Whole Foods Delivery Shop

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I applied every time it came up for the delivery or back-up. They kept advertising in my area, but I never did get a shop. The ad for the back-up was up and posted again and again through email for ages, oh well. I sure would have liked to have tried that one.

How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg?
"Four. Calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg."
-- Abraham Lincoln

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Me too! I was even contacted by a scheduler asking if I was still interested in being a back-up. I replied yes and then never heard again.

Although I have to say, these sound way more complicated than the main grocery store shops I do, so maybe it's just as well.

Once I completed about 4, I have to say I found them to be pretty simple. You take temperatures of a few items and take photos.

@amyann2 wrote:

Me too! I was even contacted by a scheduler asking if I was still interested in being a back-up. I replied yes and then never heard again.

Although I have to say, these sound way more complicated than the main grocery store shops I do, so maybe it's just as well.

I am waiting for the next exciting opportunity!

I did 2, then had to take a trip, couldn't do one. Never was assigned one again, emailed scheduler 2x and he never answered me.

I think that the scheduling is tough. I picked up a last minute shop. I think that’s why they asked if we would be going out of town.

@calicakes wrote:

I did 2, then had to take a trip, couldn't do one. Never was assigned one again, emailed scheduler 2x and he never answered me.

I am waiting for the next exciting opportunity!

What happens if a lot of your items are not compliant. Do they up the fee? That's a lot of work for items that may not be safe to eat.

Most stores have been doing deliveries for over two years. I think that most know what they are doing by now however; that doesn’t stop the standards of the store and their internal requirements for packing. If we see the item does not meat the requirements, I don’t think the person would eat the specific item. It is 9 items one is a cleaning product, and the other is bread it is not that difficult

@Swilli wrote:

What happens if a lot of your items are not compliant. Do they up the fee? That's a lot of work for items that may not be safe to eat.

I am waiting for the next exciting opportunity!

Under normal circumstances a customer would not leave their items out for the duration of a delivery window, etc. I do not think there is a packing issue in general. I would be upset if my meats and dairy were not compliant and I were left with cleaning solution, bread and and $7 for all that time and effort. I can handle soupy ice cream. Just curious because you probably could not get a refund because you let it sit out. I read were items have not been compliant. I'm wondering how the MSC handles it for the shopper if this happens.

I'm lucky enough to be the regular for a pick-up location, and so I'm supposed to take the temps ASAP after pickup. Done with maybe my 5th pickup at this point? I kind of feel bad for my backup shopper because I haven't missed a shop, and don't plan on missing. It's getting easier, and I've been able to get the temping, pictures and record keeping down to <10 minutes. I then get home, put everything away, and then it's another about 15 minutes in front of the computer. My tips on all the pre/post pictures:

If you're on windows, use the "Snipping Tool" and to crop and save screen grabs of the pictures you've taken, and of the order pages. A couple of tips: I've been able to order ~$4 bottles of 365 hand soap without issue. (I had too many dish soaps by then); and I was going to be out of town on a day that I was assigned (the assignment was for one specific day, not a range). I emailed the scheduler and asked if I could do it on X day or Y day, making note that I would be out of town that one day, and he accommodated without issue.

Maybe I've been lucky, but my scheduler and reviewers have all ben very nice and professional.

Good luck everyone!

The last delivery shop took me 22 minutes to complete from temperatures to submitting the report.

I really think this job and the rules depend on your individual scheduler. In my case, which I reported earlier, even though the advertisement for the job said you could not be gone on vacation for more than 2 weeks and that you should be able to do 1 to 2 of these a month minimum, when I was not willing to do one a week I got fired. The scheduler said I told him I did not want the job. He made that up. I did this job three times total in 6 or 7 weeks or so and got a 10 on every one. Evidently my particular scheduler wanted someone who could do it every week.

Hooray! I signed up as a back-up ages ago and have just gotten my first assignment for this project.

I'm considering buying a second thermometer at my own expense so I can use a different one for the meat than I use for everything else. I have the sanitizing wipes, but I'm still a little icked out at using the same thermometer for raw meat as for dairy. Do those of you who've been doing this project do the non-meat items first and otherwise don't worry about it?

Any other tips for this job? (I'll be doing pick-up only.) I will re-read the guidelines and the questionnaire a few more times before I complete this first assignment -- and I will go back over this entire thread! -- but if there are any tips you haven't expressed here yet, I'd love to hear them!

This is getting to be ridiculous. My scheduled window was noon - 2 pm, and the items were delivered at 11:30 am. That's great for the person who did the shop, but I'm not comfortable with raw meat and milk that's been out for 2.5 hrs.

Is it cheating if we at least move the bags inside so they aren't sitting outside in 80 degrees sun?

