Online Grocery Virgin

I buy lots of things online. In fact I do as much as I can over the internet, but until this week I was an online grocery virgin.

As the mother of a baby, and then a toddler and then a preschooler, I have for some reason avoided online grocery shopping.

Why?

Mostly because until recently (post toddler status in this household) it was not readily available as a viable option on this sometimes backward side of the country! Following that, grocery shopping with a preschooler was not so bad (though I can recall a hideous tantrum in Woolworths in the past few weeks).

Being that I now have more things to juggle in my life, I thought I’d take the plunge this week and give it a try.

The first thing I learnt is that the specials change on Thursdays. If you start your list on Wednesday night and start putting things from the specials list in your virtual trolley (especially when you are only choosing said things because they are on special NOT because you actually need them), by Thursday morning they are at there normal price and you have to delete them all, and check the new specials.

I never planned to buy fresh produce and deli goods online. I like to choose my own fruit and veges. I’m very picky and like the freshness, the fruit and veg shop down the road offers. The online deli goods don’t provide me with the selection I’m accustomed too.

Having said that… there was a mixed fruit and veg box on special that I couldn’t resist. Only because I wanted to know what the quality was like, and I badly wanted to know what it would contain? I was pleasantly surprised with the selection, and the quality was not too bad but I will probably be down the road next time supporting local farmers and local business.

My shop (even with delivery fee) worked out $20-30 cheaper than my normal fortnightly shop. This would probably be a combination of factors:  a) I shopped from a list (with a loose meal plan in mind);  b) there was no impulse buying which I’m prone to; and c) there was no preschooler in tow begging for things and/or putting extra things in the trolley.

I did receive an apology email prior to delivery, informing me chicken mince and fillets were out of stock. I was surprised though when I found half a kilo of both of them when I was unpacking, and my receipt shows they were out of stock and I wasn’t charged for them. Sssshhhh! Don’t tell anyone I got a little bonus

The delivery man was friendly and witty, and knew that this was my first time. He was so much nicer than the robot checkout chicks and guys down the road.

The verdict.

I loved online grocery shopping and will definitely be doing my groceries this way again.

Oh yeah, and they bring wine