Apologies as I have not been around to read my Bloggers (you folks) as much as I would like to. I have been busy cornering the market on milk, ricotta cheese, eggs, spreadable butter, real butter, and coffee creamer. On the odd chance you might be interested in how to do this I will explain.
Last week on Tuesday I ordered the above through an online service called InstaCart where local people who have a car and need income go to the grocery to shop for you. Once the shopping has started they ping your phone when they want to substitute a product for something not on the shelves. These shoppers can be teenagers who have never shopped in a grocery store or others who have experience and will map out the aisles to be the most efficient. I got two pounds of strawberries on the last order, which I do not remember selecting! Anyway, you are looking over their shoulder sometimes when they send a photo of the partially empty shelf with alternative products. You can tip up to 25% for the driver. I do that and also leave money in an envelope on the porch where they deliver as cash is probably more important to them. You are instantly messaged to your phone once the order is on its way. The first order came fine even though it was missing a few items and had the strawberries.
My second order, I needed dairy type products. I made my order online and waited for a few days and never got any response. They do not guarantee a short or quick delivery. Usually, you have a four-day delivery window and they can deliver as late as 9:00 P.M. This tool to avoid the virus requires patience.
Since some times had passed, I was concerned the order was not completed, so I went in and ordered once again. This time I got thrown off the internet as we lost electricty due to that nasty front that came across the East Coast. By afternoon the power came back on and I went through the whole process again ordering my dairy stuff.
I know my brilliant readers are waaaay ahead of me on this. I got the order two days later. Then the very next morning after that I got the same order again! And the morning after that I found the same order on my front porch! For elders this ordering online is a little crazy. I will pay for it all, as it was my fault, I guess. If I do not go to the store, I will be much more careful.
Now I have reached out to provide this free food to my friends. I managed to get rid of one dozen extra eggs to a friend who is in her 80's and confined to her retirement campus. She is a former nutritionist and probably one of the best bakers I have ever met. She left me a little surprise of her culinary talents after I dropped the eggs off.
I finally had to freeze some because everyone I contacted was stocked! My freezer is now also overstocked.
Next hubby Instant Messaged our gardener fellow who lives with his mother and I told hubby to tell him he had to take all of the order! He is coming today to get it, I hope!
I was going to make an Italian cheesecake with the Ricotta. Can you freeze ricotta? By the way, do you need anything?
Sorry to read you experienced a snafu.
ReplyDeleteThe dogwood flower photo is absolutely stunning!
Oh dear, I was wondering after you mention that service in a previous post, how it was going.
My first/last ever order, five hour window, after 2 hours added to the 5, I canceled the order.
I shopped today in person. More folks there at 7:30 AM than I saw 2 weeks ago. Loud speaker, female voice, giving information about social distancing, etc., for a minute there I felt as if I was beamed into a science fiction movie. Blade Runner comes to mind. No Harrison Ford is sight.
It takes more time to clean, dry and put away the groceries than it does to shop for them.
Shopper service, probably shop a few orders at a time, and then separate them. I could explain why it takes so long, and the mix ups. What worries me is how long perishable foods are left out before they're delivered.
My shoppers are in touch by phone and they deliver immediaately after check out.
DeleteI only received canned texts from Instacart.
DeleteI've been using I Instacart here too. Small town my orders have been coming the same day. The first one at the beginning of the shutdown was missing about half the items as the stores here got cleaned out. I tip them well too, they've been younger women, one with her sweet little girl in the car. The third one was the real surprise, the girl who lives down the hall from me in our apartment style condo. She said to cancel the order and she'd just pick it up and wouldn't take a tip. Stop complaining about millennials folks, such a sweetie.
ReplyDeleteOh dear, what a mixup to get so many duplicate orders! Perhaps the food will be a big blessing for the recipients. I got my second Instacart order yesterday and feel like a princess as they bring what I want right to my door. So far all has gone smoothly and where I live they let you select a day and a time slot for delivery. Like you, I tip generously in cash as they are doing great work, need the money, and are risking going in the store.
ReplyDeleteI have been able to get out to our store during senior hours. It's been pretty easy to buy what we need. But I have heard of many people having problems with InstaCart.
ReplyDeleteI will continue to use it as our state is moving into the peak of the virus in the next two weeks. After that I will probably go shopping more. Glad I did not go the days before Easter. My friend told me it was a nightmare even with the enforced distancing!
DeleteWe were happy with Instacart and got what we ordered. :) Win win to give our buyer money and us food without going into a store.
ReplyDeleteWhat a horror story. You make me laugh.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like something that would happen to me.
ReplyDeleteYou can freeze eggs. First, remember that they have to stay at the grade on the carton, AA or A, until at least seven days after the sell by date. After that, for the next 2-3 weeks they are one grade under that. AA, A and B eggs are all just fine for most purposes. By the time they are grade C, use them in baking only.
To freeze eggs, spray old fashioned ice cube trays with non-stick cooking spray and crack one egg into each cube. Freeze, pop out of the tray and move to a freezer bag. They are just fine for baking when thawed.
Good luck, and enjoy the cheesecake.
