In a 2016 test of Fred Meyer’s ClickList, GeekWire reporter Nat Levy found that ordering groceries online and having them brought to the car could save time and curb impulse buying—but only if the pickup store was close enough. The test’s $5 fee after three free orders and its scheduling rules describe the service at that time, not current prices or availability.
How Fred Meyer’s drive-up service worked in the 2016 test
Nat Levy’s September 1, 2016, account described ClickList, launched by Fred Meyer parent Kroger in late 2014. Customers ordered online, chose a one-hour pickup window, parked in a marked space, called the number on its sign, and waited for an employee to bring the groceries to the car. Levy reported that same-day pickup was not available in the service he tested, so shoppers had to plan ahead.
At the time, the first three orders were free and later orders cost $5. Those are historical terms from the report, not current Fred Meyer pricing. The article also relayed Fred Meyer’s website claim that its catalog included more than 40,000 items, including fresh produce and meat; that was a period-specific retailer claim, not an audited count or a current catalog figure.
Levy found online ordering straightforward and liked that the account retained previous purchases. Customers could add notes to items, although the report cautioned that requests were not guaranteed. At pickup, Levy described a brief wait while an employee brought the bags out. Read the original GeekWire account.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
#1 Best Overall
- Stands Up & Stays Open: Making shopping so much easier! With a rigid box structure, our reusable bags are super easy to load & unload compared to ordinary floppy bags – Long handles let you carry tall items or sling a tote bag over your shoulder
- Extra Large so You can Carry More: A 3 pack of our large tote bags holds the same as 10 single-use grocery bags! Great for family sized trips to the supermarket, for carrying bulky items, and for organizing produce, meats, and grocery items
- Sturdy & Made to Last: Our super strong grocery tote bag maintains its shape like a box even when fully loaded with groceries or whatever you need to carry – Each sturdy utility tote is crafted from top quality materials for reliable use over and over
- Won't Fall Over in the Trunk: Best shopping bags for groceries! Design is spill proof so items stay put while driving – No more groceries rolling around in the trunk – Bananas, bread, produce and other soft items won't be damaged on your way home
- Easy to Clean: Simply use a damp cloth or sanitizer wipe to clean, then allow to air-dry – Our reusable grocery bags are foldable like a notebook when not in use – conveniently stores under your car seat, trunk, or a kitchen drawer
What the test showed about convenience and cost
The clearest benefit in Levy’s account was not a measured service-speed advantage: making the shopping list online saved time inside the store and reduced impulse buying. But the pickup trip still mattered. Levy said the participating stores were far enough from home that the drive could cancel out the time saved by avoiding the aisles.
That trade-off is useful for a household budget as well as a schedule. A pickup fee is only one part of the cost; the time and travel required to reach the store affect whether the service is worthwhile for a particular shopper. The 2016 report is one person’s experience, not a measure of typical pickup speed, customer satisfaction, or savings.
Rank #2
- STURDY & DURABLE: There are reinforced handles sewn to the bottom of the tote bag for extra durability, and there is a thick removable plastic bottom insert for extra strength while grocery shopping.
- LARGE CAPACITY: 15" H x 13" L x 10" W. After extensive research, we believe this size is the most practical size. You can carry the grocery bags over your shoulder and easily carry heavy loads.
- ECO-FRIENDLY: Made of recycled polypropylene, use reusable bags to protect the environment.
- EASY TO CLEAN: Machine Washable, Hand Washing recommended, easy to fold after wash the tote bags, Hang dry only.
- VERSATILITY: These heavy duty reusable shopping bags are great for GROCERY SHOPPING, picnics, laundry, the beach, travel, and more.
What Levy meant by “Can Amazon top this?”
The headline referred to an anticipated Amazon drive-up grocery concept in 2016. Levy’s verdict was conditional: “Apart from setting up shop closer to my house and not adding an extra cost for the service, there’s not a lot of room for Amazon’s future service to improve on the Fred Meyer experience.” That was his opinion about a then-future service, not a comparison with Amazon’s current grocery options.
Amazon now describes several grocery options, including Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market, same-day grocery delivery, Amazon Now, and local grocery partners. What is offered, and what it costs, depends on location, order size, timing, and Prime status. Amazon says pickup at Fresh stores and Fresh pickup points is free for all customers, but a suitable pickup location must exist nearby. Amazon has also announced grocery delivery and free pickup access for customers in U.S. cities and towns where Amazon Fresh is available to Prime members; this does not guarantee a pickup point or participating partner in every postal code. See Amazon’s grocery ordering overview, its Amazon Fresh and grocery help page, and its announcement on grocery delivery and pickup access.
