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Photo by Matheus Cenali
In the past few years, grocery delivery services have become an innovative solution reshaping the way we shop for essentials. Yet, is a grocery delivery service right for you? Let’s explore how to get groceries delivered and what stores and companies offer grocery delivery.
While some may see this service as a luxury, grocery delivery services make accessing food easier, making it more accessible, convenient for busy schedules or a solution for those with limited access to transportation to obtain fresh, healthy groceries.
If you’re looking to remove an item for your weekly to-do list, consider paying someone else to gather your groceries.
Here’s what you need to know about grocery delivery services.
Your Guide to Grocery Delivery in Portland
From established giants to emerging startups, there’s a plethora of grocery delivery options available in Portland, Oregon.
When you have your groceries delivered, you eliminate the stress and time commitment of going to the grocery store each week. No more weaving through crowded aisles, juggling heavy bags and certainly no more waiting in long checkout lines.
With just a few clicks on your smartphone or computer, you can have your groceries delivered right to your doorstep, saving you time and energy.
Plus, all of these stores and businesses offer same-day grocery delivery.
First, let’s explore how it works.
How to Get Groceries Delivered
Let’s start with the basics. How do you get groceries delivered to your home? Here’s a list of recommended steps you can take:
Choose a service: Select a grocery delivery service from the list below that operates in your area. Consider the stores you shop at the most, the service cost and convenience of each option.
Check delivery areas: Confirm that the service delivers to your location. Some services may have limited coverage areas, so it’s essential to verify before placing an order.
Make sure delivery is in your budget. Convenience comes at a price, and grocery delivery services are no exception. While some of these services may be more reasonable than you think (see below), here are a few fees to consider depending on the service you choose:
- Delivery fee: This is the base fee charged for the delivery service. It covers the cost of picking, packing and transporting your groceries from the store to your doorstep. Delivery fees may fluctuate during peak times.
- Minimum order requirement: Most grocery delivery services impose a minimum order requirement to qualify for delivery. If your order total falls below this threshold, you may incur an additional fee or be required to pay a surcharge to meet the minimum.
- Membership fees: Some grocery delivery services offer membership or subscription plans that provide benefits, such as free or discounted deliveries, exclusive deals and perks, and priority access to delivery time slots. These memberships typically involve a recurring fee paid either monthly or annually.
- Tipping: While not technically a fee imposed by the delivery service itself, tipping your delivery driver is customary and appreciated. Tips typically range from 10% to 20% of the order total and can be added to your payment during checkout or provided in cash upon delivery.
Create an account: Sign up and create an account on the grocery delivery website or app. This typically requires providing basic information, such as your name, address and contact details.
Browse and select items: Explore the online catalog of the grocery delivery service to view available products. Add desired items to your virtual cart by simply clicking or tapping on them.
Customize your order: Many services offer customization options such as specifying preferences for fresh produce, selecting substitutions for out-of-stock items or adding special instructions for delivery.
Schedule delivery time: Choose a convenient delivery time slot that fits your schedule. Most services offer flexible options, allowing you to select a date and time window for delivery.
Review and edit your order: Before finalizing your order, review the items in your cart to ensure accuracy. Make any necessary adjustments or additions before proceeding to checkout.
Apply coupons or promotions: Take advantage of any available discounts, coupons or promotional offers to save money on your groceries.
Provide delivery instructions: If you have specific delivery instructions or preferences, such as leaving the groceries at your doorstep or ringing the doorbell upon arrival, make sure to add your notes during checkout.
Also, some grocery stores are offer pick-up service. Simply order online and they’ll prepare your grocery list, bag it up for you and deliver it to your car in the store parking lot. Look for designated pickup parking spots.
Complete payment: Enter your payment information and proceed to checkout to finalize your order. Most services accept various payment methods, including credit/debit cards, mobile wallets and online payment platforms.
Also in Oregon, you can use SNAP EBT benefits to shop and pay for groceries online. Participating services indicate which items are eligible. Some platforms also waive minimum order amounts for SNAP EBT cardholders.
Track your order: Once your order is confirmed, track its status through the delivery service’s app or website. This allows you to stay informed about the progress of your delivery and estimated arrival time.
Receive and inspect delivery: When your groceries arrive, carefully inspect the items to ensure they meet your expectations and are in good condition.
Now that you know how grocery delivery services work, let’s find the grocery delivery service that works best for you.
What grocery stores deliver groceries?
Looking for what grocery stores deliver? Most grocery stores have a delivery option, either offered by the store or through delivery companies.
