Being isolated for months by Covid forced us to alter several normal behaviors. One that has become obvious to me is the concept of food delivery to our homes. Both grocery and individual meal delivery have become major businesses. Actually, grocery delivery to homes started in the 1990s though it never really caught on.
Fast forward a decade. Being able to compile an order on a computer and have it ready for pickup became a viable option. Not surprisingly, Amazon was the first major company to try its hand at mastering the complexities of online order fulfillment. Amazon Fresh began in 2007 in select cities. In 2013 Walmart began to offer something similar.
Without turning this post into a history of grocery chain development, suffice it to say the outbreak of social isolation in early 2020 solidified the benefits and expanded the offerings. When it became clear that normal trips to the grocery store were not going to happen, Betty and I went the route of stocking up our pantry with several weeks' worth of food. Places like Walmart and Safeway offered special hours when only seniors were allowed in the store. With masks, social distancing, and lots of hand sanitizers, we would leave the house every few weeks to restock. Even so, it was nerve-wracking since this was before vaccination availability for many.
While we were venturing forth, a lot of the American public was making other choices: picking up bags of food that someone else plucked from the shelves and delivered to the car's trunk, or having those same bags deposited by the front door. While I can't find figures that always agree, somewhere between 33% and 45% of us have ordered our food online for pickup or delivery, at least once in the past 18 months.
Those who track these things are unsure what the future will look like. During pandemic times, use skyrocketed. But, when either Covid has run its course or we have enough vaccinated people to feel safer, what will happen? Will we be spoiled by the convenience of someone else doing the hard part? Or, do we miss walking the aisles to make our own decisions? Will delivery services make too many mistakes for us to trust them? Will the price of delivery start to outweigh the pluses? Or, have we found an easier way of living that we want to keep?
Do we consider the economic impact of the delivery vans and cars, or make the argument that our vehicle is not on the street; multiple deliveries by one driver have less impact on the environment?
Ponder all that for a moment while I switch gears to ask about individual meal delivery. GrubHub, Door Dash, Postmates, Uber Eats....each month brings new companies to our attention. They all provide the same service: meals ordered from a restaurant or fast-casual restaurant are picked up and brought to you. For a fee, delivery charge, and a tip, getting that Big Mac Combo or four-cheese lasagna dinner (with garlic bread and salad) no longer has to mean leaving your home. Specialty companies will deliver a week's worth of healthy, vegan, meat, or other mixture in a box and leave it by your door.
Staying socially distant has never been so easy. If your budget allows for it, why drive across town? Enjoy the same meal in front of your own TV screen or on the patio. No risk of rushed waiters, screaming babies, or a waitlist of 45 minutes.
For others, eating a meal at a restaurant is considered a special treat. No cooking, no cleanup, an extensive menu, being served by someone else, seeing other human beings enjoying themselves, and I really want to get out of my house!
I will admit to being conflicted about this meal-at-home delivery option. The added costs make a relatively simple meal more expensive. I am a firm believer in dealing face-to-face with a waitperson, interacting with them, and leaving a generous tip for catering to me. Giving the same money to someone who drives the meal to my door doesn't have the same attraction.
Yet, there are times when getting dressed up (even a little) is beyond me. Dealing with traffic, parking, and that loud TV over the bar playing a soccer match from Romania turns me off. Home delivery becomes a special treat.
At least for my family, grocery delivery has never really been a draw. Even though we shop with a list, there are additions, a change of plan, or something that just appeals to us. That spontaneousness cannot occur when ordering online.
Individual meal delivery is more likely to become part of our routine. There is a cost, but usually less than a restaurant experience. Every now and then not having to cook and clean is worth a premium.
How about you? Online or in-person? Delivery or pickup/stay and eat? Each of us has probably seen a change in attitude since the spring of 2020. I am fascinated to learn what you are choosing to do.
We tried grocery delivery early in the pandemic but it didn't suit my wife that does most of the grocery shopping at our house. I think she had a strong desire to see and choose the actual food she was buying rather than open up a box and see what someone else had selected for her. There was also the time last spring she ordered a bag of flour and found that she had ordered 10kg (22lbs) rather than the 10lbs she thought she was buying!
