E-grocery shopping and delivery to launch in Tulsa

[Cirage]

We just received this press release so I thought I would help spread the news. I'm especially excited that there's no minimum order and the delivery charge is only $10.
A little competition for imdelivered.com... are they still around?  Sorry if this is old news around here.

From the click of a mouse to your house:E-grocery shopping and delivery to launch in Tulsa
(SPRINGFIELD, Mo.) Ð E-mail, e-cards, e-commerce, e-tailing, e-learningÉ  Add e-grocery to the list of time saving services that Tulsa residents may utilize.
Food Pyramid is set to debut its online shopping service March 19 at MyPyramidOnline.com, making  grocery shopping as easy as clicking a mouse.
Customers are anxious for the new service, according to Rob Marsh, director of planning and development for RPCS Inc., the Springfield, Mo.-based parent company of Food Pyramid.
ÒWeÕve received outstanding feedback from customers already utilizing our online shopping services in Missouri, and weÕve been anxious to offer the same service to residents of Tulsa,Ó he said.
RPCS Inc. launched the first e-grocery service in southwest Missouri in July 2006, based at one of the companyÕs Springfield, Mo., Price Cutter Plus stores. E-grocery then was added for the companyÕs Joplin, Mo., customers in April 2007.
By taking the high-tech service a step further, MyPyramidOnline.com has found a way to offer old-time customer service rather than a cold transaction devoid of human contact, by delivering customersÕ orders to their homes and businesses.
ÒOur delivery service is great news for folks who are too busy to get out, or simply unable to get out of their homes due to health or mobility issues,Ó Marsh said.
Orders may be picked up between the hours of 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. - 8 p.m., Monday through Friday (except holidays) for a $5 fee, at the following Food
Pyramid locations:
á 41st & Peoria (3915 S. Peoria)
á 51st & Harvard (3328 E. 51st St.)
á 51st & Memorial (7990 E. 51st St.)
á 71st & Garnett (11214 E. 71st St. South)
á 81st & Yale (4818 E. 80th St. South)
á 101st & Memorial (10122 E. Memorial Drive)
Delivery orders, pulled from the store at 101st and Memorial, will be made to homes and businesses within the city limits of Tulsa between the hours of 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. - 7 p.m., Monday through Friday (except holidays) for a $10 fee.
Floral, balloon and gift basket delivery is available Monday through Saturday for a $5 fee.
Fulfilling customer needs
Erick Taylor, president and CEO of RPCS Inc., said that MyPyramidOnline.comÕs e-grocery shopping service allows the company to continue to meet the changing needs of its customers.
#13;#10;ÒAmericans are busier than ever these days.  They have less free time on their hands, and MyPyramidOnline.com gives some of that time back to our customers,Ó Taylor said.  ÒItÕs almost like the good old days, when the milkman delivered fresh products right to your door.  WeÕre recapturing that nostalgia, and our customers appreciate the convenience.Ó
Initially launched to help busy professionals, company officials quickly learned that there is no Òtypical customerÓ for its online shopping service.
ÒPeople from all walks of life are buying groceries online. Day-care businesses and stay-at-home moms are some of our most frequent customers, and we even deliver to the campus of Missouri State University for some of its culinary classes,Ó Marsh said.  ÒProfessionals from many industries are often so busy that itÕs difficult for them to sacrifice a few hours each week to shop. Now we can, essentially, bring our store to them.Ó
Customers fill their virtual grocery carts by visiting the user-friendly Web site at MyPyramidOnline.com.  Following a brief registration process for first-time visitors, customers are directed to the online store to choose products by category.
Returning customers have the convenience of signing in and accessing their previous orders and frequently purchased items.  Favorite recipes may be saved, allowing customers to choose the desired recipe and the system will fill the virtual shopping cart with all ingredients needed rather than clicking each individual ingredient.
Orders may be placed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There is no minimum order.
Marsh said that the employee-owners of Food Pyramid choose the best quality products when filling orders placed online.
ÒWe shop for our online customers as if we were taking these groceries home to our own families,Ó he said. ÒAnd thereÕs a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee. We want our customers to use this service with the confidence of knowing that theyÕre receiving the freshest foods possible.Ó

