Re: Groceries
 

And that's (a) Tesco's, and (b) picking things like a sourdough loaf rather than 'normal' bread. If you did the same at Lidl the whole lot would be about £3.50. :lol:

Re: Groceries
 

True and if Aldi (not that keen on Lidl) did delivery, we’d switch immediately. And I tried to match like-for-like on the shopping list to keep things comparable and that did include a sourdough loaf. I’d never think of buying such exotic items of course :wink_smile:

Re: Groceries
 

They do click and collect, not in all stores though. But if your local one does it, saves you having to actually go in to the shop which is always a bonus.

Re: Groceries
 

I think part of it is that Britain has a highy highly competitive grocery sector. There are many big retailers (Tesco, Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Asda, Morrisons, Lidl, Aldi, Occado) all competing in a densly populated area (Britain!) with excellent transportation and logistics. We take it for granted, but the retailers have squuezed costs to a minimum in order to compete with each other, and have a huge international supply chain.

Re: Groceries
 

Having groceries delivered is fine, in this Covid world, but I like to select my own fresh food. Went to the grocery store this morning when they opened at 7 am. 2 other shoppers in the store.

Re: Groceries
 

Plus if you're not careful, shopping on line can cost you an arm and a leg.

On the Instacart website I was picking bananas. One of the few fruit/veg things that are much the same price on the site as in-store.
The price listed was $1.90 and you could order as kilo or items. Obviously it was $1.90 per kg but I chose 8 and clicked items. (I have done it this way many times before, no problem) Total price $15.20 :ohmy:
So I changed it to weight and went for 1.5kg. We had 10 bananas delivered for $3.

Mind you, I have been in stores where they might have, say plums @ $2.99/lb and others @ $4.99/lb and they look identical.

When I check the PLU stickers I have found the numbers on both sets of plums are the same and, of course, correspond to the $4.99 ones. It's quite a shock if you didn't make the discovery in-store and only when you're at home you see the price on the receipt.

Re: Groceries
 

I've used online delivery several times, but I also prefer an in person shop. Even with a set shopping list I find items that I hadn't thought of or good deals.

Re: Groceries
 

Me too. :). I usually go shopping midweek, mid morning, as I find that the quietest during Covid.

In normal times I usually keep a pretty good stock of essentials and things we use a lot. Since last March I have been getting a little extra each time I shop or place an order, because I anticipated lockdown this winter.

Re: Groceries
 

Package of Roquefort (sealed) in the fridge. I assumed it lasted forever, but it turns out use by October. Still ok? Or is blue cheese asking for trouble?

Re: Groceries
 

I'd eat it quite happily. But I completely ignore use by dates etc, so perhaps not the best person to ask.

If you're worried you could turn it in to a pasta sauce or use it in a soup so it's heated first?

Re: Groceries
 

Normally I'm fairly flexible with use by dates too, but somehow it being already mouldy cheese I thought it might be different. Anyway, thanks for the comment, perhaps I'll give it a nibble.

Re: Groceries
 

I’m the same. If it look OK, smells OK, tastes OK...it is OK.

IMO manufactures use sell by dates to increase sales.

Re: Groceries
 

I do not have a GI system made of steel so I probably wouldn't eat it, but everyone's body is different.

For packaged processed foods I am more flexible with best by dates, something like cereal if still sealed is fairly low risk of anything. I am more wary of anything needing to be kept in the fridge though. My wife will drink milk past the best by, never know how she does it, she says it smell's fine, but my nose and tongue tell me otherwise, heck I rarely get past 1/2 the container before I start to no longer find it acceptable taste and smell wise, but then everyone always telling me I smell things they don't notice, so maybe I pick up smells better than she does, she has never gotten sick, but eh if taste or smells funny to me, I don't care if its safe still, it smells and tastes funny....:rofl:

Re: Groceries
 

We had ours today, the Hawaiian version. I liked it but the others didn't. Quite small so I padded it out with a stove top microwaved stuffing with added cranberries.

Re: Groceries
 

I seem to have a titanium GI so I often push the so called envelope. Tucked into the Roquefort an hour ago and so far no problem. It's +3 months on the Use By (which is more serious than the Sell By) but smelt ok (well, it's Roquefort so hard to tell!) and tasted non-acidic. If I stop posting, you'll know what happened. :D

Re: Groceries
 

I thought you had jinxed me as they didn’t have it in my usual Superstore today :eek: , but I found it in the next nearest one :thumbsup: . Cheese crisis averted.

