offers online grocery shopping through its website and app, where you can browse and order from a wide range of products, including fresh produce, meat, seafood, dairy, bakery, deli, pantry, frozen, household, health and beauty, pet, baby, and more.
Stopandshop allows you to choose between home delivery and curbside pickup for your online orders. You can schedule your delivery or pickup time up to seven days in advance. The delivery fee ranges from $6.95 to $9.95 depending on your order size and delivery time. The pickup fee is $2.95 for orders over $30 and free for orders over $100. There is no service fee or markup on online prices.
If you shop at Stopandshop regularly, you may want to join the Stop & Shop GO Rewards program, which is free to sign up for. As a member, you can earn points on every purchase that you can redeem for savings on groceries or gas at participating stations.
Stopandshop has mostly negative customer reviews online. Many customers complain about poor customer service, rude employees, unavailable items or substitutions, late or missing deliveries, and problems with the website or app. According to Sitejabber, Stopandshop has a rating of 2.11 stars out of 5 based on 61 reviews. According to Trustpilot, Stopandshop has a rating of 2.3 stars out of 5 based on 7 reviews.
- Wide range of products available
- No service fee or markup on online prices
- Stop & Shop GO Rewards program for savings on groceries or gas
- Delivery fee and pickup fee apply
- Poor customer service and rude employees
- Unavailable items or substitutions
- Late or missing deliveries
- Problems with the website or app
- Mostly negative customer reviews online
Walmart Groceries
Walmart Groceries is an online grocery service that lets you shop from Walmart stores across the United States. You can find a variety of products at low Walmart prices, including fresh produce, meat, seafood, dairy, bakery, pantry, frozen, household,
health and beauty, pet, baby, and more. You can also order non-grocery items from Walmart.com and have them delivered with your groceries in the same order.
Walmart Groceries offers both delivery and pickup options for your online orders. You can choose a time slot that works for you, usually within a few hours or days. The delivery fee is $7.95 or $9.95 depending on the time slot. The pickup service is free, but you need to meet a $35 minimum order. There is no service fee or markup on online prices.
If you use Walmart Groceries often, you may want to consider joining Walmart+, which costs $98 per year or $12.95 per month. Walmart+ members get unlimited free deliveries on orders over $35, as well as other benefits such as discounts on fuel, early access to sales, and contactless checkout in stores.
Walmart Groceries has mixed customer reviews online. Some customers appreciate the low prices, large selection, and fast delivery, while others report issues with missing or wrong items, poor quality of fresh produce, delayed or canceled deliveries, and poor customer service. According to Trustpilot, Walmart Groceries has a rating of 1.4 stars out of 5 based on 574 reviews. According to Healthline, Walmart Groceries has a rating of 3 stars out of 5 based on one dietitian’s personal experience.
- Low Walmart price
- Large selection of products
- Non-grocery items available in the same order
- Free pickup service
- Walmart+ option for unlimited free deliveries and other benefits
- Delivery fee applies without Walmart+
- $35 minimum order for delivery and pickup
- Poor quality of fresh produce
- Missing or wrong items
- Delayed or canceled deliveries
- Poor customer service
- Mixed customer reviews online
Conclusion
In conclusion, online grocery shopping offers a convenient and time-saving solution for busy individuals. With numerous services available, it is essential to evaluate and compare their prices, selection, delivery options, and customer reviews to determine the best fit for your needs and budget. Our top picks, including Instacart, Stopandshop, and Walmart Groceries, each have their pros and cons. Instacart allows you to shop from multiple local stores with same-day delivery options, Stopandshop offers no service fees or markup on prices with a rewards program, and Walmart Groceries provides low prices and a large selection. Carefully considering the features of each service and taking into account your personal preferences will help you make an informed decision on the most suitable online grocery service for you.
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