Grocery delivery, what is the key to getting a time slot

I feel you. I gave up on delivery and went to pick up. That was a bit better.

Our walmart only does two days at a time...try logging on at midnight

I didn't have any trouble getting a slot for Walmart delivery last weekend.  

A local store that I prefer for many things (and have to use both now to get what we need) is a WEEK out currently.  So I have to go in there.  

We are going to go to Costco early either Sat or Sun morning.  We will need TP pretty soon and so far, no luck anywhere.  Well dh found some Scott's RV TP in the sporting goods section of Walmart.  So that helped, but we will need more soon.  Three people and two with IBS and one with bladder issues so we go through a ton of TP.  Anyway, I've heard that lots of people are having good luck going to Costco first thing in the morning.  I hope it works as it's not quite a half hour away and I'd hate to get there and not get any.

I noticed walmart opens slots at midnight. I've had to check out in the middle of the night for pick up 2 days away.

I was able to snag a Walmart pickup after midnight one day last week, but in order to get that pick up, I had to change to the store next closest to me. Showed everything I wanted in my cart at that time, but by I picked it up 2 days later, about 10 of my 55 items were not in stock. Ugg! I think we are going to have to break down and go into a store if we want meat or tp.

It’s always so weird to me when other Texas peas have so many grocery store options. I mean just HEB in my small town makes sense, but San Antonio just got a Trader Joe’s; before that it was only HEB and a couple of Whole Foods.

San Antonio sometimes strikes me as a smaller town masquerading as a big city. Its downtown looks nothing like that of Houston or Dallas or even Austin. And other than some touristy stuff, the amenities seem to be mostly in the suburbs. 

No Kroger or Randalls in SA? We have HEB, Kroger, Randalls, Foodarama, Food Town, Central Market, Aldi, Trader Joe's, Fiesta, H-Mart and various other ethnic groceries, and of course Walmart, Super Target, and Costco/Sam's. 

I've actually never set foot in an Aldi or bought anything from there, but they had goat cheese (and I really wanted some to go with the beets I got at the farmers' market last week) and a decent delivery time available. So we're giving them a try. I ordered enough fresh stuff that I shouldn't have to go back to the store next week at all, or if I do it will be a super quick trip.

Like you, I struggle with planning two weeks out and then having a bunch of stuff not be available. That's why I gave up and went to the store myself these past two weeks.

It really does, doesn’t it? I think a lot of that has to do with less people living downtown. Less entertainment in the city center area. 

Nope. We might have a Central Market, but that’s just HEB’s fancy store isn’t it? Haven’t seen one in years though. 

MMMM, we are having goat cheese on our grilled chicken salad tonight with pear, cranberries, toasted nuts and homemade dressing. Why I avoided it for so long I’ll never know. Do you have a recipe for the beets? Trying to learn to love more veggies.

We are both super high risk. I am really hoping that by getting the earliest time slot that the store will be well stocked and we shouldn’t miss out on much. When he was there last week it was much better than it was when we were there a few weeks ago. We’ve got everything pretty well stocked that can be, so each week we only *have* to buy our fresh produce and dairy, and then we are buying everything else a week ahead of time in case something isn’t in stock we have another opportunity to get it. Keep your fingers crossed because I am hoping that by getting in a weekly order (now that I know how it works best) we can avoid going in the stores. He already exposes himself every day at work, that’s too much and I don’t want to add to it if we don’t have to.

I hope this delivery works out for you!

I check out even if I'm not done shopping just so I can reserve a time. Time slots are about a week out at Walmart and the two local grocery stores closest to me. I can go back and modify my cart up until midnight the night before pickup.

I am still ordering Home Chef for weekly delivery. That really helps me. Fresh meat and produce along with planned menus in every box. Tonight we had spiced honeybutter salmon and seasoned zucchini-tomato veggies on the side.

I think downtown is weird because of the rules regarding the Alamo. You can't be a very big downtown if the buildings can't cast a shadow on the Alamo.

There is (or was) a Central Market kind of downtown. East side I think.

I always though it was weird that HEB had such a monopoly on the grocery business in San Antonio. 

Yes, you can leave your cart and it will still be there

My experience with WalMart pickup: Only two days are available at a time and post at midnight. For example, slots for Saturday will post at 12:01 a.m. Friday. I have stayed up to book at midnight and booked at 4:30 a.m. when I couldn't sleep (some slots were already taken). Slots are gone by 8 a.m. Have at least $30 worth of stuff in your cart ahead of time (minimum required for pickup) so you don't have to do that in the middle of the night. Near the top of the page will be a blue button that says "see times." Click on that and then reserve your time on the next page. There will be a message that says "You have until xxx time to check out in order to reserve your pickup time" or something like that. I think it's about an hour? Go to your cart, already filled with items, and check out. You're done, and a hold for your purchase will be put on your credit card. You can go back and change/add to your cart until 1:45 a.m. the day of your pickup so don't worry if what you put in your cart at midnight or 4:30 a.m. isn't everything your want. However, every time you add to your cart you will get another hold put on your credit card so I try to do only one group of changes later in the day.

I have been doing pickup for over a year and love the service. I am OK with most of the substitutions I receive, have gotten questionable produce only once, and have gotten many larger/upgraded substitutions for the lower price of the item I originally ordered. Unfortunately, my WalMart has removed all fresh meat, paper products and many cleaning supplies from pickup. I have had to start using PickNSave/Kroger. Only used that twice and don't have it quite as figured out as WM, but they also are posting slots at Midnight and allow modifications after you check out. They do have fresh meat, and I got some napkins, but no TP or paper towels.

Good luck!

I'm in the same boat. I have a Peapod order and/or an Instacart order and can't get slots for either. I keep trying right after midnight and still no slots. Then I get up in the morning and the next available date is gone.

UPDATE:  Hooray!  I finally scored an Instacart for Wednesday.  So relieved.