ReplyDeleteWe rarely order meals in and the pandemic hasn't changed that much, maybe a little bit more. Recently we have started venturing out to restaurants again. Where we live government issued "vaccine passports" are a thing and you have to show proof that you are fully vaccinated to eat in a restaurant which makes us a lot more comfortable going out to eat now. After almost 2 years stuck inside going out to eat is a real treat.
Of course that's us retired folks. Our mid-30s daughters order their groceries on-line and have meals delivered regularly and that has only ramped up during the pandemic. Our married daughter with small children and a busy job is continually pressed for time so it's a real time saver for her. Our other daughter that is single finds cooking for one a chore so having a meal prepared and delivered makes sense for her. Different life circumstances lead to different choices.
Your experiences and reactions mirror ours. We would much rather be the people selecting items off the shelves. Simple things like dented cans or a cheaper alternative are only visible in person.
DeleteOne of our daughters is single and does make use of food delivery service for individual meals on a somewhat regular basis.
Our restaurants don't require vaccination proof (GOP govenor) but table spacing and masked servers, plus our own status, make us comfortable eating away from home.
I started having my groceries delivered when I moved and the grocery stores aren't as close. I love it. The quality is good and I don't have to waste all that time in the stores. I will be continuing to use this service. I don't miss food shopping at all. I have friends who like grocery shopping mainly because they socialize with their neighbors there.
ReplyDeleteI eat out in restaurants which I enjoy and also I want to support the local restaurants. So many of them have closed.
I sometimes have Chinese food delivered which I order directly from the restaurant.
I live in a big apartment building and I see deliveries being made every day so I think that a lot of people started during the pandemic and are now continuing. The stores are only a few miles-by car convenient. I think they just like it.
I agree with you: the convenience factor will be hard to give up.
DeleteWe prefer to eat at restaurants when we can, to support the workers. We were at a place last night that had at least 20 people waiting to be seated while more than half the tables were unused. Some of that is due to the inability to attract wait staff.
We've done plenty of takeout, but no delivery. However, somehow we got on the DoorDash phone list and we had drivers calling us every day or two asking our address for delivering a meal that we hadn't ordered. I kept telling them we were NOT customers, that there was a mistake, even emailed the main website. Eventually we got off the list. But it took a while, was a pain in the neck.
ReplyDeleteWell, that would be a pain. I get email offers from the various meal delivery companies but have only utilized them a a handful of times.
DeleteSo far, no aggressive harassment!
I enjoy grocery shopping in person, because as an extrovert I very much enjoy the small, constant social interactions with other customers and staff. And I'm also a sale scanner, so sometimes I find deals in the store that are late additions to my cart.
ReplyDeleteAt this point, with full vaccination plus booster, and with surfaces not a significant COVID concerns assuming consistent hand cleansing, I put on my mask and pretty much enjoy the experience.
We rarely do take out at home, it's just not an elevated enough experience to justify the time and cost involved in going to get, then paying for the food. We much prefer to get takeout and go somewhere scenic to enjoy, generally the beach in that we have a parking pass for easy year round access.
We dine for dinner about 50% of the time, almost always as part of secondary activity - post theater play or concert, Happy Hour with friends, member night at our winery, etc. We almost always do so outdoors in that outdoor eating areas and heat lamps can be found everywhere (one of COVID's biggest silver linings IMO). The few times we've folded and sat indoors to dine have been uncomfortable, knowing that we shouldn't be taking the risk, so we will continue to avoid if we can.
Outdoor dining is a treat for us because it is uncomfortable for several months a year. We are now into prime time for being outdoors so that activity will increase.
DeleteBetty and I enjoy food shopping together. We have a list but do not hesitate to deviate if something else looks inviting.
During Covid we used instacart and I was surprised at how easy it was. Almost all my grocery deliveries went smoothly. I had to be especially carefully wiht meal planning so I did not run out of an ingredient mid week. I was so grateful for the food delivery— cooking in a hobby and ting well through Covid was important to us..
