Today I Discovered Instacart
@BelleStarr (61047)
United States
March 23, 2020 7:47pm CST
I knew that I had to go to the grocery store. I didn't want to go to the grocery store. I thought about getting groceries delivered. No dates available, I guess someone else had the same idea.
So I made a shopping list on Instacart for Publix and did curbside pickup. It was a Publix 14 miles away but hey desperate times and all that.
Anyway, within a few minutes I was getting texts from LaVita telling me she was starting my shopping. I watched online as things moved into my basket. When something wasn't available she offered me other options and we texted back and forth.
No eggs in the store would I like something else. Yes, I told her two cinnamon donuts, donuts are better than eggs any day. That got a lol and a laugh emoji out of her. As we got near the end of the pulI,I was given a one hour window to pick up the groceries.
We hoped in the car and off we went. They have two designated parking spots that you pull into. You call the store and tell them you are here and they bring the groceries out and put them in your car.
All very easy and well organized and everything in the order was perfect. I did leave a tip for Laita since she as so much fun to work with but other than that, there is no charge.
I told my daughter about it and she asked me to do an order for her in CT. Her town is not eligible but mine is so I had her order delivered to my Portland house and she will get it there. It will be delivered on Thursday between 1-3. Deliver comes at a cost but it is so worth it not to have to deal with the time and people in the grocery store.
So if you are not looking forward to dealing with the general public, give Instacart a look, I found it a great and efficient service.
This is not the receipt for my order today it is just one I had in my photos.
19 people like this
18 responses
@moffittjc (118795)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 Mar 20
I will send you my list of grocery needs and you can tell LaVita what to get. I'll be waiting for her in the parking lot to bring me my groceries. I'm already starting to like this Instacart thing and I haven't even used it yet! lol
3 people like this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
24 Mar 20
Sure just give me your credit card and I will be your professional orderer lol You can trust me!!
3 people like this
@moffittjc (118795)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 Mar 20
@BelleStarr Hold on. I found a credit card on the ground in the parking lot the other day. Let me give you that number. I'm sure it's valid. You can trust me!
3 people like this
@rebelann (111416)
• El Paso, Texas
24 Mar 20
Maybe after this virus shut down ends they'll finally wise up @BelleStarr Of course it doesn't help that I live in a rural area where the nearest grocery store that I know of is about 9 miles from home.
3 people like this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
24 Mar 20
@rebelann well as I said, I had to drive 14 miles so distance should not be the issue. But I hope you do get some of these great services. I imagine the stores have to want to particulate.
3 people like this
@crossbones27 (48542)
• Mojave, California
24 Mar 20
Huh, times are a changing. I was telling my sister, at this point, we going to have to build robots if people this scared. lol. That does sound interesting and no way can you get that kind of interaction with a robot but seems we heading that way. Glad it worked out for you and you enjoyed.
3 people like this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
24 Mar 20
It worked a lot better than a robot and two people, the puller and the woman who brought it to our car both have a job.
3 people like this
@crossbones27 (48542)
• Mojave, California
24 Mar 20
@BelleStarr Glad to hear, robots are scary too plus who am I going to yell at if whole world is run by robots. Come on that was funny.
3 people like this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
24 Mar 20
@crossbones27 yes I understand but I guess these days with so many people losing their jobs I was being a little more serious. 
3 people like this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
26 Mar 20
I agree, it was so easy to do and much less stressful than dealing with all the people in the store.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (74114)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
24 Mar 20
That is how I usually order groceries when I need to stock up through Instacart and Publix. The next time I order I just don't know if there will be delivery times available.
3 people like this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
24 Mar 20
Right now delivery takes a few days but curbside pick up was within an hour.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
24 Mar 20
Yes I was not exposed to anyone and I got what I needed and they give you all the items that are on sale at sale prices.
3 people like this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
24 Mar 20
It really is amazing and it is perfect for this time of social distancing.
2 people like this
@GreatMartin (23675)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
24 Mar 20
I have been looking into that! I have options: Instacart, Shopt and I forget the 3rd one right now.
"there is no charge" The prices are higher as I basically buy the same things every week so I know prices but the way things are it is probably worth it BUT none of the 3 have toilet paper!!
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
24 Mar 20
The publix prices were spot on and they gave me bogo on quite a few sale items so I am not complaining. But I did pickup not delivery
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
24 Mar 20
Delivery times were several days out but the curbside pickup was pretty immediate.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
24 Mar 20
@DianneN Now you can't even get a date with Peapod they are booked ahead for weeks!! My daughter tried that first.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247216)
• United States
24 Mar 20
@BelleStarr That’s good to know. Peapod from Stop & Shop always takes a few days.
I will try it next time we need groceries.
1 person likes this
@Elizaby (6901)
• Pensacola, Florida
25 Mar 20
My sister with whom I live with works for Publix as their liqurd store specialit just below management (when it was Albertson she was a manager, but Publix when they inherited liquor stores when they bought out Albertson put tem under the grocery management and gave the heads of these departments(such as produce and deli) the title of Specialist though the only difference now is the specialist don't schedule or hire employees for their section). Anyway they are allowing their employees when they come in if there is something they need such at meat to get it and store it in the back cold storage area til they clock out. That is how sis was able to get bread yesterday and ground beef today,
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
26 Mar 20
Still no eggs around here, it is crazy. My sister in law works for home depot and they also letting their employees get paper supplies when needed
@Courtlynn (66918)
• United States
24 Mar 20
I'm glad it was easy for you. Especially with things not being available. You had awesome help.
2 people like this
@Hannihar (129674)
• Israel
24 Mar 20
@BelleStarr
Sounds interesting. So, will you be ordering like that all the time or just still they figure out a solution for the virus?
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
24 Mar 20
Just until the virus is over I like to check prices and have access to a larger selection of goods. Your choices are more limited with this way of shopping.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129674)
• Israel
24 Mar 20
@BelleStarr
I have a list of what I want to get and have one or two grocery stores I go to that have what I want.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (171153)
• United States
24 Mar 20
That sounds kind of neat, Publix or any store that uses Instacart is pretty far away from here..but if I was in the area for something else..maybe..
@1creekgirl (40635)
• United States
24 Mar 20
That's a good way to shop safely. We're too rural to use instacart.
1 person likes this
@MommyOfEli2013 (82313)
• Rupert, Idaho
24 Mar 20
Sounds like a nice way to get groceries. I signed up to be a shopper for Instacart a while back but haven't had any jobs available to do here.
