Want to know where I went last night? To the grocery store. TJ had a mini retreat with his confirmation class and while he was there I thought it would be a good time to go to the store. We left two hours before he’d be finished and set out for the grocery store. The roads were empty, unheard of at 7 pm. Care to know why? Because we were in the middle of a Noreaster some of you knew as Ida. Parts of New Jersey were underwater, there was flooding and beach erosion and some areas were declared a state of emergency. In my area it was pouring, the wind was whipping and it was cold. The church we’re members of is on an island between the ocean and the bay. The area was like a ghost town. The streets were covered with sand and the beaches were gone. I got out of the car and was blasted by wind and rain. It almost blew my fat butt over. This is what the boardwalk looked like. There was no beach to take a picture of.
Now for those of you wondering why I didn’t just go to the store today like usual, it’s simple. I just wanted a morning off - a morning that I didn’t have to get up and rush to the grocery store.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate the grocery store. I love ShopRite, it’s the only place I will go to do my regular grocery shopping. I’ve always been a ShopRite girl. I’ve shopped there regularly for more than fifteen years and have found that they have the widest selection and the best prices.
Each week I sit down at the computer and go through the ShopRite circular online. I browse the add and click on it and it gets put onto a grocery list that I print out. Then I take my list and go to the store. That’s the part I hate. After working all day, five days a week, the last thing I want to do is take a two hour trip to the grocery store. Which is how I get stuck going to the grocery store on Saturday morning. No matter I go there are so many other things I’d rather spend my time doing, like doing something with the boys or for myself.
Online grocery shopping is gaining popularity in a lot of areas. When I saw on the ShopRite site that some of their locations were offering online grocery shopping I was curious to see if their service worked like a popular service already in place in our area that a couple of my friends use. I checked into it and was thrilled to learn that it doesn’t - in my opinion it’s much better.
The ShopRite From Home service allows shoppers to do their grocery shopping online with access to more than 25,000 unique items, including access to the weekly sales circular. When you shop ShopRite From Home you pay exactly the same price item for item that you would if you went to the store. Why would I choose the competitor who only a limited amount of items, no access to the weekly circular and different (sometimes higher) pricing? I wouldn’t. It doesn’t make sense to me. The ShopRite From Home system makes much more sense to me.
After you go online and purchase from ShopRite From Home you have two options - pick-up or home delivery. Wondering what pick-up is? It’s like drive-thru groceries. You shop online, pull up to the store, have your car loaded and then drive away. Sweet! I can totally see a number of situations where this would be great but I prefer the other option - home delivery.
Using ShopRite From Home is easy. Go to shoprite.com and click where it says shop online. Find the store nearest to you and click on it to start shopping. The first thing I recommend doing is signing in and creating a list. This way in case you have to leave your computer or if something happens your list is saved. Within your account you can create lists. Each time you log in you can see your master list, your last order, your last list and any custom lists. Shopping is easy, just click on the category and items you want or use the search function. Every single thing that I bought was the same price that I am used to paying for it regularly. I was able to find every item that I wanted.
ShopRite from Home customers get the same pricing and same programs that they would get if they shopped in the store - Price Plus Club Card, Baby Bucks, ShopRite Family Rewards, Shoprite for OnePass miles, Upromise, targeted special savings on your receipt, and check cashing. After shopping online you schedule delivery for a time convenient for you.
You’re able to use manufacturer coupons on items. There is no mandatory credit card to order. For pickup you can pay the same way you would if you were in the store - cash, check, credit card, debit card or gift card. For delivery you can pay by check, credit or gift card. There is a reasonable service fee for the personal shopper and a small fee if you have your order delivered.
ShopRite From Home orders are packed at your nearby ShopRite. The folks there get to know you and your grocery preferences, just as they might if you went to the store.
I was fortunate enough to be able to try out the ShopRite From Home service a couple of weeks ago. It spoiled me for all future grocery shopping. I placed my order on Thursday and scheduled delivery for Saturday morning. Saturday morning it was overcast, chilly and rainy. I got a call from the store asking me how I’d like my meats sliced. I was impressed. Why? Because I knew that meant my meat was being cut right then so it would be fresh. A little over an hour later they pulled up.
See that balloon peeking out of the van door? It had friends. I was brought an arrangement of fresh flowers and some balloons. I was feeling totally spoiled. Then my groceries were brought in and put on the table. I received a checklist and signed for the order. In under fifteen minutes they were gone.
Upon unpacking the bags I found that every item I had ordered was there. The deli products and meats I’d ordered were still cold. The cold cuts were sliced perfectly and wrapped well. The meat was cut as I’d discussed on the phone that morning and packed well. The ice cream was actually still frozen, something I can’t always say when I go to the grocery store. The cans weren’t dented and the boxes weren’t crushed.
I loved my ShopRite From Home experience and recommend it highly.The service is a wonderful option for anyone with a busy schedule, as well as seniors, folks that don’t drive and college students.
Here’s why I think ShopRite At Home rocks:
- I could shop in my pajamas. (I didn’t, but I could.)
- I didn’t have to leave the house to go to the store. No going out in the rain.
- I didn’t have to wait on any lines.
- I didn’t have to load the car with the groceries.
- I didn’t have to unload the car and carry any bags in.
- I didn’t have to nag RB or TJ to carry bags in.
- I got flowers. Well not just me - all first time customers get them.
The one single thing I didn’t love about ShopRite From Home - it’s not available at all locations.
For those that don’t like the service fee. Isn’t your time valuable? Spending a few dollars for the personal shopper and the delivery fee was worth it to me as I saved a couple of hours of my time as well as the gas and wear and tear on my truck.
A HUGE thanks to ShopRite, ShopRite of Spotswood and everyone that made it possible for me to try ShopRite From Home. I think the service is great and can’t wait until it comes to my area.
I paid for the groceries that I ordered. This review has not been monetarily compensated and is based on the views and opinions of my family and/or self. Please note that the opinions reflected in this post have not been influenced by the sponsor in any way.
