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Strategies for maximizing benefit of Kroger pickup shops

July 20, 2022 04:36AM
On a recent pickup shop, a relatively big ticket item was out of stock, reducing my reimbursement from the max of $32 to about $13 (Ouch!).

Are there ideas and strategies to avoid leaving money on the table on future pickup shops?

One is to get big ticket items on in-store shops, but those $9 payments + $9 reimbursements are less than the $32 pickup reimbursement, and doesn't cover the cost of large packs of diapers or laundry detergent. Not ideal.

Another idea is to go over the $35 pickup spending threshold to mitigate the possibility of out of stock big ticket item. Not ideal.

A third option is to not shop for big ticket items. Not ideal.

Any other ideas?. Sorry for writing a book. Thanks!
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July 20, 2022 05:30AM
When placing the order if an item is low on stock I don't order it.

I order items that can be substituted with something i can use.

I do the max pickups every period and have had only 1 item that they couldn't substitute.

I do get big ticket items on the pickup. I have never had an issue with it. I ordered 2 ribeye steaks once and they were on sale with a big discount. Was able to stay within the $35. When ordering big ticket items I will get some small ticket items too.

I look at the weekly sales.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/20/2022 05:34AM by pegleg2000.
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July 20, 2022 06:57AM
The only time I didn't get the full reimbursement on a pickup shop, I ordered meat that they were conveniently out of, at least in theory, because when I went into the store for the grocery mystery shop, there was plenty of the meat that I had ordered in the case. And 3/4 of everything else that I had I ordered was substituted with something that was completely unusable or inappropriate for what I had originally ordered. So my groceries came to a whopping $13.48. lol

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/20/2022 06:59AM by Morledzep.
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July 20, 2022 01:02PM
I don't order big ticket items for that very reason. I use the Kroger shops to restock my pantry and freezer. I don't even usually order meat. It is a bummer that they didn't sub for you!
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July 20, 2022 04:23PM
@rmkeith wrote:

I don't order big ticket items for that very reason. I use the Kroger shops to restock my pantry and freezer. I don't even usually order meat. It is a bummer that they didn't sub for you!

Yep, since that debacle, i have refrained from purchasing meat for pick up.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/21/2022 03:09AM by Morledzep.
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July 20, 2022 09:26PM
I have had that exact situation happen before. I switched to only ordering meat from stores in nicer or more affluent areas (not that I even ordered an extravagent cut!). I try to not have any one thing that is so big that my reimbursement would be destroyed by it not being in the order. I've also fought Ralphs over the pickup fee when they tack that on after they are unable to fulfill the order.
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July 21, 2022 06:40PM
The biggest ticket items I get on a Kroger shop are cat litter and cat food, usually $10-$15 apiece. But I don't order those if they say "low stock".

However, the few times I've gotten to do competitor shops at Wally World, I ordered nice Lego sets at $19.99, $24.99, or even $29.99 once because I really wanted it.

For the Kroger shops, I always order $35 or $36 to get the pick-up fee waived, then I'm spending $3-4 dollars for that much in groceries. I could also order $25, let them charge the fee, and get $25 in groceries for nothing, but I'd rather get $35 of groceries for $3-4.

I've only had a couple of times where they were out o stock and didn't try to substitute, but fortunately it hasn't happened often at all.
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July 22, 2022 06:41PM
I try and order things that I think would be fairly easy to sub and items that I'd be okay with if there substituted. I've had 2% milk that was subbed for 1%, ground beef that was subbed for a smaller package and bagged salad subbed for another brand. By taking subs it worked for me on all but one shop where I reached $28.
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July 22, 2022 10:00PM
I have not done a Kroger shop so decided to check out. What I'm confused about as the few shops in my area are posted as a $9 fee and $9 reimbursement. They appear to be in store shops as 3 or so department visits are required.

But I see many have commented here on reimbursement amounts well over $9. Do the delivery and in-store shops work differently (besides the obvious) or am I missing or misunderstanding something on this sunny Friday afternoon? Do I need to call it "its 5 o'clock somewhere" time to start my weekend early ?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/22/2022 10:01PM by Zek.
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July 22, 2022 10:43PM
@Zek wrote:

I have not done a Kroger shop so decided to check out. What I'm confused about as the few shops in my area are posted as a $9 fee and $9 reimbursement. They appear to be in store shops as 3 or so department visits are required.

But I see many have commented here on reimbursement amounts well over $9. Do the delivery and in-store shops work differently (besides the obvious) or am I missing or misunderstanding something on this sunny Friday afternoon? Do I need to call it "its 5 o'clock somewhere" time to start my weekend early ?

There are different shops. The in-store shop either self service or full checkout is $9 with a $9 fee. The pickup shops are a $0 fee and a $32 reimbursement. They can be combined to double up at one location on the same day.
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July 22, 2022 10:47PM
@Zek wrote:

But I see many have commented here on reimbursement amounts well over $9. Do the delivery and in-store shops work differently (besides the obvious) or am I missing or misunderstanding something on this sunny Friday afternoon? Do I need to call it "its 5 o'clock somewhere" time to start my weekend early ?

They are talking about the pickup shops (order online, then go pickup), which are $32. The full service and self service shops are $9 + $9, but they can be bonused if no one does them. The pickup shops usually get taken quickly, which is probably why you dont show any at the moment.

You can change the search filter to TN zip 38372 and 125 mile radius, and there are a couple of pickups left if you want to review the details.
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July 23, 2022 01:52AM
Thank you!

@foodluvr

There are different shops. The in-store shop either self service or full checkout is $9 with a $9 fee. The pickup shops are a $0 fee and a $32 reimbursement. They can be combined to double up at one location on the same day.[i wrote:



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 07/23/2022 02:00AM by Zek.[/i]
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July 23, 2022 01:53AM
@whatwhatdb wrote:


They are talking about the pickup shops (order online, then go pickup), which are $32. The full service and self service shops are $9 + $9, but they can be bonused if no one does them. The pickup shops usually get taken quickly, which is probably why you dont show any at the moment.

You can change the search filter to TN zip 38372 and 125 mile radius, and there are a couple of pickups left if you want to review the details.[/quote

Thank you !]
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