Giant relaunching grocery pick-up service again

What's old is new again at Giant. The grocery chain offered a Pick Up option for customers at the Westwood Giant in Bethesda way back in 2014. Several parking spaces in the lot out front were designated with signage for Pick Up customers, with phone numbers to alert the store by phone that they were outside and ready for their groceries to be loaded into their car by employees. A large, purple storage case was placed outside the store. Since then, all has been quiet on the Pick Up front, the signs were removed from the special Pick Up parking spaces, and the Pick Up storage container often appeared to be empty. Now there are "signs" that the Ahold-owned grocer is going to make a new promotional push for the service.

A different set of parking spaces outside the Westwood Giant at 5400 Westbard Avenue now have bagged signs. It appeared a curious patron had removed the bag from one of the signs, revealing that they are Pick Up space indicators. The phone number to call when you arrive for pick-up is different from the one on the 2014 signs.

According to Supermarket News, an industry publication, Giant is talking as if the Pick Up service is brand-new. They report the chain intends to roll out Pick Up at all Giant stores in the Mid-Atlantic region by December 31 this year. 

The terms are slightly less-generous than the 2014 launch program. There is now a $2.95 fee and a minimum order of $30 for same-day pickup. In 2014, there was no fee or extra charge, and no minimum order. However, Supermarket News reports that the retailer will offer new users free pickup on their first order of $30 or more, if they enter the promotional code GIANT4 at checkout.

So, look for these signs at your local Giant countywide, as a "sign" that your store now has the Pick Up service. It appears that some Giant stores like Westwood were part of a pilot or test of the Pick Up concept, which is now becoming standard among some of the biggest players in groceries like Walmart and Target.