Let’s dive into the stores and companies offering grocery delivery. Some may be offering special sign-on promotions so be sure to explore multiple options and compare prices to find your ideal service.
CostcoGrocery
Love Costco, but can’t handle the crowds? Skip the hassle with CostcoGrocery. Costco has partnered with Instacart to offer a convenient, personalized shopping experience without having to step foot into a warehouse.
Options: Only Costco members are able to shop using these options. You can choose same-day or two-day delivery, depending on what you need.
How to order: Pay for same-day delivery through the Instacart website or app or on the Costco website or opt for free two-day delivery through Costco’s website. Here’s how to breakdown the options: Same day includes perishable items and two-day is for nonperishable items.
Cost: Same-day orders are subject to an Instacart delivery fee starting at $3.99 for orders of $35+. You get free delivery of nonperishable pantry items with two-day delivery orders of $75 or more.
Minimum purchase: $35 for same-day delivery. $75 for two-day delivery.
Same-day grocery delivery: Yes.
Fred Meyer
If Fred Meyer is your favorite local grocery store, try delivery or pickup the next time you need groceries.
Options: Freddie’s offers two options: Delivery and Express Delivery. Both are offered via Instacart. Delivery gets you groceries with two hours while Express Delivery expedites arrival. Also, you can choose store pickup. You can also order delivery from Shipt.
How to order: Choose Delivery, Express Delivery or pickup on Fred Meyer’s website to get started.
Cost: Same-day pickup is free for orders of $35 or more. Delivery fees are $9.95. For Express Delivery, there is a surcharge of $4.95 in addition to the standard delivery fee.
Minimum purchase: $35 or more.
Same-day grocery delivery: Yes.
Instacart
If you’re looking for lots of options all in one place, look no further than Instacart. This delivery service has expanded from groceries and now includes pet supply, hardware, pharmacy, office supply, beauty and liquor stores.
Choice of stores:
- Albertsons
- Barbur World Foods
- Bath & Body Works
- Best Buy
- Camping World
- Chef Store
- Costco
- CVS
- Dick’s Sporting Goods
- Dollar Tree
- Fred Meyer
- Golf Galaxy
- Grocery Outlet
- Jacksons Food Stores
- Kiehl’s
- Kohl’s
- Lowe’s
- Mega Foods
- Michaels
- Mud Bay
- Natural Grocers
- New Seasons
- Office Depot OfficeMax
- Pearl Liquor
- Petco
- PetSmart
- Pets on Broadway
- QFC
- Restaurant Depot
- Rite Aid Pharmacy
- Rosauers Supermarkets
- Sally Beauty
- Safeway
- Sephora
- Staples
- Super Supplements
- Target
- The Container Store
- The Home Depot
- The Wine Shop
- Ulta
- Uwajimaya
- World Foods
- Zupan’s Markets
- 7-Eleven
- 99 Ranch Market
Options: Instacart offers standard grocery delivery services as well as Instacart+ membership.
How to order: Visit the Instacart website or order through the Instacart app.
Cost: Instacart same-day delivery starts at $3.99 for orders over $35. Fees vary for one-hour deliveries, club store deliveries and deliveries under $35. To view the delivery fee, choose your desired delivery window at checkout.
Also, Instacart has service fees, which vary depending on your location and the number and types of items in your cart. Orders containing alcohol have a separate service fee. This fee is also displayed at checkout.
Instacart+ members get free delivery on orders $35 or more per retailer. The membership costs $9.99 per month. Also, according to Instacart, the membership pays for itself if you order twice a month.
There is also Instacart Business, which included tax exempt purchasing, account management and a business-centric shopping experience.
Minimum purchase: $10
Same-day grocery delivery: Yes.
Mercato
If you’re looking for a niche platform that serves Portland’s locally owned grocery stores, check out Mercato.
Choice of stores: Cherry Sprout Produce and White’s Country Meats.
Options: Mercato offers store pickup, delivery and a membership plan.
How to order: Visit Mercato’s website.
Cost: Pickup from these locations is free. Delivery costs vary. Also, Mercato offers a membership program. For $8 a month, get unlimited delivery within 5 miles of your home. For $19 a month, get unlimited delivery within 10 miles of your home.
Minimum purchase: $10-20, depending on the store.
Same-day grocery delivery: Yes.
PALs, Personal Assistants on Loan
Looking for a local company offering grocery delivery service? Sign up for PALs. This local service promises a seamless grocery shopping experience without the extra charges of other delivery services.
Choice of stores: Instead of focusing on a few select locations, PALs goes to different stores to make sure you get everything on your shopping list. Upload a comprehensive list of groceries, from fresh produce and pantry staples, which ensures you get exactly what you’re looking for instead of settling for one store’s available inventory.
