Groceries for $200, Alex

Two years ago the largest grocery store chain in Maine started offering "to go" service, where you place an order for groceries online and have the store deliver them to your car at a designated time. I laughed at the number of parking spots, usually empty, set aside at the store we use most often. I thought the service had value for busy families with hectic schedules, but I didn't think I would ever use it.

Then COVID-19 came to Maine. Ordering groceries online seemed like a smart idea.

So mid-March I put together a list, figured out how to navigate the website, filled a virtual cart, and requested a pick-up time (a slot). The first available slot was four days away, and you are able to edit your cart until the day of pick up. I continued to add items as I thought of them. I figured I wasn't going through this process every week and decided to stock up.

It was a good plan. Many people thought so. The stores who offer "to go" have been overwhelmed with orders and had trouble keeping shelves stocked for walk-in customers, too. My plan went bust the night before my pick-up day ~ I received an email announcing the end of "to go" until the end of March. The stores just couldn't keep up with demand.

Luckily there is a smaller store in the same chain just eleven miles from me. The store is not on the interstate or in a large town, and they don't offer a to-go service. The hour from 6 to 7 on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings is set aside for seniors, and for the first time ever I took advantage of membership in that group. The store was not busy, the shelves were well stocked, and the clerks were wonderful. I was grateful to have such easy access to groceries.

However, I didn't give up on "to go" at the larger store. There are items not available at the smaller store and, while the stores are taking every possible precaution, I liked the idea of not having to enter the building. I modified the list I had created weeks earlier and applied for a slot. The procedure has been modified so that slots are made available for just two days at a time, and they fill up fast. Just after midnight Thursday night I landed a slot for Saturday afternoon. I continued to edit my cart and received notices that several items were not available. I agreed to accept substitutions. I decided to look at the whole experience as an adventure, something like a game show where I didn't know what the prize would be.

I was a bit nervous when I pulled into the parking spot reserved for to-go customers Saturday afternoon. The directions for the entire process had been outlined in an email, and the number to call to announce my arrival was posted on a sign in the parking lot. I made the call, selected option 1, and talked to a woman who explained the no-contact process to pay and how the bags would be loaded into my car. Everything went off without a hitch. It was easier than I thought it would be.

I ordered over $200 worth of food, and the final bill came to just over $149. The basics were covered; and potato chips can be found at the gas station. I will keep trying to find hot dogs because grilling season has started. I am not alone in the search for flour, yeast, and pasta.

The smaller store is still an option...if I set my alarm;)