By Kelly Youngblood
Several local chain retailers now offer home delivery service, which means you can get your groceries, toiletries, and yes, even your favorite cocktails delivered right to your front door in as little as an hour.
Schnucks, Binny’s Beverage Depot and CVS Pharmacy have teamed up with a national online shopping and delivery network company, Instacart, to bring the service to Champaign-Urbana area residents.
In a press release sent last month, Dave Osborne, Instacart general manager, said: “Over the past year we’ve seen incredible demand in the Champaign-Urbana area. We work with a variety of local retailers to provide the freshest, highest quality groceries to our customers. Launching our service into the Champaign-Urbana area gives us an opportunity to expand service in the Illinois market.”
Instacart will service many zip codes in the area including: 61820, 61801, 61821, 61802, 61874, 61822, 61880, and 61875. When you go to Instacart.com, just enter your zip code to see if delivery is available in your area.
There are some limits to the delivery service though. Schnucks will not deliver alcohol and CVS won’t deliver alcohol or prescriptions.
How it Works
Customers go online to www.Instacart.com or open the Instacart mobile app on their iPhone or Android device, select their city/store, add items to a virtual cart, then choose a delivery window and check out. Delivery is offered within one hour, two hours, or up to a week in advance.
First time users can enter the code HICHAM25 (expires Nov. 1, 2017) at checkout to get $25 off an order of $35 or more, plus a free first time delivery.
Delivery charges vary per order. For a single order of $35 or more, a two-hour delivery is $5.99 and a one-hour delivery is $9.99. For a $10-$34.99 order, a two-hour delivery is $7.99. Subscription services are also available.
For more information about the service, go to www.instacart.com.
Meijer to Offer Similar Service
Meijer is partnering with a different delivery company called Shipt to offer same-day service to the Champaign-Urbana area beginning Aug. 24.
Customers order from the app and get groceries, home essentials and more delivered in as little as an hour. (Alcohol delivery only available in Michigan.)
For more information, go to www.shipt.com/meijer/.