How to order: Start by visiting the PALs website and creating an account.
Cost: The starting price is $25 per hour. Customer orders are typically completed in 30-45 minutes.
Minimum purchase: No.
Same-day grocery delivery: Yes.
Postmates and Uber Eats
The popular food delivery platforms also offer delivery from select grocery stores. Now that Uber Eats owns Postmates, there are really no discernible differences so I am including them together.
Choice of stores: Albertsons, Chef Store, Chevron ExtraMile, Grocery Outlet, New Seasons, Restaurant Depot, Safeway, Target, 7-Eleven and 39th Mini Mart, 50th Market and 82nd Powell Deli.
How to order: Visit Postmates’ or Uber Eats websites or order through the apps.
Cost: Delivery fee and service fee vary on each order, depending on location of store and items purchased. Uber One, which offers $15 minimum on free delivery and up to 10% off from non-grocery stores and a $35 minimum and up to 5% off at grocery stores, is available for $9.99 a month or $96 per year.
Minimum purchase: None, although Uber One members get free delivery on grocery orders of $35.
Same-day grocery delivery: Yes.
Safeway
If the convenience of Safeway tops your list of to-go grocery stores, you may be interested in its delivery options.
Options: Safeway offers FreshPass, a subscription that gives you unlimited free delivery and other store perks. You can also order delivery from Safeway via Instacart, Shipt and Postmates.
How to order: Login on Safeway’s website or order via the app.
Cost: For $99 per year or $12.99 a month, get free unlimited delivery on orders over $30.
Minimum purchase: $30+.
Same-day grocery delivery: Yes.
Shipt
This is another national delivery service that offers groceries right to your door from multiple stores.
Choice of stores: Carter’s, CVS, Fred Meyer, Lowe’s, Office Depot OfficeMax, Petco, PetSmart, QFC, Safeway, Sephora, Target, Walgreens, Ulta and 7-Eleven.
Options: Shipt offers membership plans only.
How to order: Visit the Shipt website or download the Shipt app.
Cost: $99 per year or $10.99 per month. There is also a student membership for $4.99.
Minimum purchase: None, but there’s a $7 delivery fee for purchases under $35. Orders with alcohol may incur a $7 alcohol fee.
Same-day grocery delivery: Yes.
Target
If Target is your go-to store, here’s how you can cash in on convenience with a membership or delivery.
Options: Target offers Target Circle 360 membership for $99 per year or $10.99 per month. The store also offers standard delivery and curbside pickup. You can also order from Instacart, Postmates and Shipt.
How to order: Visit Target’s website or the Target app.
Cost: Target Circle 360 membership is $99 per year or $10.99 per month, and gives you unlimited same-day delivery on orders above $35. Target also prides itself on having no delivery markups on its products or additional fees for members.
Target also offers pickup at select stores via the Target app.
Minimum purchase:$35+
Same-day grocery delivery: Yes.
Walmart
Get Walmart’s everyday low prices without having to step inside the store with delivery or pickup. While there aren’t Walmart stores in Portland, there are several in neighboring cities.
Options: Walmart+ offers grocery delivery for free to members. You can also choose free pickup on orders of $35 or more.
How to order: Place orders on Walmart’s website or on the Walmart app.
Cost: Pickup is free with a $35 minimum order. Walmart+ plans start at $12.95 per month or $98 per year.
Minimum purchase: $35 for both pickup and delivery.
Same-day grocery delivery: Yes.
Whole Foods
Since Amazon bought Whole Foods, the online retailer has integrated a digital storefront offering pickup and delivery.
Options: Pickup and delivery are available to Amazon Prime members, as well as non Prime customers for an additional fee.
How to order: Place orders on Whole Foods or Amazon websites.
Cost: For Amazon Prime members, delivery orders incur a $9.95 service fee. For non Prime customers, delivery orders include a $13.95 service fee. Grocery delivery subscriptions start at $9.99 per month with Prime. Also, there’s a $35+ order minimum.
Minimum purchase: $35.
Same-day grocery delivery: Yes.
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Thank you for compiling a comprehensive guide to grocery delivery options. It’s very helpful.
You’re welcome! Thanks so much for supporting my blog.
Great helpful article. Thanks so much for doing the research for us! (In the Safeway section you only mentioned the monthly option but they also have individual deliveries; I believe it’s $3.95 instead of the $6.95 Freddy’s charges).
Hey Linda! Yes, you’re right. Instacart is available at Safeway. I’ll add Instacart and other options to each grocery store’s information.