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Post by sassyangel on Apr 7, 2020 15:49:58 GMT
Not sure about other locations, but mine only schedules 2 days out  They used to let you schedule a week or so in advance, but no longer. I shop at Fred Meyer (Krogers) and I've click listed for 2 years now. We always could schedule a week out. Then when this hit, it was 3 days. Not it's back to 6-7 days, but you have to stay up till midnight to get a time slot. For a pick up this coming Sunday, I had to be ready at midnight Saturday night. I had been working on my cart all day and was ready to go. I don't like shopping a week out, but at least you can modify the cart up to 24 hours ahead of time. Having asthma, I really would prefer to stay out of stores at all possible. So if shopping 7 days ahead of time is what I have to do, it's what I'll do. Now I'm afraid that everyone is going to love not shopping and it will always be like this going forward!! I've noticed that they are waving the $4.95 fee right now. Maybe when they institute it back people will not want to pay for it. I guess we'll see. I normally do Walmart pickup and have actually given it up during this time, preferring to leave it for those that truly can’t leave home. I was going to try Instacart instead, but honestly same feeling applies - I’d rather people like you get access to it. |
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Post by dewryce on Apr 7, 2020 15:52:53 GMT
iamkristinl16 I’m sorry, that really sucks. Do you not get nauseous when you’re that hungry? We’ve been fortunate in that the eggs are there, just not enough. The alterations with someone else shopping is one of the reasons we did our own shopping the first 2 times during this. The biggest was that there wasn’t a lot of guidance at all about the safety of other people touching your items, how long it remained on surfaces, etc. But if we hadn’t gone in the first time we wouldn’t have been able to substitute seafood when there was no chicken or beef, as just one example. Right now it doesn’t seem as bad (though we haven’t gone in or had an order for a couple of weeks), so hopefully that is still the case. One thing I’ve done with the delivery order, haven’t gotten one so not positive it will work, is be very specific in the notes. For example, if no peaches please get an additional pear. So they know ‘off’ substitutions are okay and I have the best chance getting something that will work. How do you shop for that many people without having to go all the time? Especially kids who need tons of snacks available? And you have all boys, right? My BFF can’t keep her fridge stocked. You’re saying that they’ve already added a lot of employees in order to make 2 days of pickups available? I’ve never done pickup or delivery before, so I hadn’t considered that. It just seemed to me that they condensed one weeks worth of times to 2 days because they were getting so many more orders. I know making more slots available has worked here, and I know there are tons of people smarter than me, so hopefully they can come up with better solutions than flooding the stores with more shoppers.
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Post by pattyraindrops on Apr 7, 2020 16:12:38 GMT
I've been doing Walmart pick up for a couple of years now, picking up groceries donated to refugee families just arriving. As of a couple of months ago our neighborhood market was the busiest pick up in AZ. Because of this, when they remodeled they made a much bigger pick up holding area.
One of the problems with Walmart pickup is the spots inside where the groceries are kept in holding, not the amount of parking spots outside. So if you see few cars there they still could be full because all of the spots inside are full and no one has picked up during that hour yet. It's not just canned food they need to hold, but fridge and freezer as well.
Because you can pickup any time during that hour you may have all the cars come at 9:05 or they may all come at 9:55 or they may be dispersed through the hour.
Then like mentioned about there is only so much you can do with the workers you have. When the rush had first started about 4 weeks ago I talked with one cashier that was working for so many days in a row. She has days off, but they kept asking her to come in.
That day I talked with the manager as well. He is one of the best managers I have met in a grocery. I have worked with him more on top of that with working out the needs of the refugees which he fully supports. He totally looked exhausted - and remember this was 4 weeks ago
So it is not always just a matter of opening up more slots. I know at least at my store they are doing the best they can.
I just hope when this is over and refugees start to come in again that people don't continue at the same rate with pickup. When people were able to order online with us picking up it became so much easier than people shopping and bringing the food to us the night before and more people donated.
