Safeway grocery delivery? Would you recommend?

[Anonymous]

Has anyone used safeway's grocery delivery service? I'm in my first trimester, dealing with unpredictable morning sickness, trying to find ways to keep myself close to home. This seems like it would a way to cross the shopping chore off my list.

I'm specifically concerned about organics. I buy a few produce items exclusively organic. Are they good about making sure you get the organic <whatever> instead of non-organic?

Thanks much.

[Anonymous]

I don't know about organics but in general I would not recommend this service. The regular produce was just awful and their delivery fee is a little expensive. Of course, no tipping so maybe they are similar to Peapod when you take tips into consideration. I think there is an option for substitutions so this might help you get the organics you want. But IME there were items they didn't bring (out of stock, limits on the number you can get) so it sucked because that was the reason for ordering, so you don't have to go to the store.

[Anonymous]

I haven't used Safeway's, but I've been using Peapod for 10+ years now. For the length of time I've been using it, I have had extremely minimal complaints, and they have always been quick to resolve. The produce is what I order (and you can add instructions--e.g. we ask for slightly green bananas, so they will last, and that's what we get).

Delivery fee is about $8 if your order is greater than $100.

[Anonymous]

The one time I tried Safeway's delivery service, I didn't find shopping on the site especially easy (crappy search/categorization) and the stuff never arrived. The driver claimed no one was home, though two of us were waiting. (Perhaps he whispered from elsewhere in our zip code to announce his arrival, 'cause he certainly never knocked on our door.)

On the other hand, I've become a huge fan of Peapod. Produce quality has been better than I expected, the few mixups have been handled well, and they call if the driver is going to be even five minutes late. Definitely worth it!

[Anonymous]

Longtime Peapod user--very satisfied. I did Safeway just once. I too found the site hard to navigate and the frozen was all defrosted when I got it.

Peapod is a lifesaver when you've got a new baby in the house. The first order takes some time to set up, but subsequent orders can be made in minutes.

Absolutely worth the delivery fee and the bonus is, you don't make stupid impulse purchase when shopping hungry.

[Anonymous]

I use Safeway delivery. I only order things that come boxed, like pasta, or jam, or paper towel. Nothing with expiration dates or that someone would choose like melons, fruits, veggies.

[Anonymous]

I've tried Peapod and Safeway. Peapod was fine -- they delivered what I ordered with the window and the products were good, especially the produce. The one time I had trouble with a 5 lb bag of potatoes that had rotten ones inside, I called and they immediately credited the price to my account. There were enough edible potatoes that we could eat our meal, just not any more for the week.

We tried Safeway a few times. It was terrible. They made SO many substitutions that it was laughable. (And the substitutions were always in their favor price-wise.) If you did not allow substitutions, they just left the item out. Try making dinner with that.... Produce was barely passable and the dairy items were often close to expiration, like the 16 oz thing of sour cream that was "best by" the next day. I was absolutely done when they sent me Children's Tylenol in place of Infant Tylenol and wanted me to drive it back to whichever store had been in charge of my delivery (over in NE DC). Um, no. I told them why I left, too.

We still do Peapod on occasion, just don't have as much need for it now.

[Anonymous]

Safeway is good; I found that they select really fresh produce. It is also great for stocking up on heaving items (canned goods, soda, etc.) when I don't feel like carrying groceries from my car to house. The main thing I didn't like was as the previous poster said, sometimes I don't want substitutions, but if you don't allow substitutions, it means that you won't receive certain items if they happen to be out of stock at the time they deliver You don't know what is out of stock until you receive the delivery. So, several times, I was irritated that I might receive part of the items I needed for a particular receipe, but still needed to run to the store to pick up whatever they happened to leave out.

[Anonymous]

I got bad chicken from Peapod one time.

[Anonymous]

Pea pod delivery services is not acceptable. This is only the 3 time I ordered from them and out the 3 time Two time they were 2.5 hours date in delivery. That will be my last order