Supermarkets and Grocery Stores

The concept of receiving grocery delivery is both futuristic and oddly old-fashioned; whereas wealthy people once employed servants to select and bring back food, now computers (employed by nearly everyone) function as virtual servants, doing everything except physically delivering the food. Well, sort of. This radical time-saving device has its drawbacks: web sites only feature about half the products actually in the store, shoppers can’t verify sell-by dates or judge freshness, and the ordering process may not take any less time than going to the store itself. You might also get unwanted substitutions for certain items.

Basically, Internet shopping is merely as effective as the shopper and the website designer. So take heed of the following tips as you plunge into the world of online grocery selection. First, check for delivery areas to ensure that a particular store delivers in your neighborhood. Also make sure that the store stocks what you need before registering; if you need chives and they aren’t available, you’ll feel frustrated that you took the 10 minutes to register. Write a list to avoid discombobulation, then narrow your categories from department to aisle to shelf, and place items in your shopping cart. Know how much delivery costs before the driver arrives, and keep in mind that if you’re unsatisfied with a substitute, you won’t have to pay for it.

Of course, when the delivery truck arrives, you might not even recognize it. Many chains have chosen discreet colors and subtle logos for their vehicles, perhaps hoping to flatter customers; for all the neighbors know, you could have ordered some ultra-chic merchandise. The groceries, however, still come in plain paper bags instead of gift-wrapped boxes.