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Post by dewryce on Apr 7, 2020 16:13:36 GMT
I hear what you’re saying about other people putting themselves at risk, and I worry about that for them too. DH works in a nursing home, so I really do get it. Pickup is a necessity right now. It’s not perfect and there is some risk. But if it wasn’t available this thing would still be spreading at a much higher rate. Imagine all of the extra people in the stores! As you’ve said, there are not enough slots. So make more slots, 2 days worth is not enough. People need jobs right now, hiring more people to bring things out to cars seems like a good way to employ them. Hire them to do the shopping before the store opens to the public. Wear masks, go in one direction in the store. They can be specially trained to lower their risk as much as possible. Hiring those 20 extra people is a lot safer for the whole community than needing hundreds of extra people to come into the store during limited shopping hours. I know our store has added employees to handle the extra slots they’ve made available. Of course, from what DH saw it was teenagers not at all worried about risk and gathering around chatting not following protocol. They are also paying everyone $2.00 more an hour for the duration, which I like. And our issue is not having food we prefer, it’s foods that don’t cause our blood sugars to spike. We are working our butts off to make our fresh produce, which is the large majority of what we purchase, last as long as we can. But eggs and milk are about the only thing for breakfast that makes us feel full without raising our blood sugar. And they are limited to 2 containers at our store. We usually have 2 each with a small amount of berries. With the limit on eggs, we have started adding yogurt to stretch to make them last just one week, which I don’t love and raises our blood sugar some, but it’s protein so I eat it. And now a breakfast meat, which are high fat and high calorie...which causes weight gain which causes more blood sugar problems. It’s a whole cycle. All that to say we are taking this seriously and aren’t just wanting to shop more than once a week simply to have our favorite foods. And it’s just 2 of us. I feel really bad for larger families. Going to every 2 to 3 weeks to pick up orders before exploring other means for fulfilling the orders does not seem like the best solution. I don't know if you noticed, a poster above has 2 slots booked within 7 days and plans to book another when it opens up. That is exactly the reason why Walmart went to 2 day slots, so the same person is not booking multiple slots and not leaving any for everyone else. My mom's grocery store has a month worth of slots and they are ALL booked, so opening up a longer time frame will not help the issue. I think walmart needs to consider making some of its stores pick up only. It will be easier for the workers to fulfill the orders and safer for them as they will only be around their co workers and not the general public who are asking them for help. In my small town we have 3 Walmarts that at most a 4 mile drive to any of the others, with public transportation to all. They could make 2 of those pick up only and leave the other open to the public, which would be more efficient, imo. the poster that has an order slotted for each Friday. There were several days of slots open prior to the day I booked for my second order. In other words, it appears people are booking the next available slot, leaving several days worth open after that. As long as that is the case when it’s time to book another, I will do so. If it appears there aren’t enough slots for people who want them, we will do something else. The only reason I am booking right when the slots open is because I’d like the earliest time slot during the day, not because slots aren’t available at all. My store has slots available for pickup and delivery up to 2 weeks out. I’m not out of the house talking to people but DH is and no one is having issues getting a slot, you just have to put it in about 11 days out on average these days. It seems to be working for our town. Perhaps we have more people not wanting to use pickup and delivery than most places. I like the idea of making some stores pickup only, when there are multiple stores available for an area. Not only would it be safer, it would be more efficient and I bet they could get a lot more people serviced that way...which in turn is less people in stores so it is safer! |
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Post by iamkristinl16 on Apr 7, 2020 16:24:30 GMT
iamkristinl16 I’m sorry, that really sucks. Do you not get nauseous when you’re that hungry? We’ve been fortunate in that the eggs are there, just not enough. The alterations with someone else shopping is one of the reasons we did our own shopping the first 2 times during this. The biggest was that there wasn’t a lot of guidance at all about the safety of other people touching your items, how long it remained on surfaces, etc. But if we hadn’t gone in the first time we wouldn’t have been able to substitute seafood when there was no chicken or beef, as just one example. Right now it doesn’t seem as bad (though we haven’t gone in or had an order for a couple of weeks), so hopefully that is still the case. One thing I’ve done with the delivery order, haven’t gotten one so not positive it will work, is be very specific in the notes. For example, if no peaches please get an additional pear. So they know ‘off’ substitutions are okay and I have the best chance getting something that will work. How do you shop for that many people without having to go all the time? Especially kids who need tons of snacks available? And you have all boys, right? My BFF can’t keep her fridge stocked. You’re saying that they’ve already added a lot of employees in order to make 2 days of pickups available? I’ve never done pickup or delivery