Re: Groceries
 

The Instacart Experience - updated

Not perfect but pretty good, still, and when they don't get it right they put it right very quickly.

It's increasingly obvious they don't pay as much attention to alternative choices or refund requests as they used to when the store doesn't have the item ordered.
99% of items on my orders have a second choice or refund. I also use the 'instructions' feature to say things like "only this brand" or "only this flavour"

But then I'll get a message "they don't have the Gumbo soup" for example and sometimes there might be a photo of an empty shelf as if I'm not going to believe them without the proof. :lol:
So I'm like "well I did select an alternative" and then after checking what it was I message that so they get the second choice. But this is the worst thing about the Instacart experience; to increase my chances of getting a second choice or not paying for something I don't want, I have to stay "with" them for the duration of the shop,, which can be a couple of hours o more because they are likely including someone else too. And it's a bit soul destroying sitting at a laptop for over two hours waiting for the screen to update. Sometimes 40 minutes can pass between items.

Minor things I generally let pass like if it's wrong but we can still make use of it, that's okay. Or if those tins of soup are $3 each but $8 for 4 and despite my alternative choices allowing for any of 4 kinds, I only get one of two kinds, so pay $6 for 2 I wouldn't bother too much.
That happened today but my order included 9 bottles of diet pepsi (3 for $5) - "refund if they don't have it" and the guy delivered regular pepsi.

Of the four of us only my stepson can drink it.

They'd sorted out the refund within 40 minutes of me raising it. :thumbup:

Re: Groceries
 

I've started with Voila instead of Instacart, for some of my groceries.. the delivery comes direct from the warehouse and updates constantly so you can see what is in stock.. all for a $7.99 delivery charge (no tips). They are a bit more expensive for groceries but do have lots of 'on offer and 'flash sales' which help, as do the discounts offered on a regular basis - either a $10 voucher or free delivery. Their customer service is exemplary.

I got put off Instacart when they wanted to charge me $38 for a turkey that the store had on offer for $13. -and not just one store, all of them.

Re: Groceries
 

We should talk again about getting an SSD and switching to Linux. :lol:

Re: Groceries
 

I wish we had an alternative in BC, its either IC or Save On not really any other options, but Save On prices are insane, and IC with higher prices and tips just don't make it worthwhile once all the costs rare accounted for.

Re: Groceries
 

Oh that's definitely a pain. Usually in Superstore here and it does seem to be meat more so than any other stuff. There's beef in the flyer for $3/lb and it's $8/lb with IC :(

It's much better with Walmart where the prices are much more likely to match the flyer offers. Sometimes it's the other way around. For Walmart, the IC site has a 'Sales' section with really good prices. 50c for a Baxter's soup - sadly not the Lobster Bisque one :lol: and they are often less than the store prices.
Every now and then the store receipt gets left in our shopping and I can see the amounts are more than in my Instacart receipt.

:lol:
Dear shopper. Today I'm on my state of the art computer with the fastest operating system known to mankind with a warp speed drive and a really fast browser. I expect my shopping to be completed in record time. :rofl:

Re: Groceries
 

This huge slab of corned beef was on flashfood for $20, reg $95. I think if I make a nice fat sandwich and then cut the rest into about 4 pieces I can fit it into the freezing compartment...
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...64462f2ae.jpeg

Re: Groceries
 

Walmart selling Fresh Boneless Pork Loin Sirloin for $1.77/lb. Almost two-thirds off.
Same price on Instacart too. Yay.

The slab just delivered was $15. Cut up it makes two roasts (for 4), steaks for 4 and the rest has been diced ready for curry or whatever rice dish for 4 and a couple of lunches.

Amazing value.

Re: Groceries
 

For eggs always check the price per egg, bigger packs are not necessarily the best value.

Wal-Mart

12 count is 27 cents per egg
18 count is 31 cents per egg
30 pack is 27 cents per egg

The 18 back isn't such a great deal per egg.

Re: Groceries
 

I go grocery shopping about once a week, mainly for fresh produce because I prefer to choose my own. Early morning seems to be a good time to shop around here, only a couple of people in the supermarket.

Re: Groceries
 

Question for those who order groceries (not Instacart)...

Do you make second choices where they don't have your first choice or request refunds? Does the store contact you for potential replacements?

