After our first, not very successful foray into getting groceries delivered, we are figuring out some things that work better.

Katharyn ordered from the Lunds & Byerlys in Edina, a few towns over, for pickup (she had another errand to do there). When our local (Highland) branch was quoting two weeks out for a pickup slot, the branch in Edina was only out a week. It took some effort to figure out how to convince L&B’s website that we wanted the Edina store; it kept trying to throw the business back to Highland.

When it came time for the pickup, that went smoothly. L&B’s had someone directing cars to a waiting area for their turn.

We had even better luck with Target. Their website is user-friendly, and they were quoting delivery only two days out. Best of all, after an order is placed, we found that you can add to and subtract from it up to one hour before the delivery time — an option we used several times before the delivery arrived (15 minutes early!). The website adjusts in real-time as you make changes, so you always have an accurate total for the order.

Kowalski’s was another pleasant surprise. Excellent website experience, delivery quoted at five twelve days out. Our order arrives next Monday a week from Sunday. {Edited 2020-04-18 to correct delivery time.}

Katharyn has also been ordering from a few out-of-state outlets who deliver by UPS or USPS; the Vermont Country Store is a particular favorite. We got an order earlier in the week from Anson Mills: organic heirloom grains from South Carolina.

No one has toilet paper, paper towels, Purell, Clorox wipes… no surprises there.