Online Grocery Delivery Services

In our household, we have not gone grocery shopping physically in stores in over 5 weeks. I have tried 4 new food services since then and I would like to share with you my first impressions, thoughts and reviews.

• Amazon Fresh
• Amazon Whole Foods
• Vons
• CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) - Supporting local farmers. https://www.localharvest.org/csa/

Ordering Groceries on Amazon Fresh

Pros:

• More grocery options

• Prices are more reasonable

• Free delivery if you spend over $35

• If an item you purchased is out of stock, you have the option of accepting a substituted item for equal or less than value. For instances, the substituted item costs more, you will be charged what you paid initially. If the item substituted is lesser value, you will be refunded the difference.

• Contactless delivery, did not have to sign for anything

Cons:

• Your groceries will be in a paper bag delivered so you will have to keep an eye out as you would not want your food to be spoiled/at your porch all day if you're at work

• It is hard to find a delivery slot. My recommendation is to put items you want in your cart and check back throughout the day.

• You have to be an Amazon Prime member

• I did receive spoiled meat and expired bread but Amazon was kind enough to refund my money, they have amazing customer service.

Ordering Groceries on Amazon Whole Foods

Pros:

• Your groceries are packaged in a paper bag with insulated box liner

• Free delivery if you spend over $35

• If an item you purchased is out of stock, you have the option of accepting a substituted item for equal or less than value. For instances, the substituted item costs more, you will be charged what you paid initially. If the item substituted is lesser value, you will be refunded the difference.

• Contactless delivery, did not have to sign for anything

Cons:

• More pricey

• It is hard to find a delivery slot. My recommendation is to put items you want in your cart and check back throughout the day.

• You have to be an Amazon Prime member

Ordering Groceries on Vons

Pros:

• Getting a discount ! (First time buyer if you use their code TAKE20 you will get $20 Off + Free Delivery on Your Next Order When You Spend $75+)

• Free to be a Vons reward member to get some discounts and their are JUST4U coupons you could apply to help save more money

• Lots of selection

• Convenient time slots

• Contactless delivery, did not have to sign for anything

Cons:

• Groceries delivered in a plastic bag (no insulated box liner but also not charged for the plastic bags, normally it is 10 cents a bag here)

• Delivery employee did not wear a mask

• If an item you purchased is out of stock, and you select substitution versus no substitution, you will pay for the difference.

Example:

• I ordered 3 lbs of oranges for $3.99. They ran out of that 3 lb bag so they substituted for individual oranges at $7.25! (A difference of $3.26)

• I ordered bread for $3.69 and was substituted with bread that was $3.99.(A difference of $.30 cents)

These "hidden" substitution costs adds up! I didn't see any substitution price difference so I did live chat and was returned the substitution cost so for next time I will be sure to select no substitution.

Ordering from CSA (Community Supported Agriculture)

Please note: This is based on my experience. Everyone will have different box, terms, items, weight, and so forth - please review before purchasing if this is an option you would like to try out!

Pros:

• Supporting local farms/community

• Fixed rates (or at least from the farm I am ordering from) The farm I am ordering from has 2 types of boxes, a regular for $25 & jumbo for $35

• Shipping is free for me because I am within miles from their farm, but to other areas it is $5/$10 depending on location

• We personally order the jumbo box and it is about 35 pounds of fresh vegetables and fruit

• Employee wears a mask and gloves

• Contactless delivery, did not have to sign for anything

• No obligation, order weeks you want, don't order there is no contract (at least for the farm I ordered from) There are some farms that offer a subscription, it all varies so please read carefully.

• You have the option of adding other items like honey, jam, eggs for extra cost to be delivered with your box

• Great way to try new vegetables or items you normally would not pick up

• Superb price !

• Lasts us a good 1-2 weeks

Neutral:

• You don't know what you're getting when you order. A few days prior, you'll be sent a list of what to expect and some extras not listed (every farm is difference)

• Some items have some flaws so you may have to just salvage parts of a cabbage, potato or what not.

Cons:

• Delivery is between the hours of 8 AM to 7 PM (long slot)

• Not enough fruits so I still have to purchase other fruits

Overall: We have had an amazing experience with CSA boxes and recommended to our family/friends - they too are loving it! We just have to order protein and some fruits. We are also growing our mini garden too!

Picture attached is from last week's CSA Box. There are more vegetables/fruits underneath but what we got inside our box was: butternut squash, blueberries, vine ripe tomatoes, Japanese cucumber, strawberries, cara cara oranges, golden nugget tangerines, cabbage, romaine lettuce, potatoes, sweet potatoes, yellow onions, zucchini, carrots, bell pepper, snap peas, cauliflower, and broccoli!