ReplyDeleteWe tried meal delivery a couple of times and it was awful..cold barbecue, wrong orders, expensive. For a “treat” meal I’d rather keep a handful for yummy Trader Joe options in my freezer and pull them out for a quick but tasty meal. These days, I am back at the grocery in person and I do spend more money that way— moire impulse items and I am always still “stocking up..” I can’t seem to get rid of my hoarding mentality after the covid shortages.
I’d probably save money if I got delivery! But I enjoy the grocery store.We are not going out much socially still so a weekly trip to Frys and Trader Joe is an outing for me. We have lost the desire to “go out to eat”.. prices have skyrocketed and we still don’t really want to be indoors with other people too much.
We have not have had a problem with food too cold when delivered. But, we did a pickup and take home from a steak place that was cool by the time we got home. That was disappointing.
DeleteOur appetites dropped during Covid and have stayed lower, as evidenced by my 7 pound weight loss! Now, we order smaller portions or share a meal when we dine out so price increases havdn't been noticeable.
We did pick up some Trader Joe meals based on your recommendation. They were good, and different from our normal fare.
We are introverts and I've NEVER enjoyed plodding through giant grocery stores, so I was thrilled when online grocery ordering with free pickup became a thing. We use it all the time. We changed from shopping weekly, pre-pandemic, to about every 3 weeks. I like that it makes us plan our shopping, and there are far fewer impulse purchases. The only downside, for me, is the frequent unavailability resulting in bad substitutions or going without.
ReplyDeleteWe have never been big on eating out. We have taken advantage of some non-store-specific gift cards, however, to support some local restaurants by taking out - probably more than we usually would, just to help out the local merchants a bit.
I recognize the environmental impact of all the food delivery services, and will likely never use them. We have considered increasing our variety with some of those home meal kit programs, though. We tend to have a difficult time with fresh veggies and fruit with our 3 week shopping schedule.
You mention something that I have wondered about: fresh vegetables and fruit. There is a noticeable difference in quality even within a display at the store. How much time does the person filling an order spend on choosing the best produce?
DeleteYour approach of buying staples for several weeks at a time intrigues me. Out storage space would likely handle 2 weeks, but with our current issue of supply chain problems I can see the advantage of stocking up.
The home meal prep kit option is appealing except for the subscription nature of the service. We like to take spur of the moment trips and may not be able to cancel or receive the packages. I do appreciate the healthier choices, though.
I have been buying my groceries with curbside pickup since Covid started. We live in an area where masks and vaccines aren’t popular, so in-person shopping is stressful. My experience has been positive overall, and I’m not eager to get back to in-person shopping. One thing that’s happened is, like with any app, the more you use it the more it gets to “know” you so it’s easier to reorder you basic items, etc. You also get much smarter at reading quantities so that you make sure you order 3 bananas, not 3 bunches of bananas! So I guess I’m saying it takes awhile to develop a comfort level with letting someone else shop for you.
ReplyDeleteGood point. We do tend to buy a lot of the same things from week to week so setting up a shopping app would not be too difficult.
DeleteI have fewer reservations about curbside pickup than delivery to my front door.
We have settled on a variety of options: curbside pick-up for non-produce items from a large grocery chain: produce hand-selected by us at a small grocery store, roadside stands, and at farmers markets; and some things, such as meat and bulk items, from Costco during their senior hours. (We did a couple of Instacart pick-ups from Costco early on but didn't enjoy the - expensive - experience.) For a while, we also subscribed to one of the prepackaged meals plans (Hello Fresh, in our case) which was interesting. If Covid disappeared tomorrow, I'm not sure how much of this would change. I'm sort of enjoying missing the whole large supermarket experience.
ReplyDeleteThat is the ultimate question, isn't it? How will we change our habits and routines going forward. You have explored all the options and had a mixed reaction. That makes me feel better about not sure what new choices I should continue.
DeleteI do think we will try the curbside pickup for essentials and see if it is a convenience or a hassle.
