Great service, better-than-average product.
Written: Sep 26 '05 (Updated Sep 30 '05)
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I noticed the wide range of experiences people have posted for Peapod, so I thought I'd add my own.
Firstly, I'd like to make note that Peapod, while an online store, has local branches that are run by different managers. It's entirely possible that the difference between a great experience and a poor one is the manager of your local branch. I live in an area that spans southeastern WI and northeastern IL, and so far have had very few problems, and all have been satisfactorily resolved by Peapod's customer service.
As far as the product is concerned, I'd say it's about what you'd get at any local grocery store; in some cases a little better. The produce is incredible - for example, I ordered green grapes a few times. These grapes were beautiful, sweet, and easily the size of the first joint of my thumb - and I have big hands. They also have a pretty good selection of all-natural and organic foods, if that's your bag. Rarely you'll get something that is either already bad or goes bad quickly, just like at a regular store. I haven't ever recieved an item that was obviously bad from looking at it, and each time I called customer service they fixed the problem with either a credit or a refund. On one occasion I recieved both the credit and a replacement item on my next order for free.
Prices are acceptable - they tend to be just slightly more expensive than your normal store, but I put that down to the cost of convenience. I'm talking usually less than 50 cents more on average, and they will often have sales that beat the local stores hands down.
Customer service has always been great for me. On the phone they are very polite (perhaps because I don't get confrontational about things, draw more flies with honey and what not) and are always willing to resolve my complaints or concerns. Our normal driver, Ivan, knows my wife and daughter by name, always greets them with a big, friendly smile, and is very courteous and helpful. The drivers carry everything into the house and place it whereever you'd like it - everything but put it away for you.
The website is *very* easy to navigate - you can browse by item type like in the aisles at a regular grocery store, sort things by price or by unit price (beat that, brick and mortar stores! I was really surprised to find out that Raisin Bran is less expensive per ounce than Rice Krispies), or you can even type in your shopping list and be as vague or precise as you like (cereal, Kellogg's cereal, or 15 oz. Corn Flakes). They provide a recipe section for ideas (currently chicken and bell pepper fajitas and spaghetti with fall herbs). They automatically save all of your previous orders as lists that you can use to reorder items, or you can create special lists of items you frequently purchase - I have a list called Every Order that has things like milk, bread, creamer for my wife's coffee, etc. I've never had to spend half an hour hunting an odd item down on Peapod like I've done at the grocery store (hasn't everybody?).
All in all - I'd say give it a shot at least once or twice. My wife was very skeptical when I first ordered from them - now she raves about Peapod any time the subject of groceries comes up!
-----------UPDATE-------------
Got another order from Peapod yesterday afternoon (right smack in the middle of my delivery window - props for being very on time), which pretty much bore out what I said in my original review. I had two problems with my order; they forgot a can of bread crumbs, and didn't apply their online coupon to $1 off three cans of pork n' beans.
Yeah, I bought pork n' beans.
Anyway, I got home from work around 7pm, and my wife pointed out the missing bread crumbs. I went through the neatly printed and organized receipt, determined we weren't missing anything else, but spotted the missing coupon credit.
I called Peapod's customer service, pointed out the errors, and the rep cheerfully credited me $2.99 - $1.99 for the bread crumbs and the missing dollar coupon. Since I had elected to pay with plastic rather than a check, the credit would be applied before they charged my card (which, by the way, usually doesn't happen until a day or two after your order is delivered). The entire conversation with the rep took probably less than 5 minutes, with no hold time.
So, as I said, they will occasionally make a mistake, but they're happy to fix it quickly.
Recommended:
Yes
What product did you purchase or try to purchase? Online groceries
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Epinions.com ID:
sunlover527
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Location: Burlington, WI
Reviews written: 2
Trusted by: 0 members
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