As a savvy shopper and retail industry expert, I‘ve kept a close eye on the growing trend of major drugstore chains partnering with third-party delivery services to offer a new level of convenience to customers. One of the most significant moves in this space came in early 2021, when Walgreens teamed up with Instacart to provide same-day delivery from nearly 8,000 of its stores nationwide.
But what does this partnership mean for consumers‘ wallets? Does Walgreens charge extra fees on top of Instacart‘s delivery and service fees? And is the added cost worth it for the convenience of having drugstore essentials delivered straight to your door? I dug into the details to bring you an in-depth analysis.
The Cost Breakdown: Instacart‘s Delivery and Service Fees
Let‘s start with the basics of Instacart‘s fee structure. Here‘s what you can expect to pay for a Walgreens Instacart delivery:
- Delivery fee: Starts at $3.99 for same-day orders over $35. During busy times, fees can increase to $11.99.
- Service fee: A 5% fee on your order subtotal that helps operate Instacart‘s services.
- Shopper tip: A recommended minimum of $2 or 5% to thank your delivery person. This can be adjusted.
For Instacart Express members who pay $99/year, delivery is free on orders over $35. Membership also includes reduced service fees and special discounts.
It‘s important to note that Walgreens does not charge any additional fees on top of Instacart‘s normal costs. They also keep prices for products on Instacart consistent with what you‘d find in stores, rather than marking them up like some retailers do on the platform.
So while you won‘t pay extra to Walgreens for the service, Instacart‘s fees can add up, especially on smaller orders. For example, on a $20 order with a $5 delivery fee, 5% service fee, and $2 tip, you‘re paying roughly an extra 60% on top of the cost of the items themselves. That‘s a steep price for convenience, so it‘s important to be mindful of when you truly need delivery versus when you can make a trip to the store.
What Walgreens Items Are Available on Instacart?
Walgreens offers over 15,000 products for Instacart delivery, essentially its entire in-store selection aside from prescription medications and gift cards. This includes:
- Household essentials like paper towels, cleaning supplies, batteries, trash bags, etc.
- Personal care items like shampoo, body wash, razors, deodorant, makeup, etc.
- Non-prescription medications for pain, digestion, allergies, cold & flu, and other remedies
- First aid and medical supplies like bandages, braces, ointments, etc.
- Food, snacks, and beverages including both shelf-stable and refrigerated/frozen items
- Baby and childcare needs like diapers, wipes, formula, baby food and snacks
- Vitamins, supplements, and nutrition products
- Eye care and contact lens solution
- Pet care items like food, treats, litter, toys and more
Your Instacart shopper can navigate the aisles of your local Walgreens to find exactly what you need and can communicate with you about any substitutions or special requests if a product is out of stock. While you can‘t get prescriptions delivered, being able to get a large majority of drugstore must-haves brought to your door is still a major convenience.
Walgreens Instacart Delivery Windows and Timing
When you place a Walgreens order on Instacart, you can typically expect to have it delivered within about 2 hours, though exact timing depends on shopper availability. Some Walgreens locations even offer 24/7 delivery through Instacart if the store itself is open 24 hours.
During times of high demand or major sales events, delivery times may be more limited or pushed further out. But Instacart is known for its speediness, with the ability to have orders delivered in as little as 30-60 minutes if a shopper is available. This near-instant gratification is a huge draw for many consumers.
"There‘s nothing worse than realizing you‘re all out of diapers or cold medicine in the middle of the night with a sick kid or baby," said Jane Stevens, a mother of two who uses Walgreens Instacart delivery frequently. "Being able to open up an app and have what I need brought to me within an hour has been an absolute game-changer as a busy parent. I‘m happy to pay a little extra for that peace of mind and convenience."
The Convenience Factor: When Instacart Delivery Really Shines
While the added fees for delivery are nothing to sneeze at, there‘s no denying how handy it is to be able to get drugstore items brought to you rather than having to carve out time for an extra errand. And for certain populations and circumstances, it‘s more than just a nice-to-have.
"Drugstore delivery services like Walgreens and Instacart are an extremely valuable offering for elderly, disabled, and immunocompromised individuals who may have a hard time getting out to the store," said RetailMeNot‘s Shopping & Trends Expert, Kristin McGrath. "It allows people to get the household and health items they need to manage their conditions from the safety and comfort of home, which is crucial."
Delivery is also a big plus for those who may not live near a Walgreens and don‘t want to travel a long distance for just an item or two. And in situations where you‘re under the weather yourself, delivery can prevent spreading germs to others or having to drag yourself out when you‘re feeling awful.
"When I had Covid, the last thing I wanted to do was put on real clothes and go out in public. But I still needed cough medicine, tissues, and ice pops," said Walgreens shopper Destiny Richards. "Being able to get what I needed delivered from Walgreens so quickly really helped me rest and recover without stressing about running out of essentials."