@amyann2 - For preventing cross contamination, I make a small jar of Steramine Quaternary-tab, sanitizing solution and place it in my car cupholder (I do the pickup version too), The jar is deep enough to cover the entire probe. In between each item, I wipe with a paper towel, just to get particles off; set/soak the probe into the sanitizing solution; put the just temped item away and ready the next item; take the probe out of solution; wipe the temp probe; take the next temp; repeat. I make a new sanitizing solution for each shop. It's much cheaper and eco-friendlier than constantly buying packs of disposable wipes.

I also start temping in an order that is least likely to do damage if there's cross contamination: 1) ice cream, 2) yogurt, 3) cheese, 4) milk, 5) beef, 6) chicken.

Another tip is to take notes on a piece of paper (or on the back of a bag!) as you're doing your temperature check. While you wait for the temp to settle on the thermometer, write down the expiration date of the item. Then note the temp. This way you'll have all that info in one place.

You'll figure out your own process at some point - it's a lot to make note of at first, but it gets much easier once you get a routine! Good luck!

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/21/2022 05:51AM by tgooberbutt.

Thanks, this is super helpful!

I did read back through the entire thread today and made several notes. One person mentioned needing proof if a temperature is non-compliant. Do you think the photo has to show the thermometer still inserted in the item? Without having done this yet, it seems to me it could be tricky trying to take a photo if the thermometer doesn't want to stay put without being physically held upright.

One other question for anyone who cares to answer .... I put together a practice order today, and the less expensive first choices were available for everything, with a total order around $31. In such as case, is it better to go for slightly more expensive (but allowed) items to get the total to $35 and get free pick-up? Or is it better to just leave it at $31 and incur the pick-up fee since it will (should?) be reimbursed.

I did my first of these and got a score of 10! A huge THANK YOU to all of you who posted tips and tricks -- I would have found this so much more difficult without your shared experiences!

I have not had an issue with the thermometer for an item that is not in compliance. As long as it is inserted, you would be fine. Don’t over think it you will do a great job!

@amyann2 wrote:

Thanks, this is super helpful!

I did read back through the entire thread today and made several notes. One person mentioned needing proof if a temperature is non-compliant. Do you think the photo has to show the thermometer still inserted in the item? Without having done this yet, it seems to me it could be tricky trying to take a photo if the thermometer doesn't want to stay put without being physically held upright.

One other question for anyone who cares to answer .... I put together a practice order today, and the less expensive first choices were available for everything, with a total order around $31. In such as case, is it better to go for slightly more expensive (but allowed) items to get the total to $35 and get free pick-up? Or is it better to just leave it at $31 and incur the pick-up fee since it will (should?) be reimbursed.

I am waiting for the next exciting opportunity!

So I try to get as close to the spend/reimbursement cap as possible. This includes getting the most ethical, organic everything possible: grass-fed version of the beef (grass-fed, step-4), organic free-range eggs, totally organic and step 3 chicken. Even when the 'first choice' cleaning products are available, I have still been able to order body washes and hand soaps (all 365 brand) with no issues. The only time I got chastised (but no points off on the report), was when I ordered a 64oz hand soap refill (365 brand still), and accidently went over by the reimbursement amount by $1. The reviewer just made a note that I ordered a refill size which is 2x the price of the regular size and that the client wants to keep costs low if possible.

@tgooberbutt wrote:

Even when the 'first choice' cleaning products are available, I have still been able to order body washes and hand soaps (all 365 brand) with no issues. The only time I got chastised (but no points off on the report), was when I ordered a 64oz hand soap refill (365 brand still), and accidently went over by the reimbursement amount by $1. The reviewer just made a note that I ordered a refill size which is 2x the price of the regular size and that the client wants to keep costs low if possible.

Wow, when I asked about alternatives to the dish soap and cleaner, the scheduler stated what the guidelines said verbatim. And when I went over on an order, I was only reimbursed the stated limit.

Oh - I was only reimbursed to the prescribed limit - they definitely didn't reimburse for the overage. I didn't ask permission on the soaps ahead of time...then again, I also did this very early on so it could plausibly be under the cover that I was still learning the guidelines. But there was a bit when my local store was completely out of all forms of ground beef, and all other recommended options were OOS...and the minimum order on the whole cuts of beef were 2# , which would have been >$10 more than the 0.5# ground beef...that's the only time I asked about a substitution (I ended up ordering ground pork sausage), and that was fine.

My first 'liberty' with the soaps was the "Whole Foods Market, Organic Foaming Dish Soap, Unscented, 18 Fl Oz"
It's still a 365 dish soap, but it's in a foaming hand soap packaging. And when that went okay, I ordered a foaming hand soap, and that was fine too. As a side note - that foaming dish soap is terrible - it's so dilute. I use it as hand soap.

