Grocery delivery isn't all the same.
Most delivery services are the same thing with a different logo: a driver, a catalogue, and a fee structure that grows with your order. We're a different kind of service: we shop the real store, we shop more than one, and you deal with a person.
Here's an honest comparison. We've included the places where we're not the fastest or the simplest, because you'd find out anyway.
Simple, predictable pricing.
Other services can stack delivery fees, service fees and bag fees, then expect a tip. We keep it to $8.99 delivery plus a convenience fee of 8% on product cost.
The convenience fee covers the shopping, so there's no tip expected. You know what the service costs before you order.
Almost everything in the store.
We shop the regular in-store selection at Costco, A1 Cash & Carry and Zehrs, which gives you far more choice than a typical delivery catalogue. The limits, plainly:
- We don't carry frozen food, alcohol, tobacco or prescriptions.
- Up to 5 refrigerated items per order.
- Almost everything else in the store, we can get.
Access more stores.
You don't need the membership or business access every store asks for.
- Costco:
- want Costco products without a Costco membership? We shop for you.
- A1 Cash & Carry:
- a wholesale store meant for businesses. If you don't have an eligible business, you may not be able to shop there yourself. With us, you can get A1 products without your own business account.
- Zehrs:
- no membership needed.
And you can combine all three in the same order.
One point of contact.
You deal with one person from start to finish: Michael. He takes your call, does the shopping and brings it to your door. He's actually in the store, so if you're not sure which product to choose, ask him.
He checks best-before dates, helps you find Canadian products, handles returns, and for $24.99 will unpack your order and put it away.
Flexible payment.
We offer several ways to pay: cash, e-transfer or debit. You pay a 10% deposit when you order and the balance on delivery.
You don't have to enter a credit card into an app just to order groceries.
Why is there a $250 minimum?
We're a personal shopping service, not a high-volume delivery platform. The $250 minimum is what lets us shop more than one store and deliver to your door while keeping the service practical and affordable, for you and for us.
It also gives us the time to shop your order carefully, rather than treating it like a quick pickup.
How does Low Cost Canada compare?
Here's how we compare with other grocery delivery options.
We're a planned service. If you need something in two hours, use an app. If you're stocking a pantry, use us.
Compare Low Cost Canada with:
| Low Cost Canada | Costco Delivery | Costco via Instacart | A1 Delivery | Zehrs Delivery | Uber Eats | DoorDash | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | |||||||
| Delivery cost | $8.99 | $3 per item until your order reaches $75 | Not listed | $45 | $5.99 | $2.99 to $4.49 | $6.99 |
| Other fees | 8% convenience fee, on products only | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Service fee $3.99 to $8.99 Bag fee $1 per bag | Service fee 13%, $3.99 to $8.99 Bag fee $0.35 per bag |
| Tip expected | None | None | Yes, 5% to 20% | None | None | Yes, 10% to 25% of the total, fees included | Yes, 10% to 18% of the total, fees included |
| Membership required | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Products & Stores | |||||||
| Costco products | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| A1 Cash & Carry products | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Zehrs products | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Several stores in one delivery | Yes | No | No | No | No | No (see the note below the table) | No (see the note below the table) |
| Product selection | Full in-store selection at all three stores | Part of the in-store range | Part of the in-store range | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Frozen and refrigerated | No frozen; up to 5 refrigerated items | Not listed | Yes | Not listed | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Services | |||||||
| Help choosing products | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Unpacking and putting away | Yes, optional $24.99 | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Help finding Canadian products | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Best-before dates checked | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Returns | Yes, we pick it up and return it within store policy | You take it to a warehouse | Handled online | You take it to a warehouse | You take it to the store | Handled online | You take it to the store |
| One point of contact | Yes, Michael himself | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Payment | |||||||
| When you pay | 10% deposit, balance on delivery | 100% up front | 100% up front | 100% up front | 100% up front | 100% up front | 100% up front |
| How you pay | Cash, e-transfer, debit | Credit or debit card | Credit or debit card | Credit or debit card | Credit or debit card | Credit or debit card | Credit or debit card |
| Ordering | |||||||
| Minimum order | $250 | No minimum | $35 | No minimum | $30 | No minimum | No minimum |
| Delivery timing | Scheduled: weekly, every two weeks or monthly | On demand | On demand | On demand | On demand | On demand | On demand |
| Order by phone | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Works without an app | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Each store is its own order with its own fees, though some apps let you add a second store for an extra charge.
"Not listed" means we don't have reliable information for that service, so we haven't guessed.
Competitor fees are as published by each service in September 2026 and change often, so check before you order.
Looking for a more personal way to get your groceries?
Whether you don't want to spend your time shopping, don't have a Costco membership, can't shop at A1 Cash & Carry yourself, want help with the details, or simply want someone else to take care of the whole thing, Low Cost Canada makes grocery shopping easier.
Shop multiple stores. Get personal service. Have your groceries delivered.