Re: Groceries
 

My neighbour is on the last night of her week, busy baking bread when I texted her earlier. She'll be bringing me treats for the coming week and beyond, and a bag of cheese swirl buns. I just got up and ate the last piece of lemon cake to make more room in the fridge.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...fb5d86e1c1.jpg
and then I went back and bought this smaller blueberry pie, which looked like it needed a home. At some point I may need to get some vanilla ice cream to go with it.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...cc9be9f8f5.jpg

Re: Groceries
 

If this was $25 or $30 I'd be all over it, but imo this was over-priced to start with. Yesterday there was a Free From Black Forest Ham that was drastically reduced, but without being able to drive wasn't able to act on it.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...154e19177e.jpg

Re: Groceries
 

I wouldn't pay that price, but then I also don't like that kind of meat..ha ha

I usually find its mostly just bakery stuff, don't see much meat when I check but maybe meat products are popular and go fast and I just miss them, dunno, but always lots of bread, muffin and other sugary baked goods..

Re: Groceries
 

@J
Can you remember - if Instacart suggests an alternative do they "encourage" the shopper to get it if the customer hasn't selected an alternative?

I was just wondering because my MIL uses a laxative called Restoralax. It's a powder that ca be added to coffee (in her case) without affecting the taste.

Instacart said it was in short supply and the suggested alternative was a face moisturising cream for men. :rofl:

Re: Groceries
 

If the customer selects no replacement, yes IC will suggest alternatives to the shopper, often the suggested replacement will as you experienced make no sense and some less smart shoppers will bring you face moisturizing cream instead of the laxative.

The algorithm isn't great as suggesting accurate products in the event the customer doesn't choose one. When I did if the customer didn't choose a replacement, I would message and tell them as give them alternatives that were in stock, if the customer didn't write me back, I would just refund that item.

On the shopper app its also kind of vague what is a IC suggestion vs what is a customers replacement choice, the wording was very similiar. Their shopping app sucks on a good day for the shoppers, like it will show on the customers end for bulk produce they want 1 pound of something but the for shopper it will say 1x which mean literally just 1 not 1 pound literally just 1 so if you ever put in you want 2 lbs of bulk item and only get 2 items and not 2 pounds now you know why, the shopper should message and clarify but many shoppers don't want to message and get slowed down, its all about speed and getting in and out and delivered ASAP to get another batch.

And IC will combine up to 3 different peoples orders into one batches, so if you see the person in check out mode for what seems like an idiotically long time or it takes them an hour to get to you after they are done, chances are you were 3rd delivery of a 3 order batch and IC order delivery often makes no logical sense either.

Re: Groceries
 

Okay. I was just wondering if the shopper was obligated to go along with it, you know, like the scripts some employers make people follow.

I've developed a routine of picking an alternative - or refund - but using the notes as well. "any size, any brand will do" or "this brand only" sort of thing.
And then, the moment I get an indication of the order being picked up, I say hello and then advise them I've named alternatives for everything. The idea then is they don't need to take photos of empty shelves and ask if I want an alternative when I've already picked one or said no alternative.

They seem to appreciate this, knowing that there won't be lots of to-ing and fro-ing slowing them down.
It's not fool-proof as I still get "they haven't got it, do you want something else" even when I have already selected something else or refund. But this might be where they're shopping for others as well and who are not as exact as me.

I'm well used to pauses and things indicating they're shopping for others too.

They don't seem to use the GPS anymore. I see they've completed my list and I thank them - sometimes I don't even get the checked out message - and 5 minutes later they're here. :lol:
(unless they are shopping for others still)

Re: Groceries
 

I think the GPS with multiple batches was causing more issues than benefit. I did IC as a customer last week, it sat on check out page for 90 minutes, very clearly he had multiple orders within the same batch and based on the melted ice cream we may have been the last order, I tried to get a refund for the melted ice cream cones, but IC refused, I probably wont use them, the service is pretty bad in my area.

IC does little training on how to use the app, and because shoppers are independent contractors the quality will vary some shoppers do it in addition to other apps too, which your not really supposed to do, but these apps pay so little so people will pick a job on IC then if they see a pick up on uber eats or door dash in the area may grab one of those on the way.....

Re: Groceries
 

My friend is off picking up flashfood orders for me from 2 different stores this very minute. I think he deserves half of the monster ham for that.
Not a bad haul for under $30.
Edit: Not a monster ham, or even close (maybe $30?), but not bad for $15. I call typo.



https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...24c9ba88a9.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...f8ea8c2b55.jpg

Re: Groceries
 

Last October the IGA/Co-op supermarket in Dieppe stopped delivering to my area. It was a big loss because I could order using the flyer deals and they had stuff that other supermarkets don't have.

