First time ordering groceries for curbside pickup?

Do I have to be a member to shop through Co+op Curbside?

No. You can shop and check out as a guest.

Do I have to be a member to set up an account?

Yes, only Community Food Co-op member-owners can use the account feature. Non-member-owners and members of other food co-ops can use the "guest" checkout.

Learn about joining the Co-op here.

I'm a Community Food Co-op member-owner, how do I set up and log into my account?

Follow these instructions to set up your online account.

Click on the button on the top right corner. You will be redirected to a screen asking for your email address, phone number, or account number and your password, but you have to set up your account first. Under the big green “login” button, you will see "Already a customer at our store?" Click on the green "Set up Online Account" link and follow the instructions. You will then receive an email, call, or text to verify your information based on what option you choose from the drop down menu.

If you are a current Co+op Curbside customer or have supplied us with your email address, try using your email first. If your contact information is outdated, you might not be able to access your account. Please use the guest checkout feature until we can update your information. Include your membership number in the “Order Instructions” box located under your total during checkout, and email webcart@communityfood.coop to update your contact information. We will update your information as soon as possible, but most memberships are updated within 24 hours.

Can others in my household use my membership to create an account?

We cannot provide login information to anyone except the person named on the membership, and only one account can be created per membership. If you would like someone in your household to be able to use this feature, you will have to give them your login information. The primary membership holder is liable for any orders placed by a household member using the membership.

What are the benefits of creating an account?

Account holders will be able to create shopping lists, make changes to their membership, see past purchases, and access other convenient features.

What if my email address or phone number does not work and I cannot access my account?

Use the guest checkout for your first order. Include your member number in the “Order Instructions” box located under your total during checkout. You can email orders@communityfood.coop to update your contact information.

Can I pay online?

Yes, it is required to use our curbside service. Pay online using a credit or debit card.

Do you keep my credit card information in my account?

The Community Food Co-op's online ordering system utilizes industry-standard payment process technologies to ensure the security of your payment information.

The Community Food Co-op never has access to full card data and full card data is never processed or stored by the Community Food Co-op online ordering site. Payments are processed directly but transparently through our third-party payment provider, who returns a secure reference to your card for future use. This is referred to as a "token," which is essentially a small piece of unusable cryptic data that serves as an ID for your card.

The Community Food Co-op NEVER stores your untokenized card data, and the token that is produced is simply an identifier, so even if a malicious person were to obtain the token, they could do nothing with it.

Is there a limit to how much I can spend for my order?

Yes. You can spend up to $500 per order.

Can I choose to pay in the store if I want to use cash or check?

The service we are providing is set up to be “no contact.” If you would prefer to pay with cash or check, we ask you to shop in the store. Our curbside checkout register does not have cash and we only accept EBT cards for in-store payment.

How do I use my EBT/SNAP benefits?

Due to legal restrictions, EBT cardholders will have to select the "pay in store" option during checkout. We cannot accept EBT payment over the phone or online. If EBT does not cover your entire purchase, you can use a credit or debit card to complete the sale. We cannot accept cash or checks at our curbside checkout register. After payment, return to your vehicle and we will bring your groceries to your car.

High risk shoppers should select the 9:00 am time slot so that we can assure that all staff will be wearing masks. You will need to come to the service desk to pay with EBT/SNAP.

There is a pending charge on my credit card, but I never received a confirmation email for my order. What is up with that?

You must complete the checkout process in order for us to fulfill your order. After submitting your payment information, you have to confirm your order for it to be submitted and filled. If you skip that step, a pending charge will be added to your credit card, but we will not be able to fill your order because it will not be sent to us. If this happens, your credit card will not be charged, but it may take several days for the pending charge to be cleared. Please call your card provider if you have questions about pending charges on your account.

If you do not see a screen with a large bar code after ordering and you do not get a confirmation email, you should check to make sure you have completed the order process. Note that if you pay but never click “submit,” the pending charge will stay on your credit card until you cancel the order or finish submitting it. We cannot remove these charges from your card.

Can I pay using a Co-op gift card?

You cannot pay using a Co-op branded gift card at this time, but we are working on adding gift card purchase options through our online grocery store.

Why was my card charged twice?

When you submit your order, a pending charge is automatically charged to your credit card to hold the funds until we complete your transaction. After we have completed your order, the pending charge will be voided by your bank. This can take up to five days depending on your bank's policies.

What is the "equity payment" or "annual member fee" charge on my receipt?

If we see your Co-op membership equity payments or $5 annual fees are due, we will automatically add those to your transaction when we ring up your groceries. Click here to learn more about Co-op membership.

Is everything you sell available online?

Not at this time. You are able to purchase the majority of items available at both store locations with the exception of:

• CBD and hemp products
• Bulk herbs and spices
• Gardening items
• Limited seafood items

CBD and hemp products are federally regulated and we cannot sell them online.

Can I purchase beer, wine, or spirits?

Yes, we offer a selection of beer, wine, and spirits online.

The person whose name is on the order must be present at pickup. We require customers of any age to show us their federally issued photo ID when picking up their order if they have ordered alcoholic beverages of any kind. Please display your valid ID through your closed vehicle window. We will not load your groceries until we have seen your ID.

Can I add something to my cart if I cannot find it in the online store?

Yes! You will find a green "Can't Find Something" button in your cart. This will enable you to order items that you cannot find through the search function or in the drop down menus.

Keep in mind that the total for that item will not be added to your preliminary total. If we are able to add the item you are looking for to your order, you will have to pay for that item. We are not accepting returns through curbside.

If something I want is out of stock, can you make a substitution?

Yes. During checkout, click the box to allow substitutions under each item. Then click on the "Add Item Instructions" field and tell us what you want the subbed item to be.

