Everyone seems to use Amazon nowadays, but are you familiar with Amazon Fresh? It’s Amazon’s brick and mortar grocery store. There are only 64 locations nationwide, but they’re strategically placed and are increasing in number. I got a free trial. Here’s how it’s going (hint: I’m using the service a lot!).
Free Trial Offer During Amazon Prime Days
Amazon Prime Days occur during July each year. During this year’s event, I took advantage of an offer for a free three-month trial of free grocery delivery for orders over $25 from Amazon Fresh. I don’t usually sign up for trial offers because I’m afraid I will have trouble cancelling them, but Amazon makes it easy. I’ve never had trouble navigating their subscription services and cancelling on time.
Delivery and In-Store Shopping and Pick-Up Options
Anyone can shop in Amazon Fresh stores. Amazon Prime members receive special discounts, similar to other supermarket chain’s membership cards that entitle you to lower prices. Prime members also get free grocery pickup on orders over a certain amount.
Grocery delivery is only free for Prime members on orders over $100. Less than that, and it’ll cost you at least $9.95 for grocery delivery. You can choose from 2-hour and 1-hour delivery windows. For quicker delivery, you can opt to pay more.
To get grocery delivery on orders over $25, you can sign up for their grocery delivery service. It’s about $10 per month, depending on whether you pay for a full year or monthly, and whether you have any other special discounts.
The Expected Benefit: Convenience Without a Car
The convenience of Amazon Fresh grocery delivery service is wonderful for my household. We don’t own a car, so it is nice to have groceries delivered to our front doorstep. I get most of my food through Walmart Plus InHome for most groceries, and through frequent walks to a nearby ethnic store for produce.
With Amazon Fresh, I’ve been able to get watermelons regularly this summer. They’re something I prefer not to get from Walmart, as quality varies, and they’re too heavy to carry home from a supermarket. They’ve been excellent, and my son loves having so much watermelon.
It’s also been nice having narrow delivery windows. When I can schedule a delivery within a 1 or 2-hour window, it’s far easier for me to order frozen foods. Other services often have a four-hour delivery window.
The App Works, But Not Perfectly
Finally, the app works, just like you’d expect from Amazon. It’s easy to navigate. And, when you load coupons to your wallet, it’s a seamless process and the discounts appear as they should when you’re checking out.
A drawback is that I’ve been unable to edit my order after checking out, even though it says I should be able to. Somehow, it won’t save my changes, so I’m in effect unable to make changes.
An Amazon Benefit: Dependability
Amazon has fabulous customer service, and their grocery delivery service has been consistent with that pattern. They deliver within the scheduled delivery window. Products are high-quality. And, products are largely correct. I rarely have to spend my time with customer service trying to get a refund, which is different from other services I’ve tried.
An Unexpected Benefit: Prices
I hadn’t realized how many low-cost items Amazon Fresh has. If you’re buying national brand items, they’re often lower in cost than at other stores. If you’re able to find the product in Amazon Brand (such as Happy Belly, Amazon Saver, and any of their other in-house brands), it’s sure to be high-quality and low in price.
For the best deals, check in often! Prices can vary widely from day to day. And, they’re not always advertised in the sales flyer.
In the past week, I’ve found these deals.
- Pepperidge Farms Goldfish for $1.15 for 6 ounces
- Happy Belly Dijon mustard for $0.85 for 12 ounces
- Yellow and white nectarines for $0.79 per pound
- Cucumbers $0.29 each
- Jennie-O turkey bacon for $2.99 for 12 ounces
- Amazon Fresh canned condensed tomato soup for $0.69 for 10 ounces
For more savings, I use my Amazon credit card through Chase. It gives me 5% cash back on Amazon purchases.
Not a Fan of Tips
Amazon Fresh asks you to tip. Of course I do it. I understand that it’s how the delivery drivers make a higher wage. But I don’t like the concept of tipping. I would much prefer to be charged a price that includes the driver’s wage and doesn’t require a discretionary tip.
When I use Walmart Plus InHome, I don’t have to pay a tip. That’s because I pay an extra annual fee for the InHome service compared to standard Walmart Plus. It makes my shopping and calculations easier.
I also don’t like how Amazon Fresh inputs a default tip amount of $5. That’s 20% for a $25 order or 5% for a $100 order. Does that make any sense?!
I do like that you can edit the tip for up to 24 hours after the order has been delivered.
Items Are Out of Stock
Amazon Fresh items are constantly playing musical chairs. They’re in stock, out of stock, and in stock again. It makes it hard to plan ahead. Sometimes I place an order even though one or more of the items I wanted aren’t in stock.
Sometimes they’ll come back into stock at great prices, and I’ll feel pressured to place an order quickly before they go out of stock, but I don’t need $25 worth of items. It’s a theme I’ve also noticed when physically shopping in Amazon Fresh stores; it’s rare that I come away with every item on my list, even when my list only includes items in the weekly sales flyer.
Bottom Line: Love It, But Won’t Renew
I have been enjoying the Amazon Fresh delivery service. I’ve been getting items like watermelon that are otherwise difficult for me to bring home. Many foods have been inexpensive. And, it’s been easier for me to purchase frozen items.
Thankfully, I’m in a position where I don’t have to renew the service (and pay for it). I am lucky enough to get what I need from Walmart and stores within walking distance – including Amazon Fresh! We have one less than a mile from our home.
Interestingly, it seems as though Amazon is increasing the selection of groceries, including some produce and frozen goods, that it makes available through its “same day delivery” service for orders over $25. I am excited to see how that plays out.
How do you do your grocery shopping? Where do you shop? Do you drive, walk, or use delivery services? Which stores do you shop?
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