How often do you purchase your groceries online? Do you do so because of convenience? Have you ever thought of its pitfalls? How do you go about avoiding them? Here are some of the things you need to know in order to be a smarter online grocery shopper.
Convenience – Besides saving you the hassle of driving and finding or fighting over a parking bay, you get to choose what exactly you want from your favourite retailer(s) (if you have any). You are also no longer confined to your local convenience store. Rather, you have more choices with the Internet. Another plus factor is that you don’t have to deal with long queues at packed aisles. It is also an option for those who have physical limitations.
Good option for those who are budget-conscious – Online grocery shopping can also help one’s finances. Goods sold are usually affordable than those sold in-store. One can also compare prices more quickly than when physically browsing through at a store.
You can opt for home delivery or in-store collection – Grocers with an online delivery service usually deliver to your homes. The majority of retailers and grocers tend to offer a two-hour window. In fact, some have pledged to deliver within an hour. However, in some cases, the customer is required to collect his or her items from the store.
Groceries make an effort to deliver the best – Highly reputable stores would normally want to deliver goods and/or produce that are of quality. They should also be fresh. If not, customers should be should be eligible for a refund. After all, retailers should be serious about maintaining rapport with customers (so that hopefully they’ll return).
Perfect for big orders – If you’re the kind of person who likes to purchase in bulk, then online grocery shopping is for you. You can definitely save by looking out for the best offers.
Less worry about carrying too much cash – If you’re the kind of person who gets anxious about having too much cash in your purse or wallet, then online grocery shopping is for you. After all, you can never be assured of absolute safety, especially when you’re out and about.
You need to be tech-savvy – Users need to be able to navigate the website, which in some cases are not well-designed. Besides, searching for a particular item in mind may not be that straightforward. However, a good store should always seek out to listen to customer feedback and make improvements in order to provide the best online grocery shopping experience.
Zero human interaction – One of the downsides to online shopping is that there is no human interaction. There is no communication with retail staff, cashiers or other customers. Doing your grocery shopping online will not give you the chance to bump into an old friend, for example.
Unable to have physical contact with the items you purchase – Your only contact with the items you buy is through the screen; you are unable to feel or touch the item to check if it’s fresh, for example. While good grocers will always try and cater to your preferences, nothing beats physically picking out items at the outlet yourself.
Popular items or offers may run out before you know it – Keep in mind that on-demand items or popular offers may be sold out or run out even before your specified delivery time. As an alternative, the store will deliver a substitute item. However, it may be inappropriate or inadequate. Surely, this will leave you feeling disappointed.
As with any other service, some of the pitfalls of online grocery shopping to avoid are falling for an offer that is too good to be true. For first-timers, do try and survey a variety of sites to help you make an informed decision. It is also advisable to check out the site for its encryption features so that any sensitive information like credit card information does not fall into the wrong hands. Further, there may be certain terms that accompany a delivery service. For example, delivery costs. If you’re lucky, you’ll find discounted delivery. So, it’s best to do your own research before you get excited about charging your credit card!