National trend
While e-grocery shopping is in its infancy across the country, industry research predicts that it will experience steady growth as consumers realize its value.
According to the New York-based firm JupiterResearch, Americans bought $3.3 billion worth of groceries online in 2005, and grocery ranks as the fourth largest online shopping category.  JupiterResearch reports that sales from e-grocery are expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 23 percent through 2010.
A report from the Food Marketing Institute reports that 3.7 million people shopped online for groceries in 2005.
Across the country, many retailers including RPCS Inc. are learning how to successfully combine Òbricks-and-clicks,Ó a term that means taking orders online and then fulfilling those orders through existing stores.
About RPCS Inc.
RPCS Inc. evolved from the first Ramey grocery store in Springfield, Mo., opened in 1919 by John Ramey.
Today RPCS Inc. operates 43 grocery stores and 29 pharmacies in southwest Missouri under the Ramey, Price Cutter, Price Cutter Plus, and Smitty's banners; in Arkansas as Save-A-Lot; and in Oklahoma as Food Pyramid. The company also operates three Pyramid Express convenience stores in Oklahoma, the first online grocery store in Tulsa at MyPyramidOnline.com, and the only online grocery store in southwest Missouri at PriceCutterOnline.com.
The company, based in Springfield, Mo., is title sponsor of the Price Cutter Charity Championship, the local stop of the national PGA tournament, which has raised more than $5 million for childrenÕs charities in the Ozarks.
On Jan. 1, 2005, RPCS Inc. became the first employee-owned grocery retailer in the region through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), offering employees the opportunity to participate in the companyÕs ownership.

[Conan71]

Food Pyramid is a corny name, but I gotta say they've got a really good selection of items, especially international (organized by country- that's cool) and whole/organics.

[Cirage]

Sorry for my formatting incompetence. Lord Almighty it's ugly.

