I just got an email from my scheduler that all fuel and pickup shops are now on hold until Feb 2026!! Sounds like only in stores are available. It's crazy they're dropping them for one whole year. I'm wondering if I should even sign up for the in stores without the pickups to go with them.

I got the email too.I'm gonna continue doing the in store.

We just received an urgent message from Amy regarding pauses for the Kroger program Fuel and Pickups. Most of us will only be getting the in-store shops for the next several months (until June at the earliest for a few locations) and for most of us not until next year. (

The next set of instore shops launches as usual Wednesday (and again every 28 days).

She also discusses reschedules and the strikes in Colorado. Hopefully most of you will get this info directly, as it's too long to repeat.

Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 02/26/2025 04:32PM by melg.

I just posted the same info! In order to maintain "good standing" I'll do a few in stores each month.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/24/2025 08:02PM by melg.

I happened to log in today, and I saw 6 in-store shops listed. I grabbed 4 of them. I didn't think that Kroger shops were releasing until Wednesday - it's usually every Wednesday.

No emails from my scheduler (Jennifer).

Edit - Oh - delete the name of the company!!!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/24/2025 08:10PM by fancystephanie.

I didn't get anything. Some in-store shops randomly were posted today. They are normally posted on Wednesdays. Super weird.

Colorado only or nationwide?

I don't think I received anything. I quit mystery shopping now!

Just kidding, but I'm less likely to do the in-store as a stand-alone.

Probably leftovers/dropped ones

I don't think I received an email yet. I'm curious to see what posts tomorrow in my area. I'll probably only self-assign a couple of locations to start out, in case the other types don't follow after. The in-store as a standalone shop is a big step backward, especially at base.

Oops I also had to delete the name of Amy's company!! She is the scheduler with the good communication for west coast shoppers. To me it sounds like pauses affect all of us at least until June, but I guess we'll find out for sure tomorrow.

No, they were competitor shops. lol. I hope they were accidentally posted.

I wonder if they will have to bonus shops to get them filled now.

As I primarily employ Kroger's to defray travel expenses, I do not foresee an insurmountable problem on my end, BUT, the loss of fuels will have an effect upon my bottom line. As to pick-ups, I never applied for any; they did not fit my schedule.

I find the in store shops to be a pain and almost not worth it with the new Deli ID thing which was added onto the produce, meat and cashier IDs. I am not sure I will be jumping at the shops for this month there were quite a few in stores sitting untaken- especially the full check where you might have to wait on line for 10 minutes as the stores have hardly any cashiers working regular lines. I am glad I took a few this month- now will seriously consider cutting back. The last in store I did took me 40 minutes- huge store- had to wait at both deli and meat counters as there were several customers being served- not worth it to be honest. I was quite flustered with the waiting for the clerks to finish with others and greet me. There are 4 stores in my general area but only one is really close to home- and to be driving 5-6 miles one way and then doing the shop then coming home to do the report has me questioning if it is worth it. I think I am not alone in my thinking either- as even this week there was a Kroger self check not far from here offered- seems someone dropped it. And as for the stores which are in the "boonies" around here- without the chance of getting a pick up along with an instore I suspect they will sit undone.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/24/2025 11:00PM by Fatlady.

Big dissapointment. Not only Pickups are dropped but Fuel as well. Those were much easier than in-store which got more requirements for $1 more than before.

I never hear anything from my scheduler so I guess I will be left in the dark. I admire those of you who receive updates and feedback from schedulers. Never had such an experience!

It was good while it lasted. I don't understand why they need a year to reformulate the shop guidelines.

I did quite a few pick up as well as fuel shops. The fuel locations which were clean, well stocked and in good order remained so,. However my reporting lack of emptied trash cans, poorly stocked snack and beverage areas at a certain location did NOTHING to improve the situation. I shopped another fuel location which sold snacks inside the booth were the clerk sits. Every month I would report snacks well stocked- no beverage cooler- and the report would not submit unless I reported no snack area. it said that there were no snacks at the location- yet I was able to submit a receipt for candy every time! There was definitely a snack area inside the booth and I noted it in the comments EVERY TIME I did the report yet it was never corrected. Same location for in store refused to allow me to check belted self check as they claimed there were none when in fact there were several. As for the pick ups, I did MANY at one location like every month and the same person came out every time. On one shop she had a name tag- no vest but a name tag so I saw her name and as it was a nice name so I remembered it. From that time on she never wore a vest, never a name tag- and NOTHING was ever done to correct these issues although they were reported month after month on the report check areas and also in the comment at the end. I knew her name from the one time she wore a name tag- but I had to report unknown every other time as no vest or tag. Despite these issues being reported, there were NO IMPROVEMENTS! So perhaps Kroger is questioning the value of the reports? Often I found it comical that the same issues remained month after month, were reported month after month presumably to enhance service- yet nothing was done. In terms of the competitor shops- who cares if someone at Aldi or trader Joes smiles at me? Why do need to report their name and description? What was the benefit of that? I think with the high cost of groceries and slim margins Kroger is starting to reevaluate what is of benefit to the bottom line. As a Kroger shopper and shareholder, I could care less if the produce, deli or meat man smiles and greets me- eye contact and a greeting and a smile mean nothing to me if the store is clean and the groceries in stock and if there are regular cashiers to check me out if I have a large order.