before, so I hadn’t considered that. It just seemed to me that they condensed one weeks worth of times to 2 days because they were getting so many more orders. I know making more slots available has worked here, and I know there are tons of people smarter than me, so hopefully they can come up with better solutions than flooding the stores with more shoppers. I’ve actually found that when I don’t eat breakfast I feel better and generally less hungry than if I do. The last two days, though, I’ve been really irritable and hangry feeling. Usually the hunger passes and I am fine. But today I was reall my hungry so I ate an egg white omelet (in a little butter with light laughing cow cheese and spinach). I was even more hungry after I ate that so awhile later I had a piece of low carb zucchini cake. Still hungry but now it is lunch time. I’m expecting my period so I assume that has something to do with it. I’ve been going to the store roughly once a week. I’m trying not to buy too many snacks at once because they disappear very quickly, but the kids would survive if we ran out. Lol. The biggest issue has been lunches for them. Our freezer was full so no space to store easy foods but I’ve made some space now. I don’t want them eating junk all of the time but I also don’t want to have to cook and clean up from more meals. ETA that as far as the spots go for pickup, I assume that they have pickup every day, but they only release two days at a time (or maybe one each day to make for the current Day and the following day). I’m guessing they do that due to the fluctuating stock but I’m not sure. |
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Post by bianca42 on Apr 7, 2020 16:29:15 GMT
I think the reason that they are only releasing spots 2 days out is the supply. If I place an order today for 7 days out, they don't pick it until that day and many of the items may be out of stock.
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Post by dewryce on Apr 7, 2020 16:38:18 GMT
Ours has a notice that says items in your cart and when you check out aren’t guaranteed to be available when you get your order. That seems smart. I’m not sure how any stocking system could tell if something would be in stock in two days when they have in store shoppers. I’m sure at one time they could say with a decent amount of certainty, but these days I imagine all bets are off.
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likescarrots
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by likescarrots on Apr 7, 2020 16:45:10 GMT
I don't know if you noticed, a poster above has 2 slots booked within 7 days and plans to book another when it opens up. That is exactly the reason why Walmart went to 2 day slots, so the same person is not booking multiple slots and not leaving any for everyone else. My mom's grocery store has a month worth of slots and they are ALL booked, so opening up a longer time frame will not help the issue. I think walmart needs to consider making some of its stores pick up only. It will be easier for the workers to fulfill the orders and safer for them as they will only be around their co workers and not the general public who are asking them for help. In my small town we have 3 Walmarts that at most a 4 mile drive to any of the others, with public transportation to all. They could make 2 of those pick up only and leave the other open to the public, which would be more efficient, imo. the poster that has an order slotted for each Friday. There were several days of slots open prior to the day I booked for my second order. In other words, it appears people are booking the next available slot, leaving several days worth open after that. As long as that is the case when it’s time to book another, I will do so. If it appears there aren’t enough slots for people who want them, we will do something else. The only reason I am booking right when the slots open is because I’d like the earliest time slot during the day, not because slots aren’t available at all. My store has slots available for pickup and delivery up to 2 weeks out. I’m not out of the house talking to people but DH is and no one is having issues getting a slot, you just have to put it in about 11 days out on average these days. It seems to be working for our town. Perhaps we have more people not wanting to use pickup and delivery than most places. I like the idea of making some stores pickup only, when there are multiple stores available for an area. Not only would it be safer, it would be more efficient and I bet they could get a lot more people serviced that way...which in turn is less people in stores so it is safer! sorry, I wasn't paying attention to names. It is frustrating though, in certain areas like my mother's, where all the grocery stores are booked solid for the next 3+ weeks, no spots available. She is in her late 60s and diabetic so she does not want to go into the store, but nothing is available for her and she has tried calling them all to explain with no luck. |
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peabay
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Jun 25, 2014 19:50:41 GMT
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Post by peabay on Apr 7, 2020 16:46:49 GMT
I think the reason that they are only releasing spots 2 days out is the supply. If I place an order today for 7 days out, they don't pick it until that day and many of the items may be out of stock. That's what happened to me. I have had a Peapod (Stop and Shop's delivery service) order for 2 weeks now. We have not shopped in anticipation of this order. I had 800.00 of groceries in there - not hoarding, just haven't shopped in 3 weeks and didn't plan on shopping for 2. It was 2 of this, 3 of that - not extreme by any measure. It was delivered this morning and I probably got 1/2 to 2/3 of what I ordered. I get it; I know that we are in a difficult time (and place - we're a hotspot) but I couldn't help but be disappointed. Now I have to go out and get the things that weren't included that we need - like eggs and some milk alternatives. I didn't bother going earlier because I thought they'd come with this order. It was such a whomp whomp to my morning. |
