As a retail analyst and consumer advocate, I‘ve seen firsthand how the explosive growth of online grocery shopping and curbside pickup in recent years has transformed the way people get their groceries. U.S. online grocery sales grew 64.5% in 2020 to reach $55.5 billion and then another 12.3% to $79.2 billion in 2021 according to eMarketer. By 2025, online grocery sales are projected to make up 11.1% of total U.S. grocery sales.
Discount supermarket chain Aldi was one of many grocers to rapidly expand its curbside pickup offering in the midst of the pandemic-fueled online grocery boom. After testing pickup at select stores in 2017, Aldi launched the service nationwide in July 2020 via a partnership with Instacart. As of early 2023, curbside pickup is now available at over 1,200 of Aldi‘s more than 2,200 stores across 38 states.
For deal-seeking shoppers who are already fans of Aldi‘s highly affordable and high-quality private label products, the addition of curbside pickup has made it even easier to save big on groceries without setting foot in a store. However, like most retailers, Aldi does charge a small fee for the convenience of curbside pickup. Here‘s a complete breakdown of how Aldi curbside pickup works and what fees you can expect.
How Aldi Curbside Pickup Works
Aldi curbside pickup is powered by Instacart, a leading grocery delivery and pickup platform that partners with more than 750 national, regional and local retailers across North America. Instacart‘s intuitive interface makes it simple to shop from Aldi‘s entire selection of in-store products, including fresh and perishable items, pantry staples, household essentials and Aldi Finds.
Step-by-Step Guide to Placing an Aldi Curbside Pickup Order
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Create an account: Log in or sign up for Instacart at instacart.com or download the mobile app. Add your contact and payment details.
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Select Aldi store and pickup time: Search for your nearest Aldi store and toggle to Pickup instead of Delivery in the upper right corner. Browse available time slots and choose one that works for your schedule. Pickup windows are typically listed in 1-hour increments from 9am to 8pm daily.
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Shop virtually: Search for specific products or browse by department/category. Click on items to view prices, sizes, quantities, nutrition facts, and images. Add desired items to your cart.
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Choose substitutions: If you‘re open to substitutions for out-of-stock items, be sure to select acceptable alternatives for each item as prompted. You‘ll only ever be charged for the exact items received.
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Check out: When finished shopping, click the cart icon and then Checkout. The minimum order subtotal for pickup is typically $10 (may vary by location).
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Review fees: All applicable taxes plus a $1.99 pickup fee will be added to your order total on the checkout screen. The pickup fee is waived for Express members. Tip is optional for curbside pickup orders.
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Pay and place your order: Enter your credit card info or link your PayPal account. Confirm payment to submit your order. You‘ll receive an email confirmation with pickup details.
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Check order status: You can view your order status anytime by visiting Your Orders in your account or on the app. You‘ll get notifications when your shopper starts picking your order and when it‘s ready for pickup.
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Pick up your order: Drive to your selected Aldi and park in one of the designated pickup spots. Check in on the Instacart app or tap the link in your email/text to let the store know you‘ve arrived. An employee will bring out your order and load it into your car.
Aldi Curbside Pickup Fees & Fine Print
Non-Express Instacart members pay a flat $1.99 fee for all Aldi pickup orders over $10. During peak hours, the fee can increase to $4.99 or more due to high demand. Peak pricing windows are typically late afternoons and early evenings.
For Express members who pay $99/year or $9.99/month for free delivery and pickup on $35+ orders, the Aldi pickup fee is waived at all times.
Here‘s a snapshot of other key fees and policies:
| Fee or Policy | Amount |
|---|---|
| Service fee | 0% |
| Fuel surcharge | $0 |
| Minimum order | $10 |
| Pickup hours | 9am – 8pm |
| Tipping | Optional |
| Refunds | Automatic |
| Substitutions | Customer choice |
Note that Aldi does not mark up prices on Instacart, so you‘ll pay the same low prices as in stores. However, Aldi does not accept paper or digital coupons through Instacart. Weekly specials are typically reflected though.
Is Aldi Curbside Pickup Worth the Fee?
For many loyal Aldi shoppers, paying a $2 fee for curbside pickup is a no-brainer time-saver, especially for a larger $100+ order that would take much more time to shop in-store. If you‘ve ever shopped at Aldi on a busy weekend, you know all about the long checkout lines that can eat up precious hours.