Online Shopping Details and FAQ
Food Pyramid is proud to make our customersÕ lives easier by offering convenient online grocery shopping.
We know you lead a busy life. YouÕre trying to juggle work, family, home and interests. If only there was a way to squeeze more time out of a week thatÕs already bursting with meetings, errands, ballgames, recitals and doctor visits.
Let MyPyramidOnline.com do your grocery shopping for you, giving you back the time you need to devote to other things Ð family, work, yourself.
ItÕs quick and easy. Whether youÕre restocking your refrigerator and cabinets or getting ready to entertain, our personal shoppers are ready to pick out the freshest items for you, just as if they were shopping for their own families.
Guidelines for Shopping with MyPyramidOnline.com
Orders Accepted: 24 hours a day, seven days a week
Pick-up or Delivery Schedule: Twice daily Monday - Friday, except holidays
Pick-up: 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Pick-up at any of the following Tulsa locations:
á 41st & Peoria (3915 S. Peoria)á  51st & Harvard (3328 E. 51st St.)
á 51st & Memorial (7990 E. 51st St.)
á 71st & Garnett (11214 E. 71st St. South)
á 81st & Yale (4818 E. 80th St. South)
á 101st & Memorial (10122 E. Memorial Drive)á  
Delivery: 11:00 a.m. - 1 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Fees: Pick-up $5 / Delivery $10
¥ Orders accepted 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
¥ Delivery is available to homes and businesses within the city limits of Tulsa.
¥ Advertised specials run from noon Wednesday until 11:59 a.m. the following Wednesday.
¥ For same-day delivery or pick-up, orders must be placed by 6:00 a.m. to be ready for the 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. delivery/pick-up schedule, or by noon to be ready for the 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. delivery schedule or the 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. pick-up schedule.
¥ The price you see while ordering will be the price you are charged.
¥ The total price you pay may differ due to out-of-stock items, substitutions, or if you order random weight items such as meat, cheese and produce.
¥ Payment will be accepted via credit card. Drivers are unable to accept cash or checks for delivery orders.
¥ Due to Federal regulations, we are unable to accept food stamps or WIC vouchers as payment for orders placed online or via telephone.
¥ You must be 21 or older to order alcoholic beverages. Please have your ID ready to present at the time of delivery or pick-up.
¥ You must be 18 or older to order tobacco products. Please have your ID ready to present at the time of delivery or pick-up.
¥ Floral delivery is available Monday through Saturday for a $5 fee.
To place your order over the phone, call 1-877-933-3003. Phone orders are accepted from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is there a minimum online order amount?
A:  No, there isnÕt a minimum order. WeÕre happy to fill your online order for you, big or small.
Q:  Where are your online shopping service areas?
A: We currently deliver to homes and businesses within the city limits of Tulsa.
Q:  Will MyPyramidOnline.com deliver to other areas in the future?
A: Please check our site occasionally for announcements about expanding our services.  
Q: Can I shop online if I live outside of the delivery area?
A:  Yes. WeÕll be happy to shop for your groceries and have them ready for you to pick up at your choice of any of our six Tulsa locations.
Q: Is it possible to redeem manufacturersÕ coupons when I shop online?
A: Yes. Just enter the couponÕs face value when prompted during the order process and the amount will be deducted from your order total. Your coupons will be collected at the time of delivery or pick-up.
Q:  IÕve got some coupons IÕd like to double. Can I do that online?
A: Yes! Our system doesnÕt automatically double the coupons, so youÕll need to double it when entering the information. We can double coupons up to and including 50 cents, unless the coupon states ÒDo Not Double.Ó
Q: What about the quality of my online order? Will the dairy, meat and produce be fresh? Will the eggs be broken or the bread squashed?
A: At MyPyramidOnline.com, weÕre committed to bringing you the same quality youÕd expect if you were shopping at one of our stores in person. Our trained shoppers will hand-pick only the freshest items for you, just like you would. And MyPyramidOnline.com offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Please contact the store director with any concerns.
Q:  How do the online prices compare to the in-store prices?
A: Our online prices are the same prices youÕll find in our stores. This includes any advertised and in-store specials. Advertised specials run from 12 p.m. Wednesday until 11:59 a.m. the following Wednesday.
Q: Are there any additional charges for shopping online?
A: Add $5 to your total if youÕd like to pick the order up at one of our Tulsa stores. Online orders may be picked up from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Monday through Friday (except holidays).
If youÕd like for us to deliver your groceries to your home or office within the city limits of Tulsa, add $10 to your total. Deliveries are made from 11:00 a.m. - 1 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday (except holidays).
Q: What forms of payment do you accept?
A:  You may pay for your MyPyramidOnline.com online order with a credit card. Our delivery drivers are unable to accept cash, checks, WIC vouchers or food stamps.
Q: IÕd like to use food stamps to pay for my online order. Is this possible?
A: Sorry, but weÕre unable to accept food stamps or WIC vouchers as payment for online orders.
Q: What time should I place my online order?
A: Online orders may be placed at any time, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For same-day delivery or pick-up, orders must be placed by 6:00 a.m. to be ready for the 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. delivery/pick-up schedule, or by noon to be ready for the 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. delivery schedule or 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. pick-up schedule.
Q: How can I save time while shopping online?
A:  The first time you order online might take a few extra minutes since youÕll need to register, and then it may take a while to get used to the process. But our system can save your order history so that you may save time shopping online in the future. You can even save your favorite recipes in your account, allowing you to choose that recipe and the ingredients will automatically be added to your order.
Q: What if I donÕt have time to finish placing my online order before I log off of the Internet? Will my entire order be lost?
A: You can save your order in our secure system and come back later to complete the transaction.
Q: Should I tip my delivery person?
A:  MyPyramidOnline.com takes pride in meeting the needs of our customers. Bringing your online order to your car or to your door is part of the service we offer, and tips arenÕt necessary. If youÕre pleased with your online shopping experience and your delivery person, please let us know by contacting the store director.
Q: Does MyPyramidOnline.com offer a satisfaction guarantee?
A: Yes. Because we want to be confident that our customers are pleased with their online shopping experience, we offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Please contact the store director with any concerns.
Q: What happens if MyPyramidOnline.com is out of a certain item?
A: At the beginning of your online shopping session, the system will ask if youÕd like to allow substitutions. Just indicate yes or no and weÕll shop according to your specifications. WeÕll be happy to choose a different size of the same brand, or weÕll choose a different brand of the same size you originally asked for. ItÕs up to you!

[sgrizzle]

Not a bad price.