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Post by sassyangel on Apr 7, 2020 17:00:22 GMT
I think the reason that they are only releasing spots 2 days out is the supply. If I place an order today for 7 days out, they don't pick it until that day and many of the items may be out of stock. I’m sure that’s definitely part of it. When I look at my normal shopping list in my grocery app, many of my regular items are showing out of stock. Things I know they have, and when I go in there I see them, but they can’t guarantee they will be there by the time it gets picked. |
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Post by dewryce on Apr 7, 2020 17:17:59 GMT
I am the poster that has an order slotted for each Friday. There were several days of slots open prior to the day I booked for my second order. In other words, it appears people are booking the next available slot, leaving several days worth open after that. As long as that is the case when it’s time to book another, I will do so. If it appears there aren’t enough slots for people who want them, we will do something else. The only reason I am booking right when the slots open is because I’d like the earliest time slot during the day, not because slots aren’t available at all. My store has slots available for pickup and delivery up to 2 weeks out. I’m not out of the house talking to people but DH is and no one is having issues getting a slot, you just have to put it in about 11 days out on average these days. It seems to be working for our town. Perhaps we have more people not wanting to use pickup and delivery than most places. I like the idea of making some stores pickup only, when there are multiple stores available for an area. Not only would it be safer, it would be more efficient and I bet they could get a lot more people serviced that way...which in turn is less people in stores so it is safer! sorry, I wasn't paying attention to names. It is frustrating though, in certain areas like my mother's, where all the grocery stores are booked solid for the next 3+ weeks, no spots available. She is in her late 60s and diabetic so she does not want to go into the store, but nothing is available for her and she has tried calling them all to explain with no luck. No apologies needed. It is super frustrating, for everyone, stores and employees included! And honestly, if times weren’t readily available and I was doing it weekly I’d think I was an asshole as well. I’m sorry your mom can’t get a slot. Has she checked independent shoppers like instantcart, or shipt, rather than go directly through her store? There are others but I live in a small town and we don’t have them so I’m not familiar with all the names. I’ve never used them so I can’t really give any guidance, but perhaps that’s an option for her? What about the social services for the elderly, perhaps their website has some suggestions? There’s a specific name for that department but I can’t think of what it is right now. peabay That’s also an issue, you try and hold off shopping to every couple of weeks but you only get a portion of your order and you just can’t stretch things that much. I had no idea the shortages were still that bad in some areas though! |
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Post by sassyangel on Apr 7, 2020 17:23:57 GMT
I think the reason that they are only releasing spots 2 days out is the supply. If I place an order today for 7 days out, they don't pick it until that day and many of the items may be out of stock. That's what happened to me. I have had a Peapod (Stop and Shop's delivery service) order for 2 weeks now. We have not shopped in anticipation of this order. I had 800.00 of groceries in there - not hoarding, just haven't shopped in 3 weeks and didn't plan on shopping for 2. It was 2 of this, 3 of that - not extreme by any measure. It was delivered this morning and I probably got 1/2 to 2/3 of what I ordered. I get it; I know that we are in a difficult time (and place - we're a hotspot) but I couldn't help but be disappointed. Now I have to go out and get the things that weren't included that we need - like eggs and some milk alternatives. I didn't bother going earlier because I thought they'd come with this order. It was such a whomp whomp to my morning. Oh that really does suck. Especially having waited so long for your order. I’d be kind of upset too. |
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tracylynn
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by tracylynn on Apr 7, 2020 17:32:31 GMT
Ours has a notice that says items in your cart and when you check out aren’t guaranteed to be available when you get your order. That seems smart. I’m not sure how any stocking system could tell if something would be in stock in two days when they have in store shoppers. I’m sure at one time they could say with a decent amount of certainty, but these days I imagine all bets are off. Ours is the same way. Just because you put it in your cart doesn't mean it's there. I don't find that our stores are having a ton of stocking issues anymore. We've leveled out to some extent, but we were ahead of the curve on the hoarding shopping as well (Washington State). |
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Post by Merge on Apr 7, 2020 19:47:06 GMT
I've given up on curbside. Last time I looked, slots were booking 2.5 weeks out. I managed to get an Instacart order from Aldi over the weekend (booked three days ahead I think) and now I'm done. I'll be doing all my own grocery shopping. We're fine for the next couple of weeks here so we can not be in the store right now as suggested, but after that, forget it. No more delivery or curbside.
