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  4. I tried curbside grocery pickup at Walmart and Aldi, and Walmart was the clear winner despite higher prices

I tried curbside grocery pickup at Walmart and Aldi, and Walmart was the clear winner despite higher prices

Mary Meisenzahl   

I tried curbside grocery pickup at Walmart and Aldi, and Walmart was the clear winner despite higher prices
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Stephen Zenner/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
  • I tried curbside pickup at Aldi and Walmart to see how they really compare.
  • Aldi's app is glitchy, and the whole process has some kinks that need working out.

Curbside pickup got a major boost because of the pandemic as customers avoided going into stores.

Curbside pickup got a major boost because of the pandemic as customers avoided going into stores.
The logo of Walmart is seen outside of a new Walmart Store in San Salvador      Reuters

Two years later, in 2022, curbside pickup remains popular with shoppers, showing no signs of going away.

Two years later, in 2022, curbside pickup remains popular with shoppers, showing no signs of going away.
Aldi plans to open 150 new stores.      Stephen Zenner/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images.

I've been using curbside pickup at Walmart for over a year, so I decided to compare it to Aldi's version. Here's what Walmart's pickup is like.

I
Walmart

When you open the app, it prompts you to choose your nearest location for pickup, or add your address for delivery.

When you open the app, it prompts you to choose your nearest location for pickup, or add your address for delivery.
Walmart

The time slots come in hour-long blocks. At the beginning of the pandemic it was hard to find a spot, but now I rarely need to book more than a day or two in advance to get my choice of time.

The time slots come in hour-long blocks. At the beginning of the pandemic it was hard to find a spot, but now I rarely need to book more than a day or two in advance to get my choice of time.
Walmart

Once you've selected a time, create your list. The app is organized into sections that change seasonally, like spring produce, but you can also search for items or look through past orders.

Once you
Walmart

See what's available, and get suggestions for similar items to picks that are out of stock. Just add enough items to hit the $35 minimum and pickup is free.

See what
Walmart

I also really like how easy it is to re-add the items I order the most, all gathered in one place.

I also really like how easy it is to re-add the items I order the most, all gathered in one place.
Walmart

Once your order is created, you have until about midnight the night before to continue adding to your list. For me, this is one of the most useful features, because I almost always realize we need something else before it's actually time to pick up groceries.

Once your order is created, you have until about midnight the night before to continue adding to your list. For me, this is one of the most useful features, because I almost always realize we need something else before it
Walmart

A few hours before pickup, Walmart will send a text notifying you about any substitutions or weight adjustments on produce.

A few hours before pickup, Walmart will send a text notifying you about any substitutions or weight adjustments on produce.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

I've always had good experiences with substitutions that are nearly identical to what I ordered, at the same cost.

I
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Once you accept or reject any substitutions, the shoppers start preparing your order.

Once you accept or reject any substitutions, the shoppers start preparing your order.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

You'll also get a text letting you know your order is ready for pickup.

You
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Check-in on the app when you leave home so Walmart has an estimate of when you'll arrive.

Check-in on the app when you leave home so Walmart has an estimate of when you
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

A side area of the parking lot was marked for grocery pickup. When you pull into a spot the app knows you've arrived and prompts you to enter your spot number and color of your car.

A side area of the parking lot was marked for grocery pickup. When you pull into a spot the app knows you
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

My Walmart has about 10 pickup spots. I've occasionally had to wait, but the process usually moves quickly.

My Walmart has about 10 pickup spots. I
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Walmart shoppers use small carts to pull crates with grocery orders.

Walmart shoppers use small carts to pull crates with grocery orders.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Shoppers come up to the driver's window to double-check the name on the order with a handheld tablet that they carry.

Shoppers come up to the driver
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Then, groceries get loaded into the trunk.

Then, groceries get loaded into the trunk.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Shoppers will usually bag groceries in your reusable bags if you bring them, but I usually just ask them to load groceries into my trunk to save time and bag them myself at home.

Shoppers will usually bag groceries in your reusable bags if you bring them, but I usually just ask them to load groceries into my trunk to save time and bag them myself at home.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Sometimes they are more organized in my trunk, but as long as eggs and anything else with the potential to get crushed is supported, I'm happy. I've never had any issues with this.

Sometimes they are more organized in my trunk, but as long as eggs and anything else with the potential to get crushed is supported, I
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

At first, I was unsure about using a grocery pickup service, but now I'm never going back. I love the convenience, especially because I can add things to my order over several days and have them all ready and waiting for me.

At first, I was unsure about using a grocery pickup service, but now I
Courtesy of Walmart

I also find I avoid overspending on impulse purchases because I'm browsing aisles where I don't need anything, and I avoid purchasing too much of staples because I can look at my pantry as I shop.

I also find I avoid overspending on impulse purchases because I
Reuters/Cheryl Ravelo

Next, I visited my local Aldi in Rochester, New York to test out the chain's curbside pickup option.