Why do some produce items ask me for quantity instead of weight?

Many produce items that are weighed have to be listed in our online store with a "by the each" price, which is the “per pound” price averaged out. When we ring up these items, the price per pound will be applied based on the actual weight of the item. If you prefer to order these items by the pound rather than quantity, you can let us know the weight you desire in the "Add Item Instructions" field for that item in your cart.

What if I want more of a weighed item than the drop down menu provides me an option to order?

Use the “Item Instructions” box in your shopping cart to let us know the actual weight you would like to order. We will do our best to accommodate your request.

Will you grind coffee beans for me?

Of course! Just let us know what grind you are looking for in the "Add Item Instructions" field for that item in your cart. If you do not let us know what grind you would like, we will sell you whole beans.

Will I be able to tell if you are out of stock on an item?

We do not have the ability to do that on our online store at this time.

Can I use any browser?

Yes, although older versions of Safari on iPhones can be problematic. It is best to place your order using a computer or tablet the first couple times you use the system to familiarize yourself. It can be very difficult for us to help problem solve if you are using a phone to place your order.

We are unable to provide technical support for issues that customers may be having with their computers. If you run into issues:

• Try using a different browser
• Check to see if your VPN or anti-virus software could be interfering
• Confirm you are using the most current version of your browser and operating system

Is there a limit (or a minimum) on how many items I can order?

There is a minimum $35 purchase requirement and a maximum limit of $500.

Will I know how much I am spending?

Yes. All items have current prices displayed. If you are purchasing weighed items, your shopping cart will include a preliminary total that will be updated when we finalize your order. Your credit card will only be charged for the final amount, although the preliminary total will show up on your card statement as "pending." It will be removed by your credit card company based on their policies (usually within 1–3 days).

What about sale prices?

The price you pay will be the shelf price the day you place your order.

Check sale dates on our website, but generally:

• Fresh Deals are updated every Wednesday.
• Co+op Deals are typically updated on the Wednesday closest to the first and fifteenth of each month, with the exception of a three-week sale period once each quarter.

How do I use a coupon?

At this time, we cannot accept manufacturer or other coupons through curbside. If we have a Co+op Deals in-store coupon for an item, we will automatically apply that to your order. We are hoping to accept a wider variety of coupons as we develop the program.

Periodic specials, such as our annual wellness department and our bulk coffee sales, will only be applied to orders that are scheduled for pickup during the active sale period. You can place your order before the sale starts (we always give advance notice), but for the sale prices or discounts to be applied, you have to pick up your order during the active sale period.

Type "member discount" in the “Order Instructions” box in your cart, and we will apply the discount when we ring your order up. Please remember that this discount is only redeemable once for each member household and can only be used on orders placed and picked up during a redemption period, so it is best to use it on what you anticipate being your most expensive order of the month.

 

When can I place my order and can I order from either store?

You will be able to access our online store 24/7. You will also be able to order up to seven days in advance and pick up from either of our store locations.

Can I choose when I want to pick up my order when I place it?

Yes. Pickups can be scheduled between 9 am–7 pm daily at both locations. You will be asked to select your pickup time during checkout and you will only be able to select from available time slots. Please double check the store location that you placed your order at so you come to the right location during your order pickup window. We cannot transfer orders between stores once they are placed.

How far in advance can I order and can I place a same-day order?

You are able to place your order up to one week in advance. Same-day orders will be accepted based on availability. During checkout, the first available time slot for the date you choose will be in the options.

How often can I order?

As often as you like! There is a $6.95 service fee for all orders and a $35 minimum order requirement.

Where do I pick up my order?

• Downtown store—use the marked spots in the main parking lot and follow the instructions on the signs.
• Cordata—use the marked spots in front of the patio.

Can I change my order after I have placed it?

Yes! Click on the order number near the bottom of your confirmation email. Then choose the "edit order" option. You can also go to your online store account, find your order under “Order History,” and click "edit order."

Note that you will have to enter in your customer information again as well as re-select a time slot for pickup. We cannot guarantee that you will get the same pickup time, but chances are good you will still be able to select the same time as long as it is at least three hours from the time you resubmit your order. If you edit your order within three hours of your confirmed pickup time, you will lose your time slot and will have to select another. Also note that editing and resubmitting your order will add an additional pending charge on your credit card that will be voided by your bank after the final transaction has been completed. Once we have started shopping for your order, you cannot make any changes or cancel the order. Finally, once you edit your order you will need to resubmit any special requests that were submitted in your original order. Those special requests do not translate to the edited order.

How do I know when my order is ready?

The order time you selected will be in the confirmation email we send you. After we have shopped for your order, you will get a (no-reply) text alerting you that your order is ready for pickup as well as an email letting you know if items were unavailable. Please wait until your designated time slot to pick up your order. If you need to come earlier than scheduled, please call us to verify that we can accommodate your request.

What can I do to minimize or eliminate any contact with staff?

Staff and customer safety is a top priority when it comes to our curbside service.

• We are happy to set up your pickup, so you can load your groceries into your vehicle.
• • We will bring them out on a cart that we will place next to your vehicle and go back inside. You can then get out of your vehicle to load your groceries. We will come back out to grab the cart after you are finished. If you prefer this method, let us know in the “Order Instructions” or when you text us to let us know you have arrived.
  • If you are picking up at our Cordata store, we ask that you push the cart onto the patio once you have completed loading your groceries. You do not need to bring it inside.
• Stay in your vehicle, preferably with your windows rolled up.
• If you want us to put your groceries in your trunk, the back of your vehicle, etc., please make sure there is ample space available. Our staff will not rearrange the items in your vehicle to make your groceries fit or place your groceries on top of other items in your vehicle.