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Post by dewryce on Apr 7, 2020 20:59:38 GMT
Ours has a notice that says items in your cart and when you check out aren’t guaranteed to be available when you get your order. That seems smart. I’m not sure how any stocking system could tell if something would be in stock in two days when they have in store shoppers. I’m sure at one time they could say with a decent amount of certainty, but these days I imagine all bets are off. Ours is the same way. Just because you put it in your cart doesn't mean it's there. I don't find that our stores are having a ton of stocking issues anymore. We've leveled out to some extent, but we were ahead of the curve on the hoarding shopping as well (Washington State). We had too, but I suspect the announcement to not even go to the store or pharmacy for a couple of weeks just sank that ship. A friend of a friend (lol) couldn’t find any pickup within 30 miles in Austin, when that hadn’t previously been a problem and I just checked my store out of curiosity and there are now zero slots available. BFF is picking up an order as we speak so I’m curious to see what stock was like in her store. (We all shop at the same chain, within a couple of hours from each other.) There are several items we really need this Friday, so we’ll see how that goes. |
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on Apr 7, 2020 21:49:19 GMT
I've given up on curbside. Last time I looked, slots were booking 2.5 weeks out. I managed to get an Instacart order from Aldi over the weekend (booked three days ahead I think) and now I'm done. I'll be doing all my own grocery shopping. We're fine for the next couple of weeks here so we can not be in the store right now as suggested, but after that, forget it. No more delivery or curbside. Same here. I have a curbside order to pick up Sat. afternoon at HEB and that's probably it for me. I noticed when I placed this order (last week), that they had changed it so you can only add 4 more items before pickup - no matter how far in advance you order! Of course, there is no guarantee I'm going to get all of what is in my order in the first place. Just now I thought I'd start an order for the end of next week. HEB is now only opening slots for 7 days at a time, both curbside and delivery. Of course, everything is booked solid. Then Sunday, Walmart cancelled my entire order just 5 hours before I was to pick it up! To rub salt in the wound, when I checked my account, they noted "You cancelled your order". Like h#ll I did! I'm completely done with them. I've been doing a big trip to Central Market every two weeks (smaller store so fewer people, plus better produce/meats), then supplementing on the in between weeks with curbside for fresh fruit/produce and the odd thing we've run out of. So I'm down to shopping every two weeks and trying the small farmer's market near me on Saturdays for fresh stuff. |
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Post by papersilly on Apr 7, 2020 22:13:27 GMT
My friend tried for two hours online yesterday for grocery delivery and no one had any available delivery times for the next two weeks. She lives in No. Cal.
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Post by M~ on Apr 7, 2020 23:05:08 GMT
We are starting to order in bulk and have gotten lucky. Plus, it cuts down on our time and expense. We’ve ordered bulk paper towels, toilet paper, disinfecting wipes, soap, and other hygiene products. My sis found a 60 box of toilet paper for 60 bucks and it’s good TP. Right now I’m keeping track of dairy and fruit and when whatever is at a halfway point I submit an order. I’m done with retail for right now.