I've been meaning to call in on one of the days I had an appointment to see my eye doctor whose office is nearby but something has always made it difficult.

Today I went and I was quite disappointed. I had been expecting something resembling the old hypermarket trips to France compared to standard fare in UK supermarkets at that time. But aside from the stuff I already knew about it wasn't really much different.

The biggest way it was most like the French trips was it felt like being in a foreign country with all background conversations in French, product labels all French :lol:. Even the card machines at the checkouts were in French.

Bit of a disappointment all round. Even their Belgian bread was inferior to Sobeys Belgian bread.

But I did manage to score some mille-feuille napoleon slices. There's some dispute as to whether mille-feuille and napoleon are actually two different things but both names were used for these. :unsure:

Delicious

Re: Groceries
 

I think I am going to stop buying groceries, cheaper that way.

Re: Groceries
 

Yesterday I got a ride to No Frills and discovered the plastic shopping basket fits right between the handles of my walker and sits perfectly in the steel basket I attached with zip ties. I filled it to overflowing, otherwise would have bought more but I was getting sore anyway. Checkout was a snap, and I packed one large fabric bag and a double plastic bag full quickly enough that I didn't hold anyone up. By the time the cashier sanitized the belt for the next customer I was on the way out. To anyone who finds bagging groceries a bit challenging I recommend watching a few YouTube videos on it. It's been almost 50 years since I worked in a store and I think the videos I watched a couple of years ago helped speed up my performance. It's all basic stuff but thinking on your feet and recognising what has to go where in order from bottom of the bag up and then reaching for it speeds things up. A couple of the videos I watched were of bagging competitions. I would have liked to get some canned goods just to replace some I've used from my stash, and I need a jar of dill pickles (yesterday's Cuban sandwich took my last dill pickle), but I had 1 basket, and it was full. First time in a grocery store since getting hurt and it was nice to really shop in person.

Re: Groceries
 

Another frustrating thing about IC from a shopper perspective, when customers live in secured buildings and don't provide access code to said building, and then don't answer the shoppers messages or calls, shopper contacts IC chat support who then tries to contact the customer still no answer. Shopper told to return items to store.

Sure IC gives a $10 sorry for the inconvenience fee, but the shopper takes several hits when this situation happens.

They are penalized with an increased cancellation rate, IC doesn't distinguish between orders cancelled by the shopper and orders cancelled because of customers not being available, a cancel is a cancel as far as the algorithm goes.

Costs the shopper time, and gas and thus money, has to drive back to the store, spend time returning the items, and being its food, its all going to end up in the trash most likely as food items cannot be put back onto the shelf to sell.

Oh and the big one, the shopper is banned from accepting more batches for 24 hours, so their entire day is gone and they are unable to earn anything else that day.

Some of the docksides of IC.

Re: Groceries
 

"ring bell, leave on doorstep" is my common instruction. But I have noticed that if I don't put any instruction it defaults to leave at my door if I'm not around.
I'm not seeing why it can't just be left at the outer door providing there's a similar default.

If you book into a hotel, you give a credit card number and if you don't show, the card can be charged.
Instacart puts a similar hold on your card for the cost of the shopping and a bit more. If it's delivered as per instruction, I'm not following why payment from the customer isn't made with them getting their share and the shopper being paid as normal - albeit with the likelihood of reduced, or no, tip.

I'm guessing that there have been some examples, or allegations of, non delivery and the 'banning' of the shopper might just be a suspension pending investigation regardless of the known facts at the time.

Re: Groceries
 

You would have to ask IC why they wont let shoppers leave orders at the main door of apartments but my guess is its because too many people come by and its not secure, anyone could take the order.

Orders have to be delivered to the unit door, otherwise its not considered to have been delivered. For contactless order need to take a photo of the bags at the location you left them, so IC knows where you leave orders, and outside the main lobby door isn't acceptable.

Leaving with a concierge in the lobby would be okay, but not all buildings have a concierge.

This particular order was also not contactless so had to be delivered to the customer directly.

As far as I know IC refunds the customer when the order isn't delivered. So IC wouldn't make anything of his order, and as the items were returned to the store, IC got a refund from Wal-Mart.