Re: Groceries
 

Bloody hell. What's happening?
Is this big town service (bad) vs small town service (good)? Or rubbish wages in general but people here see low wages going much further here than Toronto and don't resent it so much?

Re: Groceries
 

Supermarket delivery here is by volunteers so you need to be in quarantine, or a senior, or vulnerable to get a delivery. We are in theory two of those but so far we have just done our own shopping. We do a big shop then have to go to in between times for milk, bread. I think we should be more careful now though as there has been at least one local case of COVID.

Re: Groceries
 

Mix of cost of operating a car, higher insurance premiums possible (in BC anyhow) not exactly a well paying job, can make more doing the same job with Save On but an employee..... Demand just seems to be far higher here in Vancouver than they have drivers resulting in poor service.

Re: Groceries
 

I’ve used INSTACART probably in excess of a dozen times now and am satisfied with the service. It’s not perfect, but overall I’m pleased. The shopper keeps in touch with me via texts as to substitutions, so not too many issues there. I dislike traipsing around Supermarkets with a vengeance and I’m disabled, so delivery for me is perfection.

Re: Groceries
 

We did end up getting our order last night, showed up at 8pm, never got any indication though they were shopping or on their way, 85% of what was ordered arrived.



.

Re: Groceries
 

Decided to give Instacart another go. Ordered 4 items...4 to 6 of each item. Delivery time estimate...within 4 hours of order. I am very pleased to say everything was delivered as ordered, I stated no substitutes. It was delivered approx 3 hours after ordering. There were also slots available from tomorrow onwards. As Bristol recommended (Thanks Mr B), I logged onto my order in the Instacart app, then I could then see what the shopper had put in the cart as he was going through the store.

only problem is the shopper only got 5% tip. Normally you can change the tip after the goods are delivered. :(

Re: Groceries
 

:thumbup:
Wow that was late! Better late than never... it sounds like you were quite lucky with your order too :)

I got a message on the online order page (desktop) to say they were at the store queueing to get in - then another message to say the shopper was checking out and then on their way, with a map link to watch the progress of the vehicle.. I suppose it's up to the 'shopper' on how much they keep you updated. I might try the phone app next time to see if I get more interaction, my son used the phone app and said his shopper was constantly texting him with updates from in the store.

Re: Groceries
 

that’s what it was like before Loblaws started using Instacart. The shopper also kept in touch via text as he/she went through the store.

Re: Groceries
 

It's not clear immediately where one can do that. But when it shows completed I think the button is 'view rating' when you've not made one yet, which is odd. But it's in there where one can rate and change the tip.

Glad it went better

Re: Groceries
 

thanks.

I have already given the guy a 5 star rating but there was nothing about the tip.

Re: Groceries
 

Just remembered something. Someone posted about "Tip Baiting" where mean folk start with a large tip to entice the shopper and then drop it (maybe even to zero) after the event. Curious, I googled and found an article on it.

I just remembered that within the article was a reference to being able to change the tip for some time after.

I just experimented with my Tuesday shop (2 days ago) and if I select it from the order summary, it says order complete and there's a solid green button "view rating" and the first option that came up is to change the tip. I had already increased it and now I could do it again. :lol:

Re: Groceries
 

Having got my online grocery shopping routine all sorted, I just made a discovery.

There's another option to Instacart which does Superstore, Superstore Wholesale, Walmart, M&Ms and Shoppers Drug Mart.

Some years ago Sobeys bought up the Co-op supermarkets, closing some and converting others to IGA. We have one in Dieppe which is really greater Moncton. The good news is they deliver.

The better news is they do have flyer prices. The even better news is the stuff they sell that the others don't. :nod:

Oh yes...and they appear to deliver wine too, something instacart doesn't - here at least.
Fool that I am I forgot to include some in my experimental order. :o Unlike instacart, orders can't be amended.

Re: Groceries
 

I was concerned about ‘tip baiting’ in reverse, because of the 5% tip. I spent less than $100, because it was a trial run to see if they would cock my order up again,` therefore his tip was less than $5. Embarrassing that he shopped, used his own vehicle to deliver the goods for less than $5. :(

the only page I got was the one with the star rating. There was nothing else and no tab to go further.

Re: Groceries
 

But maybe you can go back now and change it if I still can for two days ago. It might still work but I imagine where you are there are so many 'shoppers' you'll probably not get the same one again. One bloke has done us three times, another twice and there have been about 4 others. :lol:

Re: Groceries
 

Does anyone know how long it takes Instacart to refund? They put 2 'holds' on my credit card but neither of the 2 amounts reflect the refund deduction.