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Post by Skellinton on Apr 7, 2020 23:13:02 GMT
I really really really like the idea of setting up some or frankly all groceries to pickup only. It would be safer for the employees. They could do the temperature thing when they arrive and have no contact with the public. If the parking lot didn't have shoppers parked in it, there would be plenty of room for pick up customers to wait in their cars. They call when they arrive and park and wait. When their order is ready to pickup they get a return text or call and get in the pickup queue. Like the pickup line for kids at school. Pop their trunk. Multiple cars could be getting loaded at once. Safer for everyone. Keeps people employed. A win-win if you ask me. What is the downside to doing that? If you are a shopper who needs to select your own produce or browse the aisles, you can go to one of the OTHER stores set up for that. The ones with the rest of the public and the employees willing to work with those conditions. But this would keep many employees safer. I have brought that up several times and I was told not everyone has access to internet to be able to order, there would be storage problems, inventory problems, etc, etc. I can’t remember the myriad of reasons I was told it would never work, but I still think in areas where there are multiple stores from the same chain within 10 miles of each other they should have a designated pick up only store. If this is going to continue for the next several months as seems to be the prognosis, I wish some stores would at least give it a try! Also, our Walmart was PACKED the other day, I couldn’t believe the people shopping and the employees bustling around, yet they only offer grocery pick up between 11-4 and you just can’t get a slot. I think if they made more slots available they wouldn’t have so many people in the store and then they could shuffle some of the employees to that side of the business instead of in the store waiting on customers. |
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Post by Leone on Apr 7, 2020 23:14:02 GMT
I am shocked...I put together a big order at 4pm today and had no trouble getting a time slot for Thursday...this is a bigger store and farther away than my normal one. It will be interesting to see how many items are not available.
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Post by Merge on Apr 7, 2020 23:29:22 GMT
I've given up on curbside. Last time I looked, slots were booking 2.5 weeks out. I managed to get an Instacart order from Aldi over the weekend (booked three days ahead I think) and now I'm done. I'll be doing all my own grocery shopping. We're fine for the next couple of weeks here so we can not be in the store right now as suggested, but after that, forget it. No more delivery or curbside. Same here. I have a curbside order to pick up Sat. afternoon at HEB and that's probably it for me. I noticed when I placed this order (last week), that they had changed it so you can only add 4 more items before pickup - no matter how far in advance you order! Of course, there is no guarantee I'm going to get all of what is in my order in the first place. Just now I thought I'd start an order for the end of next week. HEB is now only opening slots for 7 days at a time, both curbside and delivery. Of course, everything is booked solid. Then Sunday, Walmart cancelled my entire order just 5 hours before I was to pick it up! To rub salt in the wound, when I checked my account, they noted "You cancelled your order". Like h#ll I did! I'm completely done with them. I've been doing a big trip to Central Market every two weeks (smaller store so fewer people, plus better produce/meats), then supplementing on the in between weeks with curbside for fresh fruit/produce and the odd thing we've run out of. So I'm down to shopping every two weeks and trying the small farmer's market near me on Saturdays for fresh stuff. Our little farmers market down here has been doing a great job with no-contact payment, lots of distance between everyone, etc. Great place to get produce, eggs and good bread - you can stay much further away from people than you can at the grocery store. |
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likescarrots
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by likescarrots on Apr 7, 2020 23:47:04 GMT
I really really really like the idea of setting up some or frankly all groceries to pickup only. It would be safer for the employees. They could do the temperature thing when they arrive and have no contact with the public. If the parking lot didn't have shoppers parked in it, there would be plenty of room for pick up customers to wait in their cars. They call when they arrive and park and wait. When their order is ready to pickup they get a return text or call and get in the pickup queue. Like the pickup line for kids at school. Pop their trunk. Multiple cars could be getting loaded at once. Safer for everyone. Keeps people employed. A win-win if you ask me. What is the downside to doing that? If you are a shopper who needs to select your own produce or browse the aisles, you can go to one of the OTHER stores set up for that. The ones with the rest of the public and the employees willing to work with those conditions. But this would keep many employees safer. I have brought that up several times and I was told not everyone has access to internet to be able to order, there would be storage problems, inventory problems, etc, etc. I can’t remember the myriad of reasons I was told it would never work, but I still think in areas where there are multiple stores from the same chain within 10 miles of each other they should have a designated pick up only store. If this is going to continue for the next several months as seems to be the prognosis, I wish some stores would at least give it a try! Also, our Walmart was PACKED the other day, I couldn’t believe the people shopping and the employees bustling around, yet they only offer grocery pick up between 11-4 and you just can’t get a slot. I think if they made more slots available they wouldn’t have so many people in the store and then they could shuffle some of the employees to that side of the business instead of in the store waiting on customers. Lack of internet/technology/credit cards/etc is a problem as is not having a car, but like I said, I think the bigger stores that have multiple stores in a close area could decide to do this for a few of their stores and leave the other stores opened. I don't want to see people who are already struggling not have access to groceries though. |
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muggins
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,861
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Post by muggins on Apr 8, 2020 1:10:08 GMT
I haven’t read all the replies, but we are having the same problem here in MI. I gave a Kroger slot booked for Saturday although they are running a day late. Today I put an offer on our subdivision FB page that if anyone is elderly or vulnerable, they can send me their shopping list and I will add it to my order and deliver it to them. There’s clearly not enough slots fir everyone, so families, friends and neighbors need to consolidate a list to share a spot if possible.
