I've never done a grocery pickup, either as a mystery shopper or in my personal shopping life. Next month I have 3 on the same day which are all located in the same shopping center so it seemed to make sense grouping them together. Now that I've read these don't always run on time, I'm not sure how close to schedule them. Do you generally pick a time range or how does that work? I plan to place the order a day or two ahead since the pickup is on a Friday.

When the employee comes out, do you get out and meet them at the trunk? Guidelines say to check the "condition" of the items after you drive away but do you check the accuracy in front of the employee in case something is wrong or missing? If something is wrong (I know to report it, but) do you ask the employee to correct it or do you go into the store?

Any general tips you can offer on the overall procedure would be appreciated I prefer to shop in person so this is out of my comfort zone but I couldn't resist the larger grocery tab, lol.

When you order, you get to pick a half hour or one hour time frame for pickup. You can just stay in your car when the employee comes. After they place the items in the car, you can drive away and park somewhere else out of view to check the accuracy and condition of the items. If something is wrong, then you can go back in the store to fix it.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/29/2024 09:28PM by Mellifluy.

Most places give you *some* leeway in the times. If you set your time from, say, 1 pm-2 pm, you can go during that time frame or later (say 3:30 pm,) but you cannot show up before 1 pm unless you receive a notification from them that your order is ready. I sometimes get a text 15-20 minutes ahead saying my order is ready, but rarely is it more than that. I don't recommend showing up at 7 pm for a 1 pm order because you risk them thinking you're a no-show and your order being canceled. But can you show up after your given timeframe? Yes.

For some stores (Target comes to mind), you don't have the option of picking a time, only a day. For those, just show up on your chosen day [edited to add: once you receive notification your order is ready] during the store's drive-up hours. Note: place your Target order in the app. If you place it on the website, your only pick-up option will be going into the store. Drive-up is only available in the app.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/29/2024 09:58PM by drdoggie00.

I have zero interest in, so have never completed such a shop. This post is to share what a Kroger worker, with whom I have been acquainted for over 4 decades since she was a bagger, told me in conversation.

1-Due to the size of the orders, she is rarely able to fill as placed.
2-Due to the normal flow of business, she is usually running late.

As I use Kroger shops to defray travel expenses, I must have latitude with time and I desire the ability to purchase items that would not be available through a website. Today, as an example, I was able to buy a pound+ of rib eye steak reduced to $11.40 and Mandarin oranges at 7 for $.99; I bought all 21.

It all goes back to "Whatever floats one's boat."

for Kroger, no matter what time of day you schedule, you can pick up your order anytime until the end of the day. Target, can't be scheduled for a specific time, place your order while you're on the road about 2 hours before you plan on getting there. Publix gives you a 2 hour window, they will hold the groceries until the end of the day, if you get a sandwich made they will throw it away in an hour anyway, but they won't remake it unless you ask. I don't remember what Walmart does, I don't shop there anymore, I only did for the pick up shops, but they tried to steal from me, so I don't do that anymore either.

I had a bad experience with a Walmart pick up. After my shop, someone probably working at Walmart made a $300 purchase in Michigan where I do not live using the credit card number I used for the pick up. I think this may be what the poster above is alluding to but about them trying to steal. Beware with Walmart shops. In speaking with friends I found others also had this happen! Had a similar hack with a Meijers pick up……someone changed pick up location and car type on my account but did not steal with my credit card. Just watch your credit card accounts after such shops.

Isn't the new rule only 1 pick up shop per day?

@viv0412 wrote:

Isn't the new rule only 1 pick up shop per day?

Per brand. If they are all in the same shopping center, they are likely different brands.

What I do is place all my orders very early in the day and the select the pick up for later. Target is the trickiest because they say for pickup in 2 hours but that isn't always true so I never plan on going until hours after I order. I did get burned once and had to go back so I don't plan on a quick turn around anymore. You can always pickup your orders after the window that you picked.

Thank you everyone, these tips are very helpful. They are 3 different brands: Mariano's, Target and Jewel.

Each company time frame for pickup is explained on their websites. You may have to hunt for it under FAQs. For example Targets allows until the close of business the following day if you have fresh items. Longer if nothing fresh. If you are trying to group your shops, I'd order the prior day to your pickup date.

Walmart is typically a one hour window but you can order far ahead and add items (not sure that you can subtract them). Note that WM has a $7 pickup fee, even if you are a Plus member. WM pickup is usually really busy so I try to do them in the mornings (say 10 am). Our Walmarts don't use bags, they use baskets and bag at your trunk if you bring your own. That way you can see right away if there is a missing or wrong item. Twice they tried to give me someone else's items. I do Walmart because it's close and they have items that I can't get elsewhere on pickups, plus lowest prices. I include food items as well as nonfood. Never had any payment fraud.

