Grocery Shopping

[Calico]

I did a Harris Teeter pickup this afternoon at 3:00 pm. I got everything I ordered. I asked the young man who brought the groceries out to the pickup lane if the store was busy due to the holiday coming up, and he said all the lines were "craaaazy long."

This evening Whole Foods delivered an order at 7:30 pm; once again I received everything I had ordered. I have no doubt whatsoever that Whole Foods was a zoo today and will be a zoo every day for the rest of the week. I haven't set foot in Whole Foods since March, and I plan to continue to have orders delivered from there even after Covid is a faint memory. It is so convenient and saves me so much time. I always add a large tip to the order; the website claims that the entire tip goes to the driver, and I hope that is true.

 

[Calico]

We were at a Wegmans today at about noon.

It was like pre-pandemic on a weekend.
I don't know where all the people came from.


I could not wait to get out of there.

They all just awoke from their Christmas comas, just in time to hit the stores for New Year's provisions.

 

[JoeWras]

It's the opposite of a store: I went to the dump. The county "convenience center" where you can get rid of trash, scrap metal, electronics, oil, hazardous material, construction debris, etc. For the most part it is Covid safe since you are in your car or outside.

Still... What a zoo! I guess people are making room for all the new crap they just got.

I need to remind myself to not go there during a holiday week ever again. There were enough cars at the trash containers that people were almost rubbing elbows. I was fortunately at the other side draining my used oil and disposing of scrap metal.

 

[gayl]

Safeway was mobbed. So busy that I put back the wine and went through self-check. Also there's a run on wine out here. Just wanted some Stella Rosa Platinum but Luckys, Safeway, and CVS was out. Bevmo had 4 (just four) bottles. Picked up 2, left 2 for the next person. I'm not used to clearing the shelf. All 4 stores had only 1/2 stocked shelves

 

[travelover]

It's the opposite of a store: I went to the dump. The county "convenience center" where you can get rid of trash, scrap metal, electronics, oil, hazardous material, construction debris, etc. For the most part it is Covid safe since you are in your car or outside.

Still... What a zoo! I guess people are making room for all the new crap they just got.

........

With the initial lock down, our "transfer station" was overwhelmed. There were lines of traffic to get in and out of the facility and the county actually send out notices pleading people not to come to the facility unless necessary. I guess everyone found themselves home and in a cleaning out mode.

 

[zinger1457]

What's the tie in between covid and the price of grapes? Been picking up green grapes at the grocery store for $.50/lb for the last couple months then they dropped to $.25/lb the last two times I visited, quality seems to be good. Don't ever recall seeing the prices that low.

 

[tb001]

What's the tie in between covid and the price of grapes? Been picking up green grapes at the grocery store for $.50/lb for the last couple months then they dropped to $.25/lb the last two times I visited, quality seems to be good. Don't ever recall seeing the prices that low.

Wow!! What part of the country are you in? I’ve never seen grapes here for less than $.98/lb!

 

[Sunset]

What's the tie in between covid and the price of grapes? Been picking up green grapes at the grocery store for $.50/lb for the last couple months then they dropped to $.25/lb the last two times I visited, quality seems to be good. Don't ever recall seeing the prices that low.

That is cheap enough to press and make wine

 

[zinger1457]

Wow!! What part of the country are you in? I’ve never seen grapes here for less than $.98/lb!

SE Arizona, normal prices are in the $2/lb range.

 

[ncbill]

Dirt-cheap here as well in the southeast at Lidl.

Flavor not as good as red grapes, though.

 

[pacergal]

First really poor experience from Kroger pick up.
Arrived at pick up time, checked in. Waited over an hour for delivery! The poor worker was all by himself for the first 30 minutes, then all of a sudden, 4 other workers show up.
Bless the first guy, he came to the car and apologized, said he would take $20 off order due to delay. Waited another 30 minutes and the same worker finally brought the groceries--said he had to go pick the order himself as it wasn't there! Gave us another $10 off. So $30 back for 60 minute wait.

 

[ivinsfan]

First really poor experience from Kroger pick up.
Arrived at pick up time, checked in. Waited over an hour for delivery! The poor worker was all by himself for the first 30 minutes, then all of a sudden, 4 other workers show up.
Bless the first guy, he came to the car and apologized, said he would take $20 off order due to delay. Waited another 30 minutes and the same worker finally brought the groceries--said he had to go pick the order himself as it wasn't there! Gave us another $10 off. So $30 back for 60 minute wait.

perhaps a holiday weekend thing? But not cool in any way...

Once again Walmart shines at this, I can click on my order and literally see them picking the items in real time. I do AM orders and they usually do the picking one to two hours before the beginning of my pickup hour. Usually get the "your order is ready for pickup" about 15 to 20 before my hour. So I have at least and 1 1/4 hours window for pickup.. I don't know what happens if you are late for pickup. One of my friends was delayed and got an auto text saying pickup within the next so many minutes or it will be returned to stock and cancelled.

 

[Amethyst]

Went to the big Walmart, twice the distance as the little neighborhood one, because we needed some household items the little WM doesn't carry. Took the 8-9 a.m. slot. You'd think everything would be in stock at that hour?

Well, they must have had a busy weekend. There was no Greek yogurt - must have been out of every kind, since I allowed substitutions. No zucchini left (people buy out zucchini?)
Of three substitutions - two were OK. But I really could not sit by and let them give me a bottle of Vitamin C in place of Calcium-D3-Magnesium-Zinc. I pictured someone in the store thinking, "Hmm...they both begin with C...must be 'bout the same."