Re: Groceries
 

They told me 5 -10 biz days for refunds to appear.

Re: Groceries
 

If you log in and go to your orders then find your latest order and click on 'view detail' and then on 'view rating' - it takes you to where you can change the tip

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...bdc048a04f.jpghttps://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...16c5c21acb.jpghttps://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...dcd97aeac9.jpg

Re: Groceries
 

I've not had one where the actual 'shop' fell short of the original debit, if that's what you mean - I keep adding stuff to the original list :lol: - but the refund on my first order (where the choice of substitute was poor - useless to me - and value was short of what I'd paid) was 7 days after my emailed complaint.

Re: Groceries
 

Do you go to the lobby to meet the delivery person or do they come to your door? You can give them a cash tip at the time of delivery. This is what I did with lunch orders where the restaurant added the tip to my bill. Never trusted them to give the tip to the delivery person.

Re: Groceries
 

Yes, I had more than $50 worth of items that were either not purchased at all or where the replacement was of no use to me.

Re: Groceries
 

The BristolUK guide to getting the most out of Instacart :lol:

First off, consider paying the $10 a month. The delivery fee ($4 or $6 for fast/flexible) is then not charged. The sneaky service fee which is normally 5% is then only 2%

So, if you shop $100 twice in a month ($200) the express category will cost $10 plus the 2% fee of $4. So $200 plus $14 plus tips.
Without express that would be $200, plus 2 delivery fees @$4 = $8 and then 5% = $10, so altogether $218 plus tips.
It's not a huge difference but it's a bigger saving if you spend more or shop more often. Or both.

Refunds. To allow for extra purchases, Instacart takes a bit more than your order. If you don't make extra purchases, a refund is needed. That appears to be taking a week a more. So consider ordering less than you want when you confirm the order.

I typically order about $45 every few days. I make the tip a fixed amount of $5. Instacart takes $60.
Then as the day gets closer and I find more things I'd like, I add stuff to the list so when the shop begins it's more like $75. It's unlikely a refund will be needed so no waiting for it.

I make sure I have the page open when the shopper begins. The way they use the app varies from shopper to shopper. Some introduce themselves, some don't. Sometimes you get a suggested alternative to accept or reject, sometimes not. But you can still do it in the chatbox.

If it turns out to be a good experience (a helpful shopper) or my order doubled in size - :o - I tell the shopper in the chatbox that the original tip was based on a lower amount or that they were very good and that I'm increasing it. (I actually had one tell me that she was happy to help :angel:)

Telling them the tip is increased from what they may have originally noted is my safeguard against the point made by Rete above; it also lets the shopper know I'm not a skinflint - :lol: - and, most importantly, lets them know that they are appreciated and that not everyone is out to take advantage of them.
And if it went well for me and they were happy, maybe I get them again. :thumbup:

Because Instacart shops at different supermarkets I find that with smaller 'shops' I can make significant savings. With my coffee of choice alone I save $8 by getting it at 'wholesale' rather than Superstore.

The smaller, twice a week shop, also allows you to buy what's needed, when needed. You know, for example, that if you buy one lettuce, it's gone 3 or 4 days later but if you buy two, the second one maybe limp before the week is over.

Some things they have a heavy item charge. If I buy a week's supply, the fee is added. If I split it in half for each order, there's no heavy fee.

Finally, although they don't use flyer prices, you can still see, for example, that the leg of lamb is $15 cheaper from the other store so make your order accordingly.

That's probably not all but it's what I can think of right now.

Re: Groceries
 

this is what I see and there is no mention of tips.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...32f61eabd6.png

Re: Groceries
 

Completely different appearance to mine.

Re: Groceries
 

and to Siouxie’s...very odd. :confused:

Re: Groceries
 

You can now get your dope delivered by courier too.
https://www.interpol.int/en/News-and...D-19-lockdowns

Re: Groceries
 

[thinking about making an order right now]

Re: Groceries
 

I think that that was always possible...

A colleague who lives in Saint John tells me that you can order online or phone for NB Liquor and then arrange for a cab to pick it up and deliver...interestingly enough she is over 19 but has never been asked for proof...her alcohol has arrived in her lobby without her ever having to have met the person who has brought it.

