Beta Beta — hiring neighbors on Papalocal is new; what you see here is real, and it's still growing.
Errands and grocery runs Beta
A neighbor who picks up groceries, prescriptions, packages and dry cleaning for you, and drops them at your door.
- How often
- Weekly
- Where the work happens
- Meets you in person
- Who it suits
- Can suit a teen working alongside an adult
These open your Papalocal account. You'll be asked to log in or sign up first.
Errand running means taking your list out into town: the grocery store, a pharmacy pickup, the post office, the dry cleaner, a hardware store run, returns. The neighbor brings everything back and puts it where you want it.
It helps people recovering from surgery, new parents, older neighbors who don't drive much anymore, and busy households who'd rather not spend Saturday in lines.
A neighbor may already shop at the same stores, know which aisle has your brand, and be able to fit your run into a trip they were making anyway.
Also called: grocery delivery by a neighbor, someone to run errands for me, grocery shopping service, prescription pickup help, errand service for seniors, post office run.
What's usually included
- Shopping from your list, with substitutions you approve
- Pharmacy and package pickups, where the store allows someone else to collect
- Returns, post office drop-offs and dry cleaning
- Bringing items inside and putting groceries away, if asked
- Keeping receipts so you see exactly what was spent
What to ask before you hire
- How will the items be paid for: your card, cash up front, or the runner pays and you pay them back from the receipt?
- Which substitutions are OK if something is out of stock?
- Which stores, and is there a time window for delivery?
- Should groceries be brought in and put away, or left at the door?
- Does your pharmacy need your permission for someone else to pick up?
Staying safe
- Never take anyone's bank PIN or online passwords; agree on a way to pay that keeps money separate
- Customers: meet the runner first and start with a small errand
- Teens can help carry and shop with an adult who drives and handles the money
Errands and grocery runs by town
Questions people ask
Can a neighbor pick up my prescription?
Many pharmacies let someone else pick up with your permission. Ask yours what they need from you and from the person picking up.
How do I pay for the groceries themselves?
Agree before shopping. Some people give the runner a set amount and get change back with the receipt; others pay the runner back after seeing the receipt.
Can they go to more than one store?
Yes, if you agree on it. Extra stops take more time, so mention them when you ask.
Is errand running a good job for a teen?
A teen can shop and carry bags alongside an adult who drives and handles the money. A teen shouldn't be in charge of a customer's cash or card alone.
Thinking of offering this yourself?
- A reliable car, a phone for sending photos of shelf options, and insulated bags for cold items will cover most runs
- Settle how the goods are paid for before you shop, and always hand over the receipts
- Text a photo when an item is missing so the customer can choose a replacement
- Set your own price for your area for your time and driving, kept separate from the cost of the items
- Weekly runs for the same household add up to a steady schedule, and neighbors on one street can share a shopping day
- Ask for a rating after a run goes well, so others nearby can see you're dependable