Our local Albertsons/ Safeway brand ( Vons) gives until the end of the day. I have more issues with them than with any other brand. They are no good on out of stocks and substitutions.

Sometimes I get out to open up the trunk when the associate is on the way, to reuse bags. Other times I wait in the car. You are supposed to drive away before checking your order. With Von's (competitor) I once got half of someone else's order and missed half of mine. So a good idea to check for that at a different part of the lot, then you will want to go back and ask them to correct it.

Our Kroger region has on online refund option. I've used it for poor produce a few times. One store obviously had a bad picker, so I've dropped them from rotation. More often a prepackaged bag such as apples with a few pieces that are not great.. Usually the individual items are fine.

Other tips, be sure to check "Pickup" for order type if using a desktop or computer. Sometimes it will default back to instore between items. Use your digital coupons, but you may have go Back, once you see the final total with coupons subtracted.

Target you have to have the app loaded on a phone, so you can switch over to Drive Up.

Good luck!

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/30/2024 04:22PM by melg.

tcn813 - A suggestion. Maybe do one pickup on your own, prior to the shop. Target has no minimum order requirement for curbside pickup. So place an order for a low priced item you would be buying anyway, select Curbside Pickup, and go see how it all works. Then you'll know exactly what to expect on your day of these. If you haven't used an app to check in before, I wouldn't want to be distracted trying to both figure out the process and evaluating the process at the same time. So get a little practice in.

Walmart only charges a $7 pickup fee when your order is less than $35, fyi...If you've been charged to pickup orders over $35, might want to call Walmart CS and ask for a refund.

@melg wrote:

Each company time frame for pickup is explained on their websites. You may have to hunt for it under FAQs. For example Targets allows until the close of business the following day if you have fresh items. Longer if nothing fresh. If you are trying to group your shops, I'd order the prior day to your pickup date.

Walmart is typically a one hour window but you can order far ahead and add items (not sure that you can subtract them). Note that WM has a $7 pickup fee, even if you are a Plus member. WM pickup is usually really busy so I try to do them in the mornings (say 10 am). Our Walmarts don't use bags, they use baskets and bag at your trunk if you bring your own. That way you can see right away if there is a missing or wrong item. Twice they tried to give me someone else's items. I do Walmart because it's close and they have items that I can't get elsewhere on pickups, plus lowest prices. I include food items as well as nonfood. Never had any payment fraud.

Our local Albertsons/ Safeway brand ( Vons) gives until the end of the day. I have more issues with them than with any other brand. They are no good on out of stocks and substitutions.

Sometimes I get out to open up the trunk when the associate is on the way, to reuse bags. Other times I wait in the car. You are supposed to drive away before checking your order. With Von's (competitor) I once got half of someone else's order and missed half of mine. So a good idea to check for that at a different part of the lot, then you will want to go back and ask them to correct it.

Our Kroger region has on online refund option. I've used it for poor produce a few times. One store obviously had a bad picker, so I've dropped them from rotation. More often a prepackaged bag such as apples with a few pieces that are not great.. Usually the individual items are fine.

Other tips, be sure to check "Pickup" for order type if using a desktop or computer. Sometimes it will default back to instore between items. Use your digital coupons, but you may have go Back, once you see the final total with coupons subtracted.

Target you have to have the app loaded on a phone, so you can switch over to Drive Up.

Good luck!

Yes Cassiespark thanks for the reminder no fee with Walmart if your order at least $35, but with the max reimbursement being $32 ($25+7) you will be out of pocket on those. Which is fine if it's something you would have bought there anyways.

I don't see any reason to do a test shop on Target? Pickup shops are not rocket science assuming you can figure out Drive Up and go. The change to Drive Up can be done before you leave home. After you do that, then click I'm On My Way, the rest is self-explanatory. You'll get a number code to tell the associate. If you have problems there is either a phone number to call at the drive up slots, or often there's an associate stationed at the pickup area for the Target ones.
Evaluation part is child's play.

Edited 9 time(s). Last edit at 05/30/2024 07:50PM by melg.

@melg wrote:

Yes Cassiespark thanks for the reminder no fee with Walmart if your order at least $35, but with the max reimbursement being $32 ($25+7) you will be out of pocket on those. Which is fine if it's something you would have bought there anyways.

I don't see any reason to do a test shop on Target? Pickup shops are not rocket science assuming you can figure out Drive Up and go. The change to Drive Up can be done before you leave home. After you do that, then click I'm On My Way, the rest is self-explanatory. You'll get a number code to tell the associate. If you have problems there is either a phone number to call at the drive up slots, or often there's an associate stationed at the pickup area for the Target ones.
Evaluation part is child's play.