I like to pick out my own groceries and have kept that up during Covid. I tried the senior hours, but I didn't find them any less populated than the regular hours if I went at the right time. Maybe it's generational, but my DD and DIL both like having someone else pick their groceries and have them delivered. Both claim to hate grocery shopping and I kinda like it. As well, during the height of Covid last year, I saw a lot of complaining on the local FB page re: late deliveries, dates only open days out, no shows, etc. For now, I'm still happy to pick my own groceries. I did switch to the shop and scan app which allows me to go directly to an electronic checkout and leave quickly.
ReplyDeleteI think you are right about the different attitudes on this subject depending on the age of the person. Instant gratification and constant convenience have made their mark.
DeleteLike you, I don't mind going to the grocery store. I am not comfortable turning that chore to someone else.
It is sad about the complaints you saw, however. The people who continued to work during the worst of the pandemic were real lifesavers for many of us, even while risking their own health. Plus, I am sure the stores were very short staffed and struggled to meet the demands.
The folks who kept working had to. They did not have the financial support to stay home. Even so, they provided a much safer environment and deserve respect and being cut a little slack.
I agree about the complaints. I also saw some responses from what I assumed to be young moms trying to make some money while their kids were in school, etc. And I'm sure there were people who had lost jobs and needed the income.
DeleteOTOH, we had a guy profiled in the news the other day who made more than $100K shopping for people last year! He only shopped in two stores that he knew well, planned his route ahead of time, and had it down to a science. Amazing.
Home delivery is not an option in this rural area although I did have a neighbor drop a meal off for me last spring. She rang the doorbell and said, "Your skip the dishes meal is here!" I've eaten in a restaurant once in the past 20 months when restrictions were lifted temporarily. I have enjoyed take-out a few times, fast food or Chinese food. I wonder about the environmental impact and expense of food delivery services. Again, living in a rural area, crowded supermarkets are not usually an issue but I often do my big shop at 8AM to reduce contacts. The grocery budget has actually decreased because I'm not stopping at the store between the grocery shopping that I've been doing every 3 weeks. I enjoy cooking and eating. I've always been a big proponent of shop-at-home with a well-stocked freezer and pantry. I've recently finished preserving the garden produce and that contributes to a well-rounded menu. What I really miss is the socialization of dining with friends whether in a restaurant or at home.
ReplyDeleteI think the environmental impact of a single food delivery is much worse than a full grocery delivery. From what I've seen, those vans make several stops, replacing individual trips by the shoppers.
DeleteBetty and I are loners so we are not likely to dine with others. Even so, a restaurant meal does allow for interaction with the hostess and wait staff. We make an extra effort to engage with them, make them smile and tip well.
I love grocery shopping and didn't switch to delivery. Prior to vaccination we were very cautious and went early to avoid people as much as possible. Prior to Covid we didn't do much takeout and never got food delivery. We did switch to about once a week takeout as a treat and to add variety and had mixed results as not all food is suited to takeout and restaurant errors were frequent. I don't like delivery services as the cost is higher and the restaurants get less money so I'd rather drive to the restaurant and pickup. We did so one upscale takeout where we drove to a park near the faraway location in Scottsdale and had a dance meal on a picnic table....
ReplyDeleteGoing forward I see us doing takeout more than in the past but we have resumed some indoor dining.
Like you, we much prefer to pickup at a restaurant, also making sure to leave a tip for the people who prepared the meal. We have increased our restaurant dining-in over the last few months. It provides a nice change of pace.
DeleteBetty and I may not enjoy grocery shopping, but it is part of our routine and we don't mind it.
The pick-up option was a lifesaver for me during the first year of the pandemic; I would order groceries online once a month and then drive 10 miles to a nearby city to pick them up. In between, I would take quick runs into stores that felt relatively safe to supplement my monthly grocery order. What bothered me most about the pick-up service was the over-packaging. A grocery order that I would have bagged myself into two or three reusable canvas sacks would come in about 10 double-bagged paper sacks. Once I was fully vaccinated, I was happy to go back to picking out and bagging my own groceries.
ReplyDeleteKnowing of your rural setting, I assumed someone wouldn't come right to your home, but 10 miles each way for pickup? I need reminders that not everyone is a few minutes away from most necessities.