Re: Groceries
 

It's referring to Europe/Far East, not Canada.

Re: Groceries
 

:confused: Mine was from the desktop website - not the phone app, perhaps that is why?

Re: Groceries
 

mine was an app but not on my phone...iPad.

Re: Groceries
 

You lot are all a bit posh.

I can now make an online grocery order as this has not been available of late. You don't get to do feedback or a tip. You just make the list , choose a slot and hope for the best . My delivery has come on the right day and within the afternoon time frame. Pleased with that.

Re: Groceries
 

Just had my second order from IGA delivered.

Nice to have pate with a bit of body to it and all the other less usual things like veal in multiple forms, boneless duck, guinea fowl etc

A limited selection but it's still wine (beer & cider) delivery to my front door.

Perhaps the best surprise of all...Canton 3 pepper sauce. At last a replacement for no longer made Maille version (and Sainsburys) and the Heinz 'seriously good' one that ceased the moment I discovered it.

I've seen Canton sauces at a local shop but never that one. Walmart advertises it but not on line nor at my store. So I was pleased to see it at IGA and even more pleased to discover it's great. I shall stock up next time. If they're still making it.

Re: Groceries
 

So maybe each store has a slightly different layout for instacart?

Mine looks more like JG but not identical. When I went to review, all it asked me was to review how well the replacement items were, but heck if I can figure out how to rate the driver.

Update on current order- 85% of what we wanted is out/not available, so I really at this point don't think instacart is worth it overall, too unpredictable and end result is having to go out to stores anyhow. Not the shoppers fault obviously, just too unpredictable on what will actually show up.

Re: Groceries
 

Weed has always come with delivery in Canada. The convenience is one of the reasons that legal weed hasn't been able to compete successfully.

Re: Groceries
 

This is getting like the difference between me and Canada Post and you and Canada Post. :lol:

We just had our latest Instacart delivery this morning. $160 worth. 19 different items including multiples of about half of those things. Many of them 2 of this flavour, 1 of that one, 3 of these etc...almost like we were testing the shopper. :sneaky:

Everything completely right. :thumbup:

Re: Groceries
 

Ain't that just typical? :lol:
After praising our latest shopper for his efforts, I just peeled an orange to discover it was a grapefruit :rofl:

Until I broke into it there was no indication from its appearance that it was anything other than an orange. They came in a red netting t hat made them appear orange. They are not bigger than oranges. "Extrafresh" (all one word) is in big letters around the netting.

This is light, I thought, as I held it. As I peeled it I thought is this a blood orange? Then I thought, no, this is a pink grapefruit.

I checked the packaging and there it is, a small sticker saying grapefruit.

I don't mind.

Re: Groceries
 

Its not the shoppers fault the stores are out of stock of so much, I don't blame them at all. Ordering online right now is a gamble, all depends on time of day and how much the store has left. Yesterday based on the pictures the shopper was sending to show the shelves bare, I would say Superstore isn't able to keep up with demand, even getting hamburger patties or ground beef wasn't doable, nor was cheese, except old cheddar which apparently has plentiful but I guess less people like it, I can't stand old cheddar, needs to be mild for me, or marble, or pretty much any other, but they had none either....

We somehow ended up with cottage cheese though, we didn't order it, and its not on our bill so presumably someone didn't get their cottage cheese.

Re: Groceries
 

Might I ask what you are all buying with such regularity? We are doing a household shop once a week- it takes me less than 20 mins and I’m out of there. Is this perhaps a new behaviour....and there’s nothing wrong with that...or what the hell ARE you buying, as I feel I may be missing out?

Re: Groceries
 

This is what we buy typically

jug of milk
cheese
frozen burritos
cereal
frozen vegetables
frozen fuit
bread
eggs
bacon
yogurt
flavored water enhancers
bananas
ramen noodles
oranges

sometimes depending on prices ground beef or pork chops/misc random items that might be on sale.

Neither of us have much of an appetite, we usually eat eggs and bacon with a slice of break mid day, then I will have a burrito for dinner, and wife snacks on fruit and vegetables/yougurt.

Re: Groceries
 

Aside from treasure hunting at IGA, the same things as normal. I'm basically doing two smallish (Instacart) shops a week (involving two stores) instead of a bigger weekly one.

Since I'm not at the store I don't get reminded of something needed - or just desired - while I'm there. Now, if any of us thinks we need something or something else would just be nice we can add it to the slot that's going to be shopped in a couple of days.