Oh, melg, don't forget we're down to $30 on reimbursements!

If you have a little sheet to take notes, it should be no problem to do more than one.

I did a Target yesterday and the reimbursement was $30. I did a Walmart today and the reimbursement was $32.

@olympia tennenbaum wrote:

@melg wrote:

Yes Cassiespark thanks for the reminder no fee with Walmart if your order at least $35, but with the max reimbursement being $32 ($25+7) you will be out of pocket on those. Which is fine if it's something you would have bought there anyways.

I don't see any reason to do a test shop on Target? Pickup shops are not rocket science assuming you can figure out Drive Up and go. The change to Drive Up can be done before you leave home. After you do that, then click I'm On My Way, the rest is self-explanatory. You'll get a number code to tell the associate. If you have problems there is either a phone number to call at the drive up slots, or often there's an associate stationed at the pickup area for the Target ones.
Evaluation part is child's play.

Oh, melg, don't forget we're down to $30 on reimbursements!

If you have a little sheet to take notes, it should be no problem to do more than one.

It's worth mentioning here that if you're an AARP member, you can buy discounted gift cards for Albertson's/Safeway and all of Kroger's brands (which are too numerous to mention.) I buy the Kroger cards and get that 8% discount. It's not much, but even pennies add up over time.

There's also raise.com and cardcash.com. Just pay attention to the type of gift card it is (digital or physical.)

Its $32 for Wal-Mart to reflect $7 fee +$25. In general just reread shop guidelines and the assignment sheet itself now shows $32 for WM. If in doubt nothing wrong with sending receipt to scheduler so she can let Quality Assurance editors fix the reimbursement.

Yes, as long as Kroger (and Target) continue to waive their pickup fee you can be reimbursed up to $30.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/31/2024 04:03AM by melg.

I couldn't stop myself from going over the minimum on a Trader Joe's instore, lol. I haven't been inside one for a long time! They have some items that are hard to find at Kroger.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/31/2024 04:08AM by melg.

@melg wrote:

Its $32 for Wal-Mart to reflect $7 fee +$25. In general just reread shop guidelines and the assignment sheet itself now shows $32 for WM. If in doubt nothing wrong with sending receipt to scheduler so she can let Quality Assurance editors fix the reimbursement.

Yes, as long as Kroger (and Target) continue to waive their pickup fee you can be reimbursed up to $30.

Oh wow. That’s good at least

@melg wrote:

I couldn't stop myself from going over the minimum on a Trader Joe's instore, lol. I haven't been inside one for a long time! They have some items that are hard to find at Kroger.

I’d love some Australian licorice and tomatillo salsa!

You don't have to get out of the car; you do need the clerk's name so I prefer to get out because it is easier for me to see their name tag/appearance. I schedule early morning weekday pick ups and have never had one that was not ready on time.

724 is right about getting the name. I park in a spot where they approach from the front of my car rather than the back. Otherwise, I'm doing a contortion act to try to read their badge.

Would love to do free groceries mystery shop. Which company does this mystery shop please.

If your desire is to be profitable in this business, you must change your mind set away from FREE groceries, FREE gas, FREE meals and/or FREE anything. NOTHING in this business is FREE. The word FREE is what I refer to as scheduler speak. That word and its companions FUN and EASY are male bovine manure.

100% THIS!

@shopperbob wrote:

If your desire is to be profitable in this business, you must change your mind set away from FREE groceries, FREE gas, FREE meals and/or FREE anything. NOTHING in this business is FREE. The word FREE is what I refer to as scheduler speak. That word and its companions FUN and EASY are male bovine manure.

I'm not going to ask, because I know better (1), but I would also love to know which MSC does these. I've never seen a single one in my part of NY. Boo!

Same company that does the attempt to buy a M rated video game with a minor shops..... if you have those in your area.

@Cassiespark wrote:

I'm not going to ask, because I know better (1), but I would also love to know which MSC does these. I've never seen a single one in my part of NY. Boo!

I just had one cancelled yesterday. Received a phone call from the store saying all 8 items were not in stock.

@whosear wrote:

I just had one cancelled yesterday. Received a phone call from the store saying all 8 items were not in stock.

Including all eight of the back-up items you selected?

@whosear wrote:

I just had one cancelled yesterday. Received a phone call from the store saying all 8 items were not in stock.

That is really odd. The only time I was called they asked if I could come later in the day due to system down. Mind saying what types of items you ordered? Was it Kroger or one if the competitors?

I have learned that picking up before 11am can result in more out of stocks at my usual stores. I was in a store around that time recently and it was virtually swarming with employees restocking after a weekend.