Let your fingers do the shopping
Photo courtesy of Instacart Albertsons, Safeway, Costco, Natural Grocers and Petco in the Coeur d’Alene area are partnering with Instacart to provide same-day grocery delivery service to their customers, in as little as one hour. Customers can shop from anywhere using a computer, iPhone, iPad or Android device.
An Instacart "shopper" (employee) checks out at a store that is partnering with the delivery service to bring groceries straight to the customer's door. The service, which launched Thursday in the Coeur d'Alene area at Albertsons, Safeway, Costco, Natural Grocers and Petco, is free for the first order and offers rush delivery in as little as one or two hours. (Photo courtesy of Instacart)
This screenshot is an example of how customers in the Coeur d’Alene area are now able to shop at several local retailers without ever having to visit a brick and mortar store. Instacart, a San Francisco-based same-day grocery delivery service, allows shoppers to use an app to browse products and place orders, which are then hand-picked by local “shoppers” who deliver them to the customers. Photo courtesy of Instacart
By DEVIN WEEKS
Staff Writer
Squeezed for time? Tired after a long day at work? Stuck on the couch with a broken leg and can't get to the grocery store?
Never fear — Instacart is here.
"It definitely saves time and it's definitely much more convenient," Lynda Friesz-Martin, director of integrated communications for Albertsons Companies, said in a phone interview Friday. "We’re just excited to serve all sorts of local communities and help everyone’s life be a little more simple and make every day a better day."
Instacart, a same-day grocery delivery service headquartered in San Francisco, launched Thursday in the Coeur d'Alene area at stores including Albertsons, Safeway, Costco, Natural Grocers and Petco.
Shoppers can now order groceries and have them delivered to their door in as little as an hour by accessing www.instacart.com, creating an account and clicking on the desired goods.
Once the order is entered, local Instacart employees, or "shoppers," will go out into the community wearing bright green Instacart shirts and hand-pick the items to be delivered. About 100 "shopper" job opportunities are expected to be available in North Idaho with this service.
"Of course, there is nothing like squeezing your own avocados to make sure they are just right, but an Instacart personal shopper does a great job," said Natural Grocers public relations director Amber Dutra. "We encourage people to try it."
Natural Grocers, a Colorado-based national chain that sells natural and organic groceries, supplements and household products, has been using Instacart's services for several years, "and our customers are very happy with the service," Dutra said.
"Instacart’s personal shoppers are able to choose just the right items according to the customer’s preferences, so they are never disappointed by what they find in their delivery box," she said. "We decided to sell online through Instacart at the same price that our customers will find in the store — sales prices and all — making it an affordable choice for people who have a hard time traveling to the supermarket."
She said although it's not a huge part of their business, Instacart is important to customers with physical challenges.
"Instacart bridges this gap so healthy fresh food and quality dietary supplements are available to anyone with just a few clicks online," Dutra said. "We expect Coeur d'Alene residents will also find Instacart to be a convenient service."
Much like how Uber changed the world of transportation and food delivery services, Instacart is also transforming grocery shopping into a lucrative industry that no longer has to take up a customer's minimal spare time.
"E-commerce in the grocery business is growing exponentially, almost 10 times more than the brick and morter grocery sales," Friesz-Martin said. "Not only (are Albertsons/Safeway) just keeping pace, but we’ve been working really hard to be ahead of the curve and be innovative."
The delivery fee is $5.99 for orders of $35 or more. Customers can also sign up for an Instacart Express membership for $14.99 a month or $149 a year.
Service areas include: Coeur d'Alene, Fernan Lake Village, Huetter, Twin Beaches, Bellgrove, Mica, Gibbs, Hayden, Clarksville, Garwood, Harris Landing, Rockaway Beach, State Line, Corbin Junction, English Point, Post Falls, Hauser, East Greenacres, McGuire, Pleasant View, Haycrop, Rathdrum, Twinlow, Howelltown, Echo Beach and Ramsey.