 

[W2R]

First really poor experience from Kroger pick up.
Arrived at pick up time, checked in. Waited over an hour for delivery! The poor worker was all by himself for the first 30 minutes, then all of a sudden, 4 other workers show up.
Bless the first guy, he came to the car and apologized, said he would take $20 off order due to delay. Waited another 30 minutes and the same worker finally brought the groceries--said he had to go pick the order himself as it wasn't there! Gave us another $10 off. So $30 back for 60 minute wait.

Still, that kind of delay is pretty bad! Glad they at least tried to compensate you for your time.

Went to the big Walmart, twice the distance as the little neighborhood one, because we needed some household items the little WM doesn't carry. Took the 8-9 a.m. slot. You'd think everything would be in stock at that hour?

Well, they must have had a busy weekend. There was no Greek yogurt - must have been out of every kind, since I allowed substitutions. No zucchini left (people buy out zucchini?)
Of three substitutions - two were OK. But I really could not sit by and let them give me a bottle of Vitamin C in place of Calcium-D3-Magnesium-Zinc. I pictured someone in the store thinking, "Hmm...they both begin with C...must be 'bout the same."

How aggravating! Hopefully it's just that store and your neighborhood Walmart will be better next time.

 

[ivinsfan]

Went to the big Walmart, twice the distance as the little neighborhood one, because we needed some household items the little WM doesn't carry. Took the 8-9 a.m. slot. You'd think everything would be in stock at that hour?

Well, they must have had a busy weekend. There was no Greek yogurt - must have been out of every kind, since I allowed substitutions. No zucchini left (people buy out zucchini?)
Of three substitutions - two were OK. But I really could not sit by and let them give me a bottle of Vitamin C in place of Calcium-D3-Magnesium-Zinc. I pictured someone in the store thinking, "Hmm...they both begin with C...must be 'bout the same."

Possibly long holiday, beginning of the month type problems? I've noticed mini runs on items when the SNAP month begins. I have a small order in for tomorrow,it's mostly cat food and cleaning products so we shall see. I always thought the substitutions were computer not people generated...that's a pretty strange swap out.

 

[EastWest Gal]

First really poor experience from Kroger pick up.
Arrived at pick up time, checked in. Waited over an hour for delivery! The poor worker was all by himself for the first 30 minutes, then all of a sudden, 4 other workers show up.
Bless the first guy, he came to the car and apologized, said he would take $20 off order due to delay. Waited another 30 minutes and the same worker finally brought the groceries--said he had to go pick the order himself as it wasn't there! Gave us another $10 off. So $30 back for 60 minute wait.

That poor man! Maybe some co-workers are isolating (sick) or quarantining (exposed). Give the management a call and praise the man for his work ethic.

 

[harllee]

I have noticed that Walmart pick up is out of more things on Mondays--I usually try for Tuesday or Wednesday. Of course I never do weekends (tried a Sunday one time and it was a disaster).

 

[Amethyst]

I did wonder about that. I shopped today, assuming that all the holiday nonsense would be over. Did not buy anything, except bread and milk, between Dec. 23rd and Jan 2nd.

Possibly long holiday, beginning of the month type problems? I've noticed mini runs on items when the SNAP month begins.

 

[Sunset]

I went to Costco before noon, it was not busy when I arrived, but when I got out about 30 minutes later, the lot was packed.

They had lots of TP, so I looked, couldn't see any restriction sign and picked up 2.
Then got some meat and roast chickens.
At the cash, they told me it was limit 1 for TP, and you need binoculars to see the wording on the sign.
So I only got 1 pack, which is fine.

 

[Badger]

I went to Costco before noon, it was not busy when I arrived, but when I got out about 30 minutes later, the lot was packed.

It must have been the senior hot dog and pizza lunch crowd.


Cheers!

 

[6miths]

Food areas in our local Costcos are open with limited menu but with no seating areas I am sure the hot dog sales are way, way down. I've only had one since March which is crazy for me. Have to figure out a new way to get my preservatives!

Pretty good line up outside Costco today when I went. First time I have visited since before Christmas and first time I can remember a line since early fall maybe. We are in lockdown here now so only grocery and pharmacies open really. No shortages at Costco - except raspberry jam - I suspect that the harvest was impacted by farm labour but perhaps Costco just decided not to stock for the first time in memory. Haven't had any since October.

 

[tmm99]

I went to an Asian supermarket chain owned by a huge corp. This huge corp has regular supermarket chains as well, but those chains seem to have different rules. All the cashiers at this Asian supermarket were wearing a face shield (a new thing) in addition to their masks whether they wore glasses or not (They also have plexiglass partitions.) And other things that are not new but unique to this chain - They do a temp scan at the door (I don't think that is helpful IMO.) They control the in and out traffic (as they have one combined entrance/exit). They also have a hand sanitizer stationed before the entrance into the store, and the guy standing there points at the station so all the customers use the hand sanitizer to clean their hands before entering.

I wish every store was like this.

 

[tmm99]

I heard Costcos in some provinces (not Ontario where I live) have certain sections of the stores blocked off (not for sale) and they can only sell essential items. Maybe this is a Canada thing, not sure. There was an outcry from small businesses/retailers because they had to close their businesses but big retailers like Costco and Walmart were still open and selling non-essential items.

 

[Koolau]

Our stores don't seem nearly as A-R about cleaning carts, counting noses before entry, forcing social distancing (like one way traffic arrows), etc. as even a month ago. I think we've gotten blasé about Covid. It could be our relatively low (but still elevated) numbers. I'm still looking out for myself. YMMV

 

[Gumby]

...I've noticed mini runs on items when the SNAP month begins. ...

That's why, COVID or no COVID, I avoid the grocery on the first three days of the month. That's when SNAP benefits get deposited to the EBT cards, and people all immediately go shopping. Unfortunately, the last week of the month is often a hungry one for some people.