Assuming a $100 weekly grocery bill, the $1.99 pickup fee works out to just 2% of your total. That‘s peanuts compared to the 10% to 30% markup on prices you‘d see shopping at a pricier grocery chain or ordering restaurant delivery. And considering Aldi prices are on average 20% to 40% cheaper than competitors according to Consumer Reports, that $2 is quickly offset by the savings on your bill.
Of course, if you only buy a few items at a time, the pickup fee will represent a larger portion of your bill. A savvy shopping strategy is to consolidate your orders into a larger weekly stock-up trip to get the most bang for your buck.
Another cost-effective option if you use Instacart regularly is to purchase a $99 annual Express membership. A March 2022 survey by Coresight Research found that 25% of online grocery shoppers are using digital services more now than before the pandemic. If you spent just over $40 per week at Aldi and paid the $1.99 pickup fee every time, you would save money overall with the Express membership.
How Aldi Curbside Pickup Compares to Competitors
Aldi‘s $1.99 pickup fee is highly competitive with other major grocery retailers that have rolled out curbside service. Walmart is one of the few national chains offering free grocery pickup on orders $35 and up. Target also recently dropped its $2 – $4 Drive Up fee for orders over $50. Here‘s a quick comparison of fees at top grocers:
| Retailer | Pickup Fee | Express Membership |
|---|---|---|
| Walmart | Free over $35 | $98/year |
| Target | Free over $50 | $99/year |
| Kroger | $4.95 | $59 – $99/year |
| Albertsons | $4.95 | $99/year |
| Safeway | $4.95 | $99/year |
| Publix | $4.95 | $99/year |
| Whole Foods | $4.99 | $119/year (Amazon Prime) |
| Wegmans | $10 | Not offered |
| Aldi | $1.99 | $99/year |
As you can see, Aldi‘s standard $1.99 fee is half or less of almost all other stores that charge for pickup. Its Express membership is also in line with the going rate of $99/year.
While cost is king, there are other factors that make Aldi curbside pickup stand out from competitors. Aldi consistently earns high marks from customers for order accuracy, pickup speed and ease of use. In Aldi‘s Q4 2020 earnings report, the company noted that Instacart pickup orders were rated 4.7 out of 5 stars on average. The report also indicated that new pickup time slots are made available daily and the average wait time is just a few minutes.
5 Tips to Save on Aldi Curbside Pickup
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Avoid peak pickup windows like weekend afternoons and evenings to minimize the chance of surge pricing. Schedule your pickup for early in the day or on a weekday if possible.
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Check for Instacart promo codes before submitting your order. Instacart frequently offers discounts for new customers and order minimums, such as $10 off a $35 order. You may also earn credits or cashback by paying with a rewards credit card or shopping portal.
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Compare prices on Instacart vs. in-store. While Aldi pledges not to mark up prices online, it‘s always a smart idea to double check that you‘re getting the lowest price possible. Reference Aldi‘s weekly ad to confirm current deals or look for price-per-unit comparisons.
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Build your grocery list in the app ahead of time. By using Instacart‘s List feature to plan out your weekly purchases, you can get a more accurate estimate of your total and avoid going over budget. You‘ll also save time searching and browsing items later.
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Rate your experience post-pickup. If you had a positive experience with your Aldi curbside pickup, consider leaving a 5-star rating and review on Instacart. Instacart may send you promo codes or credits as a thank you. Conversely, if you had any issues, contact customer service so they can make it right.
The Bottom Line
The introduction and rapid expansion of Aldi curbside pickup in partnership with Instacart has made the cult-favorite discount grocer even mightier. While the $1.99 pickup fee may seem like a deterrent for extra-frugal shoppers, it‘s actually one of the lowest in the industry.
When you stack Aldi‘s rock-bottom prices against the premium markups at other stores, paying a small fee for the convenience of curbside pickup is still very economical. This is especially true for cost-conscious consumers who have been forced to tighten budgets due to inflation. By taking advantage of Instacart Express, grouping your Aldi orders into bigger hauls, and following a few other savings strategies, you can score the ultimate win-win of value and convenience.
