Kroger pickup (previously called βKroger Clicklist,β ignore me if I slip back into calling it this), is a great way to save on groceries because you can use coupons while avoiding going into the store. The result? Convenience β plus savings!
This tutorial works for the whole Kroger family of stores. So, even if you donβt have a Kroger near you, Iβm sure you have a Fred Meyer, Ralphβs or Smithβs.
Donβt forget to download the KCL app to find out about Kroger deals galore.
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Kroger Clicklist is free if you spend at least $35.
The typical Kroger Clicklist fee is $4.95. But youβll only be charged that amount if you donβt spend at least $35 in groceries. Which, letβs be honest, is hard to do. I always spend at least that much at the grocery store.
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Redeem Ibotta, Checkout51 offers (and more) for extra savings.
Youβll get a traditional receipt from Kroger, so you should have no problem using it for all of these rebate apps.
- Ibotta
- Checkout51
- Fetch Rewards: Youβll get points just for uploading your receipt and Fetch Rewards will automatically add more points if you bought brands theyβre currently offering bonus points for.
- Makeena: Redeem rebate offers on eligible brands
- Coupons.com
- Shopkick: Earn βkicksβ or points that translate into gift cards. You can also earn kicks by scanning products in-store that you donβt intend to buy.
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Donβt want to leave the house? Use Kroger Delivery instead.
Kroger Delivery is handled by Instacart, and while I normally donβt think Instacart is a very good deal because of their markup. But Kroger Delivery is a sort of hybrid where youβre not paying extra for the groceries, like you do sometimes with Instacart.
Youβll pay a flat rate of $9.95 for Kroger Delivery, and thereβs really no free option, like there is with Kroger Clicklist.
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If your items are out of stock, Kroger will give you an upgrade.
If one of the items you ordered is out of stock, a Kroger associate will replace it with the same item in a larger quantity, according to their policy. If that brand isnβt available, theyβll replace it with a similar or better product and sell it to you for the original, lower price.
When you arrive at the Kroger Clicklist pickup, the associate will make sure you approve any exchanges before you pay.
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Kroger store employees donβt accept tips, which saves you 5 β 10% over Instacart or Shipt.
Unlike stores that use Instacart (Publix, Aldi) and Shipt to power their curbside pickup, Kroger doesnβt accept tips for grocery pickup services. This saves you money!
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Make sure youβre looking at the correct weekly sale cycle.
Krogerβs weekly sale cycle is Wednesday through Tuesday every week, so sale prices on Wednesdays reflect the new weekβs sales.
Be aware that Kroger Clicklist pricing is finalized when you pick up your order, not when you place it. If you place your order on a Monday or Tuesday for a Wednesday pickup, you might be surprised by items you thought were on sale, not actually being on sale. If youβre placing your order on Wednesday or later, be sure to pick it up before Tuesday of the following week.
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How does Kroger pickup work?
Hereβs the quick and dirty on Kroger grocery pickup, then Iβll follow up with more details.
- Place an order through the Kroger app or Kroger.com.
- Choose your pickup day and a one-hour arrival time slot.
- Add items to your online cart.
- Load any applicable digital coupons.
- After you place your order, you can modify it (add or delete items) until 11:59 p.m. the day before your pickup.
- Arrive at Kroger within your one-hour window, follow the instructions on the sign in your parking stall and pop your trunk, then get back into your car. An associate will come out and load your groceries for you.
- Place your Kroger pickup order up to three days in advance.
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Step 1: Download the Kroger app
If you donβt want to use the Kroger app, you can place your order at Kroger.com too.
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Step 2: Reserve your pickup slot and choose a time
You can either start your grocery order by reserving a pickup slot, or you can do all your shopping and choose a slot when youβre done instead. If you live in an area where pickup slots are difficult to secure, start your Kroger order with a shopping list in hand and reserve a time slot before you shop.
The app will automatically try to match you with the closest store based on your current location, but if you want a different store, you can change it.
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Step 3: Add items to your cart and load coupons to your account
Youβll see two ways to do this. First, you can browse coupons and click through a coupon to find the qualifying item, add it to your cart, along with the coupon.
Or shop for items in the app and look for the dotted line and coupon wording like βSave $1 on 2,β saying thereβs a coupon available on that item.
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Step 4: Confirm that youβre OK with substitutions
Krogerβs default setting is to check the βAllow Substitutionsβ box for you, which means you allow substitutions on everything. Go through the list and uncheck any items where a substitution wouldnβt be acceptable.
If an item isnβt available and you didnβt allow substitutions for it, you wonβt get anything and you wonβt be charged.
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Step 5: Add additional items to your order until 11:59 p.m. the day before your pickup
For example, if your reservation is for Friday, 10 β 11 a.m., you can make changes until 11:59 p.m. on Thursday.
To modify your order:
- Tap βAdd items to pending orderβ
- Tap βModify this orderβ or βAdd to order nowβ
- Tap βAdd items to orderβ
- Select items
- Tap βSubmit changesβ
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Step 6: Pick up your order
When your pickup hour begins, the Kroger app starts tracking your location so they know when youβve arrived. When you get to the store, call the number on the sign in front of the parking stall you choose and follow the instructions.
Open your trunk and a Kroger associate will load your groceries for you.
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Step 7: Hand over any paper coupons.
If you have paper coupons, give them to the person loading your groceries. Theyβll take the coupons into the store and scan them. Next, theyβll bring you a revised receipt. Expect this to take a hot minute longer than it would without coupons.
Also, any digital coupons you applied to your order wonβt show up when you check out online. Instead, the coupon discounts come off the total when you pick up your groceries. Donβt forget to get your paper receipt if you want to use it to redeem rebate offers.
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Kroger Pickup FAQ:
1. Will my paper coupon still apply if the item gets substituted for a different brand?
No. If the coupon doesnβt apply to the new item, you wonβt be able to use it. If you only want the item because you can use a coupon for it, uncheck the βAllow Substitutionsβ box when you place your order. That way, if your itemβs brand isnβt in stock, they wonβt give you an alternate brand as a substitute.
2. What happens if Iβm getting items that are part of a Mega Sale and theyβre substituted or out-of-stock?
If youβre trying to get extra savings by taking advantage of a Mega Sale β βBuy five items to get $5 off,β for example β but you canβt get those exact items, substitutions wonβt apply toward the Mega Sale deal.
3. What if I donβt like the substitutions Kroger makes?
When the Kroger associate arrives at your car, theyβll review substitutions with you. If you donβt approve of the substitutes, you can refuse them and the associate will revise your total. If you get home and decide you donβt want the substitutions the store made, you can return your items at customer service inside the store.
4. Does Kroger pickup accept EBT?
Kroger accepts credit or debit cards, along with SNAP EBT benefits. You just canβt pay with cash at pickup.
5. Can I buy alcohol with Kroger grocery pickup?
Yes, just bring your government-issued ID and show it to your Kroger associate.
6. How do I know the quality of my meat and produce will be as good as if I chose it myself?
Under each item you add to your order in the Kroger app, you can add notes or special instructions. If you are picky about apples, for example, ask the shopper to double check for no bruises.
7. I donβt have Kroger but I have Fred Meyer (or Fryβs, or Ralphβs or Smithβs or any other Kroger sister store). Is the grocery pickup process the same?
Yes! Kroger has done a good job of creating a seamless grocery pickup experience across all of its sister stores. Apply these instructions to your local Fred Meyer store, even if itβs not called Kroger.
8. What if I canβt pick up my order during the hour I reserved?
Your order will be canceled and restocked. You wonβt be charged.
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