Garden Grocer v Instacart

[Diamond Dot]

I used Garden Grocer for many years to have basic groceries delivered to my resort, last trip I used Instacart and after a mix up, which I was partly to blame for, I had a great experience. That was in September 2019.
Well, today I started my grocery order on Instacart, ready to place an order to be delivered on my first full day there, I got a coupon for $20 off an order of $50 or more, easily achieved, but out of curiousity I decided to check out Garden Grocer again. I only needed to look at one item, Publix Spring Water 24x16.9 oz bottles. Instacart was $5.09. Garden Grocer-$11.54!!! I expect the smaller operation to add a little on, but, more than double!!! How do they still have customers when it costs so much more. I looked at the reviews and everyone was a 5 star. Not one mentioned how much extra the groceries cost.
It's not only Disney having a laugh with prices it would appear.

 

[correcaminos]

I know many love GG but I haven't wanted to give them business in years due to their pricing. Even Disney items were cheaper and that was before any AP or DVC discount. I have had great luck with instacart both at Disney and at home. I think GG has a strong following from years ago and that keeps them. Or they have less clients and that is why prices are insane!

 

[Diamond Dot]

I know many love GG but I haven't wanted to give them business in years due to their pricing. Even Disney items were cheaper and that was before any AP or DVC discount. I have had great luck with instacart both at Disney and at home. I think GG has a strong following from years ago and that keeps them. Or they have less clients and that is why prices are insane!

The thing is, they shop at Publix, they don't own a warehouse or have any real overheads, all they need is a car with gas, a website and people to go shopping when needed, they don't do any of the offers that the supermarkets are doing. I ordered Dr Pepper 6 pack, at the moment it's buy one get one free at Publix as are some of the cereal brands, which Instacart is honoring, so not only is GG more expensive you don't get the freebie and I bet the GG shopper may see that BOGOF and either not put the free one in for the customer, but, who is to say they don't see the freebie as a perk for them, after all you never get the actual Publix receipt, just a print out of what you ordered. Call me cynical, but, when they charge more than double for an item when all they are doing is going shopping and their delivery charges (and tips) really add up I'm surprised they are still in business when there is such strong competition. I believe in loyalty, but, I still put my own wallet first.

 

[jaklgreen]

Garden Grocer started in a time before all of these other grocery delivery companies existed. They had pretty much dominated grocery delivery to WDW and it made them greedy, IMO. Their prices are outrageous. I am surprised that people still use them at those prices with all of the other options now. I think that there are still a lot of people that don't normally use grocery delivery in their day to day life and only use it at WDW. So if someone does a search for grocery delivery at WDW and GG comes up with great reviews, I think that some people don't really pay attention or know that they can get it much cheaper somewhere else. This is all just human behavior speculation. I am as baffled as you are how anyone uses their services at those prices. I rather rent a car for the day and get it myself. My husband and I actually took rideshare to the store and it still came out cheaper then what GG would have charged us.

 

[Diamond Dot]

What get's me is that it is a huge difference and it's not as if Instacart is a well kept secret.

 

[NelleBelle]

We used amazon when we were there last year since we could get free delivery, otherwise we, too, would've used instacart (we actually use it a fair bit at home). I was floored when I saw the prices that GG was charging! I totally agree that they take advantage of those who don't use delivery services at home and aren't savvy about using them at WDW, otherwise I don't know how they stay in business.

 

[ToInfinity]

We just went and tried Shipt through Target for the first time, and LOVED it. We just placed the order and selected when we wanted it delivered to the resort. You get a personal shopper and they are so nice and will text you to ask questions about preferences, out of stock items, etc. You get text updates throughout the process and it was delivered to bell services. The proper things were kept cold also. It just cost $10 extra from a normal grocery visit (if you went in to Target yourself). We will definitely be using this from now on!

 

[Sans Souci]

I used to use Garden Grocer, but this was life pre-Instacart. I think the last time I used them was 2016. I used to order a lot perishables and produce through them. I've been using Instacart for my last 2 post-pandemic trips. I get my order in 90 minutes and the shoppers down there seem nicer than the NJ shoppers. The last shopper I had spotted a BOGO for something I'd ordered. It was a slightly smaller quantity, but the BOGO made up for it and it was cheaper than what I'd originally ordered. I meet them under the porte cochere, get my groceries and stick them in the fridge.

 

[Diamond Dot]

I messed up my Instacart order the last time because I had a flight from LA that was supposed to get in at around 4pm and booked delivery for 6pm and ended up not getting in until nearly midnight after a flight time change. I got off the plane to text messages galore from the Instacart shopper and because they got no response and I hadn't checked in when they tried to deliver my order they were told I wasn't there they cancelled it and charged me $15 as in the agreement. I mentioned it to the CM as I checked in and he refunded me that $15 even though I was only having a tired grumpy old woman gripe, not criticising anyone. Lesson learned and I placed an order the next day that arrived within 2 hours of that order, Wilfredo texted me regularly to let me know how things were going and my order was perfect, including the BOGOFs. If I couldn't do Instacart I would get a bus to Publix in Celebration, do my own shopping and get a Lyft back to my resort than pay GG prices.

 

[Snow Queen 83]

I'm too paranoid to use either. I usually just go to Walmart on the first day of the trip.