SAN ANTONIO – Your groceries can be delivered to your doorstep in less than an hour, and you never have to leave the house. The retail delivery service Instacart launched Thursday in nine San Antonio ZIP codes.
They are 78209, 78212, 78213, 78216, 78230, 78231, 78232, 78248 and 78258.
For busy professionals, the elderly and disabled, or busy parents like Mercedes Camargo, the idea of someone else doing the shopping is intriguing.
"I think that would be great, especially with the kids," Camargo said.
Instacart, a San Francisco-based company, is partnering with H-E-B, Central Market, Whole Foods, Costco, Petco, Spec's and Total Wine.
"Convenience; at the outside, it (offers) convenience," Instacart General Manager Chad Shepler said.
Consumers can use the app or visit Instacart.com, create an account and start placing items in a virtual shopping cart.
The shopper can then choose a delivery window as soon as within one hour.
Personal shoppers are then dispatched to do the shopping and delivering.
Instacart employee Emma Hernandez was walking the aisles at the H-E-B Alon Market filling orders on Thursday.
"I don't know where everything is in the grocery store, but you learn pretty quickly," Hernandez said.
It's a business that offers convenience. But it comes with some cost.
The online prices are generally a little higher than store prices. For example, a loaf of Orowheat bread that's $2.98 in the store was $3.40 through Instacart.
The first delivery is free, but subsequent delivery fees are $7.99 for one-hour and $5.99 for other time frames.
Instacart plans to expand into other ZIP codes in the coming weeks and months.
"We have about 50 shoppers that service the region now, but we expect this summer it will be in the several hundred range," Shepler said.
For a limited time, Instacart is offering $15 off plus free delivery on first-time order of $35 or more. The offer does not apply to alcohol. The promo code is "ksattv15."