Peapod Review – Online Grocery Shopping Made Easy

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Isn’t grocery shopping a huge time suck?

You pack the family in the car, go to the grocer and deal with the kids running around, stand on line, then drive back to unload groceries.  If you’re like me, odds are this is done on the weekend which is the closest you have to free time.

What’s the alternative?  Peapod.

Check out more in our Peapod review below.

Peapod is an online service (through Stop & Shop) that all allows you to shop online for your groceries. They put together your order and deliver it to you.  Simple and efficient.

Here are the basics of Peapod grocery shopping…

Browse through the “aisles” or search for items (if you have a Stop & Shop card you can enter your membership number and it will show you items you have shopped for before).  As you find the items you want, add then to your cart.

Peapod carries many popular and in-store brands as well as their own fresh bakery, platters for entertaining, ready-to-cook meals, a selection of natural/organic items, and even a stock of national a local beers (mmm).  As you shop you can compare items and check out the nutritional labels to see if the food fits your dietary needs.

Peapod also features sales and deals on select items every week.  There are even coupons you can download and clip.

Did you say coupons?  I can use coupons?

Yes, you can use coupons.

Besides the coupons you can find on the site you can also use manufacturers coupons.  In fact, Peapod will double all valid manufacturers coupons up to $.99 in value.

“But how do I put the coupons in the computer,” you might ask?

What you do is put all of the coupons you are applying in a sealed envelope with your name and order number on it and give it to your driver when your order is delivered.  Note: the coupons get applied after your order has been processed (paid for).  Coupons totaling over $1.00 will credit back to your payment method (credit card, etc…).  Coupons totaling under $1.00 will be credited to your next order.

How do I get the stuff?

You can have your order delivered anytime from the next day to up to two weeks in advance (provided the time slot is open).  For the next morning you need to have your order complete by 3PM.  For the next afternoon, your order need to be finished by 11:59PM.  To choose a delivery time, go to the Delivery Times tab and choose what works best for you. Tip: Reserve your delivery time before you start your order to make sure the time slot is available.

Sounds great, but what does it cost?

For orders over $100 the fee is $6.95.  Orders under $100 are $9.95.  The minimum to order is $60.

If you are flexible with your times, you can save money by picking select lots which help Peapod consolidate orders in your area.

Where do they deliver?

Peapod delivers to the following areas/cities: Chicagoland, Milwaukee, S.E. Wisconsin, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia area, Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia (check your zip code on the site to make sure they deliver by you).

Refer A Friend

Peapod has a program where they will give you a $10 credit after your referred friend makes their first order.  You give Peapod your friend’s email and they send a message about shopping with Peapod.  Your friend then enters your email when they make their first order.

Upromise

Peapod is affiliated with Upromise so when you shop your purchases can count towards college savings (they might even have their own special deals to check out for Peapod).

Promotional codes

Right now if you use the promotional code: CJN10 you can get $10 off your first order!  This code lasts through Dec. 2011.

If you’re in NYC, use: NYCJ15 for $15 OFF First Order – Good for Manhattan (New York) — Goog through 12/31/11.

In the Philadelphia area, use: AFFL20 for $20 OFF First Order (this area is served by Giant).

There is also a promotion for free delivery for the first 60 days after your first delivery (you get the code after your first order has been delivered).  Check the site for details.

Who should use Peapod?

If your time is tight and you don’t mind the delivery fee (and really, time is money) then this service may be great for you.

I have a friend who runs his own business.  If he’s not out working then he’s home dealing with clients and doing behind the scenes work.  He swears by Peapod!  The time it takes for him to go out shopping can be time preparing for jobs or acquiring new clients.  It’s well worth the fee for him.

Are you one to go food shopping, even with a detailed list, and still end up getting a ton of extra items on impulse?  With Peapod you can use their Express Shop service or pull up previous orders to only buy what you need to.  Eliminating all the extra impulse buys can save you a ton!

Of course you need to make sure Peapod carries the items you would otherwise buy.  If you tend to shop at more specialty markets then Peapod might not have what you require.

Sign up for Peapod here and and get back your valuable time!

Have you used Peapod?  What do you think of it?

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