The Competitive Landscape: How Other Drugstores Compare
Walgreens is certainly not alone in venturing into the fast delivery space. Its main competitor, CVS, has offered delivery through Instacart since 2020 and has also experimented with partnerships with Shipt and DoorDash. Rite Aid also works with Instacart, while Walmart, Kroger, and other major chains that have pharmacies are using a mix of third-party platforms and their own in-house delivery options.
As delivery becomes more and more of an expectation rather than an extra perk, the drugstore chains that are able to offer the most seamless, affordable, and quick service will likely come out on top. Walgreens has an edge with the sheer volume of stores that now offer Instacart, as well as the ability for 24-hour delivery in some areas that competitors don‘t match.
"Drugstores are an ideal retail category for fast delivery because so many of the purchases are need-based rather than want-based," explained McGrath. "You‘re not necessarily buying a new lipstick on a whim, but because you‘ve run out of toothpaste or need ibuprofen for a headache ASAP. Speed, convenience, and a wide selection are the biggest factors in where consumers will choose to shop in this vertical."
By the Numbers: Instacart Delivery Trends and Adoption
Just how popular is online shopping and delivery for drugstore items? Let‘s take a look at some illuminating statistics:
- In the first three months after launching their Instacart partnership, Walgreens saw an increase of nearly 3 percentage points in digital sales growth, CEO James Kehoe told CNBC.
- A survey by C+R Research found that nearly 1 in 4 consumers now do a majority of their grocery and household shopping through delivery or pickup services, up from just 11% pre-pandemic.
- Across Instacart‘s platform, orders in the "convenience" category grew more than 150% year-over-year in the fourth quarter of 2021, pointing to major demand for fast delivery of drugstore-type items.
- Usage of online delivery is highest among Millennials and urbanites. Over half of those under 35 reported using delivery services at least once a week in the C+R Research survey.
The data reflects significant adoption of delivery for drugstore shopping that is likely to keep growing, especially among younger and more tech-savvy consumers. Walgreens and Instacart will need to keep innovating to stay competitive and top of mind.
"Walgreens expanding their partnership with Instacart was a smart move to meet customers‘ expectations for ultrafast delivery and keep pace with rivals," said McGrath. "But as online shopping for everyday items becomes more ubiquitous, it will take creative offerings and a focus on customer service to really stand out from the crowd."
Tips to Save on Walgreens Instacart Delivery Fees
While Instacart delivery fees are a fact of life when getting Walgreens items brought to your door, there are ways to minimize the added cost. Try these expert couponing tips and tricks:
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Sign up for Instacart Express. The $99/year membership fee can easily pay for itself in waived delivery fees and reduced service fees if you use the service regularly.
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Keep an eye out for Instacart promo codes for new users. You can often find deals for $10-25 off your first order or another introductory discount.
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Watch for Instacart coupons featured on Walgreens‘ product pages online. These can help offset the service and delivery fees.
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Order during off-peak times when possible. Delivery fees tend to be lower late at night and early in the morning versus busy evenings and weekends.
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Consolidate your orders when you can. The delivery fee is typically the same whether you order five items or 50, so opting for a larger haul less frequently is more cost-effective than many small orders.
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Choose no-rush delivery. If you‘re not in a huge hurry, selecting a later delivery window can sometimes yield a discount on your order.
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Comparison shop with other retailers. Instacart partners with numerous drugstores, so check if CVS or Rite Aid is offering a better price or lower fees on the items you need.
At the end of the day, the cost of Walgreens Instacart delivery is something budget-savvy shoppers will have to weigh against the undeniable time savings and convenience. If you know you‘ll use the service often, springing for the Instacart Express membership is likely worthwhile. If delivery is more of an occasional backup, keeping orders consolidated and taking advantage of promo codes and coupons can help keep costs manageable.
The Bottom Line
The Walgreens-Instacart partnership marks an important shift in how drugstores are adapting to consumers‘ growing appetite for fast delivery. While the added cost of delivery and service fees is significant at roughly $10 or more per order, the ability to get drugstore essentials brought to your door in an hour or two is a huge value add for shoppers.
Whether Walgreens Instacart delivery is worth it for you comes down to your individual circumstances and needs. If you‘re a busy parent, caregiver, or professional who struggles to make time for errands, it can be a lifesaver. For those with limited mobility or health concerns that make in-person shopping difficult, it provides crucial access to necessities. And in situations where you‘re in a pinch without a needed item, the ultra-fast turnaround time is hard to beat.
But if your budget is tight, you live close to a Walgreens, and you‘re able to make shopping trips with relative ease, you‘re probably better off going to the store yourself or opting for Walgreens‘ own free curbside pickup service to get the items you need without the added expense of delivery.
The takeaway? Walgreens Instacart delivery is a prime example of how businesses are making strides to better serve customers by meeting them where they are. As more retailers beef up their online ordering and fulfillment capabilities to stay competitive, consumers will increasingly have the power to choose how they buy based on their unique needs and preferences. Having the option of delivery is no doubt convenient – but shoppers will have to decide for themselves if and when the extra cost is worthwhile.
