10 Benefits of Online Grocery Shopping (And Why You Should Consider It)
Online grocery shopping gained popularity over the past few years due to its convenience and availability through multiple delivery apps.
Whether you’re a busy parent or a professional, online grocery shopping is a great way to get the food you need without the hassle of going to the grocery store.
In this article, I’ll explain the ten benefits of online grocery shopping and why you should consider it the next time you shop for groceries.
1. Shop From Home or on the Go
With online grocery shopping, you have the flexibility to order at any time of the day. Whether it’s early morning or midnight, you can browse the aisles when it’s convenient for you.
There’s no need to check the store hours or wonder when they restock the shelves.
Most grocery stores and grocery delivery services have easy-to-navigate apps that you can use on the go. With a click of a few buttons, you can order groceries and have them delivered to your home within an hour.
2. Save Money With Price Comparison
When you buy groceries online at a website or using an app, you can easily compare different brands’ prices. Online grocery stores allow you to browse by product or aisle to see the list of available products at your fingertips.
You can check the current coupons and discounts before you add products to your cart.
You can also compare prices at different grocery stores online to find the best deals. I recommend building your shopping cart at a few different stores to find out which one is the cheapest.
3. Save Time and Be More Productive
According to Statista, the average person goes to the grocery store 1.6 times a week and spends 43 minutes shopping at the store. There’s also the additional time it takes to drive to the store and back home.
You can save this time with online grocery shopping and getting home delivery. Time is the most valuable thing we have, and there are always competing priorities.
Repurposing the time spent at grocery stores and doing something more productive is priceless!
4. Shop in a Pressure-Free Environment
When you walk into a grocery store aisle packed with people and shopping carts, the pressure is on! Looking at different products to compare prices can be daunting.
Everyone seems to be in a hurry, and it feels like someone is watching you all the time behind your shoulders.
With online grocery shopping, this is not an issue at all. You’re the only person in the aisle, and you can take as much time as you need before making that purchase decision.
5. Avoid Multiple Trips to the Store
Sometimes, you see an item at the grocery store that’s not on your shopping list. You might have a hunch that you’re running low, but you wouldn’t buy it if you don’t need it. How can you be sure, though? It’s time to take a leap of faith!
With online grocery shopping, your inventory is in front of you. You see every item in your pantry, your fridge, and on your counter.
You’d buy what you need in exact quantities and avoid going back to the store multiple times. There’s no risk of forgetting anything!
Most online grocery stores allow you to add to your order before they start processing. So, if there’s an afterthought item, you can easily add it to your existing order.
6. No Impulse Buying
It happens to the best of us when we’re at a grocery store. We see the big promotions in pallets or displays in the middle of aisles. The FOMO kicks in, and we end up buying items that we don’t need!
These promotional displays are strategically placed at grocery stores to entice customers. They are in high-visible locations and usually offer a discount.
There’s less impulse buying with online grocery shopping. It’s easier to stick to your shopping list and avoid buying items that you don’t need!
7. Check Deals and Coupons Online
When you shop for groceries online, deals and discounts show up at your fingertips. You don’t need to worry about clipping coupons or missing price tags on store shelves. You can easily apply digital coupons to qualifying items in your cart.
If you have a store loyalty card, you can use it for online orders and continue to receive benefits. Most grocery stores apply discounts associated with your card to online orders.
You can also use store loyalty cards when you order through grocery delivery services like Instacart. I wrote a separate article about this topic, so if you’re interested in learning more, you can check it out.
8. Shop by History
Another benefit of online grocery shopping is the ability to use the shopping history to make repeat purchases.
Online grocery stores keep your order history in their system, so you can quickly bring them up and reorder items. We often purchase the same items to restock our pantry or fridge, so this feature comes in handy.
Grocery delivery apps like Instacart remember your preferences for item replacements as well. You don’t need to build a shopping list from scratch for each order, which saves you a lot of time.
9. Keep Track of Your Shopping Cart
When you shop for groceries online, you see how much is in your cart at any given time. It gives you control of your budget, and you can easily remove items if you’re overspending.
It’s easier to make impulse buys when you’re physically at the grocery store. If you have a set budget for groceries, online shopping allows you to stay on budget and avoid surprises at checkout.
10. Better for the Environment
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) case study, online grocery shopping reduces the number of vehicles on the road and lowers pollution.
Delivery trucks in the future will become more efficient. EPA and DOT set standards for trucks to reduce emissions and improve fuel economy. Alternative fuels, such as hydrogen and electricity, also look promising.
If you’re flexible with your delivery time, it helps trucks optimize their routes, and you play a role in making the environment better each time you place grocery orders online.
Conclusion
Demand for online grocery shopping increased significantly in the past few years, and more grocery stores started offering home delivery or curbside pickup.
Some grocery stores have their own delivery service, and others partnered with third-party companies like Shipt or Instacart to deliver groceries to your home.
The convenience of online grocery shopping comes with additional costs, though. If you order through a grocery delivery service like Shipt or Instacart, there are delivery fees, service fees, and the tip for your driver that you need to account for.
Some grocery delivery services have higher costs than others, so you should compare prices to find the cheapest option.
Check out the articles below to find out more about grocery delivery services and how to save money with online grocery shopping.
Related Articles:
16 Grocery Stores With Home Delivery (And How Much It Costs)
Is Shipt Better Than Instacart? (Cost and Service Comparison)
9 Tips to Save Money on Instacart Orders
