^^^ very bizarre I heard that as well from someone at ODOT of all places.

Well that's weird. But if it's true, then HECKS YEAH!

I haven't found anything anywhere in terms of what this merger will do, if anything, to the Kroger delivery services we enjoy here in OKC.

https://www.wjhl.com/news/national/kroger-albertsons-to-sell-over-400-stores-in-17-states-for-merger-pending-fed-approval/#:~:text=Kroger%20and%20Albertsons%20agreed%20to,t he%20closures%20could%20take%20months.

So far, been pretty pleased with their delivery service, but today something happened that's happened before and is super-annoying - it appears they just left a bag with a bunch of frozen stuff (lunches, pizza) either in the truck or at the warehouse. Happened 2 or 3 times now and that's not a good percentage - 10% of the deliveries have had this happen (we've been getting deliveries since May or Jun, so ~15-20 deliveries).

^^^ It just happened again, this is ridiculous (always a bag of frozen items)! Something's broken in their process, can't be just me that has this happen. Guess I'll have to have them hand the bags to me in-person and not let them leave until I've checked everything from now on, ugh....

Have they been refunding you what was missed?

Have they been refunding you what was missed?

When I have had issues, I have reported it in the App and get refunded pretty quickly.

Have they been refunding you what was missed?

Absolutely, the first thing I do after unpacking is go through the list and submit a refund with "I did not receive the item" as the reason (and someone somewhere in Kroger should be going through their lists of refunds and figuring out what the cause of them is and fix it). But that does not mitigate the inconvenience of having to go somewhere else to get the undelivered items or creating another delivery.

Absolutely, the first thing I do after unpacking is go through the list and submit a refund with "I did not receive the item" as the reason (and someone somewhere in Kroger should be going through their lists of refunds and figuring out what the cause of them is and fix it). But that does not mitigate the inconvenience of having to go somewhere else to get the undelivered items or creating another delivery.

No, it doesn't. Especially if they don't inform you ahead ofvdelivery if something's missing. Hopefully, it's a bug they will fix soon.

No, it doesn't. Especially if they don't inform you ahead ofvdelivery if something's missing. Hopefully, it's a bug they will fix soon.

It's actually not a bug, it almost has to be a live, person thing. It's always a bag of frozen lunches and/or a pizza, and either the shopper doesn't put that bag with the rest of the order in whatever bin-type system they probably use, or the driver doesn't get it on the truck or it gets on the truck but doesn't make it to our door. I've always just let them drop it on the porch in case I'm in a mtg or otherwise busy, but I'll make sure to get them from the driver, and check everything out while they're there, and explain why I'm now doing it and hopefully find out where in the system the problem is.

^^^^^^^^^
The “problem” is in Texas, whenever there is one. I haven’t seen anyone mention it here, but Kroger’s OKC deliveries are actually bagged in DFW. Yes, I know we have a distribution center in OKC, but that’s only where they load and dispatch the trucks. The actual groceries are bagged in north Texas, placed into shipping boxes, and then freighted to OKC, where they are then transferred to delivery vans.

I’ve been using Kroger delivery for about 18 months at this point, and anytime there is any issue (for instance one cracked egg among a dozen, which has happened a few times), usually the drivers themselves catch it and rectify. Other occasional issues include not receiving a full complement of ordered produce. But honestly I’ve found it to be remarkably reliable.

I am guessing Oklahoma City will get a Bucees and a HEB before we get a physical Kroger Store.

My $1 bet is Kroger is using OKC to see if they can be successful as delivery-only and not build brick and morter.

I've had some baffling experiences with the delivery service since enrolling early this year...not sure I'm going to renew (they ended up refunding a $250+ order they delivered to the wrong house in the middle of July so I made money) - they are routinely out of basic items like bagels and deli meat and I get an error anytime I ask for a refund for a incorrect/bad/broken item...it doesn't work on either the app or website and I have to call each time.

^^ I have had issue with deli meat also. I really like how they have Boars Head but they always seem out of what I want and it just doesn't arrive.

We never get fresh produce or deli items from Kroger, we just go to Sprouts for both, so we've never had a problem with those. :D

Weird about an error when asking for a refund, it's worked flawlessly every time I've had to do it on the website using Chrome, and I've had to do it at least 3 times now for the missing bag of frozen items. That's the only glitch I've really had with them, and I'm going to talk to the driver today to find out where it's happening.

The Kroger brand in Denver is often out of certain Boars Head items and stores sometimes don't have anyone working deli due to staffing problems so its not just the delivery service. Also, given the short life-span of sliced deli meat, it may be best to get that from a local Sprouts though their selection is often limited.

