I’m seldom ever in the mood to go grocery shopping, especially during the week, but that seems to be when I really need something. The nearby publix is great, but I have a problem with not making a list, and I end up buying stuff I’ve already got, and forgetting things I actually need.
If you’re familiar with Uber ($15 off your first ride) – this works similarly by matching demand (in this case people that need groceries) with supply (Shipt Grocery Shoppers). Only instead of getting a ride somewhere, you get your groceries brought to you.
I don’t think it needs too much explaining – if you’ve bought anything online, it works in much the same way, you add stuff to your cart and checkout. Your credit card is entered into the app, and when your groceries are delivered, you don’t exchange money or sign anything.
Just like Uber, when the shopper leaves – you’re given an opportunity to rate them, and leave them a tip.
I’ve used it a couple of times, and it’s worked pretty well – they have a decent database of products available from Publix (the only store they shop from) and if they don’t have what you’re looking for you can make special requests through the app. On regular items, you can even leave notes for the shopper for each individual.
So far so good. Any downsides? It’s going to be more expensive than if you went to the store and shopped for yourself. Shipt has to pay their shoppers and turn a profit on top of it. It also costs $99 for an annual membership or you can opt to pay $14/month. If your groceries cost more than $35, there is no delivery fee, if it’s under that amount, you’ll be charged about $7 to have the order delivered. And I know what you’re thinking, but unfortunately they cannot deliver alcohol.
The app is simple, but works well, and you can stand in your own kitchen, adding things to your list and getting exactly what you need – no more standing at the milk refrigerator at the store scratching your head wondering if you actually need it.
The only downside I’ve experienced is the way the shoppers handle exceptions – IE you asked for organic double-chocolate peanut butter granola bars, but the store is out and only has gluten-free single-chocolate peanut butter granola bars. In the app during checkout, this is handled by selecting one of three options – Contact Me, Use Best Judgment or Don’t Substitute. I had selected Use Best Judgment with my last shopper, but was still bombarded with text messages asking about trivial substitutions.
The app could probably benefit from an option where you select your organic and gluten-free status – Maybe and option to indicate you don’t really require organic or gluten-free products. I just really like the gluten-free pasta, and sometimes the organic apple juice is on sale and sold out. My daughter can drink non-organic apple juice – didn’t you see the pizza rolls in my cart?
So Shipt is a pretty cool use of technology to save time and avoid the lines at the grocery store. Now if someone would just make an app like this for doing laundry, I’d be all set.
If you’re interested in trying it out, here’s a link to get $10 worth of groceries for free.
Shipt solves many of my problems. Here’s a quick little video on how it works.
