You may never have to step foot in a supermarket this holiday season
Throwing a holiday party, but don’t have the muscles (or time) to lug all that eggnog from the grocery store? This is NYC: Have it delivered. There are tons of services in the city that’ll bring your provisions right to your door. But which one is best? We've tried them out and are here to report:
FreshDirect
Price: There’s a $5.99 delivery fee across the five boroughs, or it’s $12.99 for a one-month DeliveryPass that allows for unlimited deliveries.
The lowdown: These days, FreshDirect—which was the first food-delivery service in NYC—has a slew of local products, including local produce and locally made ice cream, and has become more responsible in terms of packaging, meaning you’ll no longer get a single orange in a cardboard box.
The experience: It's only marginally more expensive than Fairway. And you’ll probably actually save money using FreshDirect because you won’t do as much impulse shopping as you would in a brick-and-mortar store. Plus, the customer service is great—if you’re ever unsatisfied with a product, they’ll simply credit you back.
Bottom line: Worth the extra cost of delivery. Just be sure that you book well enough in advance or risk not finding a free delivery slot when you need it. This is a busy season! (And weekends and after-work hours are always most popular.)
Price: Delivery fees range from $3.99 to $9.99 depending on the size of your order and whether you want it within the hour.
The lowdown: You place your order for groceries at a real grocery store, and a personal shopper finds each item and brings it to your apartment. The shopper can even text you if something you’ve requested is out of stock to see if you want a replacement.
The experience: Having the option to have goods delivered from places like Fairway, Costco or Whole Foods directly to your home in the middle of nowhere in Brooklyn is nothing short of miraculous. But the site suggests tipping your personal shopper as much as a waiter in a restaurant—which can add a considerable amount to your bill.
Bottom line: Convenient, but it can get pricey.
Price: Minimum order is $60, plus a $9.95 delivery fee for anything up to $100. Above that, it’s $6.95 for delivery. Alternatively, you can pick up your items yourself from a few available locations and you only pay $2.95.
The lowdown: Peapod is part of Stop & Shop, so using the service is essentially like shopping in the store.
The experience: It feels pretty much like shopping at Stop & Shop, with well-stocked shelves that hold everything from antacid to water filters.
Bottom line: A reliable addition to your online rotation.
Price: Varies depending on what your order, but prices are competitive with local markets and FreshDirect.
The lowdown: This flash delivery service targets lower Manhattanites.
The experience: Great selection of food, drugs and household items. Adding stuff to your cart is simple, and delivery is quick—usually within an hour.
Bottom line: If you want your items delivered yesterday, this is the service for you.
For more, read “FreshDirect, Instacart, Peapod or Max Delivery? Find out which grocery-delivery service is best for you.”
In Case You Missed It: Every so often, BrickUnderground digs through the archives to find the best advice our experts have shared through the years.
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