Instacart Reverses H-E-B as an Online Grocery Option From Many Dallas Area Zip Codes

Instacart has backed off from offering H-E-B as an option for customers in many Dallas-Fort Worth Zip codes. The decision comes a few days after it extended the San Antonio-based grocer as a choice to residents in parts of Dallas and Tarrant counties.H-E-B, which has a few stores south and west of D-FW, but not in the two cities and adjacent suburbs, started showing up as an option last week for dozens of Zip Codes. But by Sunday, the H-E-B option was removed.Instacart didn't provide a list of still eligible Zip codes, but a spot check of areas that can no longer chose H-E-B came up with 75201 in downtown Dallas, 75212 in Grand Prairie and 75208 in Oak Cliff.Instacart said Monday that "the expanded delivery offering for H-E-B products was part of a limited time test in certain areas." And that it's still working with H-E-B in Texas, but for now, only in "some of the Zip codes" in Dallas-Fort Worth.Instacart personal shoppers, who also deliver orders in their personal vehicles, questioned on social media the cost effectiveness of a round trip of more than 40 miles from the nearest H-E-B to Dallas in Waxahache. Instacart didn't respond to questions about driver concerns, but the company said in a statement that it's "constantly testing new ways to improve and expand our service.""As part of these tests, we gather meaningful customer feedback, which we use to better understand customer habits and ultimately improve our service," Instacart said. Customers can choose from a number of other retailers, including a key phrase of "in their neighborhood." Among those served by Instacart are Aldi, Albertson's, Central Market, Kroger, Natural Grocers, Sam's Club, Sprouts and Tom Thumb. Last week, H-E-B said it didn't know ahead of time of Instacart's plans to extend its service into Dallas, but it was fine with it. Twitter: @MariaHalkias  Continue reading...