How Our Grocery Store Is Handling The Covid-19 (UPDATED 03/25/2020)

Our son-in-law said our grocery store has security stationed out front. They allow only so many at a time to go in. They are also limiting items to 1 no matter what it is. Each cart is being sprayed down before a shopper takes one.

Here's how we're handling this.
Since there is a line outside the store, a few days ago we ordered home delivery through their website. It was delivered several hours later. The delivery person stacked the bags on our porch before ringing the bell then positioning herself several feet away.

The website itself mostly list what items are available (subject to the 1 item limits). Even then some of the items were scrubbed from our list as they became unavailable. Next time we'll leave a notation that substitutions are OK with our online order. See how that goes.

This was paid for by our credit card number they already had via our shoppers club card we always use.

While doing things this way it cost us more then ten percent of what it otherwise would going into the store. We felt it was worth it. Shoppers club discounts and coupons are not available on items you order this way. Plus they don't always list the lowest priced products even if some may still be available in-store.

I'm not sure all stores have the number of workers they need to do this. Here's something to consider. A lot of people are out of work right now. Perhaps they could take on some temporary help for people who could really use a job right now. Keep in mind the extra fees already cover the cost for personnel (including their tip money) to do this.

If this thing is gonna last for months it wouldn't be a bad idea for lots more stores to do this. It also wouldn't require triple handling. In other words a shipment comes in. Then it gets taken out to the floor for restocking the shelves, Shoppers then have to go to a checkout. Instead all three of these people could be putting an order together in back as it comes in (at least in part). This also would reduce the exposure to the store and products by a large number of people coming in.

This isn't a new concept.
What's old could be new again.
In the 50's the "grocery boy" would sometimes deliver groceries. The milkman, bread man, vegetable truck, dry cleaner/diaper man and dozens of others would come around. Maybe we should start rethinking this again. It certainly would reduce traffic on the road for one thing. It also would free up time for those workers who hold multiple jobs. This could put people with low education back to work again. It would most certainly benefit oldsters, the sick or the disabled too frail to shop or able to drive safely for themselves. Think about it before you poo poo the idea.

UPDATE 03/25/2020Well now home delivery sucks. Last Monday it worked like a charm. This Tuesday when we ordered it first said 5 hours. It never came. Now every time I click on it I get the craziest dates. One said within 2 hours. Then it said between 9-10:00 AM. When it didn't come I checked it said between 9-10 PM. Then today it said between 9-10:00 AM. When it didn't I checked again. This time it said Monday 03/30 2020!

I called the store. They said they couldn't help me because it is an outside contractor. I asked for a number to call. She gave me one but said good luck there are substantial phone wait times. Boy she wasn't kidding. The number I called said there is a 75 minute wait time on call-park.

Look I'm not too fussy about when. I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHEN IT WILL ACTUALLY BE DELIVERED!

This is nuts.
Every time I click there's yet another BS wait time. So unless you're lucky at gambling I'm not recommending grocery home delivery at this time. Looks like too many jumped on the bandwagon. I can't help believe this will only get worse in the days ahead.