Many grocers have made an extra effort to offer cheap delivery and pickup services, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many have even decided to provide their customers with curbside pickup. It’s a self-delivery service where you go to the store to pick your groceries up without leaving your vehicle.
Reasons to Use Curbside Pickup
Online shopping allows you to shop from any store you want, and you’ll enjoy a host of benefits if you choose a curbside delivery service.
1. Convenience
Curbside pickup allows you to choose which locations you want your order to be packed and picked up at. There’s no need to get inside the store or wait for groceries to be delivered to your doorstep. Instead, you drive to the designated location at the selected pickup time and sit in your car until the retailer’s staff loads your order.
2. Time-Saving
Unlike grocery delivery, where delays can happen and you have to wait for your order to arrive, you can go and get it at the agreed time and location without waiting. Most stores process your order within the same day, so you can pick your groceries up in just a few hours.
3. Safety
Many grocers have partnered with Instacart and similar delivery services, but some users have been victims of Instacart scams. That can’t happen when you opt for grocery pickup, as you can ensure all your items are right there, undamaged and fresh.
4. Saving Money
Many stores don’t charge fees for this self-delivery service, which is usually not the case when they bring food and other household supplies to your door. Even if stores charge a fee for curbside pickup, it costs less than delivery to your address and almost the same (or even less) than in-store pickup.
5 Stores With Curbside Grocery Pickup
Since the demand for this service is rising, we listed five retailers where you can shop online and pick up your order at the nearest store.
- Aldi
- Target
- H-E-B
- Walmart
- Publix
1. Aldi
Many people use Aldi grocery delivery if they have this retailer nearby. But you can also use Aldi pickup at most locations, meaning that you won’t have to wait for your order, which can sometimes take days. Your curbside pickup order will be ready in only an hour or two.
Go to Aldi’s website, add everything you want to a cart, and choose one of the many available locations. When you place an order, Aldi’s staff will do the shopping and let you know when your order is ready to pick up.
Then, you come to the agreed location and let Aldi’s employee know that you’ve arrived. Pull up to the marked parking lot and wait for them to get your order into your vehicle, which takes no more than a few minutes.
Aldi’s in-store pickup fee is around $5. Most buyers have noticed that online prices are higher than in physical stores. They try to compensate for that with digital coupons, which you can use for name-brand products and thus save some money.
2. Target
If your Target visits usually last (and cost) more than necessary, you’d be happy with its Drive Up service. This retailer provides free grocery pickup at its stores and has no purchase minimums necessary to enjoy this perk.
You can shop for all kinds of frozen or fresh food, household supplies, and other perishable and non-perishable items using the Target app.
Once you’ve done shopping, you just need to select the Drive Up service. You’ll get a notification when your order is ready, and once you get to the store, use your app to let the Target staff know you’ve arrived.
In case of a return and refund, you can also use Target’s app and the Drive Up option.
The process is just reversed — you file the details of the returned order, get a confirmation, and drive to the selected Target store to get the items back. An employee will come out to scan your app and process your refund request.
3. H-E-B
Using H-E-B’s website or mobile app, you can place your order and choose a store for grocery pickup. Dedicated personal shoppers do the shopping and prepare your orders, which can take a couple of hours.
When notified that your order is ready, go to the chosen H-E-B store and park at the curbside pickup spot. You’ll see a sign with the number you’ll have to enter in the app. After a few minutes, an H-E-B employee will arrive with your order and hand it over.
A flat fee for pickup orders is $4.95, but the actual fee can vary as H-E-B can add up personal shopper expenses in case you need some specific items. You pay no fee for pickups scheduled up to two days in advance.
4. Walmart
Walmart offers both Walmart Instacart delivery and curbside pickup. The latter allows you to choose any store and any pickup time rather than wait for grocery delivery to come to your doorstep. Also, the retailer has affordable prices, which are the same for both in-store and online shopping.
After coming to the store and following the sign for curbside pickup, wait for the staff to bring your groceries. This delivery is completely contactless, as an employee loads the groceries in your car, and you don’t need to sign anything.
Both grocery delivery and in-store pickup are free if you place an order worth $35 or more. For orders under this limit, a pickup fee starts from $6.99.
Delivery is usually on the same day, but you can pay an extra fee to get your groceries in less than an hour.
5. Publix
Publix offers simple online shopping and Instacart delivery or grocery pickup at select locations in the Southeast of the United States. In the case of grocery pickup, shoppers will do the job and get everything done fast upon placing an order.
You can choose from a variety of products, including fresh food, delicatessen, and even cakes. If ordering curbside pickup, you can’t order specialty items (cakes, subs, etc.) — only groceries and household supplies.
Grocery pickup is available for orders worth $10 and more. This service is free when you purchase groceries worth $35 and up.
You’ll notice that online prices are higher than in-store prices, which is common for most stores that don’t charge a delivery or pickup fee. But Publix lets you use online coupons for your orders via its website or app, which cuts the costs of your order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Can Pick Up My Order During Curbside Pickup?
Once you place your order, you can come to the store and pick it up from the curbside or ask someone to do that for you. The person who picks up your order must have a four-digit code you receive after checking in and an ID for verification (not mandatory).
Should I Tip Shoppers During Curbside Pickup?
When retail employees do curbside delivery, they’re usually not allowed to take tips. But in case staff from Instacart or any other delivery service does this job, they accept and even encourage tips.
Wrapping Up
Online shopping in grocery stores that offer curbside pickup can save a lot of your time and spare you the hassle of visiting overcrowded retailers. The stores listed here are available all over the United States, and you just have to pick the one that’s the most convenient for you.
