Aldi has been out in front when it comes to coping with the pandemic — perhaps because
it is a global chain based in Europe, which was hard-hit by the COVID-19 virus long before
it hit our shores. That said, shopping anywhere right now can feel dangerous — and nobody
wants to put themselves or their family at risk.
That said, if you've been hesitant to set foot in the store again due to ongoing health
concerns, Aldi's got some really good news! According to Supermarket News, Aldi will soon
be expanding its curbside pickup service to nearly 600 stores nationwide.
According to Path to Purchase IQ, Aldi quietly rolled out a test of their curbside pickup
service in spring 2019 at four Milwaukee-area Aldi stores. One of their editors tested out
the service using the Instacart app, and found it quite easy to navigate the process. He
noted that the app allowed him not only to select the items he wanted, but he could also
get updates on his order, tell store employees when he was en route to the store, inform
them as to the type and color of his vehicle, and even contact an Aldi associate directly
if there was a problem. The Instacart app also shared a pic of his Aldi's specific pickup
location, so he'd know exactly where to park when he got there, although he noted that
there was adequate signage both outside and inside the store that made the location perfectly
clear.
Supermarket News reports that Aldi U.S. CEO Jason Hart said the curbside pilot program
was, quote, "quickly embraced by our customers, and demand for this service has continued
to increase." What with the need for safer shopping arrangements in the age of COVID-19
— like enforced social distancing regulations — there was no time like the present for
Aldi to meet shoppers' demands.
"It's a new day, and, like always, you can count on us to ensure in-store social distancing
so you can shop safely."
In order to utilize Aldi's curbside pickup service, you'll use Aldi's Instacart page
or mobile app to fill your virtual cart, then choose your preferred store and pickup time
at checkout. Once you arrive at the store, you'll park in one of the designated pickup
spots, and an Aldi associate will be right out with the groceries you've selected.
While Aldi's webpage does not provide any information as to the fees that will be associated
with this, Path to Purchase IQ revealed that during the pilot program Instacart was charging
a $4.99 service fee and there was also a $10 order minimum in place for curbside pickup.
Also, it seems as if certain products available in-store, including alcohol in certain areas
as well as Aldi's Special Buys, may not be available through this curbside service. Aldi's
FAQ also discloses that higher prices may be charged for products that are picked up,
since this is how they cover the cost of the additional labor required of store associate
personal shoppers. While curbside pickup might not be as budget-friendly as shopping in-store,
it is, of course, much safer, and at least it gets you out of the house and back at Aldi
again, even if only in the parking lot.
If you're not chomping at the bit to get out and about for a tour of your local curbs and
parking lots, though, you may prefer using Aldi's grocery delivery service, which is
also brought to you by those hard-working Instacart shoppers. While ordering via Instacart
is never going to be your most inexpensive option, you can't put a price on the safety
of you and your fellow quaran-teammates.
To order groceries for delivery through Aldi, you visit the same Instacart interface as
you would for pickup and again fill your cart and select a time slot. You may be able to
get your groceries delivered in under two hours, although the availability of delivery
slots may vary depending on the time of day and what cool stuff Aldi's got on offer. As
per the aforementioned FAQ, Special Buys cannot be delivered, but in some areas Aldi will
deliver alcohol, so you can still get your Winking Owl fix.
"I got wine!"
"Heeeeey!"
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