This is a real upset! I use these shops to help buy groceries and the in store shops won’t cut it

Thanks Okie for clearing that up. Not leaving valuable info out there for competition.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/25/2025 03:00AM by Morledzep.

I also wonder if whops will be posted tomorrow rather than Wednesday. Can anyone confirm from scheduler email that it is tomorrow?

@Okie wrote:

I don't think I received an email yet. I'm curious to see what posts tomorrow in my area.

Oopsie, typo.

Just as I discovered them last month. Ah well easy come easy go.

This is definitely a bummer. I got very accustomed to getting groceries this way. I agree with others that the in stores are not as desirable. Since they added the deli requirement it has taken me 33% longer in store so the extra $2 in fee and reimbursement don't really compensate for that. Like others, I also saw the in store shops as a gateway to the pick up shops. When each in store could potentially get you $40 worth of food, the value proposition was there.

Previous changes also made the process less efficient for shoppers. Being able to do pickups and in stores on the same day at the same location and multiple pickups in one day could easily make for a $150 day with three in stores and three pickups. Reducing to one pickup a day was a blow and removing the ability to do pickup and in store at the same location was also a blow. Each of these changes resulted in more time, gas and effort on the part of the shopper.

I'm not going to be running all over to do in store shops like I had been. Prices are better at other stores so for my situation some of the value of shopping for groceries can be replaced by lower prices elsewhere. I hope, as others posit, that some of these shops will sit unfilled and there will eventually be some bonuses. However, considering how quickly they fly off the boards, I'm guessing there are still many people who need these shops to get by so I'm not betting there will be any slowdown in the appetite for these shops.

Olympia states--Prices are better at other stores so for my situation some of the value of shopping for groceries can be replaced by lower prices elsewhere.

Bob agrees--Aldi's, a store I have patronized for 34 yrs., has everyday pricing below Kroger's. After they opened their first store in my area in 1991, I quickly adjusted to their smaller variety by making Kroger's a monthly visit for stock-up of non-Aldi's items.

@shopperbob wrote:

Olympia states--Prices are better at other stores so for my situation some of the value of shopping for groceries can be replaced by lower prices elsewhere.

Bob agrees--Aldi's, a store I have patronized for 34 yrs., has everyday pricing below Kroger's. After they opened their first store in my area in 1991, I quickly adjusted to their smaller variety by making Kroger's a monthly visit for stock-up of non-Aldi's items.

They also have the Aisle of Shame...

Our west coast scheduler said shops will drop on Wednesdays, 28 days apart, unless changed by Kroger.

I wonder if there are money reasons behind The Pause. Probably most of you know that Albertsons sued Kroger in December over their failed merger attempt. Maybe the mystery shopping program is taking back seat to that expense ?

[www.grocerydive.com]

Haha I hadn't heard it called the Aisle of Shame. My issue with Aldi is that the checkout lines are worse than Food 4 Less.

I do have less expensive alternatives for the end of month. I really looked forward to the competitor pickups at Target/Walmart. Thankful we had them last month.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/26/2025 04:33PM by melg.

melg comments--Haha I hadn't heard it called the Aisle of Shame. My issue with Aldi is that the line are worse than Food 4 Less.

Bob is puzzled--What is an Aisle of Shame? Also, is the mentioned "line" referencing a line of product or to check-out? All of the Aldi's in my area have self scan or if there is a line at a register, they quickly announce an employee to the front.

I agree with Olympia- the added deli thing with descriptions of the clerk and looking at chicken and also the bakery items even with the Murrays cheese removed took a lot longer. Trying to record names and descriptions of a minimum of 4 and possible 5 associates with a full serve check was a bit much. Like others I took the in stores to balance the pick ups. I am not going to go crazy trying to get shops which in my opinion are a bit too much work for too little pay. I will shop at Walmart, Aldi and Meijer which surprising I learned from doing shops there often has great deals a lot better than Kroger in the weekly ad. I was buying a lot of Kroger shop items for my son and his family- they will not be getting much with the $10 in store shops.