Hit the curb - for your shopping!

In an ever increasing pace of today's life it is all the more difficult to make time for the essential life tasks; grocery shopping for example. As a full time employed, single parent of an active teenager it is tough enough to schedule meal times, let alone try to ensure that we have fresh produce, unexpired milk and dog food in abundant supply. Don't get me started on 'last roll' notifications on the toilet paper or "I didn't know it was the last box of tissues!" 

For those reasons and so many more I am a huge fan of this solution which is celebrating it's 1st Anniversary - Meijer Curbside service has revolutionized the shopping experience with benefits for busy families, elderly and the aforementioned forgotten items shopper. It is as easy as Click, Pay, Drive Up and GO!

 It starts with either your Meijer app or by going to Meijer Curbside. The locations above are where it is currently available but that list should be growing as well. You can begin your shopping list with everything from toothpaste and shampoo to crackers, steak and paper plates! You can select  your produce, meat and dairy needs as well as household necessities and health/beauty products. Admittedly I have even purchased beer/wine on the go before a Friday night gathering! Options available for special instructions for substitutions is available for your "Meijer Shopper" to follow. The site/app will allow for addition of payment information which can be saved, I will explain why this is so important later. 

After you have added your desired items to the virtual cart, you will begin your check out by selecting your designated pick up time. Be sure to understand there are limited numbers available so planning ahead is best. You will receive a confirmation email as well. 

When it is your time - you simply drive up, stopping at the initial kiosk to 'check in', wait to be told to drive up and then wait for a Team Member to come help you. They will review with you to ensure your order is correct, load it and process your payment. **Here is where it is important - be sure that you use the same card for payment that you used on the site to make things easy. 

I can't express what a game changer this has been for my household. Typically I will shop through my app during my lunch hour, depending on how many items are selected can alter my pick up time so I try to make sure to only grab what I need and am able to pick it up on my way home. The longest wait I have had was 7 minutes because there were four cars ahead of me. You can't get that kind of service timing at top fast food restaurants! For me, it eliminates the needless hunting of product, forgetting most of what I needed and enables me to buy fresh produce in the amounts we will use it because I can just stop on the way home to pick up more. Some people have criticized regarding add on sales that usually happen as you wander through the store - to that I say---my Meijer app gives me plenty to peruse and lots of coupons available to entice me to shop for items that I wouldn't have purchased otherwise.

I will add for anyone with a health condition, small children, elderly or just plain busy, this service will be well worth the $4.95 service charge that you pay to use it and better yet -- not having to hunt for a parking spot!