That frozen foods issue is weird.

The Kroger brand in Denver is often out of certain Boars Head items and stores sometimes don't have anyone working deli due to staffing problems so its not just the delivery service. Also, given the short life-span of sliced deli meat, it may be best to get that from a local Sprouts though their selection is often limited.

That frozen foods issue is weird.

Yes, agreed, that's why I wanted to talk to a driver to find out how many hands touch the bags and where the problem could be. They dropped and ran this morning, so I didn't get to ask, but at least our order was completely fulfilled.

Neither of the Sprouts we go to (63rd/May in OKC, 2nd/Blvd in Edmond) has what we would think of as a limited selection of Boar's Head - they each have about 15 varieties of meat (chicken, beef, ham, salami, probably prosciutto and pancetta too) and about 8-9 varieties of cheese, at the very least, plus seasonal items, so we've always been able to find what deli meat we've needed at Sprouts.

Yes, and Target even sells Boards Head. It's just that the whole point of delivery is to not have to go to a store for the basics. I mean, no it's not the end of the world to go into Sprouts. Heck we go in there often as it is for fresh produce multiple times per week.

I remember when Sprouts came to the metro some 15 years ago (maybe) and they brought with them Boars Head. Was so stoked.

Interesting, did not know that. That explains a few things - why the warehouse here looks smaller than I'd guessed, why delivery is always next day and never a same day option, and why the milk I got from them had a DFW area plant code instead of an OK plant code.

I'm still extremely satisfied with their service so far.

Kroger has a great deal on turkeys right now, $.99 a pound. That's cheaper than Sam's Club.

I just ordered every single thing I need to prepare a full Thanksgiving dinner for my family, and I won't even have to set foot in a store, searching endlessly for a handful of things that get moved every holiday season, and fighting crowds in the process. And 9 times out of 10, I have to go to multiple places.

Yeah, Kroger delivery is the business. Besides a weekly Home Chef, Kroger accounts for 95%+ of my consumables at home. It’s too convenient, especially with delivery going to a building concierge. Household groceries take me about ten minutes per week, at most.

About the only shopping I’m required to do is for my elderly mother, who doesn’t drive and who lives on the second floor of a secured apartment complex. She has mobility issues and can be a bit anxious, so navigating grocery deliveries is a bit of a challenge. I just run to Homeland at 16th and Classen once a week for her. Things could be much worse, all things considered.

Kroger driver just told me that their Boost membership (free delivery) is currently half-price ($30), not sure how long it lasts, but if anybody's been on the fence about using them, this should make the case for it - after 4 deliveries, the rest of the deliveries in a year are free ($6.95/delivery is their normal charge).

Kroger driver just told me that their Boost membership (free delivery) is currently half-price ($30), not sure how long it lasts, but if anybody's been on the fence about using them, this should make the case for it - after 4 deliveries, the rest of the deliveries in a year are free ($6.95/delivery is their normal charge).

I saw this too. Is "Boost" just the name of the annual membership? Everything is still through Kroger and their delivery service correct? Is there a minimum purchase amount through Kroger to use Boost, or can you order one or two items with no delivery fee?

I saw this too. Is "Boost" just the name of the annual membership? Everything is still through Kroger and their delivery service correct? Is there a minimum purchase amount through Kroger to use Boost, or can you order one or two items with no delivery fee?

Yes, Boost is their annual membership, not sure what else it covers besides free delivery, maybe gas points or something like that. Yes, it's all Kroger, from their shoppers in their Dallas store, drivers driving it up here, then warehouse workers sorting and delivery drivers here in OKC, it's all their employees (no tipping allowed). $35 min purchase, I believe, to get free delivery, even if you have Boost (but we never have that problem, we do weekly deliveries of $100-150).

US goverment is putting a stop to the Kroger and Albertsons merger.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/26/investing/kroger-albertsons-merger-blocked-ftc/index.html

US goverment is putting a stop to the Kroger and Albertsons merger.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/26/investing/kroger-albertsons-merger-blocked-ftc/index.html

what a joke

US goverment is putting a stop to the Kroger and Albertsons merger.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/26/investing/kroger-albertsons-merger-blocked-ftc/index.html

They're trying anyway.

Good, we need more competition, not less. Hoping they stop the Capital One/Discover merge as well.

Good, we need more competition, not less. Hoping they stop the Capital One/Discover merge as well.

This merger actually would help with competing against Chase and Citi. This would help Discover possibly break up this duopoly and be able to offer more competitive credit card fees than the big two. Not every merger is bad.

