Back in the dark ages of, say 2010, you needed to go to your local Gristedes or D’Agostino and pay top prices for household basics. If you needed a Barbie or toy for a birthday you went to the neighborhood side-street toy store and paid 50% to 100% more than you would from a big box store. But hey, city living isn’t easy and you have to pay for convenience.
That was way back when. Now, the game is changing. This year, a variety of personal shopping and same day delivery services have started to change the shopping landscape for many New Yorkers. Technology-based services like, Google Express, Amazon Prime Now and Instacart are offering city dwellers delivery of basic (and not so basic) household items within just a couple of hours.
Unlike Fresh Direct, these services offer a lot more than cereal and milk. Google Express and Instacart employ shoppers that physically shop the aisles of participating stores. Amazon Prime Now makes overnight delivery look like the Dark Ages with their fully stocked warehouses that’s stocked with everything from food to Play-Doh to technology and workout gear. The options are truly mind- boggling.
We’ve been ordering and consuming through all three companies for the past several months. These services all offer same day delivery within Manhattan but their specialties and fees slightly differ. Above is a handy cheat sheet that breaks down the major differences and our opinions. You can click on the image to enlarge the text.
