I am super late to the party, nevertheless I am here for you with a wrap up of my first experience using Kroger Grocery Pick Up.   If you read my book Diets Are Dead, then you know that I don’t like to spend a lot of time at the grocery store.  In fact “Plenty in 20” as in 20 minutes was my mantra and dedicated weekly grocery shopping time when I did once weekly grocery shopping.  I have decreased to bi-weekly grocery shopping during the pandemic as not to have to go inside the store so often.  All around me, my friends and family have been checking out grocery pick ups and Instacart Grocery Delivery services.  Reluctantly, I decided to get in on the action.  Here is my review from a first timer! 

The Process 

1.  Create or Log In to your Kroger account.  I used a desktop computer to place my order for the first time.  This was just my preference.  I thought this process was going to be extremely complicated and tedious so I wanted to bring in the big guns. 
2. Place your order.  First of all,  I never go into a grocery store without a prepared grocery list.  I provide easily accessible weekly grocery list for you in my Diets Are Dead 90 Day Undated Journal.  It was no different for me logging into my Kroger account.  SURPRISE!!! Now, I realize that I swipe my Kroger card every time I go to the grocery store.  I am even aware that they mail me curated coupons from time to time of the items that I frequently purchase on my weekly runs.  Yet and still, I wasn’t ready for almost EVERYTHING that was on my list to be sitting on the screen waiting on me to click it. There were 4 pages of items that I purchase already populated.  All I had to do was click how many I wanted. I went through all 4 pages.  I didn’t need maybe 10 of the items.  I had to use the search bar for 6-8 items that were not on the list.   I couldn’t find 2 items that I was looking for.  One of them was chicken breast that Kroger packages.  I assume that items that aren’t always readily available might not be in the catalog. I opted to get chicken tenderloins already cut into strips.  I usually won’t do that because I don’t like paying for the convenience of chicken already cut up when I can just cut it myself.   The other item no matter how I typed it in, I couldn’t find brussels sprouts in the fresh section.  I opted to get the Kroger brand prepackaged brussels sprouts instead.  These 2 items were not enough to make me frown on the process.  
3. Choose a pick up time. I planned on doing my grocery shopping Wednesday morning and picking up before work at 3:00 P.M.  Granted, there were 86 items in my first order, lol so I am not sure how much time is required for pick up but my first available pick up time was after 3:00. This was not a problem for me.  I scheduled my pick up time for Friday between 3:00 – 4:00 PM.  I had to work 12 hours Thursday so I wouldn’t need the groceries before then.  I received an email confirming my order and pick up time.  It also included an estimated total of $266.09. All the instructions I needed upon arrival to pick up the groceries, in case I forgot something and wanted to add to my order and a notice about potential substitutions were included in the email. 
4. Go to the grocery store & check – in.  When Friday came, I was anxious to see if my order would be correct. I arrived at the grocery store at 3:20 P.M.  and parked in the Pick Up area in space #1.  This is the part where I went ahead and downloaded the Kroger app and decided to act like the millennial that I am and check in with the app instead of calling to let them know I was there.  I was quite antsy having done so.  I wanted to call and give them double confirmation that I was there.  I opted to stay patient.  However, since I planned on doing this thorough review for you, I did start my stopwatch after checking in. 
5. Wait for your order to be delivered to your car. It took about 7 minutes for them to come out after I checked in and another 5 minutes to load the car.  The clerk handed me an order sheet with the receipt attached.  Out of 86 items ordered: only 1 was out of stock and there were 2 substitutions for downsized items (meaning the same item but a smaller size).  I was impressed. My actual cost ended up being $263.92. Since I was a first timer, there was no fee.  It seems that if you spend over $35 it will be free but honestly considering the state of our nation in this pandemic, I would pay for the convenience especially if I had a compromised immune system. While I was sitting there waiting, it occurred to me that it was going to be pretty tough for me to sit in my car and watch this young girl load up MY groceries and not provide a tip.  I am not sure what is expected but the only thing I had on me was a $5 and some singles so I decided to go with the $5.  I asked her if they will accept tips and she said yes.  Do what you want with that! 
6. Inspection. Even though all of my previous purchases were on my Kroger card, I was still anxious to dig through my bags to see what these shoppers put in my bags.  To my surprise, everything was in order just like I’d done the shopping myself.  The clerk even cleverly placed my eggs and bread on the top in the trunk where it wouldn’t get smashed. 

 

A few things that might be a hard pill to swallow…

1. You cannot (or at least I didn’t see the option) ask for the least expensive option. I am the person who likes to pick through the family pack of chicken and find the the lowest priced items.
2. You do not get to pick out the prettiest, firmest, etc produce.

 

Will I Do Kroger Grocery Pick Up Again?

The answer is a resounding yes! Overall, I had a good experience. It was a convenient process with quality service. I am a pharmacist so I have an appreciation for human error and realize that all of my shopping experiences might not be this uneventful, however much like the nuisance of not being able to try on your clothes when shopping online, it is still worth it because online shopping is King/Queen in our fast paced technology filled lifestyles. With Kroger, as I’m sure it is with other grocers, your cart is ready for you when you log on and you can easily decide what you need for the week or biweekly. Probably most important right now in 2020 is that you don’t have to get out of the car. One really great thing I like about this for me is I can go back to my weekly shopping and pick up my groceries when I get off on Monday afternoon. Bi-weekly shopping was to prevent me from going in the store so much however it came with it’s own set of issues. First of all, my fridge was jam packed with veggies and some things like fruit you have to get more often than bi-weekly. My Kroger is right across the street from my job so I will place my orders on Sunday after responsibly going thru the pantry, fridge and freezer like always to identify the standards needed and the specifics needed for the meals that week to create my list. Mondays have always worked for me because Mondays set the tone for the week. With my #InThePaint Online workout membership we chant the popular mantra #NeverMissAMonday. That means with workout, grocery shopping and cooking! I hope you will get into this Monday routine. If this Kroger grocery pick up review will help, so be it. I know I will still go into the grocery store however, I am super excited about getting outside my comfort zone and giving this a try.