What are the Pros and Cons of Online Grocery Shopping?
When the need to fill the fridge and cupboards arises, people have typically been required to travel to their local grocer, supermarket or farmer’s market to get the goods that they and their families need. Grocery shopping is a part of most of our lives, though it’s safe to say that not everybody finds this chore enjoyable. To reduce or eliminate the challenges and annoyances of traditional grocery shopping, more and more people are electing to take their shopping online.
For as convenient as this is for many people, there are some disadvantages that you should be aware of before you decide to shop for your groceries online.
The Pros of Shopping for Groceries Online
Convenience is the main motivator for grocery shopping online because this process removes all of the stresses and aggravation that are associated with trips to the supermarket. When you choose to make an order of groceries online, you get to skip out on the drive to the store, navigating crowded aisles, waiting in line to check out and hauling your items into your car.
When you shop online, many grocers will give you the choice between an in-store pickup and home delivery. Home delivery has been an enormously popular addition to the online grocery service, as it makes it easier than it’s ever been to get everything that you need all at once.
You may also utilize this service any time, day or night. From the smart phone you always have with you anyway, you can place your order when the kids have gone to bed, or when you have a few free moments between responsibilities. What’s more convenient than shopping for your necessities from the comfort of your own home? This is handy for busy parents and professionals that have to dedicate their valuable hours to other commitments.
Another benefit of online grocery shopping is how easy it is to save money. In a brick and mortar store, you have to clip coupons and peruse aisle after aisle in search of the best deals. When you shop online on websites like https://www.mercato.com/, however, you can get to the sales and clearance sections of the store’s selections within one click. You can also use online discount codes and coupons to take a percentage off of your total.
The Cons of Online Grocery Shopping
Though the “pros” list above is certainly worth consideration, online grocery shopping isn’t for everybody. Not all consumers are comfortable sharing their personal information online – such as their credit card and address – unless they absolutely have to. With the scams and privacy breaches that can lead to problems such as identity theft, it’s not hard to see why some people have their reservations.
Additionally, some prospective shoppers simply aren’t comfortable navigating the internet for one reason or another. This might not be an issue if they are using a website that is well-structured and easy to use, but not all websites are cut from the same cloth. Some have interfaces that are difficult to access and can make it tough to find a specific item or brand.
Some grocers will charge more for home delivery during peak business hours, such as on the weekends, which can be a turn-off to some consumers. These delivery fees can be quite steep on some budgets.
If you like to ensure freshness and quality by hand-selecting your items, online grocery shopping might make you nervous. A lot of people are more confident in their own ability to select quality produce rather than in entrusting this task to a stranger. Most online grocers do guarantee freshness and quality and do deliver on that guarantee to minimize complaints, but this is not a foolproof process. It’s quite possible that the person who selects your produce and other items might have a different idea of what “fresh” means than you.
In Conclusion
Online grocery services have been a tremendous helping hand in thousands of peoples’ lives, with the number of online shoppers growing every day. Unlike the clunky and inefficient online grocery shopping of the 1990s, the websites of today are prompt and effective at delivering top-notch service. What might put someone off from shopping for their groceries online might not seem like a big deal to someone else, so it’s really all a matter of personal preference.
