Pickup groceries with Peapod

It's a growing trend in our area -- the option to order groceries online and then pick them up at the store for no fee. WTOP's Megan Cloherty tested it out.

It seemed like a good opportunity to try ordering groceries online for pick-up for WTOP's annual Opening Day newsroom cookout. (Lacey Mason/WTOP)
We tried Giant Food's online ordering system through its Peapod Service.

Instead of delivering to your house, they bring your order to a store -- free, with no minimum order required.

Once you've completed your order, you can choose a one-hour pickup window but worth noting, this isn't an option at every store. (Amanda Iacone/WTOP)
Pulling up to the Westbard location in Bethesda, Md., Cloherty parked in one of three pick-up designated spaces near the entrance of the store. A Peapod attendant came to her car and asked for her name.

Cloherty brought our receipt just in case, but the attendant had one on file as well. (WTOP/Megan Cloherty)
Giant online grocery orders The online grocery orders are delivered to the store via Peapod delivery trucks and upcoming pick-up orders are stored in secure, temperature-controlled containers outside the storefront.

WTOP asked Giant why there is no added fee for the service.

"If we're combining orders and we can deliver 20 to a store, there are a lot of efficiencies there," says Peg Merzbacher with Peapod.

She says the service is growing in popularity in the Washington area, but it has been available since spring 2013.

"It was kind of natural to say, you know there are some people who can't stay at home for two hours and wait for us to come deliver, or don't want to pay the delivery fee so we think this will be a great option for them," Merzbacher says. (WTOP/Megan Cloherty)
There is no minimum order for Giant's pick-up service, Merzbacher says. Delivery service is $7.95 for orders over $100. Between $60 and $100 grocery orders have a $9.95 delivery fee through Peapod.

"We pack the frozen items with dry ice. The cold items have gel packs. We adjust them based on the temperature," Merzbacher says. (Megan Cloherty/WTOP)
After checking the contents of the bags against Cloherty's receipt, the Peapod attendant loaded the bags in her car. (WTOP/Megan Cloherty)
Harris Teeter has a similar in-store pickup option called Express Lane, as does Relay Foods.

Safeway has yet to try it. And on its website, Wegman's says pickup not an option it's considering at this time.
Here's our haul from our online shopping/pick-up experience. The Glass Enclosed Nerve Center is in the background.(WTOP/Megan Cloherty)
WTOP employees dig in.

Our take on the online order and pick-up option: It seems like a good idea for shoppers in a rush or who want to stay on a budget, not if they are looking for recipe ideas or enjoy the shopping experience. (WTOP/Megan Cloherty)
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