Monday, December 1st, 2008
Grocery Delivery

I realize that this is going to sound spoiled, but here it goes. I tried something new over the weekend. I ordered my groceries online and they will be delivered tomorrow morning between 8 am and 10 am. Going to the grocery store has gotten so much harder with a baby. I either have to go over the weekend when everyone else goes (and it is so crowded and I get really angry when they are out of something which happens frequently). Or, I have to make trips daily, which isn't easy with a baby. I like to go once a week to the store and if I need fish or something like that for dinner then just run next door to the market to get it that day. If I go more frequently than once a week, I spend way too much money on stuff that we don't need and won't eat. Going once a week means that I buy a lot everytime I go. We live on the 12th floor and use the elevator from our parking garage. I try to load everything up on my arms and head up (although I can never get it all and it requires multiple trips). On the weekend, this is okay because Roger can watch Tripp. However, during the week I can't do that. I simply can't leave Tripp in the car in the parking garage while I ride up and down or leave him in the condo while I make trips back and forth.
The weather was so nasty yesterday... rain and wind. They have been calling for snow for the whole week, but I havne't seen it yet (although it is only 9:40 am). I decided to try this delivery thing. It was easy to order. Just go online and search for the things that you want. The catch is that you have to spend 45 dollars, no problem when I shop once a week! Then, you choose your delivery time. The cost... $9.95 for delivery. I got $5 off for signing up so this time it's $4.95 for delivery. I figure that I might save money by not picking up the random stuff that I normally do at the store. Plus, they will bring it all to my door and I (or Roger) won't have to make nightly trips down to get drinks or other big stuff from the back of the car. I can't tell you how often I have run out of bottled water (the water here is gross) and have to send Roger down at night to bring up the case that has been in the car for a few days. I'll let you know how it goes and if I'll be doing it again. It does sound great when it is super snowy outside and I don't want to drive or walk to the store.
Tags:  Toronto
13 Comments
George
1) Is $10 a flat fee? If so I'd be tempted to buy 2 weeks worth or as much as I could fit in the fridge. That would make it trickier to plan meals though.
LimeyGeorge   2 days ago
justmeg
2) Sounds like a good deal to me. The only drawback I would have is not being able to find stuff on sale and coupons.
justmeg   2 days ago
merritttise
3) It is a flat fee! I should think about planning for two weeks worth, good idea George.

They do have stuff on sale on their webpage, but I can honestly say that I haven't seen coupons for groceries up here (although we don't get the paper). So, I can shop for things that are on sale.
Merritt   2 days ago
igna83
4) If I were in your situation and knew it was only temporary until the baby gets older, then yes, I would do the same thing!
Angi   2 days ago
nikideaton
5) Sounds good to me and worth the extra money. We sometimes do the Harris Teeter thing here, but you still have to drive to the store and then they bring it out to your car. The only thing I miss is being able to pick out my own meats and produce. Also, they left a couple of things out last time, but we can use coupons they just deduct money from the next order.
niki   2 days ago
merritttise
6) I agree about the meat and produce. I did order things like an onion and some mushrooms. I didn't order any meat though because I can literally walk next door and get it the day that I need it. The lady that told me about it told me that the produce is fine and to be quite honest I don't know what I'm doing when I pick produce anyway! The Harris Teeter thing sounds great to me. I sure do miss the HT. The people that work there are so nice. They will load the car for you. Not here, I have to load my own groceries in the cart (they just slide them down a belt).
Merritt   2 days ago
reera
7) Not having to haul it up to the 12th floor would be worth the money to me, especially with a baby! Hope it works out for you.
dannie   2 days ago
8) I think it sounds like a great idea and would definitely do it if I were you! I complain about taking the groceries from my garage to the house-I can't imagine trying to get them up to the 12th floor and manage a baby too.
Andria   2 days ago
lgrant
9) Sounds like a great idea, Merritt. I'm sure you will probably save that $$ on things you might purchase on impulse that you won't if you sit at home and shop online. A friend of mine here in Portland did that for a long time because it was so convenient to his and his wife's schedule. I would think a baby would make that doubly so. You can save the fee here if you order enough each time but it's pretty high. Probably not for a family but I'd have to buy a lot of baking supplies to hit $150. LOL It sounds like a great savings to me in stress and handling the long haul and Tripp's needs. Not to mention the bad weather. Good idea!!
LGrant   2 days ago
girlcarew
10) I, too, think it sounds like a great idea. We even did that in Boston (especially in winter) and we didn't have kids!
girlcarew   2 days ago
merritttise
11) Update! Love, love, love the Grocery Gateway (that's what it's called). They delivered to my door in boxes and brought it in for me. The only thing was that I ordered 1 onion and got 3 (guess I'll be making something with some onions... at least they keep). And they were out of butter sticks, so I got that huge brick. Now, I need to cut it into sticks, but need to get sticks for baking. I'm worried that I won't cut the brick correctly. Linda, did you have a tip for that? I think that I'll do it every week and order more stuff next time. It literally took me 1 minute to put it all away!
Merritt   1 day ago
lgrant
12) Yep--half it, then half the halves and you have perfect quarters. :) It sounds like a perfect solution during winter and having to shop with a baby. I watch moms do that here when I shop and it amazes me they have that kind of patience and can manage all of that stuff AND shop! :)
LGrant   1 day ago
merritttise
13) Great! I will work on doing that this afternoon. I think that it will work well for us and actually be cheaper in the long run since I won't buy all the extra stuff that I usually do at the store. I think that it might be a little easier if I lived in our house and could get the groceries in easier, but this 12th floor thing isn't the greatest.
Merritt   1 day ago
Leave a Comment


Your Name
Enter the text from the left:
Publish Comment