If you’re new to online grocery shopping and can’t tell which store is right for you, here is some help. There are a few essential criteria that all stores should meet.
When you enter “grocery shop online” in your search engine, you will see a number of results. However, here are some characteristics that separate the best from the rest.
Support Local Business
When you buy from local businesses and shops, it helps your community flourish. Always select shops closer to your home not just for convenience but to support businesses near you rather than opting for shops far away. This will also help to lower your carbon footprint if you order from shops closer to your home.
Good Interface
To make your experience easier, the online shop must have a good interface that lets you buy products with ease. You can take a call according to the designs of the different stores. Ensure you can navigate between the different categories of food quickly and find what you want every time.
Organic Options
Look for shops that also have organic options. This is a sign that they care about sustainability. Also, you’ll know that they are making reasonable efforts to source good produce for their customers.
Subscription Offers
Select a shop that offers great introductory or new subscriber offers. This can ease you into buying more online because you will be saving more. Shops that have many offers are always good to shop from, and it shows they care about customer satisfaction.
Sustainable Practices
When choosing a grocery shop online, pick one that follows sustainable practices in transporting and delivering its produce. When shops make an effort to care for the environment, you can trust that the products you buy from them will also be reliable and good for you.
Lower Delivery Limits
Some shops set a larger limit that has to be reached to be eligible for free shipping, so be wary of those. Check to see if the shop you like has an appropriate limit set for your needs.
Good Customer Service
Any good store should have good customer care to answer any queries you will have regarding your order. Ideally, any good online shop should have a live chat option so that you can ask your questions and have them answered immediately, or at least have a good FAQ section.
Test-Purchase
If you still aren’t sure if the shop you like is reliable and suitable for long-term use, make a test purchase. Place an order for a small amount and test how the shop works in terms of placing the order, payment options available to you, delivery speed, and the condition of the groceries received. This process will help you decide for yourself whether the store is good enough for you.
Takes your Preference into Account
A good online shop should ask you when you would like your order delivered, making scheduling your order easier.
It’d also be great if the shop has an interface where it recommends products that you would like to purchase based on what you have previously bought. The same model is usually followed by eCommerce websites and allows for a curated experience.
Easy Replacements
Produce tends to get spoiled quickly; therefore, the online shop needs an easy replacement policy and procedure to ensure that you can replace items that may have broken during delivery or rotten/spoiled foods.
Phone-friendly
This goes without saying, but choose an online shop with both a website and mobile application that is easy to use. This way, you can place an order on your phone or any other digital device. It’s also easier for you to continue your purchase when switching from using the computer to your phone.
Membership Requirement
It’s upon you whether you want to choose a shop that offers membership-only access. While it may seem like a large investment, the shop will ensure that members get good deals and offer along with other freebies.
Also, with memberships, you can get preferred delivery slots, lower or no delivery fees, and other perks mentioned by the shop!
Pick-up Options
Some shops only offer door-step delivery, while some have a mix of this and pick-up facilities. In case you run a lot of errands and find yourself shuffling from place to place, a curb-side pick-up facility will be beneficial. You can easily place your order. The shop will package it for you and voila!
Just pick up the order and continue your errands. It offers the safest and the quickest way to stock up your pantry without disrupting your schedule.