Rank #3
- Sturdy Rip-stop Fabric: the WISELIFE reusable grocery bag is made of heavy-duty non-woven fabric reinforced with finished stitches; these large grocery shopping bags are strong and can accommodate odd-shaped items and hold up to 50 lbs
- Super Easy To Clean: the shopping totebags' special fabric is easy to clean; simply use a wet cloth to wipe off the dirt or rinse off under cold water and allow the bag to air dry
- Two Ways of Carrying: the grocery bag has a long and wide handle for easy carrying by hand or over the shoulder; the handle is 9.5 inch long to fit any body type; sturdy fabric ensures that the bag will not break
- Foldable and Portable : each grocery bag measures 16.1” x 13” x 10.2” (L x H x W); folds flat for easy storage in your kitchen, car, handbag, backpack, and luggage; great not only for veggies and fruit, but also great for food shopping, or clothes
- Reusable: one reusable shopping bag is equivalent to 1000+ times of using plastic disposal bags; as an alternative to single-use plastic bags, reusable shopping bags make the future cleaner and more livable
How to compare grocery pickup options where you live
Fred Meyer’s current online-grocery page lists ordering through its website or app, with pickup, delivery, and shipping options. It says orders are hand-picked and prepared. Pickup SNAP EBT is accepted at listed pickup locations, subject to stated exceptions; delivery fees vary by time slot, fulfillment method, and Boost membership. Check the Fred Meyer delivery and availability page and the terms shown for your location.
Amazon’s published Fresh delivery charges are separate from its free-pickup option and can change. Its current overview lists free delivery for Prime members on orders over $100 with a two-hour window, $6.95 for orders from $50 to $100, and $9.95 below $50; listed non-Prime delivery charges vary from $4.95 to $13.95 by order size. These are published terms, not the price of the 2016 Fred Meyer test, and the applicable offer should be confirmed at checkout. Other Amazon grocery services have their own options and charges.
Rank #4
- Extra-Large 35L Capacity: Measuring 16.1×10.2×13.0, each spacious collapsible grocery tote bag accommodates up to 35L of groceries, household items, or clothing. Long, sturdy handles offer multiple ways to comfortably carry the bag, by hand, over the arm, or over the shoulder
- Easy to Clean & Reuse: The large reusable shopping bags have a protective coating that resists water and stains, making the bags effortless to clean with a damp cloth. They serve as a long-lasting alternative to flimsy plastic bags or paper bags that are prone to ripping for all your daily errands
- Premium Details: The thick non-woven fabric of the kitchen reusable grocery bags withstands tears and daily wear. Designed for heavy-duty use, these reusable shopping bags with handles feature reinforced stitching and well-finished edges, capable of holding up to 30
- Foldable to Save Space: At only 0.15 per bag, these foldable grocery bags with handles are incredibly easy to carry anywhere without extra weight. Fold the bag flat for compact storage in your trunk, handbag, or backpack, saving space when not in use
- Versatile Use: WISELIFE reusable tote bags with handles are reliable for grocery shopping, trunk organization, camping, picnics, storage, and more. They keep your items neat and organized on the go, offering a portable storage solution for all kinds of outings
For a meaningful local comparison, check the details that determine both price and convenience:
- Availability: Enter your postal code and confirm that the specific store or pickup point serves it.
- Shopping mode: Compare pickup with delivery; a free pickup option still requires a trip to the store.
- Scheduling: Check available time slots and how far ahead an order must be placed.
- Full cost: Review service fees, order minimums, membership conditions, and the final checkout total.
- Order fit: Check selection, substitutions, and whether the service lets you add useful item notes.
- Distance from home: Include the round trip and the time it takes, not just the time spent shopping.
Availability, fees, and service details vary by location and can change. A current checkout for the shopper’s own postal code is a more useful guide than either the fees or store list in a 2016 test.
Recommended Free Tools
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Large Capacity w/ Front Pocket & Hanging Loop – 14.6” W x 14” H x 10” D - 8.7 Gallons or 32.9 Liters of storage capacity. Fit more items than your traditional plastic grocery bags with its spacious nature. Place your grocery list, phone, or money in the convenient outside pocket which is located on the front of the bag for easy retrieval. You can even hang the bag on a shopping cart with the small loop that is located at the top of the bag for convenient and easy grocery shopping!
- Stays Upright & Easy to Shop w/ Hard Bottom – Keep your items stable and from tipping over when carrying the tote bag or when placed in your car, trunk, shopping cart, counter, or floor with the hard bottom! Easily load and unload with this sturdy bag which stays upright and maintains its shape due to the hard bottom. Place a set of 4 bags in your shopping cart for easy, convenient, and organized shopping!
- Sturdy & Durable Water-Resistant Structure – Carry up to 45 lbs. with the strong yet lightweight construction. Made from a high-grade, water-resistant, and thick PP-woven material that is made to last while the strong poly webbing handles wrap around and under the grocery bag for increased load capacity and heavy-duty usage! Carry comfortably by hand or over your shoulder with the 12” handles and easily clean this folding beach tote bag with wipes then let air dry.
- Multi-Functional – Multi-purpose and can be used for various occasions such as grocery shopping, beach, work, picnics, or trips! Perfect for packing your groceries, bringing food for a picnic, carrying your beach essentials, and transporting your work supplies. VENO reusable bags are versatile, functional, and fashionable for everyday use and timelessness. U.S. Patent Pending, Application Number 29887865.
- Reusable & Sustainable to Protect the Environment – VENO reusable grocery shopping bags are created through maximizing the use of post-consumer material to make high-grade bags that save plastic from ending up in oceans, lakes, and landfills. Help us in protecting our environment to create a cleaner, more livable future. Collapsible and foldable for future use and easy storage in your car, glove compartment, kitchen, cabinet, drawer, luggage, or purse!
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