Good night, how are you? I'm Brazilian and I'm looking for new followers for my blog. I can follow you too. https://viagenspelobrasilerio.blogspot.com/?m=1
ReplyDeleteIf you follow me, send the link to my blog and I'll follow you back.
Beautiful photos of spring here and on your other blog! Interesting about instacart. You are kind to share your over-ordering. Andrea
ReplyDeleteThanks for the laugh!
ReplyDeleteWe go to our neighborhood Safeway during senior hours and the last two weeks it has been well stocked and with hardly any other shoppers. We wear gloves and masks and it is all working out fine.
I couldn't help laughing out loud at your experience with over ordering. I'm sure you were not laughing though! That must have been expensive.💖
ReplyDeleteThere is a group here that shops for seniors. It is kind of an official and free program. We haven't used it since we can order online and also have other helpers. We'll leave thats service to those who really need it if possible.
ReplyDeletethe grocery store here has initiated online ordering and delivery but you can't specify what you want. for instance bread...the choices are white or whole wheat neither of which we eat. our preference is jewish rye or oat and nut if the rye isn't available. so we just go to the store ourselves (just one of us, not both) trying to pick a time when it isn't busy.
ReplyDeleteWe have been ordering online and using curbside service at our local Central Market (owned by HEB). Except that you have to wait about a week to pickup, it has been an easy choice. Setting up the pickup time is a tiny bit difficult as new times open at midnight and so if you want a specific time and day to pickup, you have to do it right after midnight. So once a week I have to set my alarm for 11:45 pm. But pickup is a cinch, you drive up, text the number to let them know you're there, hold up a sign with your name on it (don't have to even open your window), they bring everything out and put it in the back, wave... and that's it. Takes 10 minutes to pick up.
ReplyDeleteWe thought about delivery, but this is simple enough. I have never heard of Instacart. There is something here called Shipts that delivers I believe.
The joys of Covid-19. I have groceries delivered by the supermarket's vans, although no longer my complete list. There are always substitute products which I can return. The good thing is that I get a definite slot, chosen by me.
ReplyDeleteWell, did he come and get the whole order,.
ReplyDeleteYes...now I have to remember to get my cooler and ice packs back!!
DeleteHi, sorry to intrude again, and again, feel free to delete.
ReplyDeleteI've read the responses/comments above....they are all from a privileged group that has enough money to ride out, at least for awhile, the situation. Do you all feel nothing wrong with complaining about minor inconveniences, perhaps you can't get fresh garlic delivered, etc.
You do realize there are millions of families out there who can't get baby food for their toddlers? Can't get diapers? Live in a state that hasn't stopped evictions because they are laid off and have no money?
Damn, you all seem like a bunch of privileged white americans, trying to make this a 'oh, we'll get through it, but it's so, so inconvenient....I can't get to my yoga lesson.
I'm like you, I have enough. But I'm doing something, despite ill health and age. Get off your asses and do something for other people than fretting about your flowers or cooking.
You cannot assume that these people are doing nothing. Most bloggers are privileged. I guess I could post about the two deaths this month that have touched my life, but not going there. I can also post about the possibility of my children losing one or both of their jobs, but people do not want bad news. They can get tons of that on the television. Many of those who are priviledged are writing large checks to charities and local museums, etc. Please do not assume that because we do not write about depressing things, we are not empathetic.
DeleteI was all set to make a humorous comment, and then I read Should Fish More's comment immediately above. You know, he/she is not wrong, altho' he could have been a lot more polite about it. But as part of that "privileged group" myself (I don't usually think of myself as privileged, just middle class, but, yeah, in this case I probably am) I have tried to help by buying several gift cards a local restaurants (so they get the money now), and giving big tips to the guys (mostly guys) at the grocery store. It's not much, I know, but it's something.
ReplyDeleteWe all are gving more during these times. I will not write a depressing blog...but I could certainly.
DeleteI can’t help wondering if there is someone somewhere wondering where their strawberries are. I’ve successfully used pickup once based on ordering over the phone, but may try one of my grocery stores ordering on the computer. I’ll be careful to avoid the problem you encountered.
ReplyDeleteYes, there are many who are having a difficult time beyond what others experience. Some of us may be experiencing challenges others might not be aware of. We each help in our own way. and may not always publicize how we do that, nor should we feel compelled to do so. I enjoyed the ironic humor of your experience, welcomed the opportunity to laugh about it, but does not mean I’m insensitive to the difficulties of others any more than you and others commenting here likely are.
That comment above quite took the enjoyment of a good laugh away from me. Teach me to laugh at someone else's misfortune.
ReplyDeleteLiving miles from the nearest supermarket, I guess in what you would call the back blocks, any sort of delivery service is not available to me. I believe there's something like a week's wait for Click and Collect from the supermarket and I'm not that organised so I'm thankful I have my daughter to do the grocery shopping for me. That was good of you to share your unexpected bounty.
I have never considered myself privileged but maybe that’s part of the problem with privilege. We don’t even know that we are.
ReplyDeleteWho can judge what another does or doesn’t do for their fellow humans? I believe good deeds should be done quietly, never to be spoken about.