[Conan71]

For what my time is worth to me, that's excellent.

[mrhaskellok]

Yeah, great idea!  Wonder if they will deliver my White Chocolate Mocha from the inside *$s (Starbucks for ADD people)  

Sid

[Steve]

I'm sorry, but have we such little free time today that we can not do our own grocery shopping?  Maybe I am just to anal-retentive or old-fashioned, but I prefer to do my own food shopping and purchase food products, for my consumption, on my own.  I think I can make time to do that.

[mrhaskellok]

quote:Originally posted by Steve

I'm sorry, but have we such little free time today that we can not do our own grocery shopping?  Maybe I am just to anal-retentive or old-fashioned, but I prefer to do my own food shopping and purchase food products, for my consumption, on my own.  I think I can make time to do that.

True, but think of how many code violations you could find in the time it takes you to go by a loaf a bread.  []

[Steve]

quote:Originally posted by mrhaskellok

quote:Originally posted by Steve

I'm sorry, but have we such little free time today that we can not do our own grocery shopping?  Maybe I am just to anal-retentive or old-fashioned, but I prefer to do my own food shopping and purchase food products, for my consumption, on my own.  I think I can make time to do that.

True, but think of how many code violations you could find in the time it takes you to go by a loaf a bread.  []

Probably half-a-dozen, but I will risk it.

[Conan71]

quote:Originally posted by Steve

I'm sorry, but have we such little free time today that we can not do our own grocery shopping?  Maybe I am just to anal-retentive or old-fashioned, but I prefer to do my own food shopping and purchase food products, for my consumption, on my own.  I think I can make time to do that.

Steve I get your point.  It seems I keep getting busier and busier.  Grocery shopping is not exactly one of my favorite tasks and if I can save an hour or hour and a half that's time better spent elsewhere.  I also tend to be somewhat of an impulse buyer at the grocery store.  I figure if I shop online, I won't wind up with half a basket of "What the hell was I thinking?"

[}:)]

[Hometown]

Because it seemed like all we ever did was work and do chores, we started using E grocery shopping pioneer BusVan whenever it first started.  Must have been around 2000.  They were wonderful and would tuck in little promotions and gifts -- like a pot of blooming daffodils.  But they went bankrupt.

Then we switched and did E shopping with Albertsons and Safeway.  The great thing was that you developed an online list of your regular purchases so you could go through that and click off on what you needed that week.  Took me about 5 minutes to do my shopping.  I did it on my break at work.

The problem was that you didn't get the same sale prices that were available in the store.  And the selection was not always as good online.  We ultimately concluded we were paying more that we would have by going into the store.

But it was a wonderful convenience.  We lived on the fifth floor of a building and our groceries were delivered all the way into the unit.  No tipping allowed.

I'm going to give this new service to Tulsa a try.

[safetyguy]

quote:Originally posted by Conan71

quote:Originally posted by Steve

I'm sorry, but have we such little free time today that we can not do our own grocery shopping?  Maybe I am just to anal-retentive or old-fashioned, but I prefer to do my own food shopping and purchase food products, for my consumption, on my own.  I think I can make time to do that.

Steve I get your point.  It seems I keep getting busier and busier.  Grocery shopping is not exactly one of my favorite tasks and if I can save an hour or hour and a half that's time better spent elsewhere.  I also tend to be somewhat of an impulse buyer at the grocery store.  I figure if I shop online, I won't wind up with half a basket of "What the hell was I thinking?"

[}:)]

I have a cousin that lives outside of Charlotte and they have used a service kind of like this. They order everything online and go to the store and pick it up . They say that it takes a little planning on their part for the meals for the week, but in the long its cheaper so that they don't do the impulse buys.

[bigdtottown]

I think this is awesome! I HATE grocery shopping and I don't want to make time for it since there are usually about 50 other things I need to "make time for".  If grocery shopping was some sort of therapeutic process or something that benefitted others, maybe I'd try to make time for it but, IMHO, it's nothing but a PITA and I can think of a million things I'd rather spend my time doing.  Fortunately, my wife seems to sort of enjoy it.  I will go to Central Market though which is a really cool grocery store chain here.

[buzz words]

So has anyone used the service yet?