Grocery Delivery in the COVID-19 Era

Besides the obvious stir-crazy aspect of being stuck at home 24/7, the worst part of COVID-19 for us has (thankfully) been combating internal anxiety of not running out of food. While I’d like to say that running Mindless Mom is my full-time job (outside of being an ACTUAL mom), the reality is that I really spend far more time looking for grocery delivery nowadays than I do looking for deals.

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So here’s what I’ve learned about all the services I’ve used, in the hopes that it helps you in some way:

1.) AMAZON FRESH

ABOUT: This is a free service for Prime members that, as long as you meet a $35 minimum, gives you access to many products you’d see in your local supermarket, along with the “Happy Belly” (AKA Amazon) brand.

THOUGHTS: The prices are good, it’s available across the country, and it’s definitely my first choice for grocery delivery – but the big issue here is delivery time availability. I can promise you that you’ll likely be told that no delivery time slots are available for at least your first five tries; HOWEVER, if you’re obsessive enough and refresh your screen multiple times throughout any given morning (not afternoon/night), you’ll almost definitely get something at your doorstep within 48 hours. I especially like that once you process your order, you can almost guarantee that you’ll actually get everything you ordered – no unpleasant surprises that they ran out of chicken on you.

CHECK OUT AMAZON FRESH HERE

2.) WHOLE FOODS MARKET ON AMAZON

ABOUT: Also free for Prime members with a $35 purchase, this gives you access to available inventory at your local Whole Foods store.

THOUGHTS: Just like Amazon Fresh, if you’re persistent enough, you CAN find grocery delivery options, though the service is only available in markets that have Whole Foods in them. This is a good option for those of you who want fresh meat and seafood hand-cut by a real person, though you’re forced into established weights (e.g., salmon only comes by the full pound vs quarters, etc.). My biggest gripe is that you may order dozens of things and only a handful will arrive because it won’t be in stock – but at least you’re only charged for what you receive, and if you secure a spot, you’ll get your items within 48 hours. After receiving your delivery, you can also be refunded for mistakes by clicking just a few buttons, which is nice.

CHECK OUT WHOLE FOODS MARKET ON AMAZON HERE

3.) PRIME PANTRY

ABOUT: Another Amazon grocery delivery service, this gives you access to shelf-stable pantry items at a discounted price. You must “fill a box” (AKA spend $35), which lets Amazon save money on shipping by packaging everything together on a less rushed schedule.

THOUGHTS: This is a great option if you eat a lot of packaged goods like soups, pastas, and canned vegetables. Snacks are usually really cheap here too, and you’re given a shipping date that parallels a typical Amazon delivery (usually less than a week out). Availability for specific items will vary by market, but if you order something, you can pretty much guarantee that you’ll get it.

CHECK OUT PRIME PANTRY HERE

4.) INSTACART

ABOUT: This is your best bet to access the supermarkets you use every day. With choices like Stop & Shop, Wegmans, and even Costco (no membership needed – just a small surcharge on all items), this gives you the biggest choice when it comes to grocery delivery of items you’re already familiar with.

THOUGHTS: I’m not a fan of the extra $12+ in fees you’ll get by using this service, but new customers can dodge this for two weeks by trying out Instacart Express. I’ve done it and the cancellation process is super easy – just set it to expire without renewal and you’ll have two weeks of free delivery, no strings attached. Today is Monday, and the earliest delivery date I could get was Saturday so you need to plan ahead for this one, but it’s definitely a good option for those of you who like the comfort of using your favorite supermarket. Just note that there’s a high likelihood that you won’t get everything you ordered, so make sure to specify replacements (or say NOT to replace anything) to avoid disappointment.

CHECK OUT INSTACART HERE

5.) MERCATO

ABOUT: Unlike the other “big-box” retail options above, this service gives you access to your local mom-and-pop shops.

THOUGHTS: I used this service to get fresh vegetables and fruit from a local farm and was really impressed. Take advantage of the free 2-week delivery trial and make sure to cancel it VIA FACEBOOK MESSENGER because the phone and email support is horrendous. Note that delivery times are booking a week out for many locales, so plan ahead and make sure you get your order in before your trial expires or you’ll be automatically renewed for $250+ in fees (obviously something to avoid). Out of all services I’ve used, I’ve actually been most impressed by the quality of the stuff from this one, likely because the retailers are desperate for business. Check to see what options are available in your market prior to creating an account, though, because I get the sense that it’s pretty limited outside of the Boston area. Also be prepared for the possibility that some of your items will be out of stock, though the odds are less than when ordering from a supermarket since you’ve got less competition.

CHECK OUT MERCATO HERE

IN CLOSING:

I think what I’ve learned from all of this is that if you have enough patience, you CAN find somewhere that will deliver your groceries without making you leave your home. Just remember to sanitize them all as soon as you bring them inside…