DeleteOur grocery chain store also seriously over-bags our in-personal pickup. Even worse, the bags are plastic.
We do use the plastic bags to pick up dog poop. Our store accepts old plastic bags. So, every three weeks we return two arm-fulls.
Winter is getting close, Jean. Stay warm!
I refuse to use Amazon- for anything- so my choices were limited (as were my times). I continued to use my local Walmart (which was the best grocery close to me) and Commissary. Both were super cautious- providing times for Seniors and others who felt they needed more space.
ReplyDeleteWe often gave tips to the cashiers that we knew - choosing to appreciate their determination to continue to make sure we all had food. Almost every one of these workers lost about 2-3 weeks to COVID early on. They reported that the delivery people often were out with COVID as well. We got to know the people who worked for us. Lynn was the best cashier at our Walmart!
We continued to go to our favorite family places and pick up food for the duration. We chose to eat outside at those places during nice weather. This June was our first indoor experience for 18 months. We chose not to do delivery services. We did learn to cook delicious things---and have reconnected to dining time.
I am glad you mentioned the cashiers. We are sure to be friendly to them at our Walmart. After a while, we get to know each other.
DeleteWe did thank them during the Covid period for serving during Senior hour and taking some risks. Most, of course, could't stop working because bills still needed to be paid.
I am just leary of individual meal delivery. Too many hands and too many steps between the prep and the delivery.
I continued our grocery shopping myself trying to stretch to 3 weeks instead of 2. I also did the shopping for 2 older women until they were fully vaccinated (I'm 60 now and they are 72 and 94). As a surgical RN, I am well trained in proper masking and hand hygiene. I'm quick through a store and a minimal toucher by nature. I've always been a bit leery of those people who have to touch everything and then put it back on the shelf. Who knows how many people have handled that can you're looking at??? A good life rule of thumb is "if you touch stuff don't touch yourself and vice versa!" Wash those hands!!!!
ReplyDeleteWe've historically eaten out 2-4 times per week. That was our big life change with C-19 showing up. We did some curbside pickup in 2020 but only 1-2/month. We don't live far but it's generally not piping hot when we sit down to eat so a bit disappointing. We sadly became eligible for vaccine in March because Idahoans aren't fond of it. But we did it immediately! We returned to restaurant eating at a few places where I observed adherence to protocol for customer safety.
At this point, we wear masks when inside a business, eat out when the mood strikes and we'll get our boosters in a few weeks at 8 months.
Lastly, we tip generously when we do eat out. The reduction in restaurant visits has padded our checking account nicely in 18 months! :-)
Thanks for your summary. You highlighted your experiences with all the major options available to us. We got our booster two months ago and has made us feel relatively safe in social situation.
DeleteA big high-five for your tipping policy. With wait staff stretched thin and often doing the work of two, tipping well is one of the nice things we can do to help support this part of the economy and those working to provide us with a special experience.
We haven't tried grocery delivery yet, but my 28 year old daughter loves it. About the only food delivery we get is pizza. I'm just not convinced paying a small delivery fee for a pricey meal is that appealing. I, like you, enjoy the eating out experience and I like getting the food put on the table as hot and fresh as possible. Getting a meal delivered to me 30 minutes or longer after it was cooked, does not appeal to me. I can only imagine the food would be lukewarm. I saw a news report on this industry in the last week or so and it talked about how long the food can sit before it gets sent out for delivery and it gave a statistic that something like 40% of delivery drivers eat part of your meal! I guess they can't resist reaching in and having a fry or two!
ReplyDeleteI am not a fan of a meal delivered to me when I don't know the various steps and timing it went through to get to me.
DeleteI don't use delivery much.I do use curbside and in my rxperience the produce and meat are very good. I don't exactly dress up to go out to eat but then I'm halfway presentable at home and I've in a relaxed town when it comes to that. I order food in maybe once mo th but eat chicken or breakfast out more often. It falls under my "get thee out of the house and among other humans" guidelines. Also I dint cook much.
ReplyDeleteThere is something to be said for leaving your own four walls every now and then. Luckily our area is relaxed too, do dressing up isn't a requirement.
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