Once upon a time, I loved going to the grocery store. Browsing the aisles wasn’t a waste of time, it was an act of serendipity: I might find that perfect avocado, a new kind of cheese or maybe even a soul mate. But times have changed. With soul mate found (though not at the grocery store) and two kids in tow, the grocery store represents a burden. To hell with happenstance, I need to get in and out. Pronto. And thanks to the H-E-B Go App, quick trips are now possible.
I’m not alone in my quest of a fast grocery trip. To capitalize on changing consumer norms, curbside pick up and personal shoppers have swooped in to grab our dollars. Those are fine when you have the luxury to plan, but both options fail for the I-need-milk-now-or-the-kids-are-going-to-lose-their-mind kind of shopping. That’s where the H-E-B Go App comes in.
Even after seeing posters at the De Zavala H-E-B advertise the new app, I was dragging my feet on installing it. As opposed to five to ten years ago when I’d gladly download anything suggested, today I’m much more reserved. Call it app inertia if you will. But while waiting in line after making the dreaded Sunday night grocery store trip, I decided to finally get the H-E-B Go App. And it’s changed my life.
Note that it is currently only available in a limited roll out at the Arsenal and De Zavala locations, but I’m hoping that it becomes more widely available soon.
Simply go to your flavor of app store (iTunes or Android), install the H-E-B Go App, set up payment and voila, your life has changed. All you have to do is scan the items in the store and place them in your cart. Fruits and vegetables? No problem. Take them over to the weigh machine, punch in the PLU for the item and then scan the little bar code that’s printed out.
When you’ve finished shopping, hit the checkout button to end your trip. If you’ve programed your credit card into the app, which you definitely should do, you can complete the transaction right on your phone. You’ll get a screen that shows your total number of items and amount you’ve spent that you show to the H-E-B associate as you breeze out the store while other shoppers stuck in line look at you, mouth agape.
If you choose not to input your card, you’ll have to stop by the H-E-B Go kiosk and complete your payment. Additionally, there are two other things that will slow you. First, any purchase of alcohol/cigarettes will have to be completely at the kiosk so that the associate can verify your age. This makes sense.
But the more cumbersome reason to stop at the kiosk is whenever you use a coupon. While I understand this inconvenience for manufacturer coupons, it doesn’t make sense for those prolific, in store yellow coupons. A major upgrade to the current H-E-B Go App would be to automatically deduct the in store coupons directly in the app. Now that would be a combo loco.
God bless the @HEB Go app. #lovemyheb
— SA Flavor (@saflavor) July 14, 2018
An unintended benefit of using the app is that plastic bag consumption should go down. Because you won’t go through the checkout line and have your items bagged, it’s almost mandatory that you remember to bring those reusable totes. So not only are you saving time, you’re doing a solid to the environment as well.
The H-E-B Go App is like the Konami Code of the grocery store. I can literally leave the house, grab a gallon of milk and a tub of yogurt and be back home in less than ten minutes. Chalk up the H-E-B Go App as just another one many reasons why I love my H-E-B!
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