Change the Way You Shop: Benefits of Online Grocery Shopping
People are beginning to change the way they grocery shop, and we don’t blame them. Online grocery shopping has opened the door to a new and improved way to get all you need when you need it. In this blog, we’ll discuss the benefits of online grocery shopping as well as some great tips to get you started.
What are the Benefits of Online Grocery Shopping?
Many people think of grocery shopping as a chore or a hassle. This is often because it’s a task that takes time, effort, and money. However, online grocery shopping has become increasingly popular due to its convenience.
If you’re on the fence about online grocery shopping, take a look at some of the main reasons people are changing their shopping ways.
- You don’t have to deal with lines or crowds.
- You can save money on gas.
- You will have fewer impulse buys (you only get what you KNOW you need).
- You can plan meals ahead of time.
- You can easily stay on budget.
- You can choose between store pickup or delivery.
If you’re thinking about making the switch to online grocery shopping, keep reading for some advice on how you make your shopping process quick, easy, and effective.
10 Online Grocery Shopping Tips
We’re here to teach you how to get the most out of your grocery shopping experience. Below, we’ve listed our 10 favorite online grocery shopping tips that are guaranteed to make the process run smoothly.
1. Handwrite Your List Ahead of Time
Even though you’re ordering your groceries online, it’s good to stay organized. We recommend having a grocery list handwritten nearby so you can ensure you’re getting everything you need.
If you want to take it a step further, consider dividing your list into the necessary categories. For example, see the list we have below.
- Produce– Include your fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, and other garnishes.
- Dairy– Include your milk, creams, cheeses, yogurts, and other dairy products.
- Pantry– Include your pasta, rice, canned goods, spices, and other dried goods.
- Meat– Include your fish, poultry, beef, pork, and other meat products.
- Frozen– Include any foods that would be found in the frozen section.
- Other– Include miscellaneous items.
Some homeowners prefer to have an ongoing list they keep in their kitchens throughout the week. You can use a black notepad, hang a grocery list whiteboard on your refrigerator, or even find free printable grocery list templates online. Any of these options will allow you to write down whatever you need the moment you think of it.
2. Order Early
Just like in-person shopping, all products and items are first come first served. This means the earlier you make an order, the earlier it’ll be assigned to a shopper. Some stores, like Stauffers of Kissel Hill, will let you place a grocery order as much as 10 days in advance. Do some research to find out how early you can place your order, that way you have a better chance of getting everything on your list.
You should also remember that certain times of day are going to be busier than others. If you want to avoid products running out of stock or long wait times, try finding out what time is the best to place an order. In the same respect, there may be days of the week when more orders are being placed.
Generally speaking, Sundays and Saturdays are usually busier, so you may want to place your orders sometime between Monday-Friday. Lastly, remember that the days leading up to the holidays are the busiest shopping days of the year which means you’ll want to plan in advance as much as possible.
3. Get Comfortable With Your Grocery Store’s Site
Ordering groceries online is all about easy access, however, this falls apart if you can’t figure out how to use the platform you’re working with. Make sure you familiarize yourself with your local grocery store’s online ordering system.
Knowing the ins and outs will help the process of ordering run smoother. You can begin an online order at Stauffers by clicking Shop Fresh Foods Online at the top of our homepage. From there, select your preferred Fresh Foods store and begin skimming through the different categories and steps before you place your first order.
4. Have Substitutes/Replacement Items Ready
Anyone who has been grocery shopping knows that sometimes the item or product you want is out of stock. Just as this happens when you’re in-person shopping, it’s bound to happen once or twice online as well. But, there’s no reason to panic.
Having online grocery shopping substitutes at the ready will make an obstacle like this easily resolved. You don’t need to be in person to see the other options. Think about the different products you’ll get in place of your usual items and consider keeping a list nearby.
Similar to having a grocery list handwritten, this substitutes list will keep you organized and prepared throughout the ordering process.
5. Overcommunication is Better Than No Communication
Don’t be afraid to leave detailed instructions with your grocery order. Remember, you’ve shopped for yourself countless times, but no one can read your mind. Being clear and concise can go a long way in ensuring you get the groceries you want.
Never assume the person putting your groceries together will simply “figure it out” and offer a little direction so they know exactly what you want and how you want it. This process is supposed to make your life easier, not harder. Communication is important to keeping things simple and moving quickly.
6. Use Filters For Faster Searching
If you used our previous online grocery shopping tip and have a handwritten list, this technique will be even more helpful. As we said before, one of the benefits of online grocery shopping is that it’s fast and simple. On your grocery store’s online ordering system you’ll be able to use filters.
Using these will help you search for your needed items faster, without having to scroll through the brands or products you already know you don’t want or need. This means you can add things to your online cart in a timely manner. Plus, if you use the filters for the items you need, you won’t be tempted to purchase a product simply because you saw it show up on your screen.
7. Take Advantage of Discounts/Deals
Some people have the misconception that online grocery shopping causes you to miss out on deals and discounts you may see in the store. However, you can still take advantage of any discounts or deals when you order online.
If you’re comfortable with your store’s online site, you’ll know how to add these discounts to your final total. Don’t forget to always check for new deals every time you order your groceries.
8. Try to Save Past Orders
Another benefit of online grocery shopping is that you don’t have to put in a ton of effort every time you order. By saving past orders, you’ll have access to the products and items you usually purchase.
This means if you’re short on time or simply want to repeat a previous order, you can add it directly to your cart without having the hassle of choosing everything individually. This tactic can be extremely helpful to people who buy the same groceries for meal prepping or the same ingredients for their favorite recipes.
If you forget to save an order, there’s no need to stress. You will have the option to do it every time you place an order.
9. Keep Your Phone Ready
Since you aren’t the one putting your groceries together in the store, it’s important to be ready for any questions the shopper may have for you. Staying available and keeping your phone ready is a way to ensure there are no miscommunications throughout the process.
This online grocery shopping tip is also a good practice to keep if you choose to have your groceries delivered. Having your phone on hand will be helpful if your delivery person needs help with directions, is running late, or has any other issues getting to your location.
10. Always Double Check Your Order
Saving time and money are two of the biggest benefits of online grocery shopping, but mistakes happen. That’s why this tip goes for people using a curbside pickup or having their groceries delivered. It’s always good to double-check check you have everything you paid for.
Make sure you do a quick run-through of all the groceries you have to ensure nothing was left out or forgotten. If you find that something is missing, contact your grocery store and let them know so they can correct the mistake or give you a refund.
Have more questions? Check out our online grocery shopping FAQs to see how we can make your shopping experience better.