So much of our shopping is done online these days, and it’s not hard to see why. Fast shipping, competitive prices and a wider variety than what you’ll see in brick and mortar stores are bringing products and services to people faster than ever before. In the 1990s, when the internet was still new and functioned nothing like the internet as we know it today, some companies attempted to break into the online grocery shopping market. This flopped, quite unfortunately, but the idea has been revived now that we have better, more reliable methods of ensuring quality and service online.
Online grocery shopping is great for a lot of reasons, and so is shopping in your local supermarket. Whichever you choose, it’s likely a decision made based on what is most convenient in terms of your lifestyle. So let’s look at the pros and cons of both online grocery shopping and analog shopping at the supermarket. If you consider all of these facts, you’ll be able to make the best decision on the future of grocery shopping for yourself and your family.
Supermarket Shopping
Pros:
For some people, shopping in their preferred store is an experience that they enjoy. You get to visually check out everything that you’re buying while taking some time away from the other burdens of life to get some food shopping done.
For those who might not be very tech-savvy, analog grocery shopping is the way to go, as it tends to feel less complicated than shopping for groceries online.
It can also help to reinforce a sense of community, to shop with your neighbors and support your area businesses.
Cons:
Nobody likes bringing a gaggle of children to the grocery store. The possibility of public tantrums, noisy requests for their preferred snacks and maneuvering a cart plus one or more children can make this experience an absolute nightmare for parents and caregivers.
If you live rurally or have mobility issues that keep you from being able to go physically shop for your groceries, the experience can be incredibly draining on your time as well as transportation costs (gas, bus fare and so on).
Long lines are the bane of any shopper’s existence, but they are an inherent part of shopping inside the grocery store.
Generally speaking, most analog grocers only accept paper coupons that can be physically scanned. This limits you in the way that you can’t use digital coupons at brick and mortar stores.
Online Grocery Shopping
Pros:
No lines! You never have to wait in line to check out, because all of the checkout features are right at your fingertips. Some services such as Manhattan grocery delivery services by a few websites allow you to select the stores in Manhattan from which you want the grocery.
If you’re a couponer, you likely know that there are tons of coupons out there, in the vast reaches of the internet. All you have to do is type “NAME OF THE GROCER coupons 2018” and you’ll have every available coupon at your fingertips, ready to be used in your online checkout.
You can shop for deals, specials and discounted items without having to peruse through every aisle of the grocery store. Most online grocers have the option right on their main menu, so that you can skip to what’s on sale. How helpful is that, especially when you’re grocery shopping on a budget?
Cons:
Shopping online can be intimidating for those who aren’t very technologically-savvy.
You don’t get to look at the goods that you’re buying before you make the purchase. Some people really do prefer to be able to physically look at what’s about to go into their cart.
