Online shopping is a way to purchase food and other household necessities through a web-based shopping service. There are two basic methods that people can use to purchase these items online. One is to order them at a local grocery store that participates in online shopping. A customer can then arrange for a home delivery directly to the store, or they can pick up their order at the store after an employee has assembled it. Another common practice is to order groceries from a large company, such as Amazon or Netgrocer, who will ship the items to your home.
Online grocery shopping allows consumers to buy food without leaving home.
Online grocery ordering became popular in the 1990s in the United States, during what was called the dot-com boom. However, the popularity was short-lived, and several online shopping services faced bankruptcy. In the following years, some of them survived economic difficulties to stay strong in the market, and today there are several online food retailers. Many market insiders currently find shopping for food online to be a profitable concept and it will continue to grow in popularity.
People who buy groceries online use their credit or debit cards.
Food shoppers have local, national and international options available. Some US-based companies offer nationwide delivery, while others have limited service areas. For those looking for exclusive, organic or international products, there are also stores that sell these products online. Many of them offer international shipping, but shipping policies and prices may vary depending on the customer’s specific location.
A grocery delivery service can be a convenient option for anyone, including seniors and others with limited mobility or a lack of transportation. Busy families also tend to take advantage of online shopping services. When picking up an order at the grocery store, customers can usually specify a pickup window, which can be anywhere from 30 minutes at some stores to four hours at others. Other retailers offer pickup or overnight delivery. Deliveries typically include a service charge and sometimes a fuel charge. Orders from a large online company are usually packaged in a warehouse, not a supermarket, and shipped via commercial shipping service to the recipient.
Online food shopping can have several advantages. If a customer has a specific list of items to buy, they are less likely to deviate from it by making impulse purchases as they walk down the aisles of the store. Plus, shoppers can often use online and manufacturer coupons on their orders for more savings when ordering online at their local grocery store. Large companies like Amazon often waive shipping costs on orders over a certain amount or for repeat customers with a subscription.
There are also some perceived drawbacks to online grocery shopping. For people who order in small quantities, service and delivery fees may not outweigh the convenience of shopping from home. Also, some merchants have a limited selection and customers may not receive the exact items they want. Many of the big companies do not offer fresh or refrigerated products. Because different companies offer different products, some people choose to do all of their shopping online, while others only order certain products from specialty merchants.
