Grocery shopping is a necessary errand — but that doesn’t mean you have to do all the work. Grocery delivery services like Shipt and Instacart and meal subscription boxes bring food straight to your doorstep. The thing is, you’re...
Grocery shopping is a necessary errand — but that doesn’t mean you have to do all the work.
Grocery delivery services like Shipt and Instacart and meal subscription boxes bring food straight to your doorstep. The thing is, you’re almost guaranteed to have extra costs tacked onto your order in the form of membership fees, shipping costs, delivery charges or tips.
Grocery pickup, on the other hand, is a cheaper option to outsource your shopping needs. For pickup orders, tips typically aren’t accepted and you don’t have to worry about shipping or delivery.
All you have to do is go to the store to pick up your order. Many stores even offer curbside service so you don’t have to leave your vehicle.
Although some stores charge a fee to provide a personal shopping service, here are 15 places that offer free grocery pickup.
1. Albertsons
Albertsons offers its DriveUp and Go service at many locations. Select what groceries you need online from the Albertsons’ website or using the online shopping app.
Pickup is sometimes ready in as little as three hours. Your order must be at least $30, not including tax.
2. BJ’s Wholesale Club
This warehouse chain provides Pick Up In-Club service at all locations. You must be a BJ’s member to use this service.
Look for items eligible for “free pick up today” when ordering from the website or app, or filter your search for items eligible for Pick Up In-Club.
Pickup is generally ready within two hours. Select locations in New York and Massachusetts offer curbside pickup.
3. Fred Meyer
Pick up groceries from Fred Meyer through its curbside service. You can create an order and schedule a pickup during a one-hour time slot within a seven-day window.
Order your food from the Fred Meyer website or app.
4. Giant Eagle
Shop for groceries online from Giant Eagle and get your order within your designated pickup time via curbside service.
Order using Giant Eagle’s grocery shopping app or straight from the store’s website.
The grocer is opening dedicated pickup centers to accommodate more online orders. You must spend at least $35 to use curbside pickup.
5. H-E-B
H-E-B’s personal shopper fee is currently being waived for grocery orders that are placed at least two days advance. Keep this in mind when you select your curbside pickup time slot because there will be a charge for same-day or next-day pickup.
You can schedule a pickup time slot within seven days.
Shop online from H-E-B’s website or using the mobile app.
6. Hy-Vee
Hy-Vee offers next-day curbside pickup service for orders of at least $30. If you want your groceries sooner, you’d have to pay a $9.95 fee for pickup within two hours.
Use the Hy-Vee Aisles Online app or website to place your order.
7. Kroger
Kroger offers pickup service that you can schedule up to seven days in advance. Select a one-hour time slot when shopping via Kroger’s website or mobile app.
Store associates will bring your order straight to your vehicle.
8. Publix
Publix uses Instacart to fulfill orders for curbside pickup at select locations. While there technically is no pickup fee for groceries ordered from Publix, prices online may be higher than prices in-store.
Follow the prompts on Publix’s website to create an Instacart account or download the Instacart app.
9. QFC
Order groceries from QFC online and pick them up using the store’s curbside service. You can shop using the QFC app or directly from the store’s website.
You can place an order up to seven days in advance.
10. Safeway
Shop online using Safeway’s DriveUp and Go service for orders of at least $30. You can virtually shop from Safeway’s website or using its mobile app.
Pickup can be ready in about three hours at select locations.
11. Sam’s Club
Stock up on bulk orders from Sam’s Club and pick them up from the store without having to leave your car.
Curbside pickup is available for those with a Plus membership, however, shoppers with a Club membership can enjoy this free service for a limited time.
Shop the Sam’s Club website or app for items marked “pick up in-store.”
12. Target
Target is expanding its grocery pickup service nationwide to include hundreds of fresh and frozen items in addition to everyday pantry staples and shelf-stable food.
Order from Target’s website or app for in-store pickup or use the app for curbside pickup where available.
13. Walmart
Walmart offers in-store and curbside pickup at many locations throughout the United States. Pick up is available as early as the same day, depending on availability.
You can also get curbside pickup for several non-grocery items.
Download the Walmart app or shop from the store’s website.
14. Wegmans
Wegmans offers curbside grocery pickup at most locations. The grocer partners with Instacart to fulfill online orders placed from its website or app.
Online prices may be higher than in-store prices, however, there is no separate pickup fee.
Orders must be at least $35, and you can schedule orders up to six days in advance.
15. Whole Foods
Amazon-owned Whole Foods offers free grocery pickup at select locations. You must be an Amazon Prime member and purchase over $35 worth of groceries.
Pickup can be available as soon as one hour after placing your order. Shop from the Amazon app or go to amazon.com/wholefoods.
This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.