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on Apr 8, 2020 1:51:58 GMT
the libraries in our area still offer free internet. All public libraries here are closed through the end of the month. |
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Post by Skellinton on Apr 8, 2020 1:56:40 GMT
the libraries in our area still offer free internet. All public libraries here are closed through the end of the month. You can access the free WiFi from the parking lot. Probably from Starbucks too. |
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Post by pattyraindrops on Apr 8, 2020 2:43:01 GMT
I really really really like the idea of setting up some or frankly all groceries to pickup only. It would be safer for the employees. They could do the temperature thing when they arrive and have no contact with the public. If the parking lot didn't have shoppers parked in it, there would be plenty of room for pick up customers to wait in their cars. They call when they arrive and park and wait. When their order is ready to pickup they get a return text or call and get in the pickup queue. Like the pickup line for kids at school. Pop their trunk. Multiple cars could be getting loaded at once. Safer for everyone. Keeps people employed. A win-win if you ask me. What is the downside to doing that? If you are a shopper who needs to select your own produce or browse the aisles, you can go to one of the OTHER stores set up for that. The ones with the rest of the public and the employees willing to work with those conditions. But this would keep many employees safer. I have brought that up several times and I was told not everyone has access to internet to be able to order, there would be storage problems, inventory problems, etc, etc. I can’t remember the myriad of reasons I was told it would never work, but I still think in areas where there are multiple stores from the same chain within 10 miles of each other they should have a designated pick up only store. If this is going to continue for the next several months as seems to be the prognosis, I wish some stores would at least give it a try! Also, our Walmart was PACKED the other day, I couldn’t believe the people shopping and the employees bustling around, yet they only offer grocery pick up between 11-4 and you just can’t get a slot. I think if they made more slots available they wouldn’t have so many people in the store and then they could shuffle some of the employees to that side of the business instead of in the store waiting on customers. In order to try to take care of the storage problem they would need to put in new refrigeration or freezer rooms. Not a simple thing and I'm not sure how available those are anyway. Clearly not the same thing, but my friend has tried to find a backup fridge because hers is going out, but hasn't been able to find one in an open store. With grocery pickup they would likely be doing new construction. |
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Post by maryland on Apr 8, 2020 2:58:37 GMT
iamkristinl16 I’m sorry, that really sucks. Do you not get nauseous when you’re that hungry? We’ve been fortunate in that the eggs are there, just not enough. The alterations with someone else shopping is one of the reasons we did our own shopping the first 2 times during this. The biggest was that there wasn’t a lot of guidance at all about the safety of other people touching your items, how long it remained on surfaces, etc. But if we hadn’t gone in the first time we wouldn’t have been able to substitute seafood when there was no chicken or beef, as just one example. Right now it doesn’t seem as bad (though we haven’t gone in or had an order for a couple of weeks), so hopefully that is still the case. One thing I’ve done with the delivery order, haven’t gotten one so not positive it will work, is be very specific in the notes. For example, if no peaches please get an additional pear. So they know ‘off’ substitutions are okay and I have the best chance getting something that will work. How do you shop for that many people without having to go all the time? Especially kids who need tons of snacks available? And you have all boys, right? My BFF can’t keep her fridge stocked. You’re saying that they’ve already added a lot of employees in order to make 2 days of pickups available? I’ve never done pickup or delivery before, so I hadn’t considered that. It just seemed to me that they condensed one weeks worth of times to 2 days because they were getting so many more orders. I know making more slots available has worked here, and I know there are tons of people smarter than me, so hopefully they can come up with better solutions than flooding the stores with more shoppers. I have three daughters, 17, 20 and 22 so I totally get the not being able to keep the refrigerator stocked!  It's very hard to come up with a 2 week grocery list (I go to the stores) to feed the 5 of us 3 meals a day plus snacks. And since we're home and bored and worried, we eat even more. I have been hiding snacks or they would be gone in a couple days. And I about have a panic attack when I see the total rung up! I sure wish I had their metabolism! |
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Post by 50offscrapper on Apr 8, 2020 5:45:02 GMT
