Well, the pickup process was actually a bit confusing. I had set a pickup time for 2PM and I expected that meant I should just arrive there at that time. No, not quite! I received an email the evening before that said my order would be ready between 2-7 PM. What?!
I would receive a "notification" when it was ready. But they didn't tell me what form the notification would be in. They had my phone number and email address, and I had unchecked mobile phone text. Searching their site and even talking to a chatbot didn't reveal anything.
So in the morning, I called an 877 number to a centralized location. The agent there couldn't answer my question, but did give me a number to the store customer service desk (CSD). Amazingly, the CSD couldn't tell me how I would be "notified" either, lacking a smartphone app.
However, some good news! No sooner had I hung up with the CSD than I got a call from a store shopper saying my order was ready to be picked up. She even said the shallots were rather soft, did I still want them". (no). I explained I had some mobility problems but would be there in 15 minutes. So she said she would keep watch for my arrival (green Subaru SUV).
I got there and got out of the car and someone came out with a cart of bags. Wrong person, LOL! But she went back inside and found the right person. That person came right out, loaded the bags into my car. Even refused a tip. She said she was paid to do pickup orders.
It was a wonderful experience and I will do it again.
There were 2 minor problems. I had clicked on "no substitutions" for every item. I ordered minced horseradish and got "creamy". OK, I can live with that. The other seems to have been my fault. I wanted Breyer's chocolate chip ice cream and got regular chocolate. I don't like regular chocolate. But after reviewing my original order, it appears I clicked the wrong one.
Well, my good neighbors across the street are taking care of 3 grandchildren. I bet some of them like regular chocolate ice cream. It will be a gift; they have certainly done more than enough for me!
I haven't tested it yet, but I bet the items I ordered this time will be close to the top the next time. The Safeway digital loyalty card section notices my routine preferences, so I expect the online ordering one will also do that.
