When grocery-delivery services first started appearing near me, I thought it sounded like a brilliant convenience. I’ll admit it: grocery shopping is one of those grown-up tasks I dread the most. It ranks high on my list of chores I’d happily skip.
So, if I were going to add another subscription on top of Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime, a grocery-delivery plan was the one I’d consider. But before I ever evaluated a service like Shipt, I talked myself out of signing up. I convinced myself grocery delivery was an unnecessary luxury and berated myself for being too lazy to pay someone else to do my shopping.
Then the day arrived: I woke up on a Sunday feeling like I’d been run over the night before. It was that familiar onset of a nasty cold that threatens to knock me out. Naturally, I still had to deal with my adult responsibilities that day, including grocery shopping.
I knew I needed to recover quickly, and that usually requires the right supplies: orange juice, chicken noodle soup, cough drops and a lot of rest. Of course, my house had no food, and the idea of trekking to the supermarket felt worse than ever.
So I decided to give Shipt a whirl. After using the service myself, here’s my personal Shipt review.
Pros of Shipt Grocery-Delivery Service
Convenience
I was able to handle my grocery shopping without leaving my bed, and the entire experience was pleasant. The app was straightforward and displayed the stores available near me.
My choices were Publix and ABC Liquors. As tempting as it was to consider drinking my way through the illness, I chose Publix — my preferred grocery store despite its higher prices.
The app makes browsing by category simple, and there’s a search box if you need something specific. You can also request items that aren’t listed. For a sicky-day scenario, this was much simpler than wandering the aisles hunting for bargains.
I started adding items to my cart from under the covers, selected a delivery window from the options, and got a notification when my shopper started picking my order.
Shipt Shoppers use an in-app messaging feature to communicate while shopping, and the customer receives those messages as texts. So when your shopper begins gathering your items, you’ll receive a text that includes their name and a note: “I have begun shopping for your items.”
When my shopper finished, she texted to say she was en route to my place. That heads-up gave me enough time to get up and put on something decent before she arrived.
You Can Monitor Your Total
A standout feature of Shipt is being able to watch your cart total in real time. That’s incredibly helpful when you’re sticking to a grocery budget.
Because the total updates immediately, I could keep my spending within limits by removing nonessential items — a hassle I would have had to face in the store.
Grocery Deals and Discounts
Something I missed the first time: you can shop sales and promotions in the app.
I blame my foggy-headed state during my first order, because when you open the app, the “On Sale Today” section is front and center. I used that section on my next order to trim costs and stay on a tight budget.
For instance, I bought a pack of strawberries normally priced at $4.49 but on sale for $3.39 — a nice savings!
When you pick a BOGO deal, the app shows the discounted price for the deal. Adding the BOGO item will automatically place two units in your cart at the reduced rate. For example, if Goldfish crackers are normally $2.89 with a reduced BOGO price of $1.44 each, the cart will show $2.88 for the two.
There’s also a “Weekly Sale Items” section highlighting the week’s markdowns, which operates the same way as “On Sale Today.”
Other promotions include incentives like discounts for buying a certain dollar amount or number of items within a category.
Examples I’ve seen are “$3 off your next order when you order $15 in this category” and “Get $5 off your next order when you order $10 in this category.”
One offer applied to specific snack brands; another targeted Pepperidge Farm items. I’ve also seen deals like “Get $5 off your next order when you order 5 items in this category.”
Currently, Shipt does not accept clipped coupons.
View Your Order History
The “Buy Again” section is handy — it displays items you’ve purchased previously, so you can quickly repurchase regular staples.
You can use this feature to build a shopping list that aligns with your budget, since it displays each item’s price.
More Jobs
One positive side effect of technology reshaping daily life is the creation of new employment opportunities. These store-to-door services have opened a fresh category of gigs.
I wondered how much shoppers earn, so before my first order I checked pay rates and what an appropriate tip might be for great service. Tipping is optional, but I wanted to compensate the shopper who would do me a big favor (especially since I live on the second floor).
It turns out grocery-delivery shoppers can make decent money, which makes this a solid side hustle or even a full-time job. Some people have reported earning around $20 an hour by shopping for others.
Knowing that shoppers can earn well made me feel better about paying someone to handle a chore. It felt like a win-win: I stayed cozy at home while someone else shopped, and they got paid well for it.
Cons of Shipt Grocery Delivery Service
Now that we’ve covered the advantages of grocery delivery, here are some of the downsides.
Membership Fees
Like other subscription services, grocery delivery usually requires a membership fee. Shipt’s membership costs $14.99 per month, but it offers a two-week free trial and waives the delivery fee on orders of $35 or more.
Taking advantage of promotions — such as $5 off when you buy five items in a category — and shopping the “On Sale Today” section can offset the membership cost.
Unavailable Items
One hiccup I encountered was that my chosen store didn’t stock some items shown in the app. That wasn’t a deal-breaker because shoppers can message you with substitution options.
For instance, when Aunt Jemima whole grain waffles weren’t available, my shopper texted me with a list of alternative whole grain waffle brands the store did have.
I appreciated being offered a replacement for the breakfast I’d planned rather than receiving a delivery with missing products.
Higher Prices
Items listed in the app can be pricier than in-store prices, sometimes by a noticeable margin.
For example, I usually buy a box of waffles for $2.99 in the store, but through Shipt that same box was $3.79 — nearly a dollar extra.
That didn’t stop me from ordering again. The second time I shopped, I was smarter: I had roughly $50 to spend, so I focused on the “On Sale Today” deals.
The app helped me stick to my budget by updating my cart total live, and I could shop sales and BOGOs all in one place.
I ended up with enough groceries to last until the next payday (almost two weeks) for under $50. Not bad for my second experience with a grocery-delivery platform.
And as it happens, there are several other ways delivery services can help you save money, making this convenient option even more appealing.