I really really really like the idea of setting up some or frankly all groceries to pickup only. It would be safer for the employees. They could do the temperature thing when they arrive and have no contact with the public. If the parking lot didn't have shoppers parked in it, there would be plenty of room for pick up customers to wait in their cars. They call when they arrive and park and wait. When their order is ready to pickup they get a return text or call and get in the pickup queue. Like the pickup line for kids at school. Pop their trunk. Multiple cars could be getting loaded at once. Safer for everyone. Keeps people employed. A win-win if you ask me. What is the downside to doing that? If you are a shopper who needs to select your own produce or browse the aisles, you can go to one of the OTHER stores set up for that. The ones with the rest of the public and the employees willing to work with those conditions. But this would keep many employees safer. I have brought that up several times and I was told not everyone has access to internet to be able to order, there would be storage problems, inventory problems, etc, etc. I can’t remember the myriad of reasons I was told it would never work, but I still think in areas where there are multiple stores from the same chain within 10 miles of each other they should have a designated pick up only store. If this is going to continue for the next several months as seems to be the prognosis, I wish some stores would at least give it a try! Also, our Walmart was PACKED the other day, I couldn’t believe the people shopping and the employees bustling around, yet they only offer grocery pick up between 11-4 and you just can’t get a slot. I think if they made more slots available they wouldn’t have so many people in the store and then they could shuffle some of the employees to that side of the business instead of in the store waiting on customers. Not everyone has a credit card. Lots of people still use cash. |
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Post by sassyangel on Apr 8, 2020 5:58:10 GMT
I have brought that up several times and I was told not everyone has access to internet to be able to order, there would be storage problems, inventory problems, etc, etc. I can’t remember the myriad of reasons I was told it would never work, but I still think in areas where there are multiple stores from the same chain within 10 miles of each other they should have a designated pick up only store. If this is going to continue for the next several months as seems to be the prognosis, I wish some stores would at least give it a try! Also, our Walmart was PACKED the other day, I couldn’t believe the people shopping and the employees bustling around, yet they only offer grocery pick up between 11-4 and you just can’t get a slot. I think if they made more slots available they wouldn’t have so many people in the store and then they could shuffle some of the employees to that side of the business instead of in the store waiting on customers. I think we all know that if you put some Chick-fil-A managers in there, they could get it all done drive-thru style. No one would need to have any human contact except in-store crew, that could be paid a premium and they would only have the limited contact of each other, rather than each other AND unknown people from the general public. There would be no more inventory problems than they have now...except of course if they managed to sell three times the inventory in a 24 hour period than they do now. A definite possibility with the Chick-fil-A crew.  Not a problem to me. Also while people may not have a smart phone or internet service at home, the libraries in our area still offer free internet. From your car in their parking lot. There are ways around that. Not everyone has a car either, but that doesn't mean it wouldn't get food in families hands and keep people employed while reducing contagion for everyone. Libraries are closed in most places, unfortunately. |
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Post by dewryce on Apr 8, 2020 11:25:59 GMT
I haven’t read all the replies, but we are having the same problem here in MI. I gave a Kroger slot booked for Saturday although they are running a day late. Today I put an offer on our subdivision FB page that if anyone is elderly or vulnerable, they can send me their shopping list and I will add it to my order and deliver it to them. There’s clearly not enough slots fir everyone, so families, friends and neighbors need to consolidate a list to share a spot if possible. That’s awesome that you’re doing that to help your neighbors! Unfortunately, with limits on products and a maximum number of products per order, that wouldn’t work very well here. I wish they would allow one person to pick up multiple orders. People can pay with different credit cards from different addresses to limit some taking advantage of the situation. |
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They used to let you schedule a week or so in advance, but no longer.
It's very hard to come up with a 2 week grocery list (I go to the stores) to feed the 5 of us 3 meals a day plus snacks. And since we're home and bored and worried, we eat even more. I have been hiding snacks or they would be gone in a couple days. And I about have a panic attack when I see the total rung up! 
Not a problem to me.