Someone talk to me about Instacart

[EmseB]

How does one do pickup instead of delivery? There are several stores in my area that use instacart. I need to pick up at the store because they don't deliver to my neighborhood. I can't seem to figure out how to do this because I am not that smart apparently. Any ideas?

[BarbecueMom]

1 minute ago, EmseB said:

How does one do pickup instead of delivery? There are several stores in my area that use instacart. I need to pick up at the store because they don't deliver to my neighborhood. I can't seem to figure out how to do this because I am not that smart apparently. Any ideas?

I couldn’t figure out how to do Instacart pickup in a non-delivery area either.  I think you still have to have an address in a delivery zone in order to use the pickup option.  Same with Shipt.

If someone figures it out without me committing identity theft, I’d be grateful.

[BarbecueMom]

11 hours ago, Danae said:

Not all stores offer pickup and delivery. When you look at the list of stores in your area by clicking on “shopping in [zipcode]” each one will have boxes under the store name that say “delivery” or “pickup.” If they only have the delivery box then they only do delivery.

So here’s my problem.  The stores are in different zip codes than where I live.  The “shopping centers” are in Town A and Town C, and I live in Not-a-Town B, about halfway in between (~10 minute drive to both places).  Typically, I shop in Town A, but my mom lives in C, and we do some activities there.  In Town A, there are two stores that use Instacart (one with pickup) and one that uses Shipt for both delivery and pickup (plus Target, but I can do non-grocery pickup there - no cold/fresh food though).  Town C just has the two Instacart stores (one with pickup).  When I put in my zip code in Instacart, it defaults to searching Town C’s stores.  Shipt is all, “I’m gonna stop you right there and say no.”  Okay...

However, when I put my actual address in Instacart, none of them will allow store pickup because I live outside of any delivery zone.  Never mind that these are literally the stores I normally shop at.  It’s a moot point right now, because even the people that live near these stores can’t get a delivery or pickup time because of how slammed they are.  Still would like the option!  I can’t figure out a way around that unless I borrow someone’s address.  I don’t know anyone in Town A though, which is my preference.

We do have a couple Walmart stores, but we have about 250,000 people in our county (and probably some out-of-county) who are all trying to use that.  I figured since we are lower risk and non-essential workers with two parents and childcare, I should leave those slots to the people that truly need them.

[Tree Frog]

I have never used either of these services, but could you plug in the address where you would like to pick up, possibly including the grocery store or a neighboring business? Would that allow you to see the pick up option?

[QueenCat]

2 hours ago, BarbecueMom said:

So here’s my problem.  The stores are in different zip codes than where I live.  The “shopping centers” are in Town A and Town C, and I live in Not-a-Town B, about halfway in between (~10 minute drive to both places).  Typically, I shop in Town A, but my mom lives in C, and we do some activities there.  In Town A, there are two stores that use Instacart (one with pickup) and one that uses Shipt for both delivery and pickup (plus Target, but I can do non-grocery pickup there - no cold/fresh food though).  Town C just has the two Instacart stores (one with pickup).  When I put in my zip code in Instacart, it defaults to searching Town C’s stores.  Shipt is all, “I’m gonna stop you right there and say no.”  Okay...

However, when I put my actual address in Instacart, none of them will allow store pickup because I live outside of any delivery zone.  Never mind that these are literally the stores I normally shop at.  It’s a moot point right now, because even the people that live near these stores can’t get a delivery or pickup time because of how slammed they are.  Still would like the option!  I can’t figure out a way around that unless I borrow someone’s address.  I don’t know anyone in Town A though, which is my preference.

We do have a couple Walmart stores, but we have about 250,000 people in our county (and probably some out-of-county) who are all trying to use that.  I figured since we are lower risk and non-essential workers with two parents and childcare, I should leave those slots to the people that truly need them.

Go to the store's website, not Instacarts. I didn't even know that Instacart had a site that you could search for stores on.

[BarbecueMom]

1 hour ago, QueenCat said:

Go to the store's website, not Instacarts. I didn't even know that Instacart had a site that you could search for stores on.

It redirects you to Instacart or Shipt.  The stores themselves do not handle any of the delivery/pickup.

