It is quite ridiculous, but I will admit, that tempers flare and debates rage between my husband and I about online shopping. I strongly advocate the many merits of online shopping services while he is quick to point out its many flaws. Perhaps we are just bored. Fighting about shopping is like dreaming about work! Life doesn’t get more exciting than this!
We each have our own opinions and individual value systems which ordinarily stroll together, hand-in-hand down a moonlit street, in the same direction, humming the same tune-but in this instance they are not converging!
We have each weighed out our life priorities and as it turns out they are differing in relation to the getting of our groceries! Our relationship may be in more trouble than we first realised. The online shopping debate may actually be a front for a deeper dissonance in our marriage and this is worrying! Unfortunately we are still yet to realise a happy consensus with “grocery getting” in our family and it doesn’t look like it will end any time soon.
THE HISTORY OF GROCERY SHOPPING
Grocery Shopping began in the 14th century with the “grocer” initially dealing in bulk purchased dry goods such as sugar and spices then tea, coffee and cocoa, and later staple non- perishable canned items. In modern times grocers now deal with meats, fruits, vegetables and dairy products too.
The grocer would fetch items for customers from behind the counter while they patiently waited- a slow, labour intensive and thus costly process. In 1916 inventor and entrepreneur Clarence Saunders opened the first self-service grocery store, Piggly Wiggly in Memphis Tennessee.
Chains of grocers formed the first Supermarkets, enjoying economies of scale and offering their customers lower prices. The Food Marketing Institute with The Smithsonian Institution researched a definition of the Supermarket to end the debate about its origin- ” A supermarket provides self-service, separate product departments, discount pricing, marketing and volume selling’.
The concept of “getting groceries” is constantly evolving in response to consumer demand. Consumers can now enjoy Hypermarkets (a morph of department store and supermarket) as well as membership based wholesale warehouse clubs.
One of the many triumphs of the evolution of grocery shopping in my opinion is the option to shop online!
FOR ONLINE SHOPPING
Eliminates spontaneous purchases
Both supermarkets and suppliers are businesses working to attract you to their store and products, keep you in the store and elicit more spending while you are in their store. If you are not there, you cannot be manipulated so easily!
Eliminates the need for a shopping list
Online shopping sites have a built in facility to retain all previous items ordered. So over time, you have a complete list of all items you have ever purchased serving as a reminder of what you may need each week.
Saves time
I estimate that the time it takes to travel to the shops, park and walk the aisles of the supermarket approximately 1.5 hours. It usually takes me 10 minutes to shop online. As a working mum with three kids, 1.5 hours per week is precious time better spent doing other things!
Enables shopping 24/7
House bound mums often awake in the middle of the night are sure to relate to the difficulty in timing a visit to the shops between feeds, sleeps and school pick-ups and therefore the flexibility of shopping 24/7 is welcome relief from this hassle.
Special free offers
As an online shopper you will often receive free samples to trial that are usually specifically suited to your demographic and therefore useful, even exciting!
Recipe suggestions
Many online services provide recipe suggestions using seasonal produce and include the items you need to purchase. This takes the thinking out of meal planning somewhat.
Alcohol can be purchased
Need I say more?
Bench top service included
Included in the delivery fee is “to the kitchen bench top service”, therefore, if you are not a body builder in training, someone will take the pain of carrying and lifting 3 bulk packs of nappies and allow you to rest your weary bones or nurse a post-partum/delivery injury.
No toddler tantrums
Everyone wins! With no tantrums the world will be filled with happy mums, happy bubs, happy shoppers and happy staff too!
So plainly I win the argument. My husband however believes the following to be more important than the above benefits of online shopping.
AGAINST ONLINE SHOPPING
Can’t select the best fruit and vegies
Without the ability to touch, see and smell your fruit and vegetables I will concede fresh produce often does not meet my quality standard or is over or under ripe for my needs.
Recycling bags
Most services deliver their produce in plastic bags. (You are able however, to recycle bags by returning previously unused bags to the delivery driver.)
Out of stock items
While you are able to choose the inclusion of an appropriate substitute item if your selected item should be unavailable at packing time, if this item is one of importance, you still need a trip to the supermarket if you require that specific item.
Can’t be left if not home
Most services stipulate a person be home to receive the shopping, and therefore it can be difficult to choose a delivery time that you will be home.
Delivery charge
Online supermarkets charge for delivery which is usually between $8 and $12 in the metro area.
Requires forward planning
Delivery times usually book out 48 hours prior, so being organised is crucial.
Shopping provides a learning opportunity for kids
Not only can shopping be an outing, it can be an educational adventure for kids.
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Information on products is usually useful and supported with an image. However, in some instances the nutritional table is not displayed.
Wintery weather is forecast for this weekend. So, to prepare, I will logon to my preferred online supermarket service, purchase my saved favourite shopping list (comprising most importantly a bottle of red, a Kit Kat Chunky and Eno) all to be conveniently delivered this Saturday evening between 4 and 6pm.
Upon the cordial arrival of my items, I will stoke the fire, tuck the kids into bed and pop on my PJs & fluffy bunny slippers. I will then send my darling husband out into the dark night to brave the lightening, falling branches and torrential rains to acquire a bottle of milk from the 24 hour service station, desperately required for breakfast (and accidentally omitted from the cart during my last online shop!)
