Online Grocery Shopping: Is It Worth It?
Is Online Grocery Shopping worth it? Want to know the answer? Do give a read to our blog to know about it!
Does anyone really enjoy grocery shopping? Well, some people only relish wandering the aisles in search of a new snack or fresh produce. For many, grocery shopping is yet another task on the to-do list.
But what if we say that there is a way to cross off this chore without leaving your home? Enter online grocery delivery, it’s one of the most convenient solutions which promises to make online grocery shopping easier and quicker and perhaps affordable too.
But, is grocery shopping online truly worth it? Does it save up your money or is it just a convenience? Let’s explore the benefits as well as the drawbacks of online grocery delivery which will help you to decide if it’s right for you or not.
What Is Online Grocery Shopping?
Online Grocery delivery is exactly what it sounds like! Here, someone else does the shopping for you and delivers right straight to your door.
No more trips to the store, no more waiting in the checkout lines and no more dealing for the parking spot.
You can sit in comfortable pyjamas place up your orders online and wait for their arrival. It’s almost like magic but it does have a small fee attached for delivery.
Why Consider Online Grocery Shopping?
The biggest reason to consider online grocery shopping is the convenience it offers!
From the comfort it offers to shop directly from home to the time saved on errands, the reasons to choose grocery shopping through online channels are compelling.
Moreover, since the pandemic happened, more people have started to embrace the online delivery service, since it does not only save a trip to the store but also helps minimise the unnecessary exposure to others.
Well, beyond the convenience, there are many other factors to consider as well which includes how delivery affects the budget, whether it saves gas and the effect it might have on your tendency to buy impulsively.
Benefits of Online Grocery Shopping
1. Save Time
If you’ve ever calculated the time spent on grocery shopping, you’ll understand that it adds up really fast.
According to the research, an Indian spends about 41 minutes per trip to the grocery store, with most people making around 1.6 trips per week.
Well, over the course of a year, it’s roughly about 53 hours spent only in grocery shopping.
When it comes to picking up online grocery delivery, you can get that time back and you can further focus it on different things- such as on your work, family time, or simply relaxing at home.
Moreover, there are many online grocery platforms which offer features like recently viewed or previously bought which makes it even easier to add items quickly to your cart without spending up time hunting for the products.
2. A Dream for Introverts
If you’re not a fan of small talk or being around crowds, online grocery delivery is a lifesaver.
You don’t have to navigate through busy stores, deal with unending lines, or engage in awkward conversations. Everything is handled online, letting you avoid unnecessary interactions.
For introverts, it’s a dream come true.
3. Edit Your Cart Before Checkout
Just like when shopping for clothes online, you can review your cart and remove unnecessary items before you check out.
Online grocery platforms usually show you the running total as you shop, so you can easily trim down your order to stay within your budget.
It’s a great way to control your spending and cut out any non-essential items.
4. Ultimate Convenience
At the end of the day, online grocery shopping is quite simple. As, you can shop at any time, be it in morning or late at night after finishing up your daily chores.
You can even pick your delivery window that matches up to your schedule. Also, avoiding checkout lines, traffic and parking headaches could be a plus for you.
With the ability to have everything at your door could be a serious time-saver for the busy people.
5. Save Gas
When you skip up the trip to the store, you’ll not just save up time, but you’ll be saving gas too.
Well, it will all depend on how your nearest grocery store is which could be a significant cost saver.
Additionally, there are multiple grocery stores in the market which fulfil multiple orders at once.
You’ll contribute to fewer cars on the road which will also positively impact the environment.
6. Avoid Forgetting Items
Ever leave the store only to realize you forgot to pick up the one thing you actually needed? It’s a common frustration.
But with online grocery shopping, you can check your pantry, fridge, and cupboards as you shop.
Even better, most apps and websites allow you to add items to your cart throughout the week. Whenever you think of something you need, just add it to your virtual cart in real time.
This feature means no more rushing to write a list before heading out the door and less likelihood of forgetting important items.
7. Avoid Impulse Buys
When you are shopping in-store it gets all too easy to fall prey to impulse buys! Well, it’s all due to the tempting items which are placed at eye level or near the checkout counters.
From the small items like candy bars, cookies and chocolates can add up to your unplanned purchases quickly.
When you shop online, you are less likely to be swayed by clever product placement which can help you further to stick up with your list as well as your budget.
There are some services as well which allow you to show the running total as you keep up adding the items, which allows you to adjust your order if you’re trying to stay within a specific spending limit.
8. Take Advantage of Weekly Deals and Coupons
One concern many people have about switching to online grocery shopping is missing out on in-store sales or specials.
But the good news is that most online platforms offer their own exclusive deals, sometimes even better than what’s available in-store.
You can easily browse discounts and promotions, adding sale items to your cart with just a click.
Many services also integrate coupons, allowing you to apply digital savings without needing to clip paper coupons or remember to bring them to the store.
9. Filter by Dietary Preferences
If you have specific dietary restrictions or preferences, such as kosher, gluten-free, or organic products, shopping online can be quite easy.
