Online Grocery Shopping

Shopping For Groceries Online offers some nice benefits.. Not having to carry heavy bags of groceries is an obvious plus. You'll also be happy to learn that online grocers offer a high quality selection of produce because they know just one delivery of mushy fruits is all it takes to lose you as a customer. 

The Value of Online Grocery Shopping depends on what you think your time is worth ($10 may be a small price to pay to avoid check-out lines) and how satisfied you are with the service. Here's how to make sure you get your money's worth:

Check your in-store prices. Grocery prices may be slightly higher online, but not significantly. You'll pay a bit more for the convenience, but some stores, like Shop Rite, offer a price match guarantee, meaning you'll always be charged the in-store price.

Consider pickup. If the service allows, you may want to pick up your order rather than have it delivered. You'll cut a portion of the service/delivery charge while still avoiding the long supermarket lines and impulse buys. Albertsons charges $5 to prepare an order for pickup, compared with $10 for delivery.

Select an early delivery time. Delivery trucks are loaded up early each morning.. It's better to have your food delivered early to avoid having your groceries sit on a truck all day, even if it is a refrigerated truck.

Grocer	Delivery/ Pickup Costs	Delivery Areas	Deals
Peapod	$6.95 for orders of $100 or more; $9.95 for orders totaling less than $100.	Chicagoland Milwaukee S.E. Wisconsin CT MA MD NJ NY RI VA Washington DC	Get 10% off your first order of $75 or more. Use coupon code AFFL3 at checkout. First-time customers only. Save $1 on every order when you pay by Direct Check, which authorizes a secure transfer directly from your checking account. Refer a friend and get free groceries. You'll get a $10 credit, and your friend will get a $15 credit with his or her first order. Use your Stop & Shop card for further discounts.
Safeway	If you opt for delivery within a two-hour time frame, you'll pay $9.95 per order. Delivery within a four-hour time frame will cost you $4.95.	Arizona, California, Maryland, Oregon, Virginia, Washington and Washington D.C.	For first-time orders, delivery is $4.95 per order, and free for orders of $150 or more. Use your Club Card for further discounts.
Vons	If you opt for delivery within a two-hour time frame, you'll pay $9.95 per order. Delivery within a four-hour time frame will cost you $4.95.	Los Angeles, Inland Empire, Orange County, San Diego, Ventura, and Las Vegas	Save 4.95 on first delivery.
Albertsons	$9.95 service fee for all delivery orders. For in-store pickup, the fee is $4.95.	Boise Dallas / Fort Worth / Arlington Las Vegas Los Angeles / Orange County / Ventura Palm Springs Phoenix Portland Sacramento San Diego San Francisco / Bay Area Santa Barbara Seattle Vancouver Salt Lake City UT	Save 10% on your first order. Offer limited to select areas and to orders of $100 or more. Maximum discount of $25. Offer expires March 31. Use your Albertsons Preferred Savings Card for further discounts.
HomeGrocer.com	Free delivery for orders of $75 or more; otherwise, delivery is $3.99 per order.	California - Santa Monica and West Hollywood	No current deals.
Hy-Vee	$15 for delivery; $10 for in-store pickup.	IA IL KS MN MO NE SD	No current deals.
The Food Emporium	Free. (Delivery requires a minimum order of $40.)	Manhattan	Free delivery in Manhattan with a purchase of $40 or more. No expiration date. Use The Food Emporium Card to access special sales and discounts.
Shop Rite	You'll pay a $10 service fee per order for in-store pickup. For delivery, you'll pay a $10 handling fee, plus a delivery fee of $4.95 to $5.95 per order, depending on delivery area.	CT DE NJ NY PA	Use your Price Plus card for members-only sales and discounts.
Schnucks	Orders for same-day delivery are $15.50; next-day delivery is $12.50. In-store pickup is $6.95 for same- and next-day pickup.	IN IL MO TN	No current deals.
FreshDirect	$4.95 for orders of $100 or more; $6.95 for orders of less than $100. Pickup at the FreshDirect facility is free of charge.	New York Metropolitan area.	Get 10% off your first order within select delivery areas. Join the e-newsletter for special discounts and offers.
Simon Delivers	$6 for orders to apartments and condominiums, regardless of order total. For other deliveries, you'll pay $6 for orders of $80 or more; $8.50 for orders less than $80.	MN	Earn $10 for each new customer you refer. SimonDelivers.com offers a web portal through which you can click through to your retailer of choice. By doing so, you'll earn Simon Bucks that will be credited toward your grocery purchases. More than 100 retailers participate in the program, including Target and AMC Theatres.

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