This merger actually would help with competing against Chase and Citi. This would help Discover possibly break up this duopoly and be able to offer more competitive credit card fees than the big two. Not every merger is bad.

yep very much this you can look at it as the DOJ protecting chase/citi ..

the same with the jet blue spirit merege .. the DOJ really protected the big 4 (AA UA Delta and SW )

Just received an email from Kroger saying they are closing Austin, San Antonio, and a South Florida delivery facilities. And that "your delivery facility will close on 5/25." We can order groceries until then. WTF?!?

Just received an email from Kroger saying they are closing Austin, San Antonio, and a South Florida delivery facilities. And that "your delivery facility will close on 5/25." We can order groceries until then. WTF?!?

Are you saying that the closures in Texas impact home delivery here in the OKC Metro and surrounding communities?

Just received an email from Kroger saying they are closing Austin, San Antonio, and a South Florida delivery facilities. And that "your delivery facility will close on 5/25." We can order groceries until then. WTF?!?
Isn’t the delivery center for us in DFW?

That email is confusing but I don't think it means they are closing OKC.

I didn't get that notification, and I use Kroger all the time.

I only used them a couple of times. I did get the same email, it didn’t make sense to me either.

Yeah I'm seeing the news reports about South Florida, Austin and San Antonio but nothing yet about OKC. It would suck if they did, we use it weekly.

Could be a company wide blanket email whether you're in the affected areas or not.

I suspect the email is targeted based on locations you may have shopped at previously while utilizing your Kroger loyalty card/account. I received the email despite never using Kroger delivery services anywhere, but I'm certain that I shopped at either an Austin or San Antonio location during a vacation.

I also received the email and have only ordered delivery here in OKC.

Ceding S Texas to HEB and S Florida to Publix?

I forgot about my Dallas 214 area code on my phone. Could be why I got that email. ?

I signed up for one of their accounts but never placed an order. I have not recieved one of their emails.

Ceding S Texas to HEB and S Florida to Publix?

This was my thought. And HEB is building pretty steady all over north TX now.

Update: OKC appears to be safe:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/kroger032924a.jpg

Update: OKC appears to be safe:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/kroger032924a.jpg

I was also about to post that Kroger on Facebook is advertising about a virtual hiring event for drivers in OKC on April 9th, so it definitely appears to be safe.

Putting this in the Grocery forum;
H-E-B is opening up a new $30 million store in Georgetown, a suburb north of Austin, according to a recent Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) filing. The Texas-sized plans for construction include a nearly 110,000-square-foot store and a $2 million fuel station, and car wash.
This Georgetown H-E-B will be in a new 31-acre shopping center called Parmer Ranch Marketplace, according to the preliminary plans. Construction is expected to begin September 9 with an approximate completion date scheduled for May 2025. All TDLR filings are subject to change at any time.

Located in one of the fastest-growing counties in the U.S., Georgetown is home to two other H-E-B stores at Wolf Lakes Village and Williams Drive.

Small towns like Georgetown in Williamson County have experienced huge economy boosts from tech companies like Tesla and Samsung both investing in Hutto and Taylor, while still being in close proximity to Austin.

Anybody had delivery problems recently with them not ringing/knocking? 4 out of the last 7 or so deliveries have just been dropped on the porch and they left. I've got the box checked that I don't have to be present (sometimes I'm in a mtg/otherwise busy, delivery is between 9-10 AM on Fridays), and a note that says "ring doorbell instead of knocking" (because I don't always hear the knock). I changed the phone number from my wife's (it's her account) to mine (she's at work and can't always tell me when they text her that they're here), but they still should knock/ring, it's something a 5-year-old could do - drop bags, ring doorbell, leave.....

Been pretty decent up until the last couple of months, and to compound things the drivers don't leave cards so I have no idea if it's one sh!tty driver or a few of them.

Putting this in the Grocery forum;
H-E-B is opening up a new $30 million store in Georgetown, a suburb north of Austin, according to a recent Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) filing. The Texas-sized plans for construction include a nearly 110,000-square-foot store and a $2 million fuel station, and car wash.
This Georgetown H-E-B will be in a new 31-acre shopping center called Parmer Ranch Marketplace, according to the preliminary plans. Construction is expected to begin September 9 with an approximate completion date scheduled for May 2025. All TDLR filings are subject to change at any time.

Located in one of the fastest-growing counties in the U.S., Georgetown is home to two other H-E-B stores at Wolf Lakes Village and Williams Drive.

