Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. This means that I volition exist paid a commission if y'all click them and sign up for the Peapod commitment service. This volition come up at no cost to yous, but it helps me keep the lights on at Poet in the Pantry. Peapod did not pay for or endorse this post.

I had a rough wintertime. I was sick with at to the lowest degree 5 dissimilar illnesses, including "potential mono," sinusitis, and the flu. This meant I had a lot of down fourth dimension when I couldn't manage the household duties. I was worn out, feet was a little higher than usual, and I felt crushed by the weight of all I could not get done. So I outsourced. Faced i Friday with empty cabinets and no volition to alive, I placed my first Peapod order. Information technology changed my life!

Bloggers are decumbent to hyperbole, I know. I'm certainly non innocent of this. But here'due south the thing: most of my panic attacks occur when I'1000 in the grocery store. They persist, despite ongoing cognitive behavioral therapy and anxiety medication. Sometimes, but the thought that I might have a panic attack is enough to get i started. So the opportunity to get all the food we need without stepping human foot in ane of these beasts is a blessing for me.

Peapod delivery truck

Here's how it works:

  • Download the Peapod app (it's available for Apple and Android)
  • Scan the aisles or specials to make your list
  • Tap "Add to Cart" when you lot see something you want
  • Your list keeps a running tally of your total, every bit you become
  • Once you're done, tap on the cart icon in the upper right corner
  • Tap Checkout
  • Select Delivery or Pick-upwardly (you can order alee and option upwardly at the store, if you lot prefer)
  • Tap the day you would similar for delivery and select your delivery time
  • Tap Checkout with Commitment
  • Pay and be on your way

The mean solar day of your commitment, Peapod will transport a text and/or electronic mail letting you know a narrowed down window of when the commuter will make it at your house; an boosted text/e-mail is sent when you're the next stop.

I have found that they're exceptionally prompt and, sometimes, fifty-fifty early. Continue that in listen if you're planning on a 6AM delivery. You may want to splash some water on your face and grab a robe!

When the driver arrives, they volition pick your order from the truck and bring it to your door. My drivers seem to subscribe to the same philosophy I exercise with grocery shopping–the fewer trips to the door, the better. They volition deliver your groceries wherever yous want. Initially, I had them drop off in the kitchen, but it kind of weirded me out, so at present I simply stop at the door. I don't heed taking everything the last 10 feet.

The commuter will allow you know if anything you've ordered is sold out. This does occasionally happen. When you're placing your society, you can choose whether y'all want substitutions or not for sold out items. Yous're never charged for something that isn't bachelor. Information technology's a little irritating if y'all absolutely NEEDED the detail that doesn't arrive, but it'due south a minor inconvenience. Near of the time, I get everything I guild.

When you sign for your delivery, you're also signing for your payment. At that time, you tin choose to add a tip. I typically exercise tip my drivers, as I feel they take certainly earned it with the stairs they accept to climb to my front door. Also, they saved me the problem of dealing with the store myself, so I appreciate it. I tend to get with 10%; others take formulas for a $one/bag, only I've plant that Peapod is particularly free with numberless and, oftentimes, you'll observe that you have way more bags than you would have normally used if you bagged your own lodge. (Don't worry, though: the drivers will take them back at their next visit. This makes information technology so piece of cake to recycle them!)

What I similar nigh:

  • This has go the all-time budgeting tool in my arsenal. I can hands come across how much I'm spending before I cheque out, and then I can adapt items in my cart accordingly. I've never been very adept at that while shopping in a grocery store. No embarrassing requests to remove an item after the cashier has tallied it all!
  • I can copy my concluding order into the cart for the adjacent, so afterwards the initial prepare-up, it'southward very quick and easy to complete an lodge.
  • Peapod too keeps track of the items you regularly guild, which you tin can reference for like shooting fish in a barrel reordering or checking on specials for the things you use.
  • You can shop any time of day. Wake up at 2AM and remember you're out of carbohydrate? Add it to the cart! Grab the last bagel on your way to work? Add it to the cart! It's perfect for busy lifestyles.
  • No parking lots!!! One of my anxieties involves parking lots and finding the perfect infinite. I put more than idea into this than near, I'm sure, but it'south my thing and I'm okay with that. What's even better, though, is non having to run the parking lot boxing plans through my head at all. My car is safe and secure in the garage–no worries!
  • Yous tin can nevertheless use coupons–and they double them! On height of the specials already offered through the app, drivers will take manufacturers' coupons, which are then credited to your account for future orders.

What I'yard not and so fond of:

  • Y'all have to plan ahead. There's no same-day commitment and correct now, at 3PM on a Friday, I can't get a Sat delivery, either. Nigh of the time, 24 hours is sufficient, only that means no last-infinitesimal additions to your social club.
  • I accept to make sure my business firm is somewhat presentable. I don't often have people over and there are four of u.s.a., plus three guinea pigs. My standards have been…lowered by having children. I worry sometimes that the drivers are judging me. I'm certain they've seen worse, though.
  • After the initial trial period, you will have to pay for deliveries. Peapod rewards you for larger orders with a cheaper delivery fee, but you lot're all the same going to pay. It'south $9.95 for orders $threescore-$100 and $6.95 for orders over $100. (The minimum order is $60.) In that location is likewise a fuel surcharge added on top of this, which, as of today, is $0.20. When you add that to the tip, information technology starts to get a picayune pricey. Choice-up is much cheaper at $2.95 and no tip, but and so you have to drive there, park, hope nobody dents your automobile, etc., etc., etc. I don't meet the reward.

Is information technology worth it?

That's hard for me to say. Most weeks, I would say it is. When I endeavor to go rogue and store in a store again, I find myself spending way more than I wanted to and I invariably buy things I didn't need. Peapod certainly limits the impulse buys. The trade-off is that you also miss out on new products. With the tunnel vision of placing your regular social club, you may non wander over to the New Arrivals screen. And without the opportunity to impact and see them in existent life, they may not exist every bit interesting to yous.

That said, I found Peapod to be invaluable when I was sick. And also when my anxiety made it hard to get out in public. As well on weeks when I was likewise busy to deal with an hr or then strolling around the grocery store. And let'southward not forget–waiting in line for checkout tin make y'all experience like you've lost years on your life. There is definitely a place for Peapod in my world, even if it's not every week.

Interested in trying out Peapod yourself?

Y'all tin get 60 days Gratis delivery and $20 off your first order with my code! {affiliate link}
https://peapod.extole/com/s/Carrie31