Hello Friends!
Happy Friday! I hope you’ve had a wonderful week!
This year has proven to be a difficult year, am I right? Who would have thought yeast and toilet paper would become a hot commodity in the earlier months of the Pandemic?
At the beginning of the Safer-at-Home order in Los Angeles, we had issues getting groceries. Getting to the grocery store and waiting in line to enter proved to be more inconvenient than we anticipated. Considering parking is always an issue here in Downtown LA, we completely relied on getting our groceries and meats delivered. To be fair, we always have leveraged deliveries prior to the Pandemic, especially when we moved to Downtown LA. It was just more convenient for us.
Prior to the Pandemic, we have always utilized Amazon Fresh and Amazon Prime Now for majority of our groceries (and some of our meats). Amazon Fresh used to be a separate membership fee, but they have integrated that into your regular Amazon Prime membership. However, it’s not available in some cities. We used to live in Rancho Cucamonga and it was not available there. I’m not sure if that has changed since their acquisition of Whole Foods.
I know many people have major hesitation when it comes to having someone else shop for their groceries, especially when it comes to the fresh produce and meats. I can honestly say that I have never had any issues with receiving poorly picked items. Of course, it’s going to be a different experience than you going to the grocery store to pick out your own bananas or your own watermelon, but the convenience outweighs that sometimes.
Amazon Prime Now uses your existing Amazon Prime account, but it is a separate app. The availability depends on your zip code. They used to offer restaurant deliveries as well, similar to Postmates, GrubHub, and Caviar. However, they have discontinued that for maybe a year now?Amazon Prime Now and Amazon Fresh have similar logistics as Instacart. You are able to get groceries delivered with 2-hour windows, if available.
Amazon Fresh offers selection between Amazon and Whole Foods combined, with a minimum of $35 for free delivery. Amazon Prime Now offers selections from Amazon, Whole Foods, or Mission Wine & Spirits, separately. Also, a $35 minimum for free delivery. Pick up is also available for Amazon Prime Now. If you chose items from Amazon and items from Whole Foods through Amazon Prime Now, then each of those carts must meet the $35 minimum for free delivery. This is when ordering from Amazon Fresh would be more convenient as that would be just a $35 minimum for free delivery altogether. I would usually shop between the two platforms/apps—depending on the availability for delivery as well as the availability for the products.
During the months of March through May this year, it was absolutely impossible to get a delivery slot for either applications. That’s when I switched over to InstaCart. My first order placed with InstaCart allowed me to pick a delivery slot a week from the time I placed the order. That’s how incredibly insane it was to get groceries then!
On InstaCart, depending on your location, you have access to many different stores such as Costco, Sprouts, Gelson’s, Smart & Final and so many more. Everything except Trader Joe’s…they’re not on any application that I’m aware of. There is not a membership fee associated with InstaCart, you just have to have a profile. If you are not a member, then you have to pay for a shipping fee which is usually $3.99 plus a service fee (similar to restaurant delivery apps). I opt to pay for the shipping fee since I utilize Amazon Fresh and Amazon Prime now more often than InstaCart. Get $10 and free delivery from Instacart! Use my code: G15B9F91BD or this link! *Referral Link*
For meats, I opt for Butcher Box. I’ve been using them for several years now and absolutely love it. They are a meat delivery service that allows you to pick one of their curated boxes, or customize your box. They have member specials each month as well as holiday specials (i.e. turkey, prime rib/rib roasts, lamb chops, etc.). They are committed to premium meats: “100% grass-fed and grass-finished beef, heritage breed pork, free-range organic chicken.” Their classic curated boxes start at $129 per month and contains 8-11lbs of meat, which comes out to approximately 24 individual meals. They recently started offering a Big Box selection for $238 per month and contains 16-22 lbs of meat totaling to approximately 28 individual meals. Custom boxes start at $149 per month for 9-14lbs of meat. With each box you can add-on more meats. The specific cuts per box and add ons will vary depending on your region and availability.
I personally love their breakfast sausage, bacon, chicken thighs and filet mignon. They’ll have special add-ons from time to time such as larger portions of their beef patties, scallops, salmon, and most recently lobster! Get $15 off your first box by clicking here! *Referral Link*
I hope this brings you some perspective for getting groceries and meats delivered. It’s totally worth it, especially if you do not live close to a grocery store.
There are so many options out there, but these are the four services that I utilize regularly and absolutely love them! I hope you give them a try!
XOXO,
Karmen
Darling My Dearest 
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