Well, most of the platforms allow you to filter the search for the products based upon one’s needs or savings.
This could be a real time-saver that can make it quite easy to plan the meals that fit up with one’s lifestyle.
Also read: Best Practices or Opening A Grocery Store Franchise
Drawbacks of Online Grocery Shopping
1. Imperfect Replacements
One of the frustrations of online grocery shopping is that the item you want might be out of stock.
In-store, you can immediately see the options and pick a substitute that works for you.
But with delivery services, the shopper chooses a replacement if your preferred item isn’t available.
While some services allow you to communicate with the shopper via text, providing options for alternatives, the replacement might not always meet your expectations.
Whether it’s the wrong brand or an unsatisfactory substitute, this can throw a wrench in your meal plans.
2. Not Picking Your Own Produce
For many, one of the biggest downsides to online grocery delivery is not being able to pick out your own produce.
You know exactly how ripe you like your bananas or how firm your avocados should be, but your shopper doesn’t.
While some services allow for notes, the quality of your produce is largely in the hands of someone else.
If you’re particular about your fruits and vegetables, this might be a dealbreaker.
An alternative option is subscribing to a produce delivery service that specializes in fresh, high-quality fruits and vegetables.
3. Delivery Fees, Minimums, and Tipping
The convenience of online grocery delivery comes with added costs.
Delivery fees can range depending on the service, with some stores charging per order and others offering subscription models that allow you to pay an annual fee.
Additionally, many platforms have a minimum order amount, which can be frustrating if you just need to pick up a few essentials.
On top of that, it’s customary to tip your shopper, especially if they’ve communicated well and delivered everything in great condition.
These costs can add up, so it’s important to weigh them against what you’d spend on gas and time driving to the store.
2. Limited Product Selection or Higher Prices
Some online grocery delivery services might have a more limited product selection than what’s available in-store.
You might also find that certain items are priced higher online than they are in the store.
For example, some services prioritize name-brand items over cheaper alternatives, which could increase your grocery bill.
Make sure to compare prices when shopping online to avoid overspending.
3. You Don’t Get to Choose Your Produce
There’s a certain comfort in being able to pick out your own produce.
Whether you prefer your apples crisp, your bananas just slightly green, or your avocados perfectly ripe, shopping in person allows you to inspect each piece of fruit or vegetable.
With online grocery shopping, someone else is making those choices for you.
While delivery services do their best to provide fresh items, you might not always get produce that meets your personal preferences.
4. Out-of-Stock Items
Another potential downside is the availability of items.
When you’re shopping in-store, you can immediately see if something is out of stock and find a replacement.
With online grocery delivery, you might not find out until after placing your order.
While most services allow you to choose substitutes for out-of-stock items, there’s still a chance you won’t get exactly what you need, which can be frustrating when planning meals.
How to Maximize the Benefits of Online Grocery Shopping
1. Look for Membership Deals
If you are someone who is on the plan to use online grocery delivery on a regular basis then it might be worth it to sign up for a membership plan.
The brands like Gfresh, Big Basket or Amazon fresh do offer yearly subscriptions which will help you to avoid the delivery fees per order.
Just make sure that you do the math. One picks the membership if you order groceries’ more than 10 times a year as in this case the membership will likely pay for itself.
2. Take Advantage of App Features
Most of the online grocery delivery services do allow its customers to shop on the go.
Well, this is especially useful for adding items to your cart throughout the week as they pop into your head.
With this, many platforms also allow users to set reminders, and browse the weekly specials to take advantage of the personalised recommendations which are all based on previous purchases.
3. Plan Ahead for Busy Times
During the weekends or holidays, delivery slots can fill up quickly which is a good ideal to plan ahead.
There are many services too which allow you to reserve up a delivery time up to a week in advance as well.
Well, planning up early ensures that you’ll be getting groceries when you need them without scrambling to find up an available slot.
4. Use up a Meal Planner
Planning up your meal in advance can help you a lot to stick around your budget as well as to avoid up to an impulse buys.
Well, there are plenty of free meal planning tools in the online market which will help you to organise your grocery list.
Check out this: How To Choose The Right Grocery Mart Franchise
Conclusion: Is Online Grocery Shopping Worth It?
At the end of the day, whether an online grocery is worth it or not totally depends on the personal choices as well as on the lifestyle preferences of a person.
If price is something which is precious for you then it is sure that you will not mind paying a little extra for the convenience.
Moreover, grocery shopping could be a game-changer, as one will save up time, gas and one can even avoid impulse purchases too.
On the flip side, if someone is on a tight budget, or loves to pick up on their own product or even enjoys shopping from in-store then the option for online grocery delivery might not be the best option for them.
One needs to consider the extra costs as well, the potential for the replacements and the inability to inspect items before they arrive at the door.
However, whatever you may plan to choose or to embrace the convenience of online grocery shopping or even if you wish to stick with traditional methods, it is important that you find up a system which works best for you as well as for your family!