Next, I visited my local Aldi in Rochester, New York to test out the chain
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

In a recent price comparison, I found Aldi has lower prices than competing stores on nearly every product, so I wanted to see how its curbside pickup stacked up.

In a recent price comparison, I found Aldi has lower prices than competing stores on nearly every product, so I wanted to see how its curbside pickup stacked up.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Source: Insider

I downloaded the Aldi app, where one of the first options I saw was curbside pickup.

I downloaded the Aldi app, where one of the first options I saw was curbside pickup.
Aldi

Clicking the link took me out of the Aldi app and directed me to the company's website on a web browser.

Clicking the link took me out of the Aldi app and directed me to the company
Aldi

The website was fairly intuitive to use, although at first I was confused at being unable to change the pickup time.

The website was fairly intuitive to use, although at first I was confused at being unable to change the pickup time.
Aldi

Groceries were divided into the categories I expected, like vegetables, fruits, meat, and dairy.

Groceries were divided into the categories I expected, like vegetables, fruits, meat, and dairy.
Aldi

It even included a section with "Aldi Finds," featuring items beloved by customers that the chain switches out regularly.

It even included a section with "Aldi Finds," featuring items beloved by customers that the chain switches out regularly.
Aldi

Some categories didn't have very many options. I like to buy larger 18-count egg containers, but that wasn't an option at Aldi.

Some categories didn
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Once I'd made my shopping list, Aldi alerted me that my pickup service would be free and I had the chance to change anything before the order was finalized.

Once I
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

I spent about $70 for plenty of produce, meat, and some pantry staples that I think will last my fiancé and me about two weeks, which felt like a good deal.

I spent about $70 for plenty of produce, meat, and some pantry staples that I think will last my fiancé and me about two weeks, which felt like a good deal.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

After finalizing everything else, I finally got to pick my grocery pickup time. There were so many slots available, as soon as within just two hours after I ordered.

After finalizing everything else, I finally got to pick my grocery pickup time. There were so many slots available, as soon as within just two hours after I ordered.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Aldi sent me 14 total texts between my order and pickup, which felt a bit excessive.

Aldi sent me 14 total texts between my order and pickup, which felt a bit excessive.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

It was somewhat difficult to communicate with my shopper in real-time. Even when I responded almost immediately to address a product substitution, it wasn't fast enough.

It was somewhat difficult to communicate with my shopper in real-time. Even when I responded almost immediately to address a product substitution, it wasn
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

At my pickup time, I went to Aldi and checked in online, which was quite slow and kept crashing.

At my pickup time, I went to Aldi and checked in online, which was quite slow and kept crashing.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

This location has four designated curbside spots near the side of the parking lot.

This location has four designated curbside spots near the side of the parking lot.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

The spots were marked with signs, so it was very clear where to go.

The spots were marked with signs, so it was very clear where to go.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

I checked in by indicating my parking spot and car color.

I checked in by indicating my parking spot and car color.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

When you check in, the website provides a summary of the information you've entered and an estimate of the remaining wait time.

When you check in, the website provides a summary of the information you
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

The progress bar reminded me of Domino's tracker, which similarly gives updates on what the worker is doing with your order at the moment.

The progress bar reminded me of Domino
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Aldi definitely erred on the side of over-communicating, sending multiple messages about my pickup window closing, and alerting me when the worker was preparing my order.

Aldi definitely erred on the side of over-communicating, sending multiple messages about my pickup window closing, and alerting me when the worker was preparing my order.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

The Aldi employee came to my car about when the tracker predicted and placed bags in my trunk.

The Aldi employee came to my car about when the tracker predicted and placed bags in my trunk.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

The bags were all labeled with my name and number, which made it seem like a very organized process, and they didn't forget any of my items.

The bags were all labeled with my name and number, which made it seem like a very organized process, and they didn
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Ultimately, I liked the idea of Aldi curbside pickup more than I did the execution.

Ultimately, I liked the idea of Aldi curbside pickup more than I did the execution.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Aldi's stock changes regularly, and the website doesn't seem to update consistently to reflect current offerings.

Aldi
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

I also wish the app itself worked better, with the capability to do the grocery order right there instead of in a separate browser. Walmart's app is definitely easier to use and functions better.

I also wish the app itself worked better, with the capability to do the grocery order right there instead of in a separate browser. Walmart
The entrance of an Aldi supermarket seen in High Point,      Thomson Reuters

The pickup process was also much smoother at Walmart, without sending me over a dozen texts.

The pickup process was also much smoother at Walmart, without sending me over a dozen texts.
Walmart, Secaucus      Rachel Askinasi/Business Insider

Walmart pickup was definitely a better experience, from the app to the service. I still like Aldi, but I think I'll only shop there in person from now on.

Walmart pickup was definitely a better experience, from the app to the service. I still like Aldi, but I think I
Sarah Halzack/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Do you have a story to share about a retail or restaurant chain? Email this reporter at mmeisenzahl@businessinsider.com.

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