@MSF wrote:

@tgooberbutt wrote:

Even when the 'first choice' cleaning products are available, I have still been able to order body washes and hand soaps (all 365 brand) with no issues. The only time I got chastised (but no points off on the report), was when I ordered a 64oz hand soap refill (365 brand still), and accidently went over by the reimbursement amount by $1. The reviewer just made a note that I ordered a refill size which is 2x the price of the regular size and that the client wants to keep costs low if possible.

Wow, when I asked about alternatives to the dish soap and cleaner, the scheduler stated what the guidelines said verbatim. And when I went over on an order, I was only reimbursed the stated limit.

someone commented earlier that they purchased the 365 glass cleaner. When i asked the scheduler about it, I was told it was not a suitable. Well, I've since ordered it twice and the editors have approved it.

Now, I'm going to try the hand soap.

@tgooberbutt wrote:

So I try to get as close to the spend/reimbursement cap as possible. This includes getting the most ethical, organic everything possible: grass-fed version of the beef (grass-fed, step-4), organic free-range eggs, totally organic and step 3 chicken. Even when the 'first choice' cleaning products are available, I have still been able to order body washes and hand soaps (all 365 brand) with no issues. The only time I got chastised (but no points off on the report), was when I ordered a 64oz hand soap refill (365 brand still), and accidently went over by the reimbursement amount by $1. The reviewer just made a note that I ordered a refill size which is 2x the price of the regular size and that the client wants to keep costs low if possible.

which body wash did you buy?

"365 by Whole Foods Market, Body Wash Moisturizing Aloe & White Tea, 16 Fl Oz" It's also available in lavender and also Aloe/ White Tea. I'm using it as hand soap....

@eyelove2shop wrote:

@tgooberbutt wrote:

So I try to get as close to the spend/reimbursement cap as possible. This includes getting the most ethical, organic everything possible: grass-fed version of the beef (grass-fed, step-4), organic free-range eggs, totally organic and step 3 chicken. Even when the 'first choice' cleaning products are available, I have still been able to order body washes and hand soaps (all 365 brand) with no issues. The only time I got chastised (but no points off on the report), was when I ordered a 64oz hand soap refill (365 brand still), and accidently went over by the reimbursement amount by $1. The reviewer just made a note that I ordered a refill size which is 2x the price of the regular size and that the client wants to keep costs low if possible.

which body wash did you buy?

I ordered the hand soap. Going to order the body wash next go round.

I was getting tired of coming up with recipes for 1/2 lb. of ground beef for 3 people in my family and ordered a full pound last time and my score got knocked down to 9 because of it.

I'm beginning to have some trouble getting my order down to $35 with just the minimum required items. I looked at the original prices that they have in the shoppers' guide, which was pretty accurate in January. Since then, bread has gone up 60 cents, 365 yogurt is up 10 cents, chicken breast is up at least $1/lb, milk is up 70 cents, all purpose cleaner is up 60 cents. All together, that's $3 - $3.50 more than it was. Let's face it, Whole Foods is pretty expensive as it is, and the $3.50 does make a difference in what you can order for $35.

Hi there, These shops sound interesting! I'd love to get more grocery or other online ordering shops on my rotation. Does any one have recommendations for companies to try? The companies I've signed up with so far are mostly in the restaurant, gas station/convenience store industries, with some retail here and there. Any recommendations would be appreciated!

I've done the WF delivery about 6 times now. I have to get the bare minimum allowable to stay within the dollar limits. Even then I usually go 1-2 dollars over. I live in a higher priced area and the groceries cost more than what they have in the guidelines. On the rare occasion something is out of stock (Eggs) and I had to replace it with something 2x the cost the scheduler authorized additional reimbursement. I love getting the groceries because we use all of them weekly and it's cut our grocery budget significantly. I'm so glad to have this shop!

@marnette wrote:

I'm beginning to have some trouble getting my order down to $35 with just the minimum required items. I looked at the original prices that they have in the shoppers' guide, which was pretty accurate in January. Since then, bread has gone up 60 cents, 365 yogurt is up 10 cents, chicken breast is up at least $1/lb, milk is up 70 cents, all purpose cleaner is up 60 cents. All together, that's $3 - $3.50 more than it was. Let's face it, Whole Foods is pretty expensive as it is, and the $3.50 does make a difference in what you can order for $35.

Inflation. Prices are up everywhere. This Russo-Ukrainian War is affecting us in many ways.

Just make a note in the order section xxx product was not available at the prices listed in the guidelines. Or, if a specific 365 product is not available (which forces you to purchase another brand w/ a higher cost). One time I had to order chicken that required a 2 pound purchase. I've never had a problem being reimbursed the extra when explained in the report.

Also, watch for what is on sale, e.g. can buy Tilamok (or other brand) cheese, sometimes Clover milk vs 365 brand. The key is make sure it is "block" cheese, "2%" milk and the required size. I've never had a problem in this type of scenario, but I don't abuse it either.

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