Small towns like Georgetown in Williamson County have experienced huge economy boosts from tech companies like Tesla and Samsung both investing in Hutto and Taylor, while still being in close proximity to Austin.

Would love an HEB in OKC. We are in S. Padre this week and our first stop is always the HEB. Their store brands and in house made products are so great. If they will just bring the little hispanic man out front selling elote would come with them!

Not sure where to discuss this, but I have always wondered why more grocery chains haven't come to OKC. Like, why has Albertson's or Kroger not opened here? And also, why are there so few? Seems that OKC has a lot of areas where there could easily be more grocery stores, especially a Crest Fresh Market in North OKC. Just seems that we need more grocery stores in the metro to facilitate future growth.

There could be an even bigger need, in the near future.

We were shopping at the original Edmond Crest last week and the checkout lane we went thru had one of those rotating, plastic bag holding contraptions like Wal-Mart, except with only three bag stands. We bring our own bags and the set-up didn't allow the poor cashier a place to put our bags while she placed groceries in them. Feeling really bad, I asked if we had accidently gotten into an express lane and she said no, they were going to do the same thing to all of the other checkout counters. She said half the front-end employees had already quit and that it was her last night on the job.

If Crest goes to a model where there are no sackers and the cashier has to bag groceries (in plastic bags) as they go, I think it's going to hurt them tremendously. Being full-service is one of the biggest draws for us. If someone like Kroger, HEB or another well regarded grocer came in with similar pricing, we'd drop Crest like a hot potato.

I don't know for certain that this is where Crest is going, but it is what we were told by our cashier.

Just used Kroger again today as I needed a bunch of small things and didn't want to go fight the heat, the crowds and then wander up and down endless aisles with no one to help and/or finding what I needed was out of stock, then standing in line to pay. Just click, they verify if they have the item, then set up a time for them to drop everything on your porch.

If you have flexibility in when you take delivery, Kroger now charges as little as $3.95. That's a screaming bargain and they do a great job.

Its very unfortunate to see the local company making such a poor customer service decision.

I also don’t understand why we have no chains like Kroger, Publix, Safeway, or any like that. Makes no sense.

I also don’t understand why we have no chains like Kroger, Publix, Safeway, or any like that. Makes no sense.

Because it was all Safeway and a bunch of locals (mainly independent IGA's) and then the Oklahoma Homelands spun off from Safeway and became isolated and non-competitive, and Walmart took over.

Just used Kroger again today as I needed a bunch of small things and didn't want to go fight the heat, the crowds and then wander up and down endless aisles with no one to help and/or finding what I needed was out of stock, then standing in line to pay. Just click, they verify if they have the item, then set up a time for them to drop everything on your porch.

If you have flexibility in when you take delivery, Kroger now charges as little as $3.95. That's a screaming bargain and they do a great job.


What do you mean by they verify they have the items?

I have the Boost membership since I order pretty regularly, but some items (mostly things from the deli) come back as 'out of stock' on the order - with no replacement item option. That has been my only issue outside of delivery drivers getting lost. However, maybe I am doing something wrong with the substitute/replace feature.

Usually, when you search for an item they tell you if its in stock. But of course, you can allow substitutions and often times when you go to check out you might get a notice they are out of stock, allowing you to make your own substitution.

I tried shopping at the new Crest on Covell and Sooner in Edmond. Every time the meat I wanted was miss marked as something else way higher priced. It was plainly wrong like ground beef marked as a ribeye that kind of stupid. i would have to call the meat manager to get someone to properly label stuff. This takes way too long esp when the guy calls the employees out and chews them out. I just say its poor training and employees get to not caring. I went in one time to get some potatoes. First off the produce guess goes in to a Protestant come to my church and are you saved thing. Thank you I have my own church. it was again stupid. I went to the potato bags and they were flat out rotten potatoes in the bags. Nope I am not buying rotten potatoes. They were not just a little bad, they were way bad. I just gave up trying to shop at Crest. This is not how you keep customers.

When you figure what the cost of the gas to go to the store and back then your time, at $3.95 its a deal I have not tried them yet. I guess I should, for alot of people it just makes sense. I wish I had this option just before they started when my truck was at the dealership for over 3 months and living out a ways trying to get someone to drive me to a store to just do a curbside was next to impossible. It would have been great to have what i needed delivered, even at $7.95. I am just happy that now there are some new options for shopping. Crest and the other local stores need to up their service if they want to stay in competition. One other thought is for elderly that dont want to go and walk through (even with a sitting cart) its a great option

I was at Crest on Rockwell and Hefner on Monday and they were doing some kind of surveying in the parking lot.