Grocery chains in Maine

[lovemaine]

Lowe's Foods here in NC offers curbside pick-up of groceries you order online. Place your order online, pull up to the store and they load your order into your car. In the midwest there were a few services that actually delivered to your home. I don't know if I would necessarily order meat and produce online. It's something I like to see with my own eyes before buying.

[mainebrokerman]

Originally Posted by iloveitinmaine

I do a bit of shopping online, but groceries? No way, really ? What's the deal - do they deliver/ship? Is it local stores only? Is it even offered in Maine? I want more info !!!

i believe it(delivery) was offered by shaws and possibly hannaford, in the southern part of maine (where the population density is) about 8 yrs ago, however i think they dropped it, because of a 15 or 25 delivery charge,,,also, from the stores point of view they ran into issues of transporting alcohol, if the store drivers werent old enough.

a 15-25$ delivery charge, means you have to order quite a bit, to make the convenience a cost benefit,,,,but also, i believe many want to "see" the produce before they buy, and meat too.

i believe there is a grocery delivery service,,around the bangor area,,,thats not associated with the grocery stores (being an employee)
its not a bad idea, elderly folks, pregnant woman,,mobility challenged folks, jjust to name a few, the service may fit a need..


im just curious,,,if thier was an online grocerystore,,,or a website, online from your local grocerystore,,would it be used,??

would you, (Potential customers) want email alerts ,,of weekly ads,,or special discounts items,,or truckload meat sales,??

i know a couple store owners toying with the idea of starting a website and trying to get the public ..to order from it,,
the advantages are huge from the stores point of view, if a store can advertise items with pictures,,,and customers order those items,,,,you dont have to pay someone to stock the shelves,,and its a guaranteed sale,,no shrink (from perishable items)
from the customers point of view,,if the order is in,,they just have to ,,pick it up,,,only takes 3-5 minutes thats it!
and,,if it is an independent grocerystore,,im sure they would consider delivering it,,i know a few stores that deliver now,,,one store being in lincoln.

on one level,,schwanns is already doing this, and thier sales have tripled statewide in the past 3 yrs.
they have ,,the meal specific pamphlets,,price per serving, and they of course deliver.
but,,if one were to be frugal and ask,,,the actual cost,,of some of these entree's (per pound, say of meat) they are very high,,but then again ,,you are paying for convenience,,,

thanx for all your replies,,this is an interesting topic to me,,

[irishmom]

Go to Peapod.com and the grocerygame.com to "borrow" ideas of how online grocery shopping and coupon and sales alerts work. Both services are great. I used peapod.com when I was on bedrest while pregnant and I use the grocerygame.com to save money.

[Bangorboy]

Brewer has a Save-A Lot cheaper than wal-mart In swanville we have a AG store that is good.

[western mass and love it]

what about reny's ? are they all over maine or just in a few locations.

[Maineah]

Portland got a Trader Joes recently. I have yet to check it out.

http://www.pressherald.com/news/snea...010-10-28.html

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by western mass and love it

what about reny's ? are they all over maine or just in a few locations.

Wells,Saco,Pittsfield,Madison,Gardiner,Farmington, Ellsworth,Dexter, Damaricotta-(2 stores),Camden,Brigton,Bath,Belfast