A number of supermarkets have reported that they had a disappointing Christmas. This doesn't mean that everybody bought them socks this year. They'd probably have been glad of a few more socks – or at least sock sales. In store sales figures were at the root of their disappointment, although online grocery shopping figures were up this year. Online sales in general have been buoyant this Christmas, part of a growing trend amongst consumers to prefer the hassle free option that online shopping can offer – not to mention the time and money saving implications. Although online grocery shopping is increasing in popularity it's still one area that relatively few of us regularly choose to peruse the freshly stocked clickable aisle of our favourite stores. So what are the main concerns and are they justified?
The pros, the cons and the alternatives
- One of the biggest gripes that many online grocery shoppers often quote is the delivery options available. Big suppliers do offer later deliveries these days but the popular early evening slots fill up quickly and not everyone feels like staying up to start filling cupboards at eleven pm. Early morning deliveries are available from some suppliers but can be tricky to fit into the day – and what if the delivery is late and you have to leave for work?
- The second worry is quality. This is true particularly for fresh produce like vegetables, meat and dairy products. Generally the supermarkets and bigger suppliers are keen to get this right and although many who are new to online grocery shopping worry about this, fears can be unfounded. Smaller suppliers are entering the market and if you are worried about quality it's worth checking out their services; they usually can't afford to lose customers because of poor quality produce!
- Delivery charges. These are an issue if you need small regular orders, which can be the case for single households and older people. This may be one of the most frustrating issues for some, as online grocery shopping can be a great opportunity for anybody who has mobility problems for whatever reason. Again small suppliers such as a local dairy may be an option, they often don't have delivery charges and do stock considerably more than the traditional dairy products.
- Customer service. When things do go wrong how easy is it to get them rectified or to get a refund? We all have our own opinions of dealing with large organisations and usually these are based on bad experiences. Again, it's in the interest of suppliers to get this aspect right, but when it does go wrong poor customer services can put you off online grocery shopping for life.
Evolving services
The online grocery shopping market is changing all the time. The last twenty years have seen a number of suppliers entering the arena. In addition to small Veg box schemes from local farms other traditional suppliers have developed their existing services. Local dairies now stock many household items including groceries and cleaning supplies in addition to the humble pint of milk. Operating on their own rounds the delivery driver is nearly always the same guy or gal. This element often puts the customer back into “customer/supplier relationship”. In addition this type of service will rarely include a delivery charge even on smaller orders. As online grocery shopping services are developed by new and old providers it seems likely that the online grocery sector is evolving for the better every year.
Online Groceries Set for Growth and Improvement