>> Going to the store once a week isn't that much of a hassle, the food quality is higher, and it's cheaper.
Not sure how common my take is, but not only is going to a store not a hassle -- going to a grocery store is an absolute pleasure. It is a timeboxed task with a sense of accomplishment at the end that takes me away from my computer and gives me exercise (I usually walk.) I tend to do 2x a week to break up the task and do it more often because I like it. Shorter cycles also helps with freshness and error correction.
Agree 100%. I don't use grocery delivery or meal kits and it's not because of cost or food spoilage or inaccurate orders. I don't use them because going to a brick and mortar grocery store is awesome. My kids really love going to the grocery store. They haven't yet been conditioned to believe that they should be embarrassed of or bored by certain activities. For them, it's an exciting opportunity for discovery. They're delighted by new products they haven't seen before.
I can't remember the exact statistics, but the vast majority of people prefer b&m grocery shopping. In many cities and towns across America, the most fun thing you can do each week is to go to the Walmart and shop. It's a social experience. It engages all your senses. It's fun. I believe that's partly why brick and mortar grocery purchases are still around 97% of total grocery sales despite grocery delivery services being available for over two decades.
I imagine at some point in the future, someone clever will figure out a way to replicate the in-store experience online, but there's nothing that's even close right now (sorry AR/VR).
> I don't use them because going to a brick and mortar grocery store is awesome.
I agree with you, but the meal order kits, at least to me, doesn't solve "going to the grocery store".
They solve the issue of too much choice and too little time to make a decision. That push us to just try to same usual meals. At least with meal kits, not only you try new stuff, that you may have no tried for many reason (Does my supermarket carry this ingredient? Do I have it already in my pantry? Will I need to buy 10x too much of it to try this meal that I may not like?), but you also do it quickly.
I remember when I tried Goodfood late last year, there was a recipe I was interested in, but it was from their "family" meal plan. I still wanted to do it, so a month ago I went to get the recipe. I couldn't find a few of the spices at my local supermarket and it required a little bit of Sherry Vinegar, which sure isn't expensive and may be used in the future, but it's still way more than I need and will go to waste if I don't reuse it/like it.
I'm going to try a service that someone made in this thread, Eat This Much, and I'll see if it's works too, but I feel like it's not enough and many of theses issues will come up.
I still haven't closed my account over Goodfood, I still plan to order a few meals from time to time, to add recipes to my usual meals list. I feel like that's the kind of usage that make sense. Sure it's more expensive, sure the shipping require more waste, but it doesn't hurt if it just happens from time to time and maybe my Sherry Vinegar that I may waste in the long run isn't much different either.
Agreed twice a week. I purchase two dinner meals each trip along with other items. I eat out the other 3 days. I can load up my large back pack and a few reusable bags and I am easily able to carry everything.
I really don't mind grocery stores and I've never understood the meals thing. But I'm also a pretty boring millenial on my s6 and 17" massive laptop. So who knows.
I don't disagree that —if situation permits— grocery shopping can be a good levelling exercise, to step out of oneself and (eg) compare the price of various things at different quantities...
But context is important. A lot of people can't drop everything while they're shopping. If you're rushing, don't know what you want or have a furious toddler in tow, the experience suffers significantly.
That all said, I'm surprised so many people have to turn to Blue Apron (et al) just because shopping isn't convenient for them. Don't your shops offer online services? In the UK, all the major supermarkets offer delivery and collection services at minimal cost. If you buy the same thing every week, you can reduce the total exercise to just a few minutes of engagement time.
Totally agree, and I don't know why more people don't say this. I actually enjoy going and looking at the food I'm going to buy. Most stores have nice extras like coffee shops and small cafes that can turn the 'chore' into a nice outing.
Do we really need deep discussions explaining why people have different preferences in life?
I'm sure there are people who wonder why the OP doesn't enjoy spending time shopping for clothes.
Most supermarkets in America do not have nice cafes.
Most people go to a cafe if they want to go to a cafe, they don't go to a supermarket.
Many people have to drag kids along and keep them under control when grocery shopping.
It is a repetitive task.
For most people there is no creativity or joy in it.
Most people do not live within walking distance of their supermarket.
Most people wouldn't walk there anyway, since they are shopping for a family of three or four.
Most people don't see it as a break from other things, they see it as one more thing that has to be fit into a busy weekend (or even worse, an evening after work).
And many more.
Really the entire subthread reads like yuppie single men wondering why other people don't have the same preferences they do and being completely unable to figure it out.
Not sure how common my take is, but not only is going to a store not a hassle -- going to a grocery store is an absolute pleasure. It is a timeboxed task with a sense of accomplishment at the end that takes me away from my computer and gives me exercise (I usually walk.) I tend to do 2x a week to break up the task and do it more often because I like it. Shorter cycles also helps with freshness and error correction.