With billions in revenue, Kroger is a leading name in the supermarket niche in the United States. As Kroger caters to thousands of customers nationwide daily, it ensures a smooth in-store and online ordering process.
In addition to delivery and shipping, Kroger also offers curbside pickup, allowing customers to buy their favorite Kroger essentials with a few simple clicks. Forget going aisle after aisle to fill your cart or waiting at the checkout line.
With Kroger’s curbside pickup, you shop online while an associate picks out your order for you and loads your car.
Kroger adds to the shopping experience with curbside pickup, making it seamless. Read on to learn everything about Kroger’s curbside pickup and how it works.
How Does Kroger Curbside Pick Up Work?
Let’s talk in detail about how Kroger’s pickup works. Essentially, all you have to do is order groceries online and select a suitable time for pickup. Once your order is ready, arrive at the designated parking pickup spot, and wait in the car while an associate loads your groceries.
The process is speedy, making it a great way to get fresh food from Kroger. Moreover, if your order is worth $35 or more, the pickup is free. For smaller orders, you usually have to pay $4.95.
To use the pickup service, follow the steps below.
1. Building Your Cart Online For Pickup
To start building your cart online, first, you have to make an account. If you already have an account, you should sign in. Once you have signed in, enter your ZIP code to select any nearby stores from where you’d like to pick your order.
Search for the items you need or click on the “Start My Cart” icon to select your grocery.
Once done, check if you have the right items selected by clicking on the small cart on the screen. At this time, you can also allow for substitutions or add special instructions.
2. Checking Out With Pickup
Once your cart is filled, click on “Check Out Pickup Items” and choose a time and date for pickup. You will need to provide your mobile number to get updates regarding any substitutions and our order status.
Then, all you need to do is select a payment method and confirm your order. You will also receive a text or an email confirming your order.
3. Associates Get Your Order Ready
Once your order goes through, an associate is assigned to pick your order for pickup. Kroger associates pick the best groceries, just as you would while shopping in-store.
If anything from your order is unavailable (given that you have allowed substitutions at checkout), the associate will then replace the missing item with something closest to the description.
4. Park To Pick Up Your Order
Whatever time slot you have chosen at the beginning of the order is a one-hour window, between which you can pick up your order. The best practice is to alert the store when you are 15 mins from the destination to avoid waiting.
Upon reaching your desired store location, park in special spots for pickup. Associates will put the groceries in your car. You will receive a digital receipt for all kinds of payment methods, which you can access online or through the app.
How To Pay For Your Kroger Pickup Order?
Paying for your Kroger pickup order is easy. You can select between all major credit and debit cards at the online checkout. However, Kroger will not accept checks, cash, or gift cards for pickup.
Kroger also accepts SNAP EBT as a valid payment form at all but one of its pickup locations (Mariano’s) – more on this later.
Once you select a card and add the required payment information, there will be a hold on your card equal to your estimated online total by your financial institution for up to a week. Please note that the estimated total may differ from the actual order amount if using coupons, weighted items, or in case of substitutions.
Kroger asks you to bring a backup payment option and the one chosen at checkout to avoid any problems at the pickup location.
Does Kroger Accept SNAP EBT for Pickup?
As I explained, you can use SNAP EBT at all Kroger pickup locations except for Mariano’s. Using your EBT card for pickup payment is simple. When choosing the payment method online, select SNAP EBT at pickup.
Take your EBT card along for payment. When on location, swipe to pay.
What To Do If You Miss Your Pickup Time Slot At Kroger?
Your time slot will be anyone hour, typically between seven in the morning and nine at night at your pickup location. However, timings may vary depending on the site, so check local timings before placing an order.
If you cannot arrive on the selected date and time for your order, it will be canceled, and you will have to re-order. The groceries from your previous order will be restocked.
According to Kroger, the best time to pick up is halfway during the one-hour time slot. Informing beforehand about your arrival or enabling your location services also helps save time once you are at the store.
Can You Schedule A Pickup Order In Advance?
Yes, you can order a Kroger pickup a week in advance. You have seven days to choose a time slot of your choice to pick up groceries at your convenience.
You can even send someone in your place if you can’t make it at the allotted slot. Remember that anyone coming to pick up your order will be required to show their ID in case of any age-restricted products (The same rule applies when you come to pick up your order in person).
Bottom Line
Kroger provides its customers the facility of curbside pickup, and the service is pretty simple to use. Once you sign up and log in, you can select all the items you want to buy for your cart and checkout with an accepted payment method.
The payment information provided at the checkout is used to hold the estimated total on your card, which may change in real-time, owing to substitutions, differences in weightage, and coupon usage.
Once you reach the designated spot at the store location of your choice, your order, shopped by an associate, is loaded into your car. Here, you can make the payment and be on your way. In case you miss your time slot, you need to re-order.