As I was thinking about my return home from Virginia over the weekend, I quickly realized a few things 1) There was no fresh food in my refrigerator 2) I desperately needed to get back on a healthier track when it came to my meals.
Denver also had a massive cold spell (which we’re still experiencing). Temperatures have sat well below the freezing mark and have even reached -19, a record for Denver this time of year! So, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to take advantage of Walmart’s Grocery To Go service. #walmartgrocery
Today, I’m going to give you the inside scoop on how the process works and how it worked for me!
So Easy to Use
From the convenience of my tablet and from my brother’s house in Virginia, I logged onto the grocery portal and began filling my basket. Much like any online shopping experience, I was able to utilize the search tool to find all my favorite grocery items.
I did quite a bit of menu planning over the holidays, so I knew exactly which ingredients I needed to make my planned dishes. For example, I needed salsa verde. When I plugged that into the search tool, it brought back lots of different brands and all the prices, so I could shop just like I was in the store! Easy-peazy!
I ran through my list quickly, finding all of the products I was looking for and excited to set up delivery. You have to be present to receive your delivery, so I scheduled it to arrive on Tuesday morning between 10am-12pm.
From the final checkout screen, I was able to mark which items I would be ok with substitutions for. Most items, I was pretty flexible with… however, for soup flavors and frozen dinners, I marked those as non-negotiables. My noting this in my order, Wal-Mart agreed to remove the items from my order if they weren’t available. Again, super easy.
Taking Delivery of My Order
On Tuesday morning at about 9am, I got a call from the delivery guy telling me he was ahead of his delivery schedule and asking if it would be ok if he came by early. Um, of course!
When he arrived, I opened the door letting in some of the single-digit temps and was again thrilled that I’d chosen this service for delivery. He first handed me my receipt, clarifying which items were unavailable (only my garlic and herb Laughing Cow cheese) and which items had been substituted (only the butter lettuce.)
Afterward, he set off to gather my bags from the refrigerated truck! Please note how COLD it is out there. Thanks again, Jack!
The groceries were delivered in plastic bags, just like I’d receive them at the store. I quickly began to unload them, marveling at the fact that I once again had ingredients in my house to make healthy meals. Thanks, Walmart!
A Few Recommendations from a First-Timer
- Clarify Your Substitution List: I was surprised that I received an alternate bag of lettuce in place of my beloved butter lettuce. While the Extra Veggie Salad is delicious, I was under the impression it would just be a like for like substitution. If you’re finicky about lettuce or any other item, mark the “no subtitutions” checkbox to be safe.
- Consider Veggies and Meats: If your someone who likes to examine ever bit of your produce and meats, consider that you will not have the opportunity to do this. While Walmart will choose the best in their eyes for your delivery, if this is something you’re worried about, you may wish to skip this type of purchase. I only picked bagged lettuce for that reason, and ordered mostly non-perishable items. The meats I received were beautiful. No complaints whatsoever!
- Pay Close Attention to Product Descriptions: This being my first time to order, I made a mistake and received something unexpected! I’m planning to make my first macaroons soon, so I needed shredded coconut. I accidentally ordered the frozen kind! Now, keep in mind, I didn’t even know they made frozen… but apparently they do! In the store, I would have figured this out, just another surprise/lesson learned from ordering online.
All in all, Walmart’s Grocery to Go service was SO convenient that I would highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for an easy-to-use online grocer. For me, it was such a help to get me back on track when I got back from the indulgent holidays. I’m excited to get cooking in the kitchen with all my new ingredients. Stay tuned for some fun recipes in upcoming weeks!
To see if Walmart Grocery to Go is available in your area, click here. Note: If you order from Walmart Grocery to Go, you’ll earn a $15 reward from using my referral link. And, if you refer friends, you can earn another $15 per friend! Awesome rewards, right?
Disclosure: As a participant in the Walmart Grocery to Go program, I’ve received a personal invite and payment for my time and efforts in creating this post.