Ok, maybe they already have this, but I *hate* grocery shopping. I especially hate grocery shopping in a new store where I don't know where anything is...so, here's my invention/idea:

Now, I know they have grocery deliveries in certain areas but I would think that would be more expensive. But, maybe they could have an online site, you order your food, pay online, then you go and pick it up! Like a drive thru and you have a confirmation number, etc. Now, watch they already exist and I'm thinking I'm special. LOL

I have another invention that I'm actually going to see a lawyer about (after I get my mom into a nursing home, get our basement finished, and we've unpacked). But, I can' wait to share it when I've applied for a patent...you ALL would use it!

By Bobbie~moderatr on Monday, November 12, 2007 - 11:27 pm:

Heidi, we don't have any of those around here. I know plenty of people that would love to be able to go on line and place and order. Then swing by and do a pickup with a confirmation number. No fuss no muss.. They would need people to stalk the shelves, pull orders and load vehicles. Good idea.

By Crystal915 on Monday, November 12, 2007 - 11:52 pm:

ACME markets, a subsidiary of Albertson's in NJ/PA does both order for pick up, and order for delivery. They charge $10 for delivery, and $5 for in-store pick up. I wish we had something like that here, although I don't mind grocery shopping, it would save time!!

By Tsa on Monday, November 12, 2007 - 11:57 pm:

Our local small town grocery does this for an extra $1. Sam's club also does this via fax.

My invention would be an antiwhine hearing aide. It would turn all decibels in the "whine range" into normal every day tones. Sometimes it might even make the voice sound grateful. LOL

By Vicki on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 - 07:34 am:

I do think it is a great idea, but I don't know if I would use it. For one, I would wonder how long my cold products were pulled before I got there. I am very weird about how long my milk. meat, eggs and the like are in my cart before I check out. Plus, I wouldn't want someone else to pick out my fresh fruits and veggies....

I like the whine hearing thing though. LOL That would have come in very handy!! All the better if it made a grateful sound!!

By Happynerdmom on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 - 08:35 am:

When we lived in Singapore I used a grocery service where I would call in my order and it would be delivered to my door. I loved it! As far as produce, I would usually get it at the local market, but on occasion the man would tell me what they had that looked particularly good that day. Funny story: It was obvious that the chinese man I always talked to spoke English as a second language. Usually it was no problem, but I worried one day when I had to order feminine pads that he would know what I meant. My worries were put to rest when he, in his cute little chinese accent, asked, "wings or no wings?"

By Ilovetom on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 - 09:22 am:

LOL.

By Ginny~moderator on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 - 09:25 am:

OK, I hate shopping too. But, my mom loved shopping, and was a committed couponer. She did an interesting thing with her coupon savings on her grocery shopping. When she got home, she would take the amount she saved on coupons and deduct it from her bank balance, making a notation on a special "savings" page. When Christmas shopping came around, she used the money she had saved on coupons and rebates all year for her Christmas shopping.

By Karen~admin on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 - 10:01 am:

Ginny, I know someone who did that exact same thing, and another person who had a *coupon jar*, and she put the amount she saved in the jar, and used it for special occasions, etc.

I HATE grocery shopping too, but like Vicki, I am VERY picky about my produce and meat, and would have the same concerns and issues as she does. As much as I'd LOVE to have my groceries delivered to me, I wouldn't do it.

When I was a kid living in a small country town, the local grocer did that - you'd call in your list and they'd deliver it. I know my mom did that quite often, I guess she didn't feel like dragging 3 kids under the age of 5 to the grocery store with her. LOL But, on that same note - when she DID take us, it was not at all uncommon for her to leave us in the car! Everyone did that back then - but, we are talking about the very early 60's, small town, zero crime, etc. Even so, I'd NEVER do that!

By Bobbie~moderatr on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 - 10:24 am:

LOL, leaving in the car. I remember staying in the car too and I am talking mid 70's to the early 80's. Especially when my little sister was born, I was 11, Allie would fall asleep if we drove to the stop sign. So she would leave us in the car so Allie could nap. OH and getting gas, we were always left in the car, to much of a pain to drag all the kids out of the car to go into the store to pay for the gas.

We don't even leave our teen children in the car now. We drag them in where ever we go, if they like it or not. And we pay at the pump when ever we get gas. LOL Just can't trust like we use to, I guess. We would never think of leaving the kids in the car now with the keys in it and the car running like my mom use to do. It would be an invitation for a car jacking in this day and age.

Pick up/delivery purchases would be great for common things that you could order up via the internet. Like can goods, frozen foods, pop, toilet papers, paper towels, laundry detergent or the like. I would need to go get produce and meats too. But not having to shop for the other essentials, that you could pick out a specific brand of through a check list of products, would so save time on the weekly shopping schedule. Kind of like ordering a shirt from an online store, you pick the style, size, color etc. from a check list and that is what you are delivered. I don't spend nearly as much time shopping for produce and meat as I do walking around picking up the other stuff that could easily be grabbed by someone else and boxed up for pick up.

By Mrsheidi on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 - 03:56 pm:

ROFL..."wings or no wings" ha ha ha

By Mrsheidi on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 - 05:35 pm:

I've also thought of earplugs that have a wireless connection to an alarm clock. In college, I always needed earplugs to get to sleep because our sorority house was so loud at night. But, I was worried I wouldn't hear my alarm sound in the morning. It would be nice to have an alarm sound in my ear and not wake my roommates either.
Or, maybe an earplug that alerts you to your child waking up.

I bet they make those too...

By Missbookworm on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 - 07:08 pm:

Heidi! My partner would love me to have ear plugs that are connected to my alarm! lol I get up at about 5:30 he doesn't have to wake until 7...

By Mrsheidi on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 - 11:07 pm:

Yeah, I thought that would be great for my hubby when he works out in the morning! I'm like, "5:30, whaaaaa???" Although, I'm pleased with the result...LOL

By My2girlygirls on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 - 06:33 am:

About being left in the car, my sister lives in Iowa, she doesn't leave her kids in the car (they're all grown anyway) but in the winter people just leave their cars running in the grocery store parking lot. It's so cold that everyone does it to avoid their engines freezing up. I guess they figure if someone wanted to steal a car they would just pick one.

By Tsa on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 - 08:58 am:

Heck, we not only leave the car running in the winter we leave our keys in the ignition year round. Or we'll be sneaky and either put them uner the floor mat or on top of the visor. My mail man got mad and called us at home when we first moved to town because we had a package and our house doors were locked.

By Bobbie~moderatr on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 - 09:05 am:

Sarah, we live in a fairly large town and a running car would be an open invite to many of the people around here. Sad to say. But I clearly understand the point of leaving the car running.

By Cocoabutter on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 - 07:42 pm:

Everything I wanted has already been invented. I just can't afford it.

By Mrsheidi on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 - 07:46 pm:

"Everything I wanted has already been invented. I just can't afford it."
ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ok, I've had too much wine, but that was funny.

By Wandilu on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 - 09:04 pm:

Heidi, should one of us be "checking" in on you...I think you were serious about that" extra big " glass of wine...TeeHee