4 Easy Ways to Get Delivery For Free

With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, having products, food and meds delivered is a real time-saver. But the cost for these conveniences can add up quickly. Instead of rummaging around for spare change, get savvy! Here are four ways to get free delivery.

How to Get Free Delivery for Online Stores

Frustrated when you’ve added a slew of items to your virtual shopping cart at an online retailer, but it’s not enough to reach the minimum purchase required for free delivery? Don’t give up! Check the front page of the retailer’s website. Many stores post limited-time free shipping coupon codes for the holidays. If there isn’t one there, search for the retailer’s name on Twitter (such as @macys). You can also look for a retailer’s Twitter account on the store’s customer service page (such as @askjcp). These accounts are staffed with live agents who respond quickly (typically within minutes) and often have a free shipping coupon code available when you ask for one.

Need another way to get free delivery when shopping? Sign up for the retailer’s free newsletter, which often offers coupon codes for free shipping or a percentage off your purchase to welcome you as a new subscriber.

How to Get Free Delivery for Restaurants

If a retailer can’t deliver a product to your home for free, check if they deliver to a store close to you at no cost. This way, you can simply pop in and pick it up.

Since 2020, there’s been a sharp increase in the number of eateries that deliver, giving you even more food choices. Unfortunately, restaurant delivery services, such as DoorDash and Uber Eats charge steep fees. Their app-delivered meals can be marked up by as much as 91 percent. But you can still enjoy delicious burgers, and delivery pizza for far less: Try ordering from mom-and-pop restaurants by calling them or visiting their website directly. Many will skip delivery apps because they’re charged up to 30 per order for processing fees, cutting into their small profits. Hiring their own drivers saves them enough that they can offer meals sans markups and delivery fees!

To find ones that deliver sat no cost in your area, visit Yelp.com/nearme/free-delivery. Ordering from a chain? Search “free delivery” at RetailMeNot.com to find coupons from Applebee’s, Popeye’s and more.

How to Get Groceries Delivered for Free

Ordering your grocery essentials can free up hours, but when using delivery services, like Instacart, you pay delivery and service fees. Products can cost up to 20 percent more than when shopping in the store. An alternative? Anycart.com.

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The new service partnered with chains like Albertsons and Safeway that uses store employees to process and deliver orders rather than outside shoppers. Delivery is free, and doesn’t have price markups.

Like Amazon Prime or Walmart+? Both offer free unlimited same-day grocery delivery on orders of $35 or more — no fees or surcharges!

How to Get Free Delivery at Drugstores

To make it easier and safer for people to get their medications during the pandemic, many drugstores have waived delivery fees for most prescription drugs that don’t need refrigeration and are not controlled substance pain relievers. Rite Aid and Walgreens pharmacies will deliver medications to your home within one to two days at no cost. And CVS will send your medication free the next day while also allowing you to add in other items, like vitamins and snacks. Call your pharmacy to find out more about no-cost delivery options.

This story originally appeared in our print magazine.