My local Vons keeps sending me $20 off coupons if I use their delivery service. I've tried; 3 times. All failures.
First, their UI is confusing. I didn't realize at first that I could specify—for each item—if I would accept a substitution or not. And I got about 70% of my order right, 15% wrong, and 15% missing.
The second time, I diligently went through each item in my cart and set my substitution preference. This is another fail. The choices are (1) No substitutions; (2) substitute with same brand, different size; or (3) substitute with different brand, same size.
What I would like is “(4) Cancel the entire order if you can't fulfill this item” and “(5) These x items are all-or-none” But that's a logistical nightmare I assume. They're not going to have the pickers drop the cart as soon as they realize they can't find item #23 on my list. Nor can they criss-cross the store verifying the must-haves before moving on with the rest of the list.
And the failures are not just missing items. Substitution preferences are subjective and personal. On my first order, they didn't have Diet Coke. So I got regular Coke instead. When I got wise to setting the preferences, it still resulted in getting the chips, but no dip.
Perfect, real-time inventory won't solve this. I can order an item that's in stock, then get "front-run" by a shopper who's actually in the store.
FWIW, I have these issues regardless if it's Instacart or Vons' own delivery personnel (They use both). And I don't blame the picker one bit. I used to shop for my Dad when he could no longer drive. He was just as disappointed with my results as I am with theirs :)
First, their UI is confusing. I didn't realize at first that I could specify—for each item—if I would accept a substitution or not. And I got about 70% of my order right, 15% wrong, and 15% missing.
The second time, I diligently went through each item in my cart and set my substitution preference. This is another fail. The choices are (1) No substitutions; (2) substitute with same brand, different size; or (3) substitute with different brand, same size.
What I would like is “(4) Cancel the entire order if you can't fulfill this item” and “(5) These x items are all-or-none” But that's a logistical nightmare I assume. They're not going to have the pickers drop the cart as soon as they realize they can't find item #23 on my list. Nor can they criss-cross the store verifying the must-haves before moving on with the rest of the list.
And the failures are not just missing items. Substitution preferences are subjective and personal. On my first order, they didn't have Diet Coke. So I got regular Coke instead. When I got wise to setting the preferences, it still resulted in getting the chips, but no dip.
Perfect, real-time inventory won't solve this. I can order an item that's in stock, then get "front-run" by a shopper who's actually in the store.
FWIW, I have these issues regardless if it's Instacart or Vons' own delivery personnel (They use both). And I don't blame the picker one bit. I used to shop for my Dad when he could no longer drive. He was just as disappointed with my results as I am with theirs :)