Why Suburban Moms Are Delivering Your Groceries

National Public Radio ^ | May 25, 2019 | Alina Selyukh

[2ndDivisionVet]

At 6:30 a.m., four of five Gordon family members are roaming around their suburban Sacramento house — if you count only the humans. There are also four dogs, a bunny, a tortoise, chickens, ducks, goats and a not-so-miniature miniature pig named Squiggy.

Hilary Gordon is discussing the day's schedule with her husband in the middle of wrapping a breakfast sandwich for their 14-year-old, checking on cereal for their 17-year-old and staring down their 11-year-old, who just realized he forgot to finish today's math homework.

Having time like this with her family is a major reason that Gordon, 47, works as a shopper for the grocery delivery app Instacart in a suburb of Sacramento, Calif. "I find it fun. It gives me something to do. I'm not out spending money. And I love the flexibility," she says.

[nycgal]

I have used GrubHub too for restaurant food. Way to go when you can’t get out on your own.

[nycgal]

My order from Costco via IG last week included a very heavy case of water. Delivered with a smile. Gave her a good tip.

[napscoordinator]

I went to both instacart and grub hub and of course in Leesburg Florida they are not available. It sucks living in the far suburbs.

[Fast Moving Angel]

My apologies, gentlemen ... I didn't mean any offense (and certainly not to FReeper men). It just seems that, as I said before, the women shoppers generally handle my order as if they're shopping for their own families and some of the men seem to have trouble following directions, choosing an appropriate substitute if a product is out of stock, or whatever. That's why I've learned to place my orders for delivery in midmorning, and to take the time to provide special instructions for each product on my order in the event of unavailability, as well as other preferences, such as to instruct them to close each produce bag with a wire tie and not tie a knot in the bag.

I wish beer and steaks were enough ;-)