Peapod by Stop and Shop, the online grocery delivery service headquartered in Skokie, Illinois, first joined the online community in 1996 when they launched their website, www.peapod.com. Since it’s inception, the company now serves 18 U.S. markets including the metro areas of Chicago, Milwaukee, Boston, Suburban N.Y. and Washington, D.C., and communities in the states of Illinois, Wisconsin, Maryland, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Virginia, New Jersey and Rhode Island. Currently, Peapod serves more than 240,000 people per year and offers 8,000 products for shoppers to choose from.
I first began using Peapod’s grocery delivery service in 2003. I had seen a story about it on the news, and figured I would try it out. The idea of not having to spend an hour in the grocery store on a beautiful Saturday afternoon fighting the crowds and the shopping carts was very appealing to me. I went online, signed up, and anxiously awaited the arrival of my first order.
When my groceries arrived, I was extremely impressed. The driver showed up on time within the 2 hour delivery window I had selected. He was courteous, had all the groceries inside in a flash, and was on his way again before I knew it. I went through and meticulously checked my list of groceries and everything I had ordered was there. Frozen things were still frozen, cold things were cold, and nothing was smashed or damaged. All the grocery items I needed were delivered right to my home without a single problem. It was at that moment that I became a die-hard Peapod fan.
Since placing my first order with Peapod, my life has changed dramatically. I am now a stay at home mom to twin toddlers, and anyone with children knows how hard it can be to get to the grocery store. My situation is unique, in that the grocery stores in my area do not offer carts that allow two children to be strapped in at once. A trip to the grocery store for me would be impossible without another adult. It is only now that I have realized how invaluable Peapod can be to those people who aren’t able to get to the grocery store.
There are many advantages to doing your grocery shopping online with Peapod., and convenience is obviously at the top of the list. Anyone who does not have the time or the means to get to the store themselves will be extremely appreciative when they see Peapod’s truck pull up and have all their groceries delivered right to their door. You save yourself the trouble of having to find time to get to the store, and are left only with the task of putting the items away.
I have also found that I am able to save a lot more money when I do my shopping online as opposed to physically being in the store. There is no “impulse” buying, I’m only getting what I really need, and I have much more time to compare prices and products. Peapod also accepts all manufacturers coupons, which enables me to continue to save money just as I would if I were at the grocery store.
One of my favorite features on Peapod’s website is the ability to edit your order as many times as you wish up until the day before it is delivered. If I happen to run out of something at the last minute, I can go online and make the necessary adjustments to my order at any time. I often beginning working on my grocery order a week before it is delivered, which allows me plenty of time to browse their sale items and shop wisely.
There are, of course, some drawbacks to online grocery shopping as well. Peapod does charge a delivery fee for its service. An order of $50-$100 is charged a delivery fee of $9.95, and any order over $100 is charge a delivery fee of $6.95.
At times certain products are out of stock, and you won’t know which products until your groceries are delivered. This of course can warrant a trip to the grocery store, something you were trying to avoid in the first place. However I will say that I have found that out of stock items are not that common recently, and in my case it is always limited to only one or two items at most. Along the same lines, you can never be sure that your order was fulfilled properly or that nothing is missing, which is why it is important to check your bags carefully once they’ve arrived. There have been times when an item I ordered was either missing, or a similar item was sent to me by mistake. However if this does happen, a quick phone call to Peapod’s customer service line usually rectifies the problem immediately. I simply told them which item was missing and my account was credited without question.
And while you may be able to find your favorite brand of soda or shampoo on the shelves at Stop and Shop, these same items are not always available through Peapod’s website. About 99% of what I am shopping for can be found online through Peapod, but there is the rare occasion that a certain item isn’t in their online store. Fortunately they are always adding new products to their selection and you can also send requests via email.
While Peapod’s delivery fee can appear a bit high to some, there are ways to trim down this fee. Peapod offers several discounts through a variety of different options. First, choose to pay for your order via Direct Check online. This means no check writing at the time your groceries are delivered, and the cost of your order is automatically deducted from your checking account. By choosing this option, you save $1.00 off of the total cost of your order. Next, choose a longer, discounted delivery window. While the two hour window may be more convenient, choosing the four hour delivery window will save you another $1.00 off of your order. Also, make sure your order total is over $100. This will ensure you pay a delivery fee of $6.95 and not $9.95. Peapod also offers exclusive online coupons that will save you even more money. And last, be sure to refer your family and friends to sign up for Peapod’s home delivery through your account. Not only will you receive a $10 credit off of your next order, but your friends will get $15 in free groceries as well!
Though online grocery shopping may not be for everyone, I can honestly say that most days I don’t know what I’d do without Peapod. For me their service is an invaluable resource as it saves me time, money and most importantly these days, the hassle of dragging two cranky toddlers out to the store! For more information about whether Peapod’s services are available in your area, visit their website at www.peapod.com. Happy shopping!