I live in a very working class area.  Delivery/pickup was just. not. done. before now because there are no sale prices, no coupons, no markdown/clearance shelves, and added fees and tips.  My budget (self-imposed, granted) lives and dies by the loss leaders and scratch-and-dent items.  It’s considered odd here to hire out home repairs unless you are physically incapable, so grocery delivery during normal times would be, what’s the word the kids use, bougie?  Not normal times now, though...
 

3 hours ago, wilrunner said:

I have never used either of these services, but could you plug in the address where you would like to pick up, possibly including the grocery store or a neighboring business? Would that allow you to see the pick up option?

I could try, but I wonder if the billing address for the credit card needs to match the “delivery” address.

[Tree Frog]

Just now, BarbecueMom said:

I could try, but I wonder if the billing address for the credit card needs to match the “delivery” address.

I wouldn't think so because people have ordered items to be delivered to other people. You might have to look for the info to put in the billing address, but I would think it could be done. I would try it and see what happens. 

[BarbecueMom]

Okay, I think I figured it out.  It doesn't work when I go through the store's website first.  Instead, I went to Instacart and logged in (they actually let me make an account, I don't want to use up the free trial on Shipt just to attempt an order I'm not actually placing right now), went to the stores drop-down menu at the top, picked the chain, searched by zip code, and found the location I wanted that does pickup.  THEN I was able to browse and add items to my cart, but when I click on pickup times, it says "No Times Available."  Which is what everyone's getting right now, from every store.  Someone on our county FB page had to place an order a week in advance for pickup, and it was pushed back and then just flat out cancelled.  They're completely overwhelmed.  And this isn't even the location I normally shop at, the other one does not offer any delivery or pickup options.

We do have a non-chain store about 3 minutes from my house, but they don't even have a phone number on their website, let alone pickup or delivery options!  They'd do really well if they added delivery service, because none of us are served by the chain stores.  I get the impression that they are "technologically stubborn" and just not willing to deal with it.  Plus their main pull is their alcohol department, which I don't think can be delivered here except for wine.  They might actually lose money by people skipping the booze in order to not have to go into the store.

Edited April 10, 2020 by BarbecueMom

[EmseB]

Well, I have a friend letting me deliver to her house to pickup. I'll update in a week or so how it all works out.

[Joker]

58 minutes ago, BarbecueMom said:

It redirects you to Instacart or Shipt.  The stores themselves do not handle any of the delivery/pickup.

I live in a very working class area.  Delivery/pickup was just. not. done. before now because there are no sale prices, no coupons, no markdown/clearance shelves, and added fees and tips.  My budget (self-imposed, granted) lives and dies by the loss leaders and scratch-and-dent items.  It’s considered odd here to hire out home repairs unless you are physically incapable, so grocery delivery during normal times would be, what’s the word the kids use, bougie?  Not normal times now, though...
 

I could try, but I wonder if the billing address for the credit card needs to match the “delivery” address.

It doesn't need to match. My in laws do nothing online so we are ordering groceries online for them to be delivered. I pay using my card and billing information but have them delivered to their home which is in another state very far away from us.

[QueenCat]

4 hours ago, BarbecueMom said:

It redirects you to Instacart or Shipt.  The stores themselves do not handle any of the delivery/pickup.

I live in a very working class area.  Delivery/pickup was just. not. done. before now because there are no sale prices, no coupons, no markdown/clearance shelves, and added fees and tips.  My budget (self-imposed, granted) lives and dies by the loss leaders and scratch-and-dent items.  It’s considered odd here to hire out home repairs unless you are physically incapable, so grocery delivery during normal times would be, what’s the word the kids use, bougie?  Not normal times now, though...
 

I could try, but I wonder if the billing address for the credit card needs to match the “delivery” address.

 

Yes, I did know that it's not actually Publix doing the shopping/delivery. For Publix, it still shows up as being on the Publix interface, even though Instacart is running that part of the operation. It doesn't take me to a site that indicates it's Instacart.

[BarbecueMom]

11 minutes ago, QueenCat said:

 

Yes, I did know that it's not actually Publix doing the shopping/delivery. For Publix, it still shows up as being on the Publix interface, even though Instacart is running that part of the operation. It doesn't take me to a site that indicates it's Instacart.

No Publix here, we do not have any national chains except Aldi.