A MOTHER’S bank account was left considerably lighter after a Kroger grocery shop cost almost $2,800.
Jill McCormick from Liberty Township, Ohio, panicked when she saw the charge for a grocery order that should have cost her $282.
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The busy mom who spends her time working and looking after her disabled daughter turned to a new shopping service to help save time.
Using the Kroger app, McCormick ordered her groceries with Instacart.
This is a shopping service where customers order their groceries and are then connected with a shopper.
The Instacart shopper then completes the shop and delivers the groceries straight to the Instacart user’s door.
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However, after placing an order last summer, McCormick received an alert saying that she had been charged $2,783.25 for groceries she did not order.
“My heart stopped because I’m thinking panic mode,” McCormick told ABC News affiliate KABC.
“Something is happening, and I have to react very quickly, and I didn’t even know where to start.”
The groceries never arrived and the Instacart shopper assigned to her order stopped communicating with McCormick.
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The shopper had previously told her that the charge was an error and had been canceled.
“After trying for an hour, trying to get in touch with someone, they were finally able to get in touch with Instacart to cancel the order because they never canceled the order as the shopper originally told me,” McCormick said.
The mom explained that Kroger gave her a full refund and offered her a $20 gift card.
However, McCormick said that the refund could take up to 10 days to arrive and she argued that the gift card was a measly apology.
“They gave me $20 for my $3,000 that was taken out of my account,” she told the outlet.
Kroger followed this by offering her $250 instead, but McCormick argued that compensatory money was not the point.
“I’m not looking for that,” she said.
“I’m looking for a fix and outcome. How about we show results so someone else, another family, is not going through this.”
Top Grocery Delivery Apps:
Shoppers can save time by getting someone else to get their groceries for them using a variety of apps and services.
Instacart: Works with major retailers including Albertsons, ALDI, Costco, CVS, Kroger, Sam’s Club, and Wegmans. Groceries can be delivered as quickly as one hour and can be arranged to suit your schedule. However, prices can differ compared to those that are in-store. There is a $99 per year or $9.99 per month membership fee.
Amazon Fresh: This is an off-shoot of Amazon. It offers customers fresh groceries and household goods. The service works similarly to Instacart and offers same-day delivery and exclusive offers to those with Amazon Prime.
Walmart Grocery: Walmart shoppers can place orders via the Walmart app and either pick them up or have them delivered to their door. The retailer calls it “the easiest way to shop.”
Shipt: Membership costs $99 per year with unlimited free deliveries on orders over $35. It enables customers to speak directly with their assigned Shipt shoppers to make special requests. The company also works closely with Target.
Kroger Delivery: Kroger shoppers can get their groceries taken to their door at a delivery time that suits them. It also offers customers the chance to spend digital coupons so they do not miss out on key deals. However, the retailer’s service does not offer same-day delivery.
Target Same-Day Delivery: Orders can arrive within a few hours of being placed. Shoppers can get real-time updates on their orders which will allow for last-minute changes and special requests. Target states that there are “no delivery markups” and Target Circle deals are included. Shoppers can pay per delivery or become a Target Circle 360 member for unlimited deliveries.
At the time, Kroger issued the following statement to the news outlet:
“We understand a customer was overcharged for an order placed on August 9, 2023.
“We rectified the incident as soon as it was brought to our attention with an expedited refund to the customer’s original form of payment and a gift card to apologize for the inconvenience.”
However, no further comment was given regarding prevention of the issue.
McCormick also filed a police report with her local Sheriff’s office but no update has been given.
On X, formerly Twitter, other shoppers have shared their thoughts on Instacart with one saying that customers should avoid the delivery service with a cheaper alternative.
“A lot of stores have their own curbside pickup/delivery where their own employees get your items,” one said.
“I’ve never had this problem when ordering from H‑E‑B, Kroger, Target, etc. Why are y’all using Instacart?”
“Kroger’s premium delivery is also cheaper than Instacart, you just have to be willing to do next-day delivery,” another added.
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“Also any drinks I’ve ever ordered with Kroger arrived cold, which is a nice touch.”
The U.S. Sun has reached out to Kroger, Instacart, and the Liberty Township Sheriff’s office for comment.
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https://www.the-sun.com/news/11605471/kroger-shopper-warning-check-receipts-overcharged-instacart/