Instacart recently became available in the Des Moines area. If you’ve heard people talking about it and wondered what the big deal is, here’s what you need to know.
There are a handful of stores that Instacart delivers from in the Des Moines area: Aldi, Costco, CVS, Fresh Thyme, Hy-Vee, Natural Grocers, and Petco.
Instacart is a third party grocery delivery service. An Instacart employee shops your local store and delivers groceries straight to your door.
I don’t think I’ll use Instacart every week, but for the weeks when it’s hard to get to the store, it is a game changer! I know there are other grocery delivery options, and I’ve tried them, but I’m a faithful Aldi shopper. Knowing I can buy the same things I’d buy if I was going to the store makes me more likely to order groceries.
I had lots of questions when I first heard about Instacart. I have only ordered groceries one time so far, but I had a great experience. Hopefully my experience can help answer your questions!
Instacart 101
I also really appreciated that my groceries came in paper bags and they were packed responsibly. When I have used other online grocery services I’m always surprised by how many plastic bags they use. it’s a little ridiculous!
How does it work?
You can download the Instacart app or shop online. Choose your store and start shopping. One nice feature is you can shop from multiple stores in one order. So I can have items from Aldi and Costco in the same order!
Once you’re ready to order, you checkout and select a delivery time. You can also add instructions on any items. I noted that I wanted my bananas to be almost ripe and still a little green. You can also specify what you would like as a replacement item if the item you select isn’t available and if you don’t want a replacement you can note that as well. Your total bill will be updated to reflect any changes.
Do items cost more?
The website states that pricing may vary from in-store pricing. I found the prices at Aldi to be close to if not the same. I looked at Costco prices and they were higher. I’m not familiar enough with the other stores to compare prices. Stores also offer coupons on certain items, so you can save that way.
Membership, Service Fee, and Tip
Instacart is not a free service. You can sign up for Instacart Express, an annual membership, which is $149 in Des Moines. This means you get free delivery for all orders over $35. If you don’t have a membership, delivery is $5.99 for orders over $35. They have a 14-day free trial, that I am trying. If you figure you will order groceries 25 times or more in a year, the membership pays for itself.
A service fee may be included with your order. According to Instacart this is for their employees and helps cover costs. However, the shoppers and drivers who take care of your order don’t directly see that money. You can opt to waive the service fee. A tip is also included in the final cost. This goes directly to the delivery person. You can waive the tip or specify a different amount. You are also able to change the tip after delivery.
Delivery Time
Depending on when you place your order, groceries can be delivered in an hour, or you can select a delivery time. I ordered at night, so my groceries were delivered the next day. I received a text message when my groceries were being shopped for and another message when the groceries were on their way. My groceries arrived within the first half of the hour delivery